If you’re a business using Twitter ALWAYS make sure you’re following someone before asking them to DM (Direct Message) you.

I noticed this little exchange in my Twitter stream this morning:

Always follow people before asking them to DM you on Twitter

It reminded me of a few times when businesses I was interacting with on Twitter asked me to send them personal details by direct message (DM) so they could answer a query or resolve a problem. When I tried to DM them I found they weren’t following me, so Twitter blocked the DM.

While it may not seem like a big deal, any delay is frustrating in a quick-fire medium like Twitter, it introduces an unnecessary barrier in the business-customer interaction, one that’s really easy to avoid.

Before asking someone to DM you, just make sure you’re already following them. Simple!