Whatcha doing?

It’s been several weeks since I last did a list of Follow Friday favorites. Now, I realize that a lot of people think this is a waste of time, and to some it may very well be. The way I see it, though, it’s my small and humble way to help the thousands of readers joining Twitter every day by sharing the best of the best on Twitter. I’m sure you’ve noticed – on Twitter, they now give you a list of top tweets. How they come up with those, I’m still not sure, but I do know that it’s a Twitter “verified account” and it follows everyone. Therefore, you can go through their list. However, I doubt the verified account is actually engaging with those on the list or giving the sense of a real connection (who can engage with millions of users?).

Since I first signed on to Twitter, I’ve gathered tons of great resources and great people to follow. I’ve had some laughs and even done business through Twitter. I can’t tell you how many inspirational stories I’ve read that I might not otherwise have ever come across. They’ve made me cry; they’ve pushed me to make a change. Okay, so it may not seem like much to some people, but sooner or later, you start to realize that it’s the small things in life that make a difference to the big things. There’s no doubt in my mind that the people on these Follow Friday lists are among the best resources, the nicest people and the most engaging!  On to the Follow Friday list:

@jrpittman I have to start this list with one of my favorite persons on Twitter. She is not on there often since I keep her busy with work lolol. But I would be a fool to think I can run Level 343 without her. She is an amazing writer, editor, mother, and friend. Her bio reads “Mother, site administrator, SEO copywriter, project manager – constantly running” No need to explain why you should follow her other than she gets it even though she won’t admit it.

@lizstrauss Liz Strauss needs no introduction from me. She had me at hello, what an amazing social media mentor. Am I putting it on thick? No I am really genuinely impressed with her credentials and she has them. If you know me you know, I am not easily impressed. Unlike a lot of the “other” women that have achieved fame from the Internet she is still approachable and connects with every day people. That’s what makes her so amazing. Her bio reads “Founder of SOBCon, brand strategist, It’s only fun when it’s brilliant strategy, high return, AND connects customers in a meaningful way.” I don’t need to recommend this woman only to say Liz thanks for being part of my Twitter feed.

@lateaserikard what an amazing connection this has been. She is always there to support you with RT including actually having conversation in 140 characters Her bio on twitter reads “Blogging what I know about social media. App developer on Facebook.” But don’t let that business exterior fool you. This woman has had her hardships in life and still make every day an awesome day. Don’t wait. Follow her now.

@italofileblog I recently started following Melanie Renzulli. & I have to tell you I am thrilled to have found another American who loves my country. Her bio reads “Italy travel tweets and more. Visit my website at italofile.com or visit http://italofile.ning.com to connect!” It’s all about connection and sharing her adventures in the boot. Her website is an amazing gift to those who want to see Italy from a local point of view. Go ahead you know you want to follow her.

@seobelle the name says it all. That sounds sexist I know but, she is bella and does SEO… her real name is Sadie Sherran.  Some people would ask why would you follow your competition? Well I don’t see it that way; I see it as a woman I respect in the industry. Her links & knowledge are apparent. Her bio reads “Girly, purple, a little bit geeky I like Crisps and all things SEO/SEM” Her conversations and links are always spot on. The fact she is across the pond will keep me updated on what the UK is doing. A definite Follow any day.

@GRPasswater George is one hell of a guy. He is engaging, smart and a lovely man. His bio reads; “Owner – @PasswaterMedia. Special Needs Dad – @DadWritings. Entrepreneur. Writer. Blogger. Technologist. Consultant. Mac geek . Animal lover.” You can imagine he is not shy about connecting. George is one of the few people on Twitter I can always count on to help me pass out great links. One last thing about George he never forgets to say good morning. How can you not follow that type of energy? Positive all the way.

@Nylons I have been following Nancy Lyons for some time and have always admired her interactions. It wasn’t until recently I found out she is an American that would love to retire in Italy. Her Bio read  “Boss of Clockwork, Geek Girl, Mom. Partner. TechEvangelist. public speaker. I try to bring the funny.” From what I have seen and read she is immersed in what she loves to do. That in itself is refreshing with a wonderful attitude.

@Jane_Howitt Jane is another great woman I have been connecting with. She has helped me with my efforts of starting a #Honoring Women Wed on Twitter. To some it may seem silly but to me that’s how important connecting is. Her bio reads “Internet communicator: copywriter, Social Media disciple and Trainee Encyclopedia. Oh, and in love with Macs” Something about mac lovers we seem to buzz around each other.

