If you're here, chances are you're trying to reach B2B prospects on Twitter without spending your life DMing strangers (or coming off like a bot). This guide is for founders, sales folks, and marketers who want to use automation tools like Tweetdm to do outbound the right way: with messages people actually want to read.
Let’s cut through the hype. You won’t build real relationships with mass-blasted templates, and nobody likes spam. But with a few smart tweaks and the right workflow, you can automate a lot of the grunt work—and still keep things personal.
Step 1: Get Clear on Your Target (Don’t Skip This)
Before you touch any automation tool, get specific about who you want to reach. Seriously—most campaigns fail because people skip this and just hope for the best.
Ask yourself: - Who’s the actual decision maker? (Titles, industries, company size) - What do they talk about on Twitter? - What problem do you help them solve?
Pro tip: Build a sample list of 10-20 ideal accounts before going big. If you can’t find them on Twitter, your campaign’s dead before it starts.
Step 2: Build a Quality Target List
Tweetdm isn’t magic—you need to feed it good data. You’ve got a few options here:
- Manual search: Use Twitter’s advanced search to find people by keywords, hashtags, or bios.
- Third-party tools: Scrape lists using tools like PhantomBuster, TexAu, or even a good old spreadsheet if you want more control.
- Public Twitter lists: Find or build lists relevant to your niche.
What works: Quality over quantity. 100 hand-picked prospects > 1,000 randoms.
What to ignore: Buying email or Twitter lists. They’re almost always stale, off-target, or both.
Step 3: Set Up Tweetdm (The Right Way)
Head over to Tweetdm and sign up. The setup itself is straightforward, but there are a few things most people miss:
- Connect your Twitter account: You’ll need to give Tweetdm permission to send DMs on your behalf. Use your real account—not a burner, unless you want to get flagged.
- Upload your target list: Usually a CSV with Twitter handles, names, and (if you have them) extra columns for personalizing messages.
- Check your DM limits: Twitter’s API has daily limits. Stay way below them to avoid account restrictions. 20-50 DMs per day is usually safe; more than that and you’re asking for trouble.
Pro tip: Warm up your account if it’s new or hasn’t done much DM-ing. Start slow.
Step 4: Write (Actually) Personalized Message Templates
This is where most people blow it. If your DM starts with “Hey {first_name}, I noticed we’re both passionate about synergy in the SaaS space…”—just stop.
Here’s what actually works: - Short and clear. One or two sentences, max. - Reference something real. Their recent tweet, bio, or a mutual connection. - No links in the first message. Twitter hates it, and so do people.
Example template:
Hey {name}, saw your post on {topic}—totally agree. Curious: are you still working on {project}?
Or, if you’re pitching:
Hi {name}, I’ve been following your work with {company}. If you’re open to it, I’d love to share an idea about {topic}. No worries if not!
What to ignore: Overly formal intros, fake flattery, or walls of text.
Step 5: Set Up Your Campaign in Tweetdm
Here’s the workflow most folks use:
- Create a new campaign in Tweetdm.
- Upload your CSV or paste your list.
- Map personalization fields (like {name}, {company}, {topic}) to your data.
- Paste your message template. Double-check the preview for each contact—bad merges are embarrassing.
- Set sending limits and timing. Randomize send times a bit—don’t blast everyone at once.
What works: Sending messages during business hours in your target’s time zone.
What doesn’t: Sending a huge batch all at once, or automating follow-ups immediately after your first DM. Give people time to respond.
Step 6: Monitor Replies and Handle Responses Manually
Automation gets you in the door, but real conversations are human. When someone replies, resist the urge to rush back into automation.
- Reply yourself. Automated follow-ups get flagged fast and rarely work.
- Track interested leads. Use a spreadsheet, CRM, or even a sticky note—just don’t let replies slip.
- Update your list. Remove people who ask not to be contacted, or who aren’t a fit.
Pro tip: If you get a lot of “please remove me” replies, tweak your targeting or messaging. You’re probably being too generic.
Step 7: Test, Tweak, and Don’t Get Greedy
The first version of your campaign won’t be perfect. That’s normal.
- A/B test different messages. Change one thing at a time—opening line, ask, personalization.
- Track response rates. Don’t obsess over “open” rates; focus on actual replies.
- Scale up slowly. If you’re getting good replies at 20/day, try 30/day next week—not 200.
What works: Small, consistent improvements. Rushing just gets your account limited, or worse, burned.
What to Watch Out For
Not every “automation hack” is worth your time. Here’s what to avoid:
- Over-automation: The more robotic you seem, the faster you’ll get ignored (or blocked).
- Chasing vanity metrics: 1,000 DMs sent means nothing if nobody replies.
- Ignoring Twitter’s rules: Twitter is cracking down on spam. If your account gets flagged, you’re back to square one.
If you see a tool promising “unlimited DMs” or “100x open rates,” run the other way.
Keep It Simple, Iterate, and Stay Human
Automating DMs with Tweetdm can save you hours, but you’ll never fully automate real relationships. The winners are the ones who blend smart workflows with genuine outreach.
Start small. Test your targeting and messaging. Stay personal, even as you scale. And remember: it’s better to get five real conversations than 500 ignored messages.
Good luck out there. Keep it simple—and keep it human.