Because #FollowFriday Isn’t Just for Twitter



love like you've never been hurt,  #142 in explore !A few months ago, #FollowFriday was introduced to Twitter. It was a great concept – recommend people you’re connected with to others. It led to new discoveries, new friends, and quickly made #FollowFriday a Twitter mainstay.

Lately, though, #FollowFriday seems to have just become an endless amount of names and no more. While the idea of recommending people to others is still worthy, personally I feel it would be more so if there was a reason for your recommendations.

Some people are doing this, which is great. Others are just listing the names and then the #FollowFriday hashtag, which is still okay.

Personally, though,  I prefer the former. If you’re recommending a #FollowFriday on Twitter it should be more meaningful than just a name. It should be about why that person inspires you, and why they would inspire others too.

It should be more than just a name and a link on Twitter – it should be about that person and why they’re great every day of the week. So here’s my deal.

Every week, I will post my recommendations. I will recommend seven people in seven categories, one for every day of the week. I’ll write a little bit about them and why they inspire me. And why they might inspire you.

It’s not saying that #FollowFriday has lost its way. It’s simply saying it could really light up the way that little bit more. I hope you enjoy the first seven.

  1. CommunityRichard Marti (@ramartijr). Anyone that reads this blog regularly will know one of my key mantras is community spirit, and Richard personifies all of that and more to me. He inspires me when I’m down with his endless enthusiasm and he has a genuine love for everyone around him. Simply put, he’s awesome.
  2. Ladies of TwitterHenie Reisinger (@HennArtOnline). Sometimes I think Henie is Richard’s twin. She never seems down; she’s infectiously optimistic; she is an amazingly creative person; and she wears sunglasses like they should be. One of the coolest ladies on Twitter.
  3. Gentlemen of TwitterAronado Sanchez Placencia (@Aronado). What can I say about Aronado? If I need to laugh until my ribs hurt, he’s my man. If I need someone to joust with, he’s my man. If I need someone to make my cap look good, he’s my man. He’s also an incredibly nice guy to boot. Everyone should know Aronado.
  4. Non-ProfitsNicole D’Alonzo (@nikisnotes). Here is a girl that has really got it going on. Podcaster. Journalist. Entrepreneur. Socially conscious. Change agent. Founder of Socolite.com to combine social media for good with businesses and bring society together. And she’s still just the tender age of 27. Nicole is a bona-fide star.
  5. MarketingFrank Reed (@FrankReed). Frank is an understated gem on Twitter. He’s unassuming; he’s inquisitive; he’s helpful; and he’s knowledgeable. He’s also one damn fine marketer – something that is apparent via his own blog and his spots on Andy Beal’s Marketing Pilgrim website. I learn a lot from Frank every day.
  6. Public RelationsDavid Mullen (@dmullen). There is an insane amount of talented PR people on Twitter that this list could probably go on forever. One that stands out for me though is David Mullen. Sharp; insightful; questioning; never afraid to put the boot in on the industry he obviously loves. You like being made to think? David is your guy.
  7. Social MediaChris Brogan (@chrisbrogan). Predictable choice? Nothing new there choice? Perhaps. But as far as social media goes, Chris is up there among a very few who walk the talk and share the words with everyone else. The guy is social media and should be a no-brainer for anyone remotely interested in the medium.
  8. The “Everyone Should Know” Wildcard Entry. Christina Kingston (@CTK1). Although Christina is the first “wild card” entry, she is anything but. One of the funniest and most vocal people I’ve met on Twitter. She’s never afraid to speak her mind and usually has some witty retort for most things.

So there you go – my first #FollowFriday who I’d want to know both on and off Twitter. I hope you check them out and get to know them – you won’t be disappointed.

Cheers, guys, for being who you are every day of the week.

Creative Commons License photo credit: ashley rose,

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Firstly, let me say that I'm a big fan of you, your work and your blog.

And... this particular post challenged my thinking. On the one hand, I agree that #FollowFriday is becoming a "name-fest" without rhyme or reason. I also intuitively agree with your initial list of 7-8 (with wild card) entries by category this week and your reason for recommendations initiative.

However, I can't help but think that with billions in the world and millions on Twitter, there must be more than 7-8 nominations per week per category who deserve a mention per category. I may not be able to articulate WHY someone inspired me or have the time to write a citation. The fact that they did should be enough if you value someone's nomination in each category.

I love Twitter because it's inclusive. While I realise that some people deserve that 'special' recognition maybe it's OK to have multiple recommendations per category each week.

Anyway, that's what I was thinking...

Cheers, Iggy

Great post Danny - and thanks for pointing out a few people I wasn't already aware of. Most importantly we definitely agree on David Mullen. I am proud to call him a peer of our industry - he understands communication and PR better than most. David is savvy, articulate and understands the synergy of PR and social media. I learn a lot from him.

