Not long ago I began using a free service call TrueTwit. It is a free captcha validation service than is supposed to prevent automated spam bots from following you.  Pretty simple and straightforward.  It has its limitations.  If the spammer is a real person and enters the captcha code, he’s in until you get rid of him manually.   That being said, there has been a noticeable reduction in “I’m so horny” and “make 300 dollars the hard way” bots.

The other day I received a Direct Message from @tweetuptexas. A quick look at the twitter page confirms that the person is trying to brand him/herself as one of many Twitter services that help organize and broadcast local tweet-ups. Nothing unique or even remotely appealing as an already done- spun and re-spun twitter model.

While the DM’s messages seemed to have disappeared this person basically tweeted me what a jerk and sad pathetic individual I was for asking people to validate that they are not spam bots. Here are a couple of the public tweets around the interaction for context.

Here is the novel and brilliant @tweetuptexas branding strategy:

When you are new to twitter trying to start a Texas Tweetup business, find the most active tweeters in your own back yard.  Find the ones who have been doing this for a while and have large followings. Then send them all insulting uninformed douchebag messages about what sad pathetic losers they are for doing something different than you do.

Interesting business strategy. I am curious to see how that was outlined and factored in the ROI in the @tweetuptexas business plan.

Nothing is certain in business or in the twitter universe. There is however one thing I am relatively sure of.  More legitimate, respected tweeters will read this blog than will ever follow @texastweetup. Maybe they should try making 300 dollars the hard way.