10 Follow Friday tips for Twitter

Posted by on Apr 3, 2009 in Marketing, Social media, Social networks, Strategy, Technology, Twitter | 71 comments

Flickr CCI’m reluctant to plug any one set of people on Twitter’s #followfriday only because I’d have to broadcast hundreds of Tweets for all the interesting people and what they do.

Rather than do that, here’s a compendium of #followfriday tips that you can use to find the conversations you want to participate in.

1. Sync up your existing social networks on #followfriday. Try Synchronizing Social Networks Guide for more details.

2. Find people mentioning your URL. Follow them. Here’s an example for this web site.

3. Follow people who recommend you using Twitter search, especially on #followfriday. Example.

4. Follow people local to you so that you can actually meet up for coffee. Here’s an example of people within 5 miles of Boston, MA.

5. Follow people who are following you. Try out SocialOomph.com for this.

6. Follow people in your area talking about your topics. Example using Google.

7. Follow people using very specific industry jargon in your niche. For example, if you were looking for World of Warcraft players, chances are you could look for ICC10, which is short for 10-man Icecrown Citadel, a dungeon.

8. Follow people who reply to you all week long. Example.

9. Follow people who have job titles or bios you’re interested in. Here’s an example of CMOs on Twitter, using Google search.

10. This above all else: follow who you want to follow. There is no right or wrong way to decide who to follow. Follow people who will make your Twitter experience more interesting, more information, more powerful – NOT just who the crowd suggests, because in some cases you have excellent personalities and people talking about things you have no interest in, and you’re just burning time and bandwidth.

Follow who and what interests you. That is the sum of Twitter. Everything else will fall into place.

What are your #followfriday tips?

Did you enjoy this blog post? If so, please subscribe right now!

Get this and other great articles from the source at www.ChristopherSPenn.com! Want to take your conference or event to the next level? Book me to speak and get the same quality information on stage as you do on this blog.

Related posts:

  1. My Twitter Follow Policy
  2. How to auto-follow on Twitter
  3. Twitter has Pulver-ized me. Time to move to Plurk?
  • http://www.usphere.com Dave Van de Walle

    Great stuff. I'd add this…

    My #followfriday tip — if you're recommending people to follow, tell us why! Don't just say “follow @bob, he's cool” — say “follow @bob b/c he has great things to say on the corporate real estate market in texas.”

  • http://www.usphere.com Dave Van de Walle

    Great stuff. I'd add this…

    My #followfriday tip — if you're recommending people to follow, tell us why! Don't just say “follow @bob, he's cool” — say “follow @bob b/c he has great things to say on the corporate real estate market in texas.”

  • http://www.usphere.com Dave Van de Walle

    Great stuff. I'd add this…

    My #followfriday tip — if you're recommending people to follow, tell us why! Don't just say “follow @bob, he's cool” — say “follow @bob b/c he has great things to say on the corporate real estate market in texas.”

  • http://ariwriter.com Ari Herzog

    Do you adhere to the eight tips, Christopher, or you merely suggesting others might? I agree they are useful suggestions, but I personally don't adhere to many of them, e.g. if someone retweets a url of mine, I wouldn't necessarily follow that person; but I would tweet a thanks.

  • http://ariwriter.com Ari Herzog

    Do you adhere to the eight tips, Christopher, or you merely suggesting others might? I agree they are useful suggestions, but I personally don't adhere to many of them, e.g. if someone retweets a url of mine, I wouldn't necessarily follow that person; but I would tweet a thanks.

  • http://ariwriter.com Ari Herzog

    Do you adhere to the eight tips, Christopher, or you merely suggesting others might? I agree they are useful suggestions, but I personally don't adhere to many of them, e.g. if someone retweets a url of mine, I wouldn't necessarily follow that person; but I would tweet a thanks.

  • http://ariwriter.com Ari Herzog

    Do you adhere to the eight tips, Christopher, or you merely suggesting others might? I agree they are useful suggestions, but I personally don't adhere to many of them, e.g. if someone retweets a url of mine, I wouldn't necessarily follow that person; but I would tweet a thanks.

  • http://ariwriter.com Ari Herzog

    Do you adhere to the eight tips, Christopher, or you merely suggesting others might? I agree they are useful suggestions, but I personally don't adhere to many of them, e.g. if someone retweets a url of mine, I wouldn't necessarily follow that person; but I would tweet a thanks.