@imrogb I met Roger Byrne while he was living in Egypt. He is smart, funny, and full of great ideas. He is one of the few Twitter personalities that get’s it. He is humble without being cocky (too much) he is generous with his time and most importantly he knows about Social media. His bio reads “ Social Media, Advertising, Photography & Design, sharing inspiration. English but currently sprechen sie deutsche in Leipzig, Germany.” He does not need my help get more followers…He has close to 20K, that in itself ought to tell you something.

@RyderMedia Erika Kristen is a great find. I have been following her for sometime and to be honest with you it was an instant connection for me. Her links are no nonsense, but that’s not to say she does not have some funny links. Her ability to handle her business successfully is one of the reasons you should follow her. Her bio is simple but clear it reads “Social Media/PR 2.0 Specialists” She definitely understands relationships and is an awesome follow.

@PrayMaddyMcCann To be honest with you there is no name connected to this account but if you keep up with the news then you can never forget the story of this lovely child Maddy McCann. Her family has been through hell. When it comes to the opinion at large the world is paying attention. Will she be found? Who knows we can all hope that she is one of the lucky children out there. My reason for following this account was purely emotional to start. But when I see such love and effort by one person I cannot help but admire their tenacity and selfless act. The bio reads appropriately “I Follow Back! & List Back! ♥ I’m Helping Find Madeleine McCann! ~ Let’s Make a difference to our World! ~ (If you DM me please let me know by tweet!)” It’s apparent they are doing everything they can with the power of Social media.

@robsellen Rob Sellen is another passionate Social media enthusiast. We actually had quite the conversation on Twitter. He is very committed to his ideas, and is not afraid to disagree. His bio reads “A deaf father of two teenage sons! Blogger, stonemason, nice bloke! ;o)” Now that should tell you all you need to know. He is genuinely a nice guy and is not afraid to engage. So go ahead, start following him I am sure you will find his links valuable.

@24donne Monica D’Ascenzo is a wonderful, lovely, woman. She is Italian and it shows. Not only in her look but her love of politics, women’s issues and life discussions. Her bio reads “woman, journalist, mom, dreamer. Not necessarily in the same order.” Her generous links and passionate discussions about local events around Italy are my link to the Italian community. It helps that I think she is funny, and cute about her outlook on life and her children.

@Monicutza03449 From the day I started following Monica it has been amazing. She is funny, engaging and can keep you laughing with each of her RT’s. Personally I have known a few European women that understood my sudo American humor. She is real and down to earth. I love that. Her bio reads “Contradiction is my name: humanity, economy, India, US, Internet, opera, romance, cars, Holly/Bolly, Mozart, Nightwish, writer at times. Interested in ppl, not feeders.” Her links are always so refreshing, a must follow.

@SteveAkinsSEO Steve makes you want to hug a stranger. Seriously, this guy has such a kind face & disposition. I am always looking forward to his links. They are diverse, fun to read, and he is generous with his time. Now this guy gets it. Social networking is not about what you can get from someone, but what value you share with them. His bio reads “SEO, Developer, Entrepreneur, Struggling Poet , Gastronome, Explorer” A high quality follow in my opinion.

If you love reading more great Follows here are the previous recommendations I wrote. If you want to share some of your great followers please let me know, and we can feature them in one of our on coming #Follow Friday list.

I have found the various functions that occur on Twitter, like #Follow Friday, is a great concept. Think about it. You are being offered a free ticket to one of the biggest events, every day, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Think of it as a huge cocktail party. You now have a choice of whom you follow and whom you want to talk to. There are so many users that don’t engage, no matter how many times you chat with them. Are they worth it? Hey that’s up to you. Would you continue talking to someone if they never responded? That’s one of the reason I don’t follow any of the A-Listers; you know, the Super Stars, Rock Stars, or self proclaimed Guru’s.

The information I have been able to gather by being a passive watcher is amazing. Therefore, as a Twitter user my time  fluctuates with the projects we have at hand. I have tried to continue my end of sharing some great names, but the busier we are, the harder it is to really engage on Twitter. Again, Twitter gives you back as much as you put in. To some it’s a waste of time, while others (in my opinion) still don’t get it. But as we all know, every one has an opinion (we won’t talk about what else everyone has).

