Christopher S. Penn – Marketing AI Keynote Speaker

10 Follow Friday tips for Twitter

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Christopher S Penn
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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?

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Comments

71 responses to “10 Follow Friday tips for Twitter”

  1. Dave Van de Walle Avatar
    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.”

    Reply
  2. Dave Van de Walle Avatar
    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.”

    Reply
  3. Dave Van de Walle Avatar
    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.”

    Reply
  4. Ari Herzog Avatar
    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.

    Reply
  5. Ari Herzog Avatar
    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.

    Reply
  6. Ari Herzog Avatar
    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.

    Reply
  7. Ari Herzog Avatar
    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.

    Reply
  8. Ari Herzog Avatar
    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.

    Reply
  9. Ari Herzog Avatar
    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.

    Reply
  10. Ari Herzog Avatar
    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.

    Reply
  11. wbw_Jeff Avatar
    wbw_Jeff

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

    Reply
  12. wbw_Jeff Avatar
    wbw_Jeff

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

    Reply
  13. wbw_Jeff Avatar
    wbw_Jeff

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

    Reply
  14. wbw_Jeff Avatar
    wbw_Jeff

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

    Reply
  15. wbw_Jeff Avatar
    wbw_Jeff

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

    Reply
  16. wbw_Jeff Avatar
    wbw_Jeff

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

    Reply
  17. wbw_Jeff Avatar
    wbw_Jeff

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

    Reply
  18. wbw_Jeff Avatar
    wbw_Jeff

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

    Reply
  19. wbw_Jeff Avatar
    wbw_Jeff

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

    Reply
  20. wbw_Jeff Avatar
    wbw_Jeff

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

    Reply
  21. wbw_Jeff Avatar
    wbw_Jeff

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

    Reply
  22. wbw_Jeff Avatar
    wbw_Jeff

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

    Reply
  23. wbw_Jeff Avatar
    wbw_Jeff

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

    Reply
  24. nohype Avatar
    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

    Reply
  25. nohype Avatar
    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

    Reply
  26. stu Avatar
    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

    Reply
  27. stu Avatar
    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

    Reply
  28. stu Avatar
    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

    Reply
  29. stu Avatar
    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

    Reply
  30. stu Avatar
    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

    Reply
  31. Stuartfoster Avatar
    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.

    Reply
  32. Stuartfoster Avatar
    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.

    Reply
  33. Stuart Foster Avatar
    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.

    Reply
  34. Stuart Foster Avatar
    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.

    Reply
  35. Stuart Foster Avatar
    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.

    Reply
  36. Stuart Foster Avatar
    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.

    Reply
  37. Stuart Foster Avatar
    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.

    Reply
  38. Dave Van de Walle Avatar
    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.”

    Reply
  39. Ari Herzog Avatar
    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.

    Reply
    1. Christopher S. Penn Avatar
      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.

      Reply
  40. wbw_Jeff Avatar
    wbw_Jeff

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

    Reply
  41. wbw_Jeff Avatar
    wbw_Jeff

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

    Reply
  42. stu Avatar
    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

    Reply
  43. Stuart Foster Avatar
    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.

    Reply
  44. David Clark Avatar
    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?

    Reply
  45. David Clark Avatar
    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?

    Reply
  46. David Clark Avatar
    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?

    Reply
  47. David Clark Avatar
    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?

    Reply
  48. David Clark Avatar
    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?

    Reply
  49. David Clark Avatar
    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?

    Reply
  50. Christopher S. Penn Avatar
    Christopher S. Penn

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

    Reply
  51. Christopher S. Penn Avatar
    Christopher S. Penn

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

    Reply
  52. Christopher S. Penn Avatar
    Christopher S. Penn

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

    Reply
  53. Christopher S. Penn Avatar
    Christopher S. Penn

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

    Reply
  54. Christopher S. Penn Avatar
    Christopher S. Penn

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

    Reply
  55. Christopher S. Penn Avatar
    Christopher S. Penn

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

    Reply
  56. David Clark Avatar
    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?

    Reply
  57. Christopher S. Penn Avatar
    Christopher S. Penn

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

    Reply
  58. DebbyBruck Avatar
    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

    Reply
  59. DebbyBruck Avatar
    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

    Reply
  60. DebbyBruck Avatar
    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

    Reply
  61. DebbyBruck Avatar
    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

    Reply
  62. DebbyBruck Avatar
    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

    Reply
  63. DebbyBruck Avatar
    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

    Reply
  64. Rose Avatar
    Rose

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

    Reply
  65. Rose Avatar
    Rose

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

    Reply
  66. Rose Avatar
    Rose

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

    Reply
  67. Rose Avatar
    Rose

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

    Reply
  68. Rose Avatar
    Rose

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

    Reply
  69. Rose Avatar
    Rose

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

    Reply
  70. Rose Avatar
    Rose

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

    Reply

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