If the front page of your profile is composed entirely of no-input @ replies such as "yeah" or "I think so too," then I'm not interested in following.

<abbr>iloivar´s last blog post..Songwriting</abbr>

Grant,

You're still following me after all my banter with @amyderby?

John

<abbr>John Haydon´s last blog post..Social Media Coaching - Half Off Until December 31st</abbr>

1. The affiliate marketer. I don't mind the ebooks or information that am interested in but I draw the line at the "I've Got Millions and So Can You" people.

2. I don't know what you are tweeting. I've had several people follow who post nothing but URLs. The URLs they post are all shortened with no description...so just imagine all their tweets start with http://tinyurl.com/

1.Spammers or affiliate marketing types the "let me show you how to double your income in less that a week" or "let me show you how you can lose 10 inches around your waist in 10 days" and all of their tweets are spamming others with their "knowledge".

2.I won't follow someone who won't follow me back. I give people about a few weeks or so to follow back, if they don't I stop following them.

3. They set their tweets to private, that's fine if I know the person already but if I don't know who you are then I'm not going to send a request just because you are following me.

4. No @replies to anyone. Either using Twitter strictly for advertising where all the tweets read like this "I just updated my", "New blog post" "read my article on" or using it like facebook where it reads "is running late for work" "is feeding the cat""is watching tv"

I don't follow MLMers or other 'automatic revenue' followers. In fact, I block them. I don't even want them to read my posts. Besides most of them, don't have other followers and they don't post anything or anything interesting.

When I get a follower I look at their posts - if I find them even a little interesting I follow.

Sometimes I don't follow if they have a HUGE # of posts - some people I follow now post a lot and the only reason that I don't un-follow is that I get an interesting link or two every day or nearly every day. That's enough to keep me in the game.

I also like to follow people that have a decent mix of business and outside interests.

http://twitter.com/OnSiteStudios

Thank you so much to all of you who have taken the time to read and best of all, comment on this post. Each of you have added to the conversation and it only makes it better. What I love is when the comments are actually better than the post itself.

Thanks Again!!!!

I'm new to twitter and it's kind of exciting to start following people whose blogs I've been reading for a long time. You get to hear the not-so-edited version of what they're doing. I have really appreciated that most of the people I've followed have followed me back, even though I thought they might be too big and important with thousands of followers to even bother.

Anyway, to answer the question with my limited experience, I don't follow people who are obviously just internet marketing. I've gotten a few followers that are obviously "internet marketers" and a few have un-followed me when I didn't follow them back!

The other things mentioned are really good points. I'm glad I'm hearing this as I'm just starting out on twitter, because twitter does seem a bit more intimate than a blog. I'd hate to have weirdos or people who sell stuff knowing my every move. :)

I came back to read this again, b/c it was interesting, and noticed a mistake I made, so want to correct it now. I meant to say:

Someone who tweets in a language I don't understand.

Finally, one more thing.

Someone who uses Magpie.

At first I was thinking, what's wrong with Magpie, everybody's got to make a living! Then I encountered it last night in a stream. It was obnoxious! At least the way this tweeter was using it. I imagine it was Magpie. He never added a word to the conversation, except ads (I'm assuming their from Magpie).

He tweeted things like, "I'm sitting down at the table now, eating crackers from Nabisco!" When I saw that come down the stream I did a double take. I almost tweeted back: "@ ________ you have to be kidding! get real! if you want credibility, stop!" But I didn't say it, as I didn't want to embarrass him. I was hoping he would notice how he sounded and quit Magpie. I'm imagining it was Magpie.

Two seconds later this came down the stream. "Nobody paid me to say that. I really was eating Nabisco Crackers." One minute went by. "Shop at Wal-Mart, to get a rebate on Kodak EasyShare M863 Digi Cam." Okay, THAT sounded real natural! What was he going to say this time. One minute later. "Shop at Wal-Mart..." "Hmmm," I thought. "He's either got stock in Wal-Mart or Magpie." Probably Magpie. Okay, so this tweeter went on like that for HOURS, all night actually, w/o saying one other word but Magpie tweets. I wonder why. Perhaps he just wanted to make money -- so he set his tweets for Magpie, just left his computer on, walked away,and let Magpie run. Not a wise idea. That made him tweet about Wal-Mart, Nabisco, and other products all night, and he didn't contribute to the conversation. That took up space in the stream and I guess made him a, gulp, spammer. This was someone I had hitherto respected. It is not that I disrespect him now. Everyone can make mistakes. He can come back and say he goofed and won't do it anymore. If he doesn't, good bye, I am unfollowing, as he has lost credibility and has taken up space in the stream that flows really fast and needs to stay clear of debris to see all results!