I follow a little over 2600 people (on two accounts); our accounts are followed by a little over 3700. We are not crunching numbers; we are following real people. I don’t mean to say that people who follow over 10K are not doing it right, but our company’s strategy is really simple. There are thousands of people using Twitter worldwide, but our focus is on a certain target of that market. How we find them is not easy.

We know that Twitter is a great tool that continues to drive traffic to our site. What we offer is not only unique, but we are driven by the client’s success. What and how I use the Follow Friday list is time consuming yes, but well worth the effort.  I am still testing different approaches. I can tell you #Follow Friday used to be one of the ways, but now it seems most recommendations come as a long list with @yourname @hisname @theman etc. I have to admit, that just doesn’t look very personal. Maybe if people would use a header like “this is a list of my favorite graphic designers ” or “women that rock” would be more palatable but, as it stands, people have ruined the personalized experience.

Now that I have time again, the first thing I changed was the way I use Twitter. I have stopped following people just because they follow me. I grit my teeth when someone DM’s me with complete nonsense and immediately unfollow them without wondering why they turned out to be such a looser. As soon as a new person engages me, I engage them (by engage, I do NOT mean with a “come check out my site” Or “lets play Mafia wars“, or worst yet the consummate spammer that inevitably sneaks into your list of followers and swears they have the answer to all your woes for $19.95).

Which brings me to the reason I insist on continuing to share my picks for the week of great people to follow on Twitter. Because they’re worth it. These people continually and consistently have knowledge, humor, questions and theories to share. They make me think, smile, listen and often teach me something. Thank you, my #FF list!

@nicole_harrison Her posts have been entertaining. One thing I can tell you about her when she sets her mind to something she is an Eveready battery.  Does Kutchner ring a bell?
@MarjyMeechan Out of Fort Lauderdale this woman has some great posts. She is engaging, smart and always ready for a dip.
@Nicolamenicacci A countrymen and a wonderful writer. He & his business partner run a coaching consulting firm. As they say in Italian “Qualcuno da seguire” Grazie.
@StaceyHood I really love this guy’s site.  Stacey is from the Deep South you can hear his Southern hospitality. Great find if you want to add value to your twitter feed.
@soultravelers3 Would love to do as much traveling as this family of three. She always has a kind word and some great links. For example “I am sitting outside at night here in Italy w/ 5 other folks from several nations, each with a laptop, chatting & working. Small world! ” How could you not dream with a post like that!
@Santamistura Patricia is my favorite DJ on Twitter. She is also a great textile designer. Always has great tunes & amazing links to share. Granted she doesn’t do much talking (I think her English is not up to par) But who cares when she has great music, videos, design, trends, fashion, illustrations and great links.
@Spideas Scott Peters a wonderful fun guy to follow. Great ideas man that sends out interesting links. Always a kind word very engaging on Twitter. Check his site out.
@RyderMedia Erika has a great personality and is extremely engaging. As a social media consultant she always has great tips. Great thing about following her is her noise is minimal … unlike mine on some days lol
@Joycebossom I started following Joyce because of this post “My false sense coolness has been crushed…
@eFusionman Okay so he doesn’t share a link to his site… but, he is very funny. What value is he adding to my day you ask?  “Q: Do you know how to save a drowning lawyer? A: Take your foot off his head.” Classic funny guy lol.
@KimBrater There is something about Oregonians and dry sense of humor that go hand in hand.  She shares some funny videos, and  has a great sense of humor.  A marketing lady who is the Co-founder of Ant Hill Marketing, Certified Brand Strategist and news junkie. So what’s not to follow here. After all we are on Twitter to forge relationships.
@medlinksolution These guys are serious when it comes to information. A medical SEO copywriting company is rare in my industry. I am still amazed that doctors twitter from operating rooms.
@LouPage Lou is down to Earth. He always has nice things to say, with informative links. One thing that was nice to see was his “if you desire, in your walk with God. (Don’t worry, I promise not to be obnoxious about it.)”
@SocialNetworkTV William is someone you should follow if you want updated news on Social media, marketing, and someone who doesn’t produce noise. He has over twenty thousand followers and has only posted over four thousand posts.

Since I have been using Twitter, I have learned about new technology and kept up with the latest news. This includes finding out that Michael Jackson died before it hit TV. That moment will be etched in my memory like all things monumental. “Watching” it happen in real time, the furor, the rumors and finally the truth, was as striking as the day JFK was shot. Both are days I will never forget.

