Topify Blog

No Twitter in China? Jump the Wall and Try Topify

China can block whatever they want. The beauty of the web is that because it is becoming a distributed service, you need to really try very very hard to really block something.

Try Twitter for example. Thanks to its API we created Topify which enables you to receive improved email notifications on followers request and manage smartly your Direct Messages.

China Blocked twitter. But twitter is still working via Topify, since email is not blocked (not yet…)

So if you are a chinese user you can jump on Topify and keep enjoying the service, in its basic form.

if you want to create an account get an invite here http://bit.ly/gotopify

No more Spymaster DM, if you don’t want them

A lot of users started to complain recently about the wave of unsollicited Direct Messages generated by SpyMaster.  And we thought we would come up with a solution until twitter does.

SpyMaster seems to be a great game using Twitter messaging system to alert/notify your friends. But like all great games, it isn’t for eveyrone. You might end up being annoyed by Direct Messages inviting you to join the party, even by people you really want to follow, but still don’t want to block. A SpyMaster is not necessarily a SpamMaster, but you need more control.

Today, we introduce a way to filter those Direct Messages. Simply. When you receive a Direct Message notification from Topify referring to Spymaster, simply forwarded it to

StopSpymaster@topify.com

We automatically will filter any Direct Message related to the game and will notify the sender not to send you more messages related to the game:

We hesitated to include in the process a mechanism to delete totally the direct message from Twitter, so that you don’t receive it at all in other clients and twitter readers. If this is something that you want let us know in comments.

Of course, like with other Topify features, we let you in control. If you change your mind and want to receive Direct Messages related to SpyMaster one day, just go to your dashboard and change the settings.

Actually we are thinking about enabling this feature more more generic terms. So now you have another good reason to register a Topify account.

Not a Topify user? While Topify is in private beta, you can use the following link to register: http://topify.com/invite/gotopify

There you go!

update: TechCrunch has spotted the news. They mention and rightly so that SpyMaster has an optout feature. But if you are on the go or don’t have the time to open your browser, or simply have no clue what SpyMaster is, it is just much much much simpler to block any incoming DM right from your inbox. And in addition you ll have an opportunity to notify back the sender right away

[Topify heroes] #1 @lrobiner

Topify provides you with super powers to deal with your twitter email notifications. We love our users and we will from time to time share the stories of some Topify heroes who enjoy those super powers. Today @lrobiner who is also a super promoter of Topify

Your 140 character Bio?

marketing consultant, business developer, social media addict, writer, storyteller, husband, father, wonderer, procrastinator, ever mindful

What do you tweet about? And how long have you been on Twitter ? How do you tweet?

I’ve been using Twitter since 8/8/08. I usually use TweetDeck or TinyTwitter. I tweet about ideas, questions or experiences that I think are interesting, amusing or enlightening. Subjects include my profession (marketing) and personal interests, such as creative writing. I continue to be amazed and delighted by the range of thoughtful and helpful tweeps out there.

When and how did you discover Topify and how do you use it ?

I discovered Topify about a month ago. Like many users, I found the standard Twitter new follower notifications very lacking. I tried another twitter notification tool that did not live up to its promise. Of course, the Twitter community turned out to be a great crowdsourcing tool for recommendations for alternatives, and that’s how I found Topify.

The new follower notifications I get via Topify are so much more useful. They not only include the user’s follower, following and update count, but also their bio and recent tweets. Best of all, I can follow back by replying to the email or DM by replying if I am already following. I can easily manage my new twitter followers as I manage my inbox.

I have tried to “pay it forward” by introducing other twitter users to topify.

What is the main benefit for you of using Topify?

Simplicity.

What would you add to topify to improve it?

I am interested to know why twitter followers choose to follow me. It would be cool to have Topify’s notification emails reference my most recent tweet (or someone else’s reply or retweet to something I tweeted) prior to the new follow.

Why do you think Topify is the best option out there to manage followers by email?

Topify gets it. They provide a free, full-featured solution to follower management by email that works as advertised. Simple and effective.


What are your favourite twitter apps (after Topify of course…)?

TweetDeck for the desktop and TinyTwitter for blackberry are my favorite clients. I’ve also recently discovered UberTwitter, which is a very powerful client for the blackberry. DoesFollow.com is a great little utility that lets you see if one person is following another.

What other networks do you use?

LinkedIn and Facebook.

If topify was a bird it would be ?

A hummingbird. Small, fast, fun to watch.