Because #FollowFriday Isn’t Just for Twitter
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.
Community – Richard 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.
Ladies of Twitter – Henie 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.
Gentlemen of Twitter – Aronado 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.
Non-Profits – Nicole 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.
Marketing – Frank 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.
Public Relations – David 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.
Social Media – Chris 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.
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.
photo credit: ashley rose,
34 Responses to “Because #FollowFriday Isn’t Just for Twitter”
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
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!
…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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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 orgásmica. ¿No es gracioso? En cuanto a Danny del problema con el idioma español, hay algo malo en ello, debe ser capaz de escribir y / o traducir como el mejor de nosotros, no está de acuerdo?
Antes de Danny recibe en mi caso también – me llama una sangrienta tal o cual – ¿Cuándo va a empezar su propio blog? Si usted está en San Diego los mejores PR niña, entonces usted debería 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!
Tôi có cần phải viết một nhận xét trong Tiếng Pháp, Tiếng Đức, hoặc Gaelic? Bạn có cái gì so với ngôn ngữ này?
Sorry Danny but it’s San Diego. We all speak Spanish here!
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.:)
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.
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.
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
It’s about damn time.
As you know Danny, I completely agree: http://tinyurl.com/pgxbo4Indeed 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!
I like the way you write Danny Brown.