If not already aware of FollowFriday, it a day – Friday – in which you put the spotlight on some of the people you follow to thank them. It was apparently invited by Micah Baldwin (aka @micah).
It has become a major event with a growing number of people jumping on the bandwagon. It’s not unusual to see people recommend five or six people. The dirty little secret of FollowFriday is it is also, not surprisingly, being used for purposes other than to show the love.
So as I was going through Twitter this morning, a #followfriday update that caught my eye was @kenseto, who suggested that:
#followfridays should be limited to ONE name per tweet with a written intro and recommendation of why that person deserves following 
It immediately struck me as a great idea to make FollowFriday a different, less promotional beast. At the same time, it would really, really put the spotlight on the people that you enjoy following.
So, what do you think about Ken’s idea? Like it? Hate it?
More: Here’s more on the history of how Follow Friday started.
14 Comments
Well, I'm guilty for a post with several mentions, but I did make mention that they are amazing women in my life, which is a true statement. I personally know each and everyone and I esteem them highly. A few others I added were single with mention made as to why I like and/or follow them.
Overall, I agree. I am more likely to click on a suggestion to follow if there is a reason stated to do so.
I think it's great! As a relatively new Twitter user, I find the mass listings of #FF names overwhelming, with no real clue as to which people I should check out…
This is common sense to me. I argued as much just last week with someone I was following who was not only cramming in as many Twitter handles as he could, but doing so in several back-to-back tweets.
He responded that my complaining was akin to him telling my radio station to stop airing commercials and touted his 24,000+ followers. I don't follow him anymore.
The reason I don't follow him and others like him anymore is because, as many try and argue otherwise, there is a RIGHT way and a WRONG way to use the service.
Amen Jeff!
i totally agree with you on this. I make a list every friday where i make a 140 carater statement about 10 or more people. I'm in my 5th week now, and I feel I get even closer to those I recommend for Followfriday – you can find it here: http://arnteriksen.com/my-rockstars-of-followfrid…
Ah, and I really appreciate you blog. You have many interesting posts, that I tweet out as often as I can =) cheers
I tend 2 follow #recommend(#rec),which works to the principal that, one #rec's no more than 3 people a day,and gives good reason each time.This not only works on a comlementary basis by singling out people you wish to promote and why ,but releases us all from the torrent of traffic #ff brings in its wake.While most #ffs are pure ,i note the arrogance of some who #ff themselves. So yes let us #rec in a more concise and constructive way.Kind Regards Bea.
The arrogance of some who #ff themselves..this is where I got totally turned off. They're just looking for more followers..all Ego!
If you read my tweets you'd know
that I've been doing it that way almost since I started participating. I don't recommend someone every week, and there are weeks when I will recommend more than one, but usually in separate tweets, and always with an intro to explain why.
I really like the idea! It’s a lot better than simply putting a bunch of names out there.
I think its a matter of personal taste. I know several people send out a long list, and several who send out a one or two person tweet with a reason why.
Personally most of the one or two person recommendations I don't even take a second look at because the 'reasons' are so canned or corny. 'An amazing person', 'because he/she is awesome' etc.
I split mine up into groups, Designers, Developers, etc. Then let people make up their own minds. You can make a much more informed decision from looking at their Twitter page than by just going off of someone else's 'reason'.
And Jeff Brown, the only WRONG way to use Twitter is as a spamming platform, other than that, what's RIGHT is what works for you.
I agree with Michael that the single rec may be a bit extreme. I like the idea of recommending people based on a key area and then ppl that like that field/keyword can follow 5-6 good ppl at once. The single person rec is great if someone REALLY stands out but they often include the sort of generic statements that don't add much. On the other side, I note that many people appear to just tweet list after list of names and that is useless as well. Somewhere in the middle?
I DISLIKE #followfriday -big list of people who many times person doesn't even know. I especially am repelled when someone RT's w/his or her OWN NAME on the #ff list. What a turn off!!!! Of course there are those who choose carefully while suggesting special people who they honor and saying why.
Thx Mark for this post. I want to follow you
Maybe I will just add you as an imaginary friend on friendfeed unless you are there.
Amen Jeff!
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