Ask HN: Review my Twitter App (ReTweetize.com) | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Review my Twitter App (ReTweetize.com)

retweetize.com

8 pointsankeshk14 comments

It feels like a spamming service to me, just with a twist to make it less detectable.

Thanks.

Its a reciprocation tool. But it does give people choices to retweet the messages they like. They don't have to retweet all the messages. They can read 20-30-40 (upto unlimited) messages and select just 4 of them to be retweeted per day. If they like none of the messages - they retweet none.

So how is that spamming?

Maybe you should keep track of messages that people choose to retweet and also assign karma to the people who originated the tweet so you can figure out which tweets are not liked by your users and maybe you can improve the 30 tweet candidates people get to choose from.

Thanks for suggestions.

Right now, which tweets are not liked by users is being recorded. But the data is not being used to rank the tweets. In the future maybe.

Also, if the app succeeds, in the future - may add categories or tags or something too. So folks who like web development will only see web dev RTs. So folks will get to read more relevant RTs. But right now, adding all these features would be an overkill.

So you are encouraging people to spam their friends?

People can choose the messages they want to RT. If they don't like a message, they can hide it.

Its not like mag-pie or other services where people have no control over which messages are retweeted.

I despise RTing as it is. Say something original rather than copy others.

As such I also despise any service that encourages people to RT, especially if it is disinteresting spam.

You've obviously put time and effort into this app. Wouldn't your creative energy be better spent building something useful, delightful, helpful, etc rather than a spamming tool?

Fair enough.

You despise RT. But a lot of others don't. This tool is for them. Of course - you can't make a tool that makes everyone happy. And people who despise RT-ing is not the target audience.

But how is the tool spamming? People who like RT-ing can login. They can select exactly which messages they think are a good fit for their followers. And RT it. The messages they don't like, they don't RT.

Its a reciprocation tool - yes. But why would reciprocation = to spam if its not forced reciprocation?

Ulterior motive: And I am spending time building more apps that are useful, delightful, helpful. If this app succeeds, it will help me promote all those other apps too.

Your service is opt-in, people choose to RT your messages. That's seemingly fine.

The problem is twitter is a broadcast service. If one of the people I follow chooses to use your service then I also get to see your advert. Admittedly this is why it benefits you.

It is however highly irritating. I'd rather not have to unfollow an otherwise interesting friend because of a service like yours.

I get the problem you have with RTs.

But thats why I've added tools that helps in getting rid of abusive / spammy messages from the network.

So hopefully people who you follow are kind and smart and will only RT interesting messages. A lot of choices are given to them to RT only messages that they think will be interesting for their followers.

A email spam tool could be justified this way.

"You despise sending email. But a lot of others don't. This tool is for them. Of course - you can't make a tool that makes everyone happy. And people who despise getting spam are not the target audience."

Not sure if its cool making an offer here... but if you run a startup, send me your twitter id after logging into ReTweetize.com (My twitter id = @ankeshk or email me ankeshk AT ankeshkothari.com) - and I'll add 20,000 points to your account. Not a lot but should get a few hundred visitors to your startup site.

Unless you've got a way to monetise this, I'd give up right now.

Thanks Jim.

Didn't build the tool for monetization.

Built the tool to make promotion of my other sites and apps easier. (Yes thats my sneaky ulterior motive :p)

If this app succeeds, getting initial seed traffic to other apps would become way easier too.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com