When someone follows you on Twitter do you follow them back?
It is one of those social media questions that generates strong opinions. I asked some people this question earlier today and got some interesting responses:
"Since we are talking "social media" you want to follow back someone who follows you so that you can possibly forge some social relationship or connection."
"Why? I only want to follow people I am interested in."
"Absolutely! It would be rude not to follow someone back. I mean, we are not talking about a real commitment here. It is about potential connections."
"It seems like the right thing to do, yes."
"Me? Nope."
OK, no consensus in the office. My research is, admittedly, not exactly scientific. What about some of the more popular "Tweeters?"
I took a look at the Top 100 Twitter Users (based on followers) on Twitaholic, each of the Top 100 Twitter Users have more than 1.5 million followers yet none of these users follow more than a few 100,000 (at most). Maybe if you are trying to amass the most followers, "re-following" is not important. Then again, how many of us are truly trying to simply amass as many followers as possible?
I'll admit it - after "tweeting" for just over 90 days I still get a smile on my face when I see that I have new Twitter followers. At the same time, I realize that the number of Twitter followers that I have is not necessarily what is important. What is important is connections and trust. As such, I have made the choice to follow people that follow me (in addition to those that I choose to follow). I do not have significant connections with each of the people that follow me, although I have made some connections that have allowed me to expand my business and increase my knowledge. To me, that is what makes following my followers worth it.
How about you? Do you follow your Twitter followers? If so why? If not, why not? Comment or tweet me @jonathanmast