This is a great way to meet other people worth following. Interesting people are hard to capture in 140 characters.

I will be checking these people out!

very cool ms. wild card @CTK1 #FF @DannyBrown does it as well! -> http://is.gd/1ob1W Very thoughtful. So does @BooksBelow
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Hey for Follow Friday @amirmasud There is also @DannyBrown who does it as well! -> http://is.gd/1ob1W Very thoughtful. So does @BooksBelow
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Great use of #followfriday, by @dannybrown http://bit.ly/OZcnI
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RT @johnhaydon: Great use of #followfriday, by @dannybrown http://bit.ly/OZcnI
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RT @johnhaydon Great use of #followfriday, by @dannybrown http://bit.ly/OZcnI
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Follow @dannybrown (is God) Because #FollowFriday Isnu00e2u0080u0099t Just for Twitter http://bit.ly/wHjpF
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It's about damn time. ;) As you know Danny, I completely agree: http://tinyurl.com/pgxbo4

Indeed I do, Jim. It's ideas like that from you and Seth Simonds (when he ran his list) that put me on this track in the first place.

Cheers! :)

Danny...

Thank you so very much for including me in your #FF recommendation list. I am humbly honored! This by far, is the most wonderful surprise I've experienced through Twitter! :~)

You truly are a "cerebral provacateur" and your humor isn't bad either!:~)

I am grateful for our connection and friendship!

Well as long as the humor isn't bad, I guess I'll keep it going. For now, at least ;-)

You're more than welcome Henie - and I rest my case on the shades wearing :)

Thank you @dannybrown for this article, which will forever be a shot of endurance/optimism 4 me: http://bit.ly/PskW2
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Danny - thanks so much for including me in this. You know I hold you in high regard, so your kind words mean a lot to me. Appreciate it.

And I've thoroughly enjoyed connecting with you over the past year. You keep me thinking and I like that!

Hey there fella, likewise. Let's make it an offline connection soon. :)

Firstly, let me say that I'm a big fan of you, your work and your blog.

And... this particular post challenged my thinking. On the one hand, I agree that #FollowFriday is becoming a "name-fest" without rhyme or reason. I also intuitively agree with your initial list of 7-8 (with wild card) entries by category this week and your reason for recommendations initiative.

However, I can't help but think that with billions in the world and millions on Twitter, there must be more than 7-8 nominations per week per category who deserve a mention per category. I may not be able to articulate WHY someone inspired me or have the time to write a citation. The fact that they did should be enough if you value someone's nomination in each category.

I love Twitter because it's inclusive. While I realise that some people deserve that 'special' recognition maybe it's OK to have multiple recommendations per category each week.

Anyway, that's what I was thinking...

Cheers, Iggy

Hi Iggy,

The reason I just left it at one person per category is that I really wanted to highlight that person. I could have offered more people, as you say - but then that would be doing just the same thing that I was trying to avoid on Twitter, which would be just throwing out names for the sake of it.

With the single recommendation, I hope that it's seen more of a "valid" recommendation as opposed to just another reason to connect with someone.

hey there danny. what a great concept and refreshing view on follow friday. thanks muchly for the background and the context of #ff and to recommending these folks.:)

Sorry Danny but it's San Diego. We all speak Spanish here!

Se me olvido decirte que estoy de acuerdo contigo sobre Aronado. Una mente brillante que me hace reir incontrolablemente. Ya quiero que se venga a vivir a San Diego. Nos reuniremos en el Chamber. ;)

Don't you bloody start! I have enough translation trouble with that Aronado without my key PR gal joining in... ;-)

Hola Rachel, cuando por primera vez traducido su comentario acerca de risa incontrolada, a la lectura sexual orgu00c3u00a1smica. u00c2u00bfNo es gracioso? En cuanto a Danny del problema con el idioma espau00c3u00b1ol, hay algo malo en ello, debe ser capaz de escribir y / o traducir como el mejor de nosotros, no estu00c3u00a1 de acuerdo?

Antes de Danny recibe en mi caso tambiu00c3u00a9n - me llama una sangrienta tal o cual - u00c2u00bfCuu00c3u00a1ndo va a empezar su propio blog? Si usted estu00c3u00a1 en San Diego los mejores PR niu00c3u00b1a, entonces usted deberu00c3u00ada de blogs como el mejor de ellos!

Hi Ari,

Yes, I guess I should learn Spanish to keep up. Then again, maybe I should start commenting in French, German or Gaelic?

