It’s February’s First #FollowFriday, which means time to fulfill Twitter’s mission — to be helpful.
Every Friday on Twitter is #FollowFriday — or #FF — whenTweeps recommend others within their networks who have worthwhile things to say and are worth following.
I have many #FF choices and I hope to add more to this list when I can catch some time today. Please don’t be offended if you’re not on this list. You will be!
Here are some of my #FF choices. If you follow them too, tell them I sent you, and don’t forget to use the #FF hashtag.
@SarahSkerik — leads social media initiatives at PR Newswire and included my quotes in her highly respected PR Newswire blog.
@PRSaraHEvans — a leader in the PR social media community and founder of JournChat
@AnnDwyer_Crains — writes about Entrepreneurship and the challenges facing small business people
@PRSoapBox — Colleen Campbell, a former colleague, is brilliant and her observations about digital PR and the industry in general are spot-on.
@ScottKleinberg – 0ne of the most helpful journalists you will ever find on social networks. He writes for the Tribune and assists other Tribune staffers with their social media actvities.
@BernieTafoya – Newsradio 780s veteran street reporter. One of the most creative guys on radio and a class-act pro.
@GiniDietrich — Social media powerhouse, super creative CEO, author and founder of the popular “SpinSucks” blog.
@MarjHalperin — She’s a colleague, and fellow radio news junkie, communications strategy maven, and is all over Chicago‘s cultural and arts scene. She is now heading up Mayor Emanual’s initiative to craft Chicago’s Cultural Plan.
@PointA_PointB — My friend, Catherine Morgan, Brainiac, extremely connected life coach who has an answer to every entrepreneur’s question. She’ll steer ya right!
@MrMediaTraining – one of the most insightful and spot-on interview training coaches, who is so good at finding others’ media blunders and picking them apart with great precision
Keep checking in here, as I plan to do a favorite journalists Tweep list.
I love that you have to say not to be offended if you’re not on the list. People sure do get upset about that stuff, don’t they? I love doing #FF this way. It gives you more than 140 characters to tell people what’s interesting about those you’re recommending. Thanks for including me!
Michelle, I’m a Twitteridiot. I’m active on Facebook (www.facebook.com/catherinejohnschicago), getting better and better at LinkedIn, but I’m lagging way behind on the Tweeting thing. How do I get up to speed so I can be follow-worthy? And how do people find the time to do all this social networking?
I am thrilled to include you on my #FF list Gini. You’re the best. Happy Valentine’s Day.
Catherine, sorry for not noticing your reply sooner. Happy Valentine’s Day!
No, you’re not Twitter-deficient. It’s overwhelming at first, and that’s why I tell folks to get comfortable with one social media platform before trying another. The way to be follow-worthy is first…to start following others.
Who do you follow? There are many ways, by your hobbies, career, profession, location. Google the search term Twitter directories, and you’ll find people who share your interests and begin following them. Use the @ (at) sign before their name and reply to something they’ve tweeted. or if you want to share something they’ve already tweeted, use the RT sign before their name to retweet their comment. You’re starting a conversation with these people, and they’re likely to begin following you. Once you get comfortable in the Twitter Dialogue, you can advance your skills by attending a Tweet Chat. And that’s another blog topic for me to write. I got the bulk of my followers by attending a variety of Tweet chats. It’s a twitter cocktail party dedicated to a single topic where you follow the stream of the conversation and contribute to it.