Welcome to Social Media

Who do you, how do you #followfriday?

May 15th, 2009 written by Heidi Cool

As most of you know #followfriday is a weekly Twitter meme in which Twitter users suggest other cool people to follow as designated by the #followfriday #hashtag.

I discover many interesting people by following such recommendations, but lately the meme has been getting some discussion. For months people have just listed a bunch of cool Tweeps with #followfriday. This let's us know that these people are respected by our friends, but it doesn't tell us why. We don't know if they Tweet about penguins, have expertise in basketweaving, a great sense of humor, or what it is that makes them inspiring.

Two weeks ago @swoodruff suggested a way to improve #followfriday in which you would recommend one person with a description. As an example he suggested answering a question such as "Who would you want to go with you on a wine-tasting?" (I recommended @nickdawson who takes food and beverage seriously but approaches the subject with humor. He even makes his own bacon.)

Another trend, that I've been trying to apply, is to group people topically. I started a few weeks back listing people in categories such as Cool Clevelanders, or Cool Tweeps in Higher Education. But perhaps even that was too vague. Today I listed artsy Clevelanders: @georgenemeth, @glennhudson, @jamiejanos, @wolfkitten, @bridgetDginley and @jewelsann.

@johnheaney took a similar approach but went a step further. Last night he Tweeted "calling all Cleveland Tweeps ... which area business and tech Tweeters are must read? will share compiled list. " Then this morning he announced "good morning Cleveland. This morning's #followfriday focuses solely on Cleveland tech & business" then listed the following people over the course of several Tweets, each clearly labeled "Cleveland tech & business."

@techczar, @georgenemeth, @davestack, @bluestarlounge, @piratebluestar, @mattdickman, @strategystew, @franchiseking, @hacool, @jimkukral, @tornadosoft, @JulieDAloiso, @smallbiztrends, @travisnow, @szczepanik, @glennhudson, @susiesharp, @danyoungdxy, @rock_my_soles, @kkaleal, @bradkleinman, @bridgetDginley, @dailybragger, @doughardman, @koskim, @alisonedward11, @chuckhemann, @guy-vincent and @paulroetzer

What about you? Are you employing a specific #followfriday strategy? Do you approach it geographically, by topic, some other parameter? Are there cool Cleveland Tweeps you would add to my artsy list or John's Cleveland Tech and Business list? Are there non-local Tweeps you follow in these categories?

Related thoughts regarding Twitter:

• My Twitter following habits aren’t better than yours; they’re just different.
• MKTG 101: Social Media Marketing is still marketing: know your audience

Topics: Social Media Blog

Tags: followfriday, Twitter