  • http://ariwriter.com Ari Herzog

    Do you adhere to the eight tips, Christopher, or you merely suggesting others might? I agree they are useful suggestions, but I personally don't adhere to many of them, e.g. if someone retweets a url of mine, I wouldn't necessarily follow that person; but I would tweet a thanks.

  • http://ariwriter.com Ari Herzog

    Do you adhere to the eight tips, Christopher, or you merely suggesting others might? I agree they are useful suggestions, but I personally don't adhere to many of them, e.g. if someone retweets a url of mine, I wouldn't necessarily follow that person; but I would tweet a thanks.

  • http://www.whosbloggingwhat.com wbw_Jeff

    good list. an alternative to #2 is backtweets.com because it will automatically re-lengthen any shortened URLS before doing the search

  • http://www.whosbloggingwhat.com wbw_Jeff

    good list. an alternative to #2 is backtweets.com because it will automatically re-lengthen any shortened URLS before doing the search

  • http://www.whosbloggingwhat.com wbw_Jeff

    good list. an alternative to #2 is backtweets.com because it will automatically re-lengthen any shortened URLS before doing the search

  • http://www.whosbloggingwhat.com wbw_Jeff

    good list. an alternative to #2 is backtweets.com because it will automatically re-lengthen any shortened URLS before doing the search

  • http://www.whosbloggingwhat.com wbw_Jeff

    good list. an alternative to #2 is backtweets.com because it will automatically re-lengthen any shortened URLS before doing the search

  • http://www.whosbloggingwhat.com wbw_Jeff

    good list. an alternative to #2 is backtweets.com because it will automatically re-lengthen any shortened URLS before doing the search

  • http://www.whosbloggingwhat.com wbw_Jeff

    good list. an alternative to #2 is backtweets.com because it will automatically re-lengthen any shortened URLS before doing the search

  • http://www.whosbloggingwhat.com wbw_Jeff

    good list. an alternative to #2 is backtweets.com because it will automatically re-lengthen any shortened URLS before doing the search

  • http://www.whosbloggingwhat.com wbw_Jeff

    good list. an alternative to #2 is backtweets.com because it will automatically re-lengthen any shortened URLS before doing the search

  • http://www.whosbloggingwhat.com wbw_Jeff

    good list. an alternative to #2 is backtweets.com because it will automatically re-lengthen any shortened URLS before doing the search

  • http://www.whosbloggingwhat.com wbw_Jeff

    good list. an alternative to #2 is backtweets.com because it will automatically re-lengthen any shortened URLS before doing the search

  • http://www.whosbloggingwhat.com wbw_Jeff

    good list. an alternative to #2 is backtweets.com because it will automatically re-lengthen any shortened URLS before doing the search

  • http://www.whosbloggingwhat.com wbw_Jeff

    good list. an alternative to #2 is backtweets.com because it will automatically re-lengthen any shortened URLS before doing the search

  • http://nohype.tumblr.com nohype

    I recommend giving a little context on #followfriday suggestions – 1 or 2 words as to why you recommend them. I tend to group together a few people with common company or area of expertise.
    @stu

  • http://nohype.tumblr.com nohype

    I recommend giving a little context on #followfriday suggestions – 1 or 2 words as to why you recommend them. I tend to group together a few people with common company or area of expertise.
    @stu

  • http://blogstu.wordpress.com stu

    I recommend giving a little context on #followfriday suggestions – 1 or 2 words as to why you recommend them. I tend to group together a few people with common company or area of expertise.
    @stu

  • http://blogstu.wordpress.com stu

    I recommend giving a little context on #followfriday suggestions – 1 or 2 words as to why you recommend them. I tend to group together a few people with common company or area of expertise.
    @stu

  • http://blogstu.wordpress.com stu

    I recommend giving a little context on #followfriday suggestions – 1 or 2 words as to why you recommend them. I tend to group together a few people with common company or area of expertise.
    @stu

  • http://blogstu.wordpress.com stu

    I recommend giving a little context on #followfriday suggestions – 1 or 2 words as to why you recommend them. I tend to group together a few people with common company or area of expertise.
    @stu

  • http://blogstu.wordpress.com stu

    I recommend giving a little context on #followfriday suggestions – 1 or 2 words as to why you recommend them. I tend to group together a few people with common company or area of expertise.
    @stu

  • http://thelostjacket.com Stuartfoster

    I try to make at least one tweet regarding #followfriday. I often forget a lot of people… But I do think that it is having some positive impact on the community of Twitter by exposing you to users that you may not have heard of.

