Lessons Learned from a Twitter Timeout
Twitter suspended
Yesterday provided an amazing lesson. A ton (yes, probably a ton, if you could weigh them) of legitimate Twitter accounts were suspended. WOW! We’re not talking any accounts here, we are talking big hitters like my friend and social media goddess Mari Smith (Twitter – @marismith), Twitter blogger @AlFerretti, plus – @CoachDeb, @JoelComm, and @Tweetlater.
Twitter says that the account suspensions were due to human error. Here’s what they had to say:
Earlier today, we accidentally suspended a number of accounts.
We regret the human error that led to these mistaken suspensions and we are working to restore the affected accounts—we expect this to be completed in the next several hours.
One additional note: some the accounts suspended were using the third-party site Tweetlater. However, Tweetlater is not to blame for these suspensions nor is it in violation of our Terms.
Read all about it here on Twitters tatus Blog:
http://status.twitter.com/post/136164828/restoring-accidentally-suspended-accounts
Oops!
Mashable was one of the first to break the story – and a story of intrigue it was.
There seems to be a wave of suspensions going around Twitter today, and it’s turning quickly into an echo chamber of confusion and frustration. We’ve received several tips (the first one being from Mashable guest writer Matt Singley) that a range of users are being taken down, including some with large followings such as @marismith and the LA Times Top of the Ticket account. A quick look at Twitter chatter is another indication that something’s amiss.
Read Mashables article here:
http://mashable.com/2009/07/05/twitter-account-suspensions/
So is there anything to be learned from all this?
- As with an off-line brick and morter business, disaster can strike. Just like a flood might “liquidate” your business, one push of a button can inadvertently delete your social network account… OUCH! See Number 2
- Make sure you are connected in multiple places, like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, FriendFeed and your own blog! That way if disaster strikes in one arena – you have connections and friends in the others that can help!
As Mari puts it herself on her great blog: Why FacebookIt’s vital to your social media success to be diversified and have a) a built-out Facebook profile (unless you’re choosing to only use your profile for close personal friends/family), b) a built-out Facebook Fan Page, c) an active blog with increasing subscribers, d) an active account on LinkedIn with increasing contacts e) an active channel on YouTube, f) an active, built-out account on FriendFeed… and many, many more platforms.
- Stay connected and pay attention to your connections – Don’t simply go after numbers of social media connections, go forth and engage people. This will help both your presence and business grow online.
- Make sure all of your networks are intertwined – Very convenient if you have a problem with one – then friends can alert you through another.
- Take action – At one time or another, I have had my Facebook and Myspace accounts suspended. By being proactive, meaning I contacted them (vigorously), I got my accounts restored.This from Al Ferretti at TwitterWatchDog.com:
Sadly, tonight Skeeter Hansen and myself (Al Ferretti) became part of the suspended on Twitter. When we logged into twitter we received a message in a redbox that states:
Account Suspended
This account is currently suspended and is being investigated due to strange activity. If we have suspended your account mistakenly, please let us know. See Suspended Accounts for more information.Meanwhile, if you visited our updates while we were under suspension, you would’ve seen the infamous “Mosey along now”
Ouch Again!
Read more from TwitterWatchDog.com here:
http://twitterwatchdog.com/2009/07/05/mosey-along-now-accounts-suspended-on-twitter/
Read the rest of Mari’s article:
http://whyfacebook.com/2009/07/06/lessons-learned-from-temporary-twitter-account-suspension/
Tags: Al Ferretti, Facebook, FriendFeed, Joel Comm, LinkedIn, Mari Smith, Mashable, social media, social network, suspended twitter account, Twitter, Twitter chatter, twitter suspended
Thanks for the mention Lennie. I have fully recovered from the withdrawals~
Your Pal Al @alferretti
Hey Lennie – many thanks for your lovely props here!! Great minds think alike, eh! Whew, so glad that is all behind us – but it’s like any “catastrophe,” perceived or otherwise, it can actually serve to bond us all more!!! Gotta love that! Definitely interesting to see/read all the responses and reactions though.
I too was suspended. I am disabled and have published my Memoir and also artist work. I was attempting to filter through and erase the thugs and whores from my account and got suspended because I deleted and search too much in too short of a time. OK, I got that I understand how that could be seen as suspicious, BUT ITS NOT!!!!!!!!!
I have sent two seperate Support ID and neither one has been resolved or addressed. In fact one was closed right after I opened it. Too date, the Twitter account Normajeansun has not come back online and this has a direct impacrt on my ability to support and move past my current limitations of my book exposure. Since I am honest, not a liar, thug or whore who wants to show you something; You would think the staff at Twitter could easily see that Im just a simple guy attempting to improve my life.
I had 800 plus followers and my website and traffic has almost dropped off since Twitter did this. I wonder if you can Sue them for Defimation or Slander or directly impacting my ability to survive? Since I am disabled and my hope at additional income comes directly from my artwork and book, I wonder if this can get turned back on soon? I just want my account up, thats all.
If you would like to verify and visit my website, it can be found at http://www.kriscourtney.com – Thank you…
In that, please show me a Twitter Safe way of getting rid of the Ecrooks and Scammers in a way that Twits Software wont freak out over the amount of traffic. I had over 150 tweets that contained quotes and excerpts from my Memoir, Norma Jean’s Sun. I have no way of getting those back in the thought and order that I worked so Hard at putting place. I had artists, singers, Book Stores, Publishers and Media channels following Me! I was actually having a success at talking/tweeting with my followers and then POOF, Gone because I tried to get rid of the FOOLS that steal my time and energy. Hmmm is Twitting just for fools, liars, thugs and whores???
Oh, by the way I opened another account under my name, kriscourtney and I instantly got 23 Whores and Ecrooks following me. I feel so loved… Thanks Twits
I’m frustrated
Wow, thank God this did not happen to my account. It seems like it has not happened again anyways. But I guess this post is really important as it emphasize the importance of diversification. It is crucial to have many different exit gates in case of disaster like the one happened with Twitter.
Nice post. Keep up the great job.
Andres Arana
Raleigh SEO Expert