Do you remember Tom Hanks Mr. Short-Term Memory? This was a great skit (written by Conan O’Brien) in which Mr. Short-Term Memory can’t remember the last thing that just happened or was said.
If you use an auto reply on your Twitter account, there is a good chance your first impressions with new connections sound a lot like a conversation with Mr. Short-Term Memory.
I think this is a prime example of confusing the need to be efficient vs. being effective. Tools like auto reply can make us feel like they are improving our efficiency, but are really hurting our effectiveness.
Here is how this plays on Twitter:
You follow me and I receive a notification. I check out your profile, decide you like to talk about what I like to talk about, so I follow you back. Next thing I know, I receive a direct message from you asking me why I followed you, what would I like you to tweet about.
Now let’s suppose we meet at the chamber:
Bill: Hi, my name is Bill. What’s your name?
Jane: Hi Bill, I’m Jane. I’ve heard a lot about you and I’m happy to finally meet you.
Bill: Thanks, nice to meet you to. Blah, blah, blah (I’m a brilliant conversationalist <g>)
We go on to meet other people. 10 minutes later, we bump into each other at the coffee table.
Bill: Hi, my name is Bill. What’s your name?
Jane: Er, Hi Bill, I’m Jane.
Bill: Great to meet you Jane. What brings you here today? Was there anyone special you came here to meet?
How much are you looking forward to our next conversation? Can’t wait to recommend me to your friends? Of course not. You’d think I was an idiot, right?
So before you pick a tool to help you “make great time”, make sure you are also headed in the right direction.
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Bill Brelsford Small Business Marketing Consultant
