Warning! This is a mini-rant….

There are many valuable posts out there focused on how you can generate leads and increase sales by using Twitter. In addition, Twitter has been around for a number of years.  So, it surprises me how many bad Twitter practices I see every single day.

Instead of generating leads or increasing sales revenue, these Tweeps are creating a bad impression and turning away followers and possible new business. You can too! Here are 8 ways to reduce sales revenue by using Twitter:

1) Only Tweet About Yourself And/Or Your Business

If you want to lose followers and turn off possible new buyers, this is your best bet. Think back to a bad date you had (before you got married, if applicable) and if the guy or gal rambled on and on about themselves, it made you want to run screaming. The same applies on Twitter.  Instead, publish content that will inspire, interest, educate – and not promote.

• As Breanne Potter stated on one of my faves, The Critical Thinkers blog, “If you’re pushing sales on Twitter, you’re doing it wrong.  Tell stories, be personable, authentic, memorable, and useful.  Your relationship in the online world must translate to positive outcomes in the offline world.”

2) Send Tons Of Tweets At The Same Time

Also described by some as diarrhea of the tweets. (Gross) Less is more with many things and definitely applies to Tweet volume. 5 to 7 strategically scheduled tweets per day will have a much better impact than a glut of Tweets sent at the same time or within a short time frame. There are so many free, tweet schedulers available – why not use them?

3) Use a Twitter Bot

The Robot dance may have been cool in the 80’s but robotic tweets are as cool as cassettes or Chia Pets in the 2000’s. This is social media folks- and social means human interaction. Turn off the bots!

4) Ignore @Mentions, RTs and Lists

When you receive a gift, or when someone sends you a referral for new business, it is common courtesy to show your appreciation. The same applies to Twitter.  When someone mentions you in a tweet,  retweets your content, or adds you to their Twitter list, please say thank you.

5) Send A Generic, Auto Thank You Message When Followed

What’s worse than no thank you? An insincere thank you that has no meaning – like when tweeps send an auto response message when followed and it includes a sales pitch. Yuck! Here are some recent auto follows I’ve received:

• Thanks for the follow! Grab FREE Steps for Entrepreneurial Success Kit w/bookmarks at http://www.smartwomeninstitute.comhttp://www.smartwomeninstitute.com
• Thanks for following! I look forward to your tweets! For information on how I may be able to help you, checkout: http://bit.ly/b53IfThttp://bit.ly/b53IfT
• Thanks 4 following me. If I can help you out w/ anything let me know. If U have sales training ?’s DM me – I love2 educate! Have a gr8 day

6) Follow Based On Text, Not Context

My Twitter bio includes the phrase “golf widow”. For those who don’t know, you become a golf widow when your significant other plays golf so often that you feel like you aren’t married. It is meant in fun and demonstrates that the widow him/herself is not into golf.

However, I have been followed by at least 100 golf experts, who used some type of software that found the word golf and assumed I would be interested. I have no interest in them- and they’ll eventually realize that they have no interest in me.  Follow other Tweeps with real targeting – not automation.

7) Send 100% RTs

Retweeting another person’s content is a great practice, when used wisely and mixed in with your own tweets. By only sending RTs, you are basically saying, “I don’t have time for this” or “I don’t have anything interesting to say”.  We know that everyone has interesting things to share –so just do it!

-8) Spend Too Much Time On Twitter

There are some people I follow, who although very interesting, appear to be spending countless hours monitoring  and adding content to Twitter. Very simply.. if you are on Twitter all day, what aren’t you doing or selling?

Are there any bad Twitter practices that I missed. What else would you add to the Twitter pet peeve list? Please add your comments.

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