Why I don't ask for retweets
I've never asked anyone to retweet the messages I post on Twitter. I just can't bring myself to do it. I liken it to saying: "Please think I'm awesome enough to share what I post with your network," or "Please laugh at this joke."
It just sounds too much like begging to me and eventhough a good friend has suggested it to me many times, it's never gonna happen.
My belief is that if I post something worth sharing, people will share it. If they find it valuable to anyone other than themselves then they will pass it along, and they often do. I like seeing that happen organically and I don't want to muddy the waters.
Retweeting is very personal. We all have different people in our networks and we know them best. You can argue that there are times when soliciting retweets is appropriate like when you're raising money for a specific issue or cause.
And you may be right.
But chances are people would do it even if you didn't ask, if they share the same passion. And there lies the rub. Shared passion!
I think that's organic and doesn't need to be forced.
Comments
I totally agree. I'm also not into thanking people who retweet me, as though they did me this ginormous favor. I think we can all silently thank each other. Is that ok, or am I breaking all kinds of Twitter rules?
I agree with you Jenn. I don't think it's breaking any rules and I do think that we are all grateful for retweets. No need to say it every time.
I agree with you 100%. I want people to share my content if they feel that others would get value from it.
I hear what you are saying, but every piece of research I have ever seen on Twitter and retweeting is when you ask you generally get much more attention and RT's than not asking. Interesting subject... Needs further research and study.
You can ask but each time you do you're spending equity you've built through delivering great content. Think of it as paying it forward vs. asking for a gift. If I RT your message as a favor to you, I'm risking my reputation and imposing on my followers.
Asking for RT is a push - social media is 95% pull, only 5% push - spend it wisely.
Thank you for re-confirming for me why I'm not living the Twitter dream. The whole 'I followed you, you should follow me' and 'Please RT' and 'Thanks so and so and so and so for RTing' and 'Why didn't you follow me back?' jungle exhausts me. I agree, Angela; I think if something is worth sharing, it will be shared. Don't we preach this to our clients all the time?
I'm glad you agree Kira. I know it's a personal choice and I am simply stating why this one is mine. I did laugh at your "living the twitter dream" comment, though!
Like I said, I just can't bring myself to do it. I think that gratitude is implied.
Go ahead and ask for retweets. No one is reading anything anyway.
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