Twitter – How To Auto-Reply And Auto Follow
Posted on 07. Oct, 2008 by Brian Wong in Social Media
IMPORTANT UPDATE :
The post below was written in 2008. As many of you will soon notice, the SocialOomph website is no longer a free service. I have yet to find a free service to fill the gap for auto-replies as originally outlined in this post. However, my Twitter auto replies are now 100% handled by “TweetAdder“. This is a software that you run on your own computer (Mac or Windows) and you can set automated task to handle all your Twitter needs. I use it to 1) find users and follow them 2) un-follow users who do not follow back after a specific time 3) send out customized tweets to new followers automatically after a certain time. There’s a lot more you can do with the software but I keep it to the above 3 simple tasks.
I’ve been using TweetAdder for over a year and it just works and is constantly updated. Check out TweetAdder here – Twitter Auto-Reply Software
NEW UPDATE – GET A 20% OFF DISCOUNT CODE:
Great news! The developer of TweetAdder software offered a 20% discount code for my blog readers. Just go to TweetAdder and enter the code “BRI20” while checking out to enjoy the 20% discount. This is a very limited time code so grab it quick before it expires! :)
Firstly, for Non-Twitter Users:
I resisted it at first but now I find that I am a raving fan of Twitter. If you are not using Twitter yet, take my advice and just do it. Even if you don’t plan to Twitter much yet, just register to make sure you grab a user name that’s close to yours. You’ll thank me later for this piece of advice. So go ahead, create a Twitter account for free and “follow” a few active Twitter users to appreciate what it does.
Now for Twitter Users:
Have you ever noticed how when you “follow” certain Twitter users, you will get an immediate reply saying something like “Thanks for following me”. And also, you may find that these users also seem to immediately respond by “following” you too. Do you want to know how to do it too?
Chances are, these user are using a free service from http://www.tweetlater.com
(*Update: Tweetlater has since been renamed “SocialOomph“. The previous link above should still redirect to the new site and the service still works as before.*)
This service allows you to do 3 things:
- Automatically respond to your followers with a personal message
- Automatically “follow” your “followers”
- Submit a Twitter message to be published at a later time

You can also manage multiple Twitter accounts from this site. For example if you have a Twitter Account for yourself and one for your business.
Follow me on Twitter to see a demo of how it works. You’ll get a reciprocal follow from me. :)












47 Comments
candy
14. Oct, 2008
thanks! had never heard of this tweetlater.com tool before (I’m new to the social media world) – and am scurrying off to try it out right now! just followed you on twitter :-)
Brian Wong
14. Oct, 2008
The value of these tools increase when you have more people to network with. I’m sure you will have fun playing with it!
nexotiz
10. Nov, 2008
it seems interesting. i’ll try. thanks
Dawn
11. Dec, 2008
Thanks for this. I had set up a reply that I wanted to change, but couldn’t remember how I did it in the first place!
Lindy Wiseman
19. Dec, 2008
I manage two Twitter accounts (personal and business). I tried setting it up on my business account without luck. I then used your demo “Follow Me On Twitter” on my personal account – have yet to get the Direct Message from you – seems it’s not working either. Yet, a few days ago another Twitter account I began to follow did send me an automated direct reply – not sure if it was TweetLater he was using or not (which is what sparked my interest in the first place). Any ideas?
Brian Wong
19. Dec, 2008
If you get an auto reply, its most likely from using Twitlater.
Zaldy
15. Jan, 2009
I was wondering how those guys were doing it, I thought it was done manually, thanks for the tip. I’ll set mine now.
Btw, I am now following you!
zigzag
17. Feb, 2009
thanks for the tip …
The World's Dresser
13. Mar, 2009
I’d always wondered lol – thanks so much!
Xurxo Vidal
25. Mar, 2009
Hi Brian,
Thanks for giving us a run down of this tool. Started using it and found that it’s a great service.
Also followed you!
Xurxo
@xurxovidal
Samuel L.
24. Apr, 2009
After reading this article, I feel that I need more information on the topic. Can you share some resources ?
Justin
31. May, 2009
Whoa… this site is pretty awesome :) your layout is really well designed, and your blogs are (judging from what i’ve read) very interesting. heehee… consider yourself favorited. :-P
Saad`
06. Jun, 2009
Thanks a lot for sharing this helpful resource.
Try Sales Intelligence solution for businesses which incorporates Twitter, Linkedin, Facebook,and 20,000 other sources.
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Edward Daniels
20. Aug, 2009
Thanks so much. Finally figured out how to get tihs set up!
@ScorpioDJs
Da Mooney
22. Aug, 2009
I was looking on how to do Twitter auto-reply and found this page from google. Thank you for the tips. I haven’t try that tweetlater.com and I heard there is another one called tweetmanager.com. Personally, I never try both of them.
Will the auto-reply not annoyed some people?
I do, specially when I try to follow many people and most of them have auto-reply. I get hundreds of direct messages daily.
Brian Wong
22. Aug, 2009
If you have a pleasant auto-reply message without being spammy, people won’t mind or rather they may not know the difference.
Business Management Articles
19. Jan, 2010
Tweetlater.com has been renamed socialoomph.com
marvinsutherland
02. Mar, 2010
Hi Brain,
Thanks for your tips. i've set up tweetlater in minuets. It's frees up my time!!
