We’re running a quick poll over at TwtPoll today looking at the topic of ReTweets and whether asking for them has any impact upon whether people actually ReTweet things for you.
You can vote here:
I’d love to hear your comments on your answer. I know that some of you would change your answer based upon what the content that you’re being asked to retweet is – but I’d love to hear your gut reaction to the question in your vote but also in comments below.
There are also some good comments on the poll page at TwtPoll.
@brandonacox
Wow, looks like the results are pretty close. I will usually do the favor if asked, but only if I know the person to be someone who doesn’t ask all the time. I don’t ever ask myself – I figure I’ll leave it up to people to decide.
@twintoddlersdad
If someone asks for a RT, I try to oblige as much as possible. Quite clearly, they are looking for help. This is also a good way for me to return the favor, especially for those who RT my tweets even without asking!
@domfosnz
I usually RT when asked if I think the original tweet would be valuable to my friends.
Also, please ask politely
@anne_bain
I voted more likely but it would still depend on whether I thought it was a tweet worth retweeting.
@JDEbberly
If a tweep requests a RT, I will be more likely to do it than if the RT was not asked for. But I will not just RT any tweet out there. The kinds of tweets that I’ll RT need to be about blogging, PR, marketing, social media, SEO, web design, journos and/or #journchat (Remember journos/PR types, #Journchat is on Monday nights 7 to 10pm CST!), or about technological development that impacts society and business. I also like to RT humorous tweets.
@DevinJohnston
I think that I would be less likely. When I see a viral re-tweeting going on about an important issue or campaign, I know what to do. When someone specifically asks for a RT it seems weak to me. Then again, if it’s RTable, I will RT it anyway. It’s just off-putting to me.
@meredithgould
Asking for a RT will prompt me to think more carefully about the tweet and the possible audience.
@mayhemstudios
I RT anything that has good info and value, regardless if it asks for a RT.
@TweetSocial
I think sub-consciously people would be more likely to re-tweet if asked to, to help out their followers or people they are following.
@yaelelish
probably, if it made sense and if the approach is done politely or for a good cause….
@jayrmarlin
In the case where they ask for the RT, and it appears to be a valid request for input, I’ll gladly retweet. If the original tweet is valuable information, and I think someone downstream can benefit from it, I’ll do an RT regardless of whether or not it’s asked for.
@akilakalum
For me it depends on the content. I retweet if I find it’s something worth to retweet.
@benhomie
To be honest, asking for a RT is plain shameless, unless the person is asking you to spread a message with a good cause. It has no impact on me, when I see “Pls RT”, I just think “whatever”.
@lindastacy
Asking won’t get me to do it, but it makes it more likely to consider retweeting. But if you’re asking, please make sure to leave room for the RT characters. If I have to edit the RT for it to make sense, I probably won’t bother editing or sending it.
@rumford
Nice poll. Results look evenly split thus far.
The behavioral nuances of why people retweet and don’t is much deeper than asking for a RT. I wrote a 6 page report on this topic here. Why Your Twitter Retweets FAIL http://tinyurl.com/cno3tp
Enjoy.
Rodney Rumford
@Jodith
I find whether or not I retweet on request depends on who is asking and what they want retweeted. If it’s someone that’s asking for RT every time I turn around, then I’m not likely to. If it’s someone who only occasionally asks, then I’m more likely to.
It also depends on what is being retweeted. I’m more likely to respond for non-profit or political purposes, or for things like polls where people are trying to get information.
I’ve only asked for RT’s twice. Once when I was looking for an old friend of my husband’s, and once for a project I’m working on for one of my websites. I have no idea if they were retweeted, because I didn’t search to find out.
Most of what I RT is just because I liked what someone had to say and wanted to share it.
@thebenchs
I dont usually RT so juts image how hard it will be that i do it just becuase some one ask me to.
@joshfinnie
I am not a huge retweeter, but when I do I usually make up my mind before I see their plea to retweet at the end. Asking to retweet doesn’t help or hurt people’s chances for me to retweet them.
@creativepride
I usually only retweet those things that I like or make an impression on me. If someone asks for a retweet, it usually doesn’t have an impact unless I already like what is being written anyway. What is more likely is for me to Tweet This if there is a link at the bottom of a blog post.