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What’s a bot?

Internet bots, also known as web robots, WWW robots or simply bots, are software applications that run automated tasks over the Internet. Typically, bots perform tasks that are both simple and structurally repetitive, at a much higher rate than would be possible for a human alone.

Whenever I share the tweets I get from bots (search for #DADM on Twitter, I get lots of comments from people who claim that they automatically stop following anyone that uses them.

Hating bots is like killing the messenger. There are good task for bots all over the net. You might even be reading this post because a bot caused the headline to appear somewhere.

The animosity people feel toward auto DMs on Twitter is for bots that post repetitive messages. Even a “thank you for following” message end up looking like spam when you add “check out my xxx”

Social media can be very profitable when you use it to interaction with prospects, clients and thought leaders. When I say “interact” I mean to listen or have a two way conversation.

If your primary goal is to blast out sales messages, you may find advertising to be just as effective. What’s profitable in social media is hidden in the things that advertising can’t do.

If you have a bot, or even a person sending out a repetitive message, think about dumping that in favor of some more listening. When you do, you’ll find that people are anxious to find someone to share their interests, questions and problems with. Answer those and they’ll be attracted to you and your products and services.

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