Are Twitter direct messages dead, or dying a slow death?

 
One of the direct messages greeting me yesterday in my Twitter inbox said, "Your direct message was received but we do NOT read DMs for this account. If you do want to contact us via Twitter, use the @TMpodcast."

Now, either this is a very clever way to get people to reply to this company (and hence push up their followers and exposure), or direct messages are on their way into the grave.

Maybe, they've already been put in the ground and buried?

Actually, @TMpodcast told me on Tweetdeck, through a reply, that "...95% of all our DM's are spam. At least with email we can filter."

I liked direct messages when I started tweeting. They felt kind of personal and intimate. Then, I realized I could set up an auto direct message to new followers thanking them for following. In fact, my direct message to new followers says, "Thanks for the follow! Watch for twitter tips and Vernon, BC info on Vernon Girl . I send it using a software called Socialoomph.

 

When I discovered another software named Tweet Adder, I realized that users can filter out all direct messages that contain links.

 
Unfortunately, many Twitter accounts have been hacked and more spam and phishing schemes are sent through direct messages.

So, are direct messages on their way out?

I think they are still powerful with new Twitter users who are unjaded. I have to admit, I still look forward to piling through them in my in-box to get a quick overview of who is following me and how many followers they have, even though there is a column in Tweetdeck for new followers.

If you want to give some life-support to your direct messages, I would recommend leaving out your link.

(I'm going into my autobot now to delete mine.) That way your direct message won't be filtered out by software like Tweet Adder.

Also, I find it nice when people personalize their direct message.

If you put my name in a direct message, it feels like it is actually meant for me and it isn't an autobot.

But, like one of my readers commented on this controversial article about direct messages, Twitter is a platform for having public conversations. So don't rely too much on direct messages. Use the reply or retweet buttons instead.

Thanks for reading!

Courtenay Pitcher, direct message reader and Twitter addict
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