I will be the absolute first to admit that I donβt like rules. In fact, I hate them. Iβve always felt that they were unnecessary if people would exercise even the slightest degree of common sense. But, we all know how UN-common common sense it, and it is for that exact reason, that we (unfortunately) NEED to have rules.
Before I just lay down the law and explain the rules, though, I think itβs only fair that we give everyone a chance to see exactly why this is just common sense. π
There Is A Law…
An apple falls from a tree because of the Law of Gravity… there are also laws that govern social media. Itβs a simple matter of cause & effect: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. βFollow Fridayβ is an instance where can see Law #7 in action: People just want to be loved.
The Right Way…
Follow Friday is an opportunity to share with our friends the people that we value. We are saying βthis is someone that I get value from, and I want you to enjoy what they have to offer as wellβ. Itβs about sharing, giving and providing value to others.
…and the Wrong Way
Follow Friday is NOT about getting more followers. Some people (either ignorant of the law, or possessing a lack mentality) will recommend as many people as they can for #followfriday in hopes that some of them will feel obligated to reciprocate that gesture. By accomplishing this, they hope that they will attract new followers. Sadly, they just donβt get it…
Itβs about relationships, NOT numbers
100 followers who love & respect you are far more valuable than 10,000 who are not emotionally engaged. Think about it… we all see billboards and magazine ads every day without taking much note, but when a friend recommends a new restaurant or movie, we stop and listen.
This isnβt just some hippie-make-love-not-profits idea weβre talking about, itβs also solid marketing. Every marketer dreams of having their campaign go viral. When people are genuinely interested it automatically grows, even without your help.
Case in point – Did you know that Susan Boyle, of Britain’s Got Talent, almost instantly became one of the most popular videos on www.youtube.com… And she had never even heard of youtube!Β She wasnβt trying to get a lot of views, she was just doing what she was passionate about. If you do the same, youβll see similar results… maybe not 1 million followers, but youβll get the ones that see value in what you offer.
Showing Love To Others
Okay, so now that we understand that itβs about what we give instead than what we get, letβs do it with an A+ effort. What would make you feel more loved:
- #ff @yourname @stranger1 @stranger2 @stranger3 @stranger3 @stranger4 @stranger5 @stranger6
- Friends, check out @yourname an amazing friend of mine whoβs tweets make me smile every day. #followfriday
Yeah, pretty obvious, huh? Of course you would prefer the 2nd one better. (If not, iβve got an #blockparty you can join)
But how do I fit all my friends in?
You donβt. Thatβs the point… People feel special when you give them recognition. Nobody wants to be a statistic, they want to be recognized as a valuable individual.
Lumping my name in with 100 people with no explanation of why you recommend me doesnβt make me feel special. In fact, it just pisses me off. Can you imagine @sharonhayes‘ inbox? If all of her 30k+ followers did the #ff spam method, she wouldnβt get anything done.
Besides, even if your bulk recommendations are genuine, most people on twitter canβt follow that many new tweeps in a day anyway.
Some EXCELLENT examples
These are actual examples that are dead-on the money:
TomBeasley #followfriday @AndyGoulding. He is a local radio DJ with a witty sense of humour and an intriguing take on everyday life.
TamaraSchillingI Recommend that you #FollowFriday @MoneyClarity … this man is always upbeat, positive & willing to help you connect & grow! #professional
JosephRansethFor the most beautiful girl in the world, #FollowFriday @TamaraSchilling & check out her blog: http://budurl.com/twitterlovestory (ps. i love you)
Go Forth & Multiply (but do it responsibly)
That’s it… go for it, show love and help make twitter a better place.
If you have a great #followfriday you want to share, feel free to reply to me and I’d love to pass it along! π
Joseph,
Thank you for showing me & teaching me a more refined & impactful way to approach Follow Friday on Twitter. I had thought that by not Re-tweeting all the people lists that I appeared on that it would appear rude or inconsiderate to the person who originally sent it out to me. It’s so hilarious to me that for the past month and a half my practice of Re-Tweeting most of what showed up on my screen was in effect… more rude than not Re-Tweeting! LOL! Okay… nice thing about lessons… and well, sometimes falling on my own face… is that I can learn and move on to a higher place of knowing and a deeper awareness & consciousness about what I am doing and why. Here’s to a new @TamaraSchilling on Twitter… and to a much more Loving, Caring, and Conscious #FollowFriday from me! Thank you! XX!
Beautifully said. I’ve been feeling the same way. For the last couple of months, I’ve mostly done it the way you suggested. One glowing reason to follow each person. But in my quest to leave no one out, I’ve gotten overwhelmed. Started lumping ppl together.(BTW: I love the way @smashadv and @ginidietrich do their lists in a blog.)
Now, to lighten this up a bit, I’m creating my own shoutouts: The #KatnipAwards. I’ll be giving awards to tweeps I enjoy, with a limit of 10 per week. Categories will vary. I want it to be a fun way to share the love & break out of the #FF monotony. Stay tuned!
I absolutely agree. Great tips! Thanks.
You’re preaching to the choir! Hope that more will see the wisdom of recommending those we enjoy and appreciate rather than the mindless rote repetitions that flood our pages so we can’t see anyone/anything of value.
I would have a lot more interest and respect for #FF recommendations if more people followed your guidelines! I’ve only ever done one FF and did it the way you suggest. I might do it more often now!
