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There's a huge "Follow so-and-so" Twitter button immediately following the writing, so I'm pretty sure that the corny self-promotion didn't need to be part of t

There's a huge "Follow so-and-so" Twitter button immediately following the writing, so I'm pretty sure that the corny self-promotion didn't need to be part of the article itself. I read lots of articles where this happens, and it's always jarring.

robryan 14y ago
The suggestion text has been shown to work better than just placing a button. Building up your personal brand can be worth a lot in the long run, so why not?
- michaelgrafl 14y ago
  I don't like being manipulated. Every time I see a "You should follow me on Twitter" kinda thing I make it a point to not follow the author, or maybe even unfollow them. Holding your readership in higher regards than a meaningless metric can be worth a lot in the long run, too.
  - ashray 14y ago
    Manipulated ? He just said in other words - "Hey follow me on twitter if you want to stay updated". Is that manipulation according to you ? I actually looked for the twitter button on his site so that I could follow him - since I did enjoy the post and would like to see more from him. Didn't feel manipulated though.
    - Qualman 14y ago
      I think the idea is that, if I like what he has to say, I'll just do it. He doesn't have to ask, and doing so _inside_ the post shifts the whole thing from inspirational anecdote, to well-written justification of why you should follow his Twitter.
      - michaelgrafl 14y ago
        I agree. It devalues the article because it becomes part of an agenda instead of standing on its own.
    - michaelgrafl 14y ago
      Fair enough. The way he embedded the suggestion seemed contrived and inorganic to me. If some one puts a link to their Twitter account beneath a post, I know what to do if I want to follow them because of their output. If I have confidence in my output I will trust my audience to find the right degree of involvement they want to have with me. No need to push it. Maybe I'm weird that way, but I think the OP knew exactly what he was doing, and stuff like that rubs me the wrong way because I find it undignified, harshly put.
pjscott 14y ago
I'm about as aware of those buttons as I am of individual grasshoppers in tall grass during summer, i.e. not very. They're everywhere, and I hardly ever want to press them. See also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banner_blindness http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banner_blindness

robryan 14y ago

The suggestion text has been shown to work better than just placing a button. Building up your personal brand can be worth a lot in the long run, so why not?

michaelgrafl 14y ago
I don't like being manipulated. Every time I see a "You should follow me on Twitter" kinda thing I make it a point to not follow the author, or maybe even unfollow them. Holding your readership in higher regards than a meaningless metric can be worth a lot in the long run, too.
- ashray 14y ago
  Manipulated ? He just said in other words - "Hey follow me on twitter if you want to stay updated". Is that manipulation according to you ? I actually looked for the twitter button on his site so that I could follow him - since I did enjoy the post and would like to see more from him. Didn't feel manipulated though.
  - Qualman 14y ago
    I think the idea is that, if I like what he has to say, I'll just do it. He doesn't have to ask, and doing so _inside_ the post shifts the whole thing from inspirational anecdote, to well-written justification of why you should follow his Twitter.
    - michaelgrafl 14y ago
      I agree. It devalues the article because it becomes part of an agenda instead of standing on its own.
  - michaelgrafl 14y ago
    Fair enough. The way he embedded the suggestion seemed contrived and inorganic to me. If some one puts a link to their Twitter account beneath a post, I know what to do if I want to follow them because of their output. If I have confidence in my output I will trust my audience to find the right degree of involvement they want to have with me. No need to push it. Maybe I'm weird that way, but I think the OP knew exactly what he was doing, and stuff like that rubs me the wrong way because I find it undignified, harshly put.

pjscott 14y ago

I'm about as aware of those buttons as I am of individual grasshoppers in tall grass during summer, i.e. not very. They're everywhere, and I hardly ever want to press them. See also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banner_blindness http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banner_blindness