All of these new trends to gather followers just validate why I protect my updates:
-Tweeting long lists of people to follow when there is no connection to begin with, only doing so to gain a RT or a follow.
-Auto-tweeting and auto-RT’ing posts just to keep the twitter profile appearance legit.
-Creating a real Twitter account only to send DM’s about purchasing software for more followers.

I had to change my name in my profile because of all the ‘Charity’ Twitter accounts were following me. I couldn’t keep up with or sort the notifications! For those people that are still using auto-follow and auto-DM’s (even thank you’s), please stop.

Wow! I totally vented on your Blog Sonny! Maybe my experiences will help others. This was a great post! Thanks for sharing.

@Kasey – There is definitely a fine line with the goals between getting a lot of followers and awareness to your non-profit’s mission, but to me, your head is in the right place. And though you may be less selective, you’re conscious of the people you’re trying to connect with and hopefully capturing their attention to your non-profit’s cause.

However, I consult for a small non-profit. We raise less than 150K a year right now, so we’re simply trying to get our name and message out. Since we’re focused on intial awareness, I’m more of a numbers guy with this organization. We’re fighting United Way and the bigger non-profits, so until we have a signicant following, we’re limited on what we can do. Am I going around adding everyone and anyone? No, but I less selective with those I connect with. Again, not spamming simple to have 1000 followers, but more open to non-traditional connections.

Of course, what disturbs and concerns me most is that the way they’re doing it and the values they’re bringing to it will become the norm. I shudder to think in those terms, but we’ve seen social media become less that it could/should be in other ways, pay-per-post for instance.

Somehow we have to get people to understand that altruism (relatively speaking, of course) is more beneficial than greed, and that it’s got that added benefit of feeling good, too. Maybe altruism is too idealistic; maybe we can start with getting folks out there to understand the concept of mutualistic symbiosis (I totally went for the science angle there, lol).

Good post, sir!

@Andrew – It’s great to hear that you’re finding the information not only useful but applicable to a real-life strategy. Let me know how your Fan Page is doing in a few months. I’m sure it will be great!

Andrew