Joseph, great post my friend. #FollowFriday is not what it once was and it is due to the fact people misuse what it is really meant for. You have very effectively explained exactly what this is all about and how you can leverage it to make a more special and meaningful impact in someone’s life. I appreciate you…
Well said Joseph. Twitter isn’t about a popularity contest, otherwise, we might as well stop chatting & just follow famous celebrity. I like the idea of making #Friday personal as well. Last week, I was fortunate enough to receive a personal recommendation from @j_noelle:
j_noelle #FollowFriday @007peter Nice guy! Liked me when I turned my picture pink, and again when I turned it green!
007peter @j_noelle thanks 4 that generous compliment *shy* but LOVING IT
j_noelle @007peter You are welcome! I am making my #FF personal this week! π
007peter #FollowFriday @j_noelle Beautiful woman, beautiful soul. Never stop loving me even after all the terrible TYPO I’d made on twitter π thx
j_noelle @007peter Awwwwwwww…thank you! That was sweeter than sugar!!!
007peter @j_noelle U have no idea how SWEET my words can be. Wise to readup about Flirtatious Libra Man…. your hubby is not on twiiter I hope π
As @007peter says, this is how I’ve been doing my “Follow Friday” recommendations recently and my followers seem to like it.
Excellent article! I’ve noticed these spam sort of follow friday behaviors but never put it so elegantly as you have. I hope everybody reads this and we’ll see a difference in the next FF. Twitter is definitely about relationships, not “whoever dies with the most followers wins.”
Tx. your article is making me a better user of this social media tool. Keep it coming & Thanks for sharing. Fred Bardy
“There are many people we meet in life, but few are special.” (Dalton Quistberg)
“Its about relationships, NOT numbers” – couldn’t agree more. That statement has been my motto since day 1
You inspired me to get off my duff. As promised/threatened, here are The Katnip Awards. Week #2.
http://katandtonic.blogspot.com/2009/07/katnip-awards.html
Fans of Joseph and Tamara, tell me if you agree with their award!
Fabulous! name after name irks me terribly. Your words ring true. Thanks! I love honoring folks in Twitterville just as I do in “regular life*…been writing thank you notes since the age of 3. #FollowFriday for me is like a Twitter thank you note. thank YOU!, joseph….
Thanks for this It is about supporting those who you feel deserve support. In return you are supported. It always comes down to the intent
Thanks for tweeting this link to me after I complained about how #FF has felt ineffective for me. I get what you’re saying and have followed the nicer protocol in the past, but it’s like Christmas, we all get caught up in trying to acknowledge people who acknowledge you. I’m sure your reply is that’s what the thank you tweets are for (like #thankyousaturday). I dunno, I’m closer to just being done with the whole gesture and utilizing RTs and in the moment recognition.
Thanks for your in depth look at #followfriday. I have been mentioning similar ways for my followers to tweet a personal message as they recommend someone of Friday. The list isn’t working plus clogs my twitter page.
Thanks for posting this & sending it to me. I actually prefer not to really participate in Follow Friday because it’s become so diluted and obligatory. My Fridays on Twitter (and sometimes Saturdays and Sundays there r still late #ff tweets coming in) are spent reciprocating the dozens of tweets with my name squished in with 10 other names and it really means nothing. It clogs up my timeline, and then I feel obligated to send thanks to all those people who #ff me (half of whom are probably spammers).
Do you have any tips on how to give people the props they deserve without participating in Follow Friday? I want to give credit where credit is due, and certainly MANY of my followers deserve shout outs. But I often feel that I miss out on sending props out to the deserving because I’m spending so much time catching up with the thank-yous.
Being lumped into a meaningless tweet with nothing but names & a #ff at the end isn’t helpful. I prefer to send love and compliments to people throughout the week when it means more.
So, any tips on how to bow out of meaningless #followfriday gracefully?
Beautifully said. I've been feeling the same way. For the last couple of months, I've mostly done it the way you suggested. One glowing reason to follow each person. But in my quest to leave no one out, I've gotten overwhelmed. Started lumping ppl together.(BTW: I love the way @smashadv and @ginidietrich do their lists in a blog.)
Now, to lighten this up a bit, I'm creating my own shoutouts: The #KatnipAwards. I'll be giving awards to tweeps I enjoy, with a limit of 10 per week. Categories will vary. I want it to be a fun way to share the love & break out of the #FF monotony. Stay tuned!
Hi Joseph,
I appreciate your post but I'm a little surprised by it's tone. Having followed you for a while now, I am used to a kinder gentler Joseph Ranseth. Hmmm. Is this another side that I just havent seen tweeted yet? Or are you just having an off day?
Anyway, thanks for the info. Some twitter phenomena simply isnt as obvious in it's intent. I'm guilty of the mass #ff without a lot of explanation as to why I follow the people in the tweet. The fact is that I want the many content providers I appreciate to be recognized, but I dont take the time to write a separate tweet for each of them due to time constraints.
What's your suggestion for my scenario? (busier than a one armed paper hanger, but grateful for the tweets of tons of people…) How can I best recognize their efforts without spending all day typing? I guess I thought the mass #ff was a good way to do that..
Hi Joseph,
I appreciate your post but I'm a little surprised by it's tone. Having followed you for a while now, I am used to a kinder gentler Joseph Ranseth. Hmmm. Is this another side that I just havent seen tweeted yet? Or are you just having an off day?
Anyway, thanks for the info. Some twitter phenomena simply isnt as obvious in it's intent. I'm guilty of the mass #ff without a lot of explanation as to why I follow the people in the tweet. The fact is that I want the many content providers I appreciate to be recognized, but I dont take the time to write a separate tweet for each of them due to time constraints.
What's your suggestion for my scenario? (busier than a one armed paper hanger, but grateful for the tweets of tons of people…) How can I best recognize their efforts without spending all day typing? I guess I thought the mass #ff was a good way to do that..