Time flies while I’m having fun but there is one sure sign that the week is coming to an end: My twitter stream shows a lot of #FF and #FollowFriday tweets.
What is this #FollowFriday all about?
Follow Friday has a tradition that is rooted in the days when Twitter and other Social Media platforms were still a domain of uber-geeks and early adopters. In a way it represents the earliest form of lists.
When I started using Twitter in 2009 the typical Follow-Friday was just a list of a few @mentions with only the #hashtag #FF added. “Everybody” knew that we were looking at a list of recommended twitter accounts. I discovered a lot of really cool people back then – I still do discover new people to follow every Friday but it’s not as easy anymore.
The Qualified #FF
Sooner or later the twitterverse started tiring of these empty lists. I don’t really know why you should follow these people – other than the fact that I say so 
. That’s when I saw more and more people qualifying why they recommend to follow someone. I like that a lot actually, it adds value and reason to the update.
I like to recognize people I had good interactions with or that promoted me int eh past week. After all everybody is always looking for “real” people to interact with.
But then came the bots
A bot is a software program that automates functions – twitter is full of them, most are used to spam timelines or to take over tedious functions like – surprise - finding out who promoted you best. I get that – it’s easier to let an analytics tool browse through my twitter stream and see who mentioned me most. But where is the human connection? Is still don’t know why I should follow the recommended person…. is it a person?
Two examples that render this type of recommendation useless:
- Tools like followfridayhelper.com compile a list of recommendations and then tweet out a link to their web site to see them – does anybody ever look at these? (if you do please comment)
- Spam bots have discovered the #FollowFriday – today I was mentioned by this one:
I don’t even know what I could have installed on my computer if I would have clicked on the link 
NOW IT’S YOUR TURN Do you follow Friday?
Do you use #FollowFriday?
How do you like to use it?
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About the Author:Frithjof
Frithjof is CEO Chief Engagement Officer at Tweet4Ok he helps Businesses, Organizations and Individuals use Social Media Tools more effectively. He knows that we can use Social Media tools like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and the many others effectively for marketing but the real power of these tools is the ability to create powerful Social Networks. Frithjof lives in Kelowna, BC but helps clients well beyond the area. Aside from his regular Social Media Blog and a column in welcometokelowna.com he has a passion for teaching and offers Social Media coaching programs. Follow @Tweet4OK
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Follow Friday provides the opportunity to say ‘I am following you because I enjoy the tweets you share.’ Social media is all about building relationships and Follow Friday gives us the platform to let our own twitterville community know we are paying attention.
Very good point Liz! Despite the fact that I often can’t find/make enough time for a meaningful #FF I think it’s a great way to make connections.
May be we should start recommending one good account every day – what do you think?
Frithjof recently posted..Do you Follow Friday?