But I agree, Rachel would be a star with her own blog. Especially after the ideas she has for her new blog that will be launched soon - look out for it, I think you'll enjoy! :)

Tu00c3u00b4i cu00c3u00b3 cu00e1u00bau00a7n phu00e1u00bau00a3i viu00e1u00bau00bft mu00e1u00bbu0099t nhu00e1u00bau00adn xu00c3u00a9t trong Tiu00e1u00bau00bfng Phu00c3u00a1p, Tiu00e1u00bau00bfng u00c4u0090u00e1u00bbu00a9c, hou00e1u00bau00b7c Gaelic? Bu00e1u00bau00a1n cu00c3u00b3 cu00c3u00a1i gu00c3u00ac so vu00e1u00bbu009bi ngu00c3u00b4n ngu00e1u00bbu00af nu00c3u00a0y? ;)

Great post Danny - and thanks for pointing out a few people I wasn't already aware of. Most importantly we definitely agree on David Mullen. I am proud to call him a peer of our industry - he understands communication and PR better than most. David is savvy, articulate and understands the synergy of PR and social media. I learn a lot from him.

Wow! Thanks Rachel. Those are some ridiculously kind words and I appreciate it more than you know. Between Danny's post and your comment, you guys have made my month!

I have grown tired of #followfriday because it seems so many just toss a bunch of names out there with no rhyme or reason. As a result, I find myself recommending just a handful of people and I try to give some reason why you should be following them. I think it is more effective in the long run. Glad to see some explanation with the people you've recommended. Great idea, great post, great list. :)

Some excellent recommendations from @dannybrown. Are you following any 8 on Twitter? http://bit.ly/thvzC
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RT @drewmaniac: Some excellent recommendations from @dannybrown. Are you following any 8 on Twitter? http://bit.ly/thvzC
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"Because #FollowFriday Isnu00e2u0080u0099t Just for Twitter" http://bit.ly/NYJBq - via @dannybrown
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I am blown away by the @dannybrown s post http://bit.ly/PskW2 Thank you Danny.
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RT @ramartijr I am blown away by the @dannybrown s post http://bit.ly/PskW2 Thank you Danny.
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RT @ramartijr - I am blown away by the @dannybrown s post http://bit.ly/PskW2 Thank you Danny. <great post about follow friday>
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Thanks for this list. I've been wanting to create a page for #FF's on our site, too, so that I can actually have a place to point people to and let them know the people that I like and why. It makes #FF all the more meaningful and useful. Ok, I'll get on it this week. ;-)

RT @Aronado: El Jefe @DannyBrown nails the current state of #followfriday and how to approach http://bit.ly/thvzC RT --> good point!
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...and there I thought reading your blog post title you would recommend bloggers to follow. Alas, no. which begs the question what your title signifies if not "just for Twitter?"

The gist of the whole post was about people I feel would be awesome outside of Twitter as well as on it (hence the title).

They do inspiring things away from the medium, as much as they do cool things on it. These (and future) recommendations are to show more of the person behind just the Twitter ID on a standard #followfriday recommendation.

Iu00e2u0080u0099ve written blogger recommendations before and will continue to do so. But each Friday, Iu00e2u0080u0099d rather do this than just offer someone a name and no more.

The gist of the whole post was about people I feel would be awesome outside of Twitter as well as on it (hence the title).

They do inspiring things away from the medium, as much as they do cool things on it. These (and future) recommendations are to show more of the person behind just the Twitter ID on a standard #followfriday recommendation.

I’ve written blogger recommendations before and will continue to do so. But each Friday, I’d rather do this than just offer someone a name and no more.

This is a great way to meet other people worth following. Interesting people are hard to capture in 140 characters.

I will be checking these people out!

Muchos gracias El Jefe!!

esperar a an't justa con usted en persona e incluso en lanzar un Kilt y luz hasta la ciudad de San Diego

I like the way you write Danny Brown.

Because #FollowFriday Isnu00e2u0080u0099t Just for Twitter http://tinyurl.com/q54g4y
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Did you people know that @DannyBrown writes a very cool &thought provoking blog with no trace of WANKER in it at all?Nada. http://is.gd/Cy6G
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Because #FollowFriday Isnu00e2u0080u0099t Just for Twitter via @dannybrown. http://bit.ly/thvzC
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RT @mayhemstudios: Because #FollowFriday Isnu00e2u0080u0099t Just for Twitter via @dannybrown. http://bit.ly/thvzC
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RT @cameronolivier: RT @mayhemstudios: Because #FollowFriday Isnu00e2u0080u0099t Just for Twitter via @dannybrown. http://bit.ly/thvzC
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Looks like the dapper and delightful @DannyBrown is up to his usual good blogginess: http://bit.ly/PskW2 *Check out the END part!!!* woo~
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@dannybrown Because #FollowFriday Isnu00e2u0080u0099t Just for Twitter http://bit.ly/thvzC some of my fave tweeple are on here
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