Is using automated direct messages on Twitter a good idea?

You know, the ones you get automatically when you follow some profiles on Twitter. It seems that many people have these automated DM, but should I use them? Are they effective or they are doing more harm than good? Should I add a link to my website in them?

I have never engaged with one of these in my life. Its poor desperate marketing imo. Especially linking or a paragraph.

however with that said, there's always opportunity for creativity and success:
https://medium.com/@jakeapeters/how-i-get-a-23-response-rate-to-cold-dms-on-twitter-933b05090317#.ezrfst26j