Krissy :)
visit my main blog: Sometimes I Think
visit me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/iamkrissy

@Krissy knox

Magpie tweets are always prefaced by #magpie so that you are aware that they are ad tweets, so that wasn't magpie that you were seeing - that something different entirely.

Did his tweets include links?

<abbr>Kris´s last blog post..Take the David Allen GTD IQ test</abbr>

@Kris. I don't remember if there were links in the tweets, b/c I was doing my best to ignore them. But I don't remember them starting with #magpie. Actually, I am sure they didn't. I apologize for making the assumption. Wow, I guess there must be another service out there, and they don't identify themselves. Frightening thought. Anyway, thanks for setting me straight on the Magpie thing. :)

When choosing who to follow on Twitter, I go with those I find interesting or are involved in something of interest. That way, not only is it a networking tool, it is also a learning tool.
That said, I do have a few things that will keep me from hitting the follow button.
1. No name, location or information about the person behind the account.
2. No link to a website
3. No picture/image, although if they are brand new to Twitter I may overlook this if the other items and info are present.
4. An obvious Spammer
For me it's not about the number of followers/following but about building relationships and learning about those in my Twitter network.

<abbr>Tina Hilton´s last blog post..Freelance Site Red Flags</abbr>

I get about 5 new followers per day. I always check them out, but I definitely won't follow if:

1. They have no avatar image (a logo's okay, if it's a business I know or have heard of) or a barely-clothed female's photo.

2. No description or person's name, or no home page link.

3. 1,000 followed and 10 followers, or any ratio along those lines.

4. One tweet posted, or no new tweets within the last few days.

I'll look at their page and review their recent tweets. Even if they meet the above criteria, I may not follow if their description doesn't include something I'm interested in at the moment. But I do revisit my followers list from time to time.

<abbr>Debbie´s last blog post..Getting ready for 2009</abbr>

All the reasons you mentioned. Plus:
1. Bad language
2. too many ad tweets

I stop following.

I'm really new to the whole Twitter-verse. I resisted for a long time because I just assumed it was one more way to waste a whole lot of time (the same reason I won't install AIM or any of the instant messengers).

Now that I've given in and started tweeting, I'm starting to notice a handful of things that really drive me nuts. Among all the things you mention, I really hate it when someone power-tweets about ten re-tweets an hour. I think there's a line between helping out friends and just bro-jobbing the blogosphere.

At this point, though, I have zero Twitter presence, so I'm not being too choosy. I'm just trying to make some friends for the time being!

-Jason

<abbr>Jason Lengstorf´s last blog post..The JavaScript Switcharoo</abbr>

One more thing. If they have magpie in their tweets.

1. When I go to check out their site. They have a pop-up to sign-up for their sales junk. Very annoying. If they have great content. People will sign up.

2. Not related to my industry or not what I'm into. (real estate, music bands, sales online)

3. All their tweets are about promoting their product and services.

4. No conversations with their followers.

5. Their ratio of following/followers.

Excellent question.

1. Somebody who follows like 10 people but who has 5,000 followers. I just won't do it. It reminds me of someone who wants to be a rockstar. He insists, you WILL be my friend, but don't expect me to be yours! I am special! Wave to me from afar! I expect you to follow me -- do NOT expect me to reciprocate.

2. Someone who adds nothing to the conversation. Ever. I wonder if they are a bought. This could be an MLMer. But not always. Sometimes they have PLENTY to offer. But if they only sell, and never have a word to say, ever, ever, who knows if they are even a bought?

3. ANYBODY who takes any does not give! They are trying to sell something (their blog, their product, their nonprofit cause, anything). They are spamming basically. They're gaming. They take and take, add nothing to the conversation, sometimes LITERALLY not ONE word, and expect others to give!

4. This is perhaps the most important one. Somebody who is snarky and slams you. They may be very subtle about it. They are very insecure and jealous you have followers. They are insecure you have a network They will say something to threaten you, perhaps even make a statement through THEIR network to let you know that they don't approve that of something you do. They are trying to threaten you not to post, maybe even scare you off of Twitter. They do it in such a subtle way, that others can't pin them down on it, or say anything to them. They are 1.) trying to intimidate you into quitting Twitter. and 2.) influence others not to follow you. They do this by peer pressure. They need not be so insecure. There is enough followers for everybody, and we can share followers. And yes, if you are reading this, I am sure the several of you most likely know who you are, LOL. You don't intimidate me, you sadden me, as I thought most on Twitter were nothing but classy. I find the folks on Twitter to be the most intelligent, most classiest, highest quality of friends I have. Very intellectually stimulating, very giving, very classy, very helpful. I love you all. :)

5. I won't follow someone who makes like one tweet a week.

6. Somebody who has nothing to do with my field or interest. But then I have a lot of interests. So I follow a lot of people.

