I really enjoy connecting with other Senior Pastors on Twitter. But it’s been frustrating as well. Since my interest has been developing genuine connections with people, and not buying or selling something, I’ve found that I’ve had to wade through a lot of, well, excrement, to find like-minded pastors who are sincere, actually use the tool, are willing to collaborate, and take the time to build friendships. If you’re on Twitter follow me and I’ll follow you back. I’d love to connect.
That said, I’ve come up with 12 stand-by reasons why I will instantly unfollow someone on Twitter. This has helped me cut through the noise to find like-minded friends in the trenches. Here they are:
1. You don’t take the time to get a profile picture.
People like to see each other’s faces when they talk, and not having a profile pic communicates you’re not interested in real communication (whether that’s your intent or not).
2. You don’t follow back.
This tells me that you either think you’re a celebrity or that you aren’t actually investing the time to use the tool to connect with people. I regularly use Tweepi to “un-follow” people who don’t follow me back.
3. You swear.
Big turn off. You can always tell which comedians have weak material because they always swear to fill in the gaps. Swearing on Twitter is lazy and distasteful.
4. You’re a porn star, multi-level marketer or SEO expert.
Enough said.
5. All you tweet is stuff you’re trying to sell.
Occasionally tweeting about your books, services, etc. is fine. But not all the time. I’ve rarely mentioned my own books on Twitter. I figure that if I’m adding value to people’s lives through Twitter, then, at some point, they might check out my books. But if they don’t, that’s fine too. That’s not why I’m on Twitter anyway.
6. All you do is tweet Bible verses or inspirational quotes.
Seriously people, please stop this. It’s annoying. I have a Bible. I can Google inspirational quote websites. Just stop. Doing this shows me you really don’t care about relationships. It’s annoying and lazy.
7. You endlessly share links to posts you’ve stored in Buffer.
The advent of Buffer has now put the fine art of wasting other people’s time in the hands of amateurs. Please stop. I will follow legitimate news sites if I want late-breaking news.
8. I tweet you a question and you don’t answer.
Again, this communicates that you think you’re a celebrity or that you don’t care. I’m following you because I want to connect with you, period. If I can’t, I won’t. It’s that simple.
9. You don’t share tweets about the real you.
I follow you because you have something to teach me; not just through your writing, but through your life. Let me glean a bit of insight into what it’s like to be you – the joys, the struggles, and the heartbreak. I tell Senior Pastors I coach to be themselves. Don’t fall into creating an online persona. Tweet themselves.
10. You tweet too frequently.
Nobody, unless they are using automated software or are obsessive compulsive workaholics, can post every 15 minutes or even every hour. Post because you feel like it, not because you want to drive up your Twitter stats. I’d rather read one insightful post from you about your day than 29 pre-loaded Buffer links.
11. You put #TeamFollowBack in your profile.
Putting #teamfollowback or #Ifollowback in your profile is code for other people who are obsessed with their Twitter follower counts to follow you and re-tweet you, knowing that you’ll do the same for them. Do that and I’ll un-follow you instantly.
12. You’re a University of Michigan football, Dallas Cowboys, or Yankees fan.
As a godly, upstanding, and moral Christian, I have to stand my ground. #GoBucks #GoEagles #Go Phillies
Resonate with any of these?