  • http://thelostjacket.com Stuartfoster

    I try to make at least one tweet regarding #followfriday. I often forget a lot of people… But I do think that it is having some positive impact on the community of Twitter by exposing you to users that you may not have heard of.

  • http://thelostjacket.com Stuart Foster

    I try to make at least one tweet regarding #followfriday. I often forget a lot of people… But I do think that it is having some positive impact on the community of Twitter by exposing you to users that you may not have heard of.

  • http://thelostjacket.com Stuart Foster

    I try to make at least one tweet regarding #followfriday. I often forget a lot of people… But I do think that it is having some positive impact on the community of Twitter by exposing you to users that you may not have heard of.

  • http://thelostjacket.com Stuart Foster

    I try to make at least one tweet regarding #followfriday. I often forget a lot of people… But I do think that it is having some positive impact on the community of Twitter by exposing you to users that you may not have heard of.

  • http://thelostjacket.com Stuart Foster

    I try to make at least one tweet regarding #followfriday. I often forget a lot of people… But I do think that it is having some positive impact on the community of Twitter by exposing you to users that you may not have heard of.

  • http://thelostjacket.com Stuart Foster

    I try to make at least one tweet regarding #followfriday. I often forget a lot of people… But I do think that it is having some positive impact on the community of Twitter by exposing you to users that you may not have heard of.

  • http://www.usphere.com Dave Van de Walle

    Great stuff. I'd add this…

    My #followfriday tip — if you're recommending people to follow, tell us why! Don't just say “follow @bob, he's cool” — say “follow @bob b/c he has great things to say on the corporate real estate market in texas.”

  • http://ariwriter.com Ari Herzog

    Do you adhere to the eight tips, Christopher, or you merely suggesting others might? I agree they are useful suggestions, but I personally don't adhere to many of them, e.g. if someone retweets a url of mine, I wouldn't necessarily follow that person; but I would tweet a thanks.

    • http://www.ChristopherSPenn.com Christopher S. Penn

      I follow a lot of them because they’re fairly easy to follow, and following someone does very little harm and potentially a lot of good.

  • http://www.whosbloggingwhat.com wbw_Jeff

    good list. an alternative to #2 is backtweets.com because it will automatically re-lengthen any shortened URLS before doing the search

  • http://www.whosbloggingwhat.com wbw_Jeff

    good list. an alternative to #2 is backtweets.com because it will automatically re-lengthen any shortened URLS before doing the search

  • http://blogstu.wordpress.com stu

    I recommend giving a little context on #followfriday suggestions – 1 or 2 words as to why you recommend them. I tend to group together a few people with common company or area of expertise.
    @stu

  • http://thelostjacket.com Stuart Foster

    I try to make at least one tweet regarding #followfriday. I often forget a lot of people… But I do think that it is having some positive impact on the community of Twitter by exposing you to users that you may not have heard of.

  • http://twitter.com/dmclark David Clark

    I have been told that it is important to keep your ratio of followers to following as close to 1:1 as possible. If you follow a lot more people than follow you you come off as a spammer – is that true?

  • http://twitter.com/dmclark David Clark

    I have been told that it is important to keep your ratio of followers to following as close to 1:1 as possible. If you follow a lot more people than follow you you come off as a spammer – is that true?

  • http://twitter.com/dmclark David Clark

    I have been told that it is important to keep your ratio of followers to following as close to 1:1 as possible. If you follow a lot more people than follow you you come off as a spammer – is that true?

  • http://twitter.com/dmclark David Clark

    I have been told that it is important to keep your ratio of followers to following as close to 1:1 as possible. If you follow a lot more people than follow you you come off as a spammer – is that true?

  • http://twitter.com/dmclark David Clark

    I have been told that it is important to keep your ratio of followers to following as close to 1:1 as possible. If you follow a lot more people than follow you you come off as a spammer – is that true?

  • http://twitter.com/dmclark David Clark

    I have been told that it is important to keep your ratio of followers to following as close to 1:1 as possible. If you follow a lot more people than follow you you come off as a spammer – is that true?

  • http://www.ChristopherSPenn.com Christopher S. Penn

    For the most part, yes. When you hit the API limits, it lets you know, rather vociferously.

  • http://www.ChristopherSPenn.com Christopher S. Penn

    For the most part, yes. When you hit the API limits, it lets you know, rather vociferously.

  • http://www.ChristopherSPenn.com Christopher S. Penn

    For the most part, yes. When you hit the API limits, it lets you know, rather vociferously.