7. Someone who did anything in anyway sexual.

8. Someone who did anything against the Lord.

9. Someone who was immoral.

10. Someone who Tweeted in an image I didn't understand.

11. Someone who was obviously using me to just get more followers yet has no interest in me.

12. Someone who is mean.

13. Someone who gossips about other Tweeters behind their back, perhaps b/c they are jealous of them.

I do have standards, LOL, and yet I do have followers. I follow those who may have thousands of followers (and sometimes they ask me first, sometimes I ask them first), and I will also follow somebody who has three followers. I love all different kinds of people, and how many followers someone has makes no difference to me. I am not afraid to ask those with many followers to be in my network, b/c I am a person of worth, at the same time, I am not like those who won't ask someone who has five -- they are also a person of worth! They need to know how to be taught to get followers of similar interests also!

So sorry I rambled. I hope I added something of worth. I really enjoyed this post!

Krissy :)
http://sometimesithink-krissy.blogspot.com
www.twitter.com/iamkrissy

<abbr>krissy knox´s last blog post..Merry Christmas from John and Krissy</abbr>

I have a similar list at http://cathystucker.com/why-i-do-not-follow-you...

I have to disagree with not following people who have fewer than 50 followers. We all had fewer than 50 followers at some time. If they otherwise seem to be "follow-worthy," I will follow someone who has only a few followers.

Because I encourage my blog and newsletter readers to get on Twitter and follow me, if I know they came in that way I will usually follow them although they do not have a track record yet on Twitter.

Although there are many ways to use Twitter, I think most people agree with not wanting to follow the IM spammers. Maybe they can all just follow each other and leave the rest of us alone. ;o)

Using a logo instead of an picture of yourself doesn't necessarily make you a spammer and can still make a person worth following on twitter. For some, it's a case of protecting personal ID. I've just blogged about it to try and explain the reasons:

http://www.techandlife.com/2008/12/online-ident...

<abbr>techandlife´s last blog post..Online identity and privacy</abbr>

I use some of the same criteria you mention. Here is my basic list.

1 No display image or avatar

2 No description of themself and or no website link on profile

3 They are following 1000 people and only have 20 followers (high follow to no follow ratio)

Here is one that has become a recent pet peeve of mine but have been seeing it alot. Someone new follows me and I check their profile and they look like someone I'd like to follow so I follow them back. Next I immediately get an auto reply thanking me and asking me to check out their blog or their crappy E-book or whatever. I'm like wtf slow down cowboy let's share a couple tweet first or something. I'll just immediately unfollow that person I mean if they are going to act like that right off the bat I'm sure I'll be able to count on other ultra spammy behavior from that person so I'll just unfollow and never let them have the opportunity to spam me with their affiliate links or whatever. :-)

<abbr>Gerald Weber SEM Group´s last blog post..Is Your Captcha Killing Your Business?</abbr>

I don't mind the auto DM's to at least welcome and say thanks for the follow. But, I agree. Asking me to click on their junk on a first date is a bit much for me too.

I've been cleaning out my Twitter list over the past week or so and so far I've dropped about 500 people AND I've been more selective about who I follow. So I don't usually put this much thought into it, its just something I've recently re-evaluated.

I hesitate to follow people who use "Internet marketer" in their bio. I don't usually follow them unless their tweets indicate that they are active and sociable i.e. not just here to spam me.

I don't follow people who are following like 2,000 people but only 150 are following them back.

I don't follow people whose tweets are all just direct statements (links or not)...no @ replies, no actual conversation, just literal answers to the question "What are you doing?"

I make most of my decisions based on the content of their first page of updates. If I see they're using Twitter in a way that meshes with my own ideas of how Twitter should be used, then I'll follow them.

I've also been making an effort to follow people who seem to be new to Twitter based on their number of followers/followees and updates. I see a lot of cliques and Twitter snobbery and I don't want to be one of those people.

<abbr>April´s last blog post..The Power of Plugins</abbr>

I love the huge following : followers ratio. It usually is a great indication of a twammer. Not only do I not follow, I usually block too.

I won't continue to follow someone if I email, dm @ reply with them and they still don't follow me back that's just not sociable ;)

It is nice when they actually show interest when you make an effort. I agree. No return, no longer follow. Thanks for reading and commenting. BTW, love the big blue eyes. LOL