Yesterday, @teridoubtfire stumbled across a charity Twitter account, clearly run by an agency (the people that worked at the agency were the only ones retweeting it), that was busily tweeting celebrities, one after the other, with messages that looked like this:

@celebritytwittername <insert name of appeal> + <link to page>

Unfortunately, this is not the first time we’ve come across this exact approach from an agency – many are cutting their teeth on social media at the moment, and learning at the expense of their clients’ brands.  Fair enough, we all have to learn, and we’re all learning all the time, but selling your learning, when you’re still taking your first steps, as expertise…?

This morning I got two @replies on Twitter, both from charities, which were also of the same ilk.  I don’t want to name and shame, so I’ll make them as anonymous as I can:

@rachelbeer Christmas appeal in support of <mission statement + link>

@rachelbeer <name of star> single out now! All £ to <name of charity + link> Pls RT

I’m flattered, really I am.  To think that someone took the time to target me, based – presumably – on the number of followers I have and the fact that I have the word ‘charities’ in my biog is so thoughtful.

It made me wonder whether Twitter is about to be swamped with basic, blunt charity Christmas asks, directed @people, rather than engagingly and following on organically from a relationship they’ve previously built with supporters over the previous months.

I do hope not – because being on the receiving end of them is not exactly a motivating experience.

Tags: Charities, charity communications, socialmedia, socialweb, Twitter