If you are a Twitter user, you know what I’m talking about. It’s possible that you are one of the group of culprits who, for months, have filled up my Direct Message box with automated welcome messages. In fact, before I realized what a nuisance it is, I used automated welcome DMs myself to thank new Tweeps for following me on Twitter. But I, Craig Fisher (aka @fishdogs), officially stopped doing that a long time ago. And so should you.
The messages usually look something like this, “Hey, thanks for following me! Check out my web site for great info, www.fishdogs.com. Let me know how I can help you!” That seems innocent enough, right? Well, unfortunately, after you receive a few hundred of these there is no way you have time to click on all those links, much less read all those messages.
These auto DMs are usually created on www.TweetLater.com. A good site with a good service. Tweetlater allows you to automatically follow back anyone who follows you. If you are a power user of Twitter, you may find this helpful. But if you use that feature, be sure to also use the auto-unfollow feature that automatically unfollows those who unfollow you. This will help to avoid spammers who like to follow Twitter users until they are followed back, and then will quietly unfollow.
Tweetlater also allows you to schedule tweets to be posted at various intervals during the day. This is not recommended for all day/everyday use on personal accounts. Twitter users get really tired of following robots unless it is stated clearly up front on the offending robot’s Twitter page. But if you wanted to schedule a tweet to request that followers add you to their favorites a couple of times a day, that might be useful.
My only complaint about Tweetlater is the auto DM. It’s a nice feature for those who keep small networks perhaps. Then again, if you have a small network, why automate your welcome message? It’s a great feature for marketers who really want to push products or services to those willing to click click click. But for those of us with large Twitter networks, the automated welcomes are a pain in the caboose. Here now is the way to opt out of the dreaded auto-DM straight from Tweetlater’s web site (http://www.tweetlater.com/optout).
How To Opt-Out Of Receiving Automated Welcome DMs
As you know, TweetLater users can automate their Twitter accounts to automatically send welcome DMs to their new followers.
As a past or potential recipient of those DMs, TweetLater offers you a super-easy way to opt-out and never again receive an automated welcome DM sent by TweetLater.
Please follow the steps below:
1) Log in to Twitter.
2) Follow @OptMeOut.
3) Wait for @OptMeOut to follow you back. @OptMeOut will send you a DM to tell you it has followed you.
4) Then send a DM to @OptMeOut. (You can write whatever you want in the DM, it does not matter.)
5) After sending the DM, unfollow @OptMeOut. (This way your opting out remains private since you won’t be in the list of @OptMeOut’s followers. We will unfollow you as well.)
TweetLater will, within a few minutes of you sending your DM, stop sending you any further automated welcome DMs. You will receive one last DM to confirm that you’ve been opted-out.
You do not need an account at TweetLater to opt-out. Anybody on Twitter can opt-out.
Your decision to opt-out remains private. We will never disclose it to anybody, unless required by law.
If you ever change your mind about opting out, please submit a Help Desk ticket and ask us to remove you from the opt-out list.
TweetLater users, you will still auto-follow the people who have opted-out. They just won’t be sent your welcome DM.