Marvin Sutherland
The Netherlands
@youjustneedthis
06. Mar, 2010
Great tip, I'm using in my twitter account already.
Thanks!
Just have to be careful to not annoy followers with automated stuff like in this article: http://www.twitip.com/7-ways-to-be-worth-follow…
I took care to put a caring message and am gonna do everything as personal as possible.
Twitter – How To Auto-Reply And Auto Follow | Social Media « Gregory Reese Technology Research
12. Apr, 2010
[...] via Twitter – How To Auto-Reply And Auto Follow | Social Media. [...]
Nikolas Allen
12. Apr, 2010
After scouring the Twitter site and not finding anything on Auto Reply, I Googled it and came across your site.
Glad I did! Looks like you’ve got plenty of relevant, high-quality content that will be very helpful.
As for Auto Follow, hmmmm, I think I may want to be a bit more selective and stick to manual follow.
Thanks for sharing!
@nikolas_allen
Marissa
24. May, 2010
AWESOME information it was fast and easy!
Jane
14. Jul, 2010
We use TweetTwain to auto-follow and unfollow users in Twitter. I can whitelist/blacklist accounts. I will give a try with tweetlater.
Link: http://www.tweettwain.com
Ekaterina Walter
31. Aug, 2010
Good post!
Personally I am not that fond of auto DMs. It is not personal and after a while looks like spam/clutter. But I use SocialOomph service for its other features.
@ekaterinawalter
Omowali Isidore
14. Sep, 2010
Man this sure saves tons of time sending individual replies to every follower. Thanks again Brian, keep it coming my friend!
Jason Chambers
03. Oct, 2010
very useful stuff. I’m enjoying the way your site helps me streamline my own.
Zach
21. Oct, 2010
Just in case everyone hasn’t figured it out yet. If it seems like your auto settings aren’t working, it just takes time.
The system checks for new followers once every several hours. Once it has identified new followers, it applies your automation settings to those new followers.
Select “Social Accounts, Automation Stats” from the menu. It will always tell you when your last new follower check was done, and when the next one is due.
Just in case anyone has just set up an account and noticed your direct messages weren’t showing. ; )
Louisa
28. Oct, 2010
Thanks Zach, that has been driving me made wondering why the DMs haven’t been sent. Can’t the program check more frequently though?
SitterCompare
01. Nov, 2010
Useful info! Obviously I’m not the only one wondering how those guys were doing Auto Reply. Thanks Brian!
weB_Coder
08. Nov, 2010
Useful tool it gona help alot..Thanks for sharing….
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
11. Jan, 2011
Thanks for the info, I have been wondering for ages how people do that…!
kapil
10. Feb, 2011
Very nice tool…I will surely use it to boost my social media presence.
Are Twitter Auto Welcome Messages EVER OK to Use? | Web Marketing Therapy
23. Feb, 2011
[...] More! See these Additional Resources: Twitter – How To Auto-Reply And Auto Follow How to Create an Auto DM (direct message) for Twitter Followers The Secret Art of The DM Twitter [...]
Laura
25. Feb, 2011
Is there any FREE option out there? Social Oomph is 3.97 per month!
Kirsty Wilson
27. Feb, 2011
Yes, SocialOomph is no longer offering a free auto welcome DM. I noticed this last week they’re now charging $3.97pm for this feature. A real nuisance as this was part of my social media packages I included for new clients.
Nathan
14. Mar, 2011
If anyone finds a free option instead of the $3.97 for auto welcome please let me know (@ngreene) … I would love to include a call-out to my blog, but not for $50+ per year.
Good
17. Mar, 2011
Snap… also looking for a free auto reply service… agree that $50+ per year for something that is standard on email seems overprices. $3.97 for the entire year…maybe.
Dotcosecrets
26. Mar, 2011
The pity is SocialOomph acquires fees to use its auto direct message service. If it is free, that would be great. haha…:)
Zero Passive Income
15. Apr, 2011
I just joined twitter and it’s overwhelming. So I looked for a way to auto follow people who are following me, and I found this post. Unfortunately, the website you tell us to use is charging for the auto re-follow feature. is there another alternative that’s free?
Tkt Hub
16. Apr, 2011
Im following you. :-)
Daniela
18. Aug, 2011
Hi Brian,
Thanks for this useful information. It seems that Social Oomph requires that you pay a small fee (I believe it’s $3.95) for the DM Automation for Twitter.
In your article you mentioned it was free. I believe it used to be, but not anymore. Do you know of any other ways to Automate/Edit DM’s in Twitter?
Brian Wong
18. Aug, 2011
Hi Daniela – as mentioned in my note in red above, I have since moved to use the Tweet Adder software to manage all my Twitter marketing. Its not free but its only a small one-time payment and it works very well.
Putra Eka
21. Sep, 2011
Socialoomph was the best auto-follow service, now I’m using tweepi to manage my followers (follow / unfollow) them.
Ayush Gupta
23. Sep, 2011
Thanks working nicely
Lea
28. Nov, 2011
I was thinking about doing this but I read somewhere that people tend to find auto DMs annoying. So I’m not sure about it. But good info.
Ayush Gupta
07. Jan, 2012
Thanks I have bought Tweet Adder and its really works.
Daniel
07. Jan, 2012
Thanks Brian. TweetAdder is very good tool to manage Twitter accounts
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