Getting your point across in 140 characters

While I don't consider automatic direct messages (via Twitter) as the worst disaster to befall the universe since the Buddy Holly plane crash, I'm not a huge fan of the practice. But sometimes an auto-DM can make me smile.

I don't want to give away the name of the tweeter, but I will say that it's an inn in Costa Mesa, California where you can take up residence. But this tweeter's auto-DM gets points for effectively getting its marketing message across.

So happy to see you following us! We hope your day is warm and sunny!

Then again, showing the problem with auto-DMs, this particular one was sent to someone who also lived in southern California. Therefore, the auto-DM was not as effective as if it were taken to, say, Helsinki.

P.S. OK, I'll reveal the tweeter - @ResInnCostaMesa. And yes, there is a real human behind the Twitter account - check the feed.

P.P.S. If you're not familiar with the auto-DM controversy, read this ReadWriteWeb post that described how SocialToo ended up removing auto-DM capability from its application.

P.P.P.S. Another Twitter user that uses auto-DMS is @dhsscitech. The one I got from them read

Thanks for the follow! We tweet to let you know how we're using science and innovation to keep the US safe.

Obviously auto-DMs are not judged to be a terrorist threat - although, of course, ANYTHING can be re-engineered to be a terrorist threat.