  • http://www.ChristopherSPenn.com Christopher S. Penn

    For the most part, yes. When you hit the API limits, it lets you know, rather vociferously.

  • http://www.ChristopherSPenn.com Christopher S. Penn

    For the most part, yes. When you hit the API limits, it lets you know, rather vociferously.

  • http://www.ChristopherSPenn.com Christopher S. Penn

    For the most part, yes. When you hit the API limits, it lets you know, rather vociferously.

  • http://twitter.com/dmclark David Clark

    I have been told that it is important to keep your ratio of followers to following as close to 1:1 as possible. If you follow a lot more people than follow you you come off as a spammer – is that true?

  • http://www.ChristopherSPenn.com Christopher S. Penn

    For the most part, yes. When you hit the API limits, it lets you know, rather vociferously.

  • DebbyBruck

    Christopher ~ excellent advice. I've retweeted this blog. Lately, I have not been keeping up with #ff #followfriday so religiously. Interacting all week with peeps we find out what's new, how the day has been going, send inspirational thoughts. Just this communication back and forth are enough to coast through Friday. I've always put a special note about who I like to follow on a regular basis and look forward to seeing their avatar. I'd like to know if other people automate there twitter in any way, because I do not. It's very time consuming. Have a beautiful day, Debby

  • DebbyBruck

    Christopher ~ excellent advice. I've retweeted this blog. Lately, I have not been keeping up with #ff #followfriday so religiously. Interacting all week with peeps we find out what's new, how the day has been going, send inspirational thoughts. Just this communication back and forth are enough to coast through Friday. I've always put a special note about who I like to follow on a regular basis and look forward to seeing their avatar. I'd like to know if other people automate there twitter in any way, because I do not. It's very time consuming. Have a beautiful day, Debby

  • DebbyBruck

    Christopher ~ excellent advice. I've retweeted this blog. Lately, I have not been keeping up with #ff #followfriday so religiously. Interacting all week with peeps we find out what's new, how the day has been going, send inspirational thoughts. Just this communication back and forth are enough to coast through Friday. I've always put a special note about who I like to follow on a regular basis and look forward to seeing their avatar. I'd like to know if other people automate there twitter in any way, because I do not. It's very time consuming. Have a beautiful day, Debby

  • DebbyBruck

    Christopher ~ excellent advice. I've retweeted this blog. Lately, I have not been keeping up with #ff #followfriday so religiously. Interacting all week with peeps we find out what's new, how the day has been going, send inspirational thoughts. Just this communication back and forth are enough to coast through Friday. I've always put a special note about who I like to follow on a regular basis and look forward to seeing their avatar. I'd like to know if other people automate there twitter in any way, because I do not. It's very time consuming. Have a beautiful day, Debby

  • DebbyBruck

    Christopher ~ excellent advice. I've retweeted this blog. Lately, I have not been keeping up with #ff #followfriday so religiously. Interacting all week with peeps we find out what's new, how the day has been going, send inspirational thoughts. Just this communication back and forth are enough to coast through Friday. I've always put a special note about who I like to follow on a regular basis and look forward to seeing their avatar. I'd like to know if other people automate there twitter in any way, because I do not. It's very time consuming. Have a beautiful day, Debby

  • DebbyBruck

    Christopher ~ excellent advice. I've retweeted this blog. Lately, I have not been keeping up with #ff #followfriday so religiously. Interacting all week with peeps we find out what's new, how the day has been going, send inspirational thoughts. Just this communication back and forth are enough to coast through Friday. I've always put a special note about who I like to follow on a regular basis and look forward to seeing their avatar. I'd like to know if other people automate there twitter in any way, because I do not. It's very time consuming. Have a beautiful day, Debby

  • http://rosedesrochers.todays-woman.net/ Rose

    My biggest FF tip is tell me why I should follow someone.

  • http://rosedesrochers.todays-woman.net/ Rose

    My biggest FF tip is tell me why I should follow someone.

  • http://rosedesrochers.todays-woman.net/ Rose

    My biggest FF tip is tell me why I should follow someone.

  • http://rosedesrochers.todays-woman.net/ Rose

    My biggest FF tip is tell me why I should follow someone.

  • http://rosedesrochers.todays-woman.net/ Rose

    My biggest FF tip is tell me why I should follow someone.

  • http://rosedesrochers.todays-woman.net/ Rose

    My biggest FF tip is tell me why I should follow someone.

  • http://rosedesrochers.todays-woman.net/ Rose

    My biggest FF tip is tell me why I should follow someone.