Today I posted the following tweet: @kirstamcpherson: In social media, as in life, think before you talk folks. In fact, some of you should probably not bother talking at all.

What I received in response were follows from FIVE social media consultants of varying qualifications (two "gurus", one "specialist", a "consultant" and one "leader"). Really people?

First off, I work in social media myself (hence the tweet), so I'm pretty sure I don't need your services. And second, if I did, that tactic would make me about a thousand times LESS likely to choose you out of the plethora of gurus beating their proverbial chests on Twitter.

My logic, you see, is this: If you have to resort to a form of ambulance chasing to get your name out there and gain followers, why should I trust you with my brand? There is a TON of noise in this space, and all you are doing is contributing to it. If you want to earn my business, engage me. Respond to my tweet with insight of your own. Don't just follow me because I used a key word that you have some app set up to scour for. Talk to me, level with me, start a meaningful two way conversation, and then I'll listen. Do yourself what you would advise your customers do. And if this is what you're selling, and you're advising your clients to auto-follow and not engage, well then I REALLY want no part of what you've got to offer.

But all this is hypothetical, because like I said, I work in social media and don't need your services. But if you would have taken the time to read my bio and tweets before following me, you'd already know this.