Using Twitter has made me re-think how I do business. It has made me a better writer, has given me inspiration and forged new relationships. I have been meeting new people not only through #FF but, at the various meet-up, webinars, conferences etc. Therefore, picking and choosing who I follow or recommend is more than just another reason to blog, but a reason to make recommendations  based on value. I hope you find some new people on this list to follow.

@wearethecure Dedicated to helping dogs with cancer. How cool is that? I am a pet lover and to me they are the best friends a human can ever have.  Sure a lot will argue that humans are more important than pets, sometimes though I wonder who is better for you.
@tommytrc Tommy is one of those nice guy with some great links. He is generous with his information and is a Mac user… What’s not to like? Sure being a Mac user is becoming more common these days, but hey it’s still cool.
@ashevilleallie Allie is someone I started following recently. She is extremely engaging, funny, witty and from what I have seen a great personality.
@JRMoreau James is a great guy indeed. A great writer and thinker…He is genuine, real, down to earth, extremely creative and fun to chat with. We have actually had a conference with a client while he was stuck in traffic, now that was something interesting.
@the_gman Gerald doesn’t really need my recommendation you see he  is one of the heavy hitters on Twitter. Great information, always shares links and has a great blog. One more thing I wanted to add he is an all around nice cowboy from Texas.
@KindaHibrawi What can I say about Kinda Hibrawi, but she is brilliant. She describes herself as an Arab American painter, but from what I have seen she is so much more. Take a look at her artwork, there you can see she is rooted passionately in her country for inspiration. It helps that I lived in Beirut and have a special place in my heart for Syrians.
@LibertyLady77 Someone that quotes Jimmie Hendrix on their profile is a Rock star in my book. Bottom line is she is creative engaging and someone I would recommend.
@pullmarketer Paula is a lovely lady to follow. She is very professional in her posts and is extremely helpful with her links.
@phxazlaura Laura is extremely smart and engaging. I have been following her for sometime & I enjoy her links including her recommendations.
@trinaunz This lady loves social media… you can tell by the way she engages in topics, shares links, and is not afraid to ask questions.
@Iconic88 Watching him post is like reading a book of inspiration. Always positive, fun, smart, and spot on with his 140 characters. He is a definite personality on Twitter.
@BradleyRoss A PR man with lots of great marketing and PR links.  I enjoy sharing his links since I find them valuable I am sure you would too.
@chrisjohnston Chris is a genuinely nice Geek. Okay so he deals with real estate but he is really engaging, smart, funny… & as I recently found out lives in Metairie, LA. Maybe I will meet him at the next New Orleans Twitt-up.
@XceptN You can see his bio is impressive he works for Oracle Corp. and specializes in Linux, Xen, Oracle VM, OCFS2. Wow this is one extremely helpful, very engaging and knowledgeable.

As I was cleaning this post I was trying to make sure I had all the correct links. Guess what Twitter is down. Not something we enjoy. So rather than getting frustrated I wanted to share a link with everyone in case you do run into that problem. Here you can get any and all updates on why Twitter is down.

Her you can find the previous #FollowFriday list.

You can see My first list here then last weeks post is here. Seriously some great people to watch

I can remember my first #FollowFriday; I felt like a deer caught in headlights. What does the little “#” mean? What is #FollowFriday? All I saw were feeds that looked like this “#FollowFriday @firstname, @secondname, @anothernam”. You don’t have to be a genius to figure out the concept, but I couldn’t understand or reason why I should follow these recommendations.

We all want to participate and make a difference on Twitter. It’s a great tool, but I will admit the dynamic of using Twitter is not for everyone. Individuals to corporations use it in different ways, and not always for the best. Some get it, and use it as part of their online brand as an extension of their services, while others still see it as a waste of time, a slow sinking ship.

My favorite comment ever made about Twitter was by the creator, Jack Dorsey: “Twitter is intended to be a way for vacant self-absorbed egotists to share the most banal and idiotic thoughts with anyone pathetic enough to read them.” Granted he was talking about the civil unrest in Iran and I don’t want to misuse the quote… But it did strike me as funny since I have heard variations of that sentiment.

Like any new beginner, I was overwhelmed at how to do the whole #FollowFriday “thing”. I started searching for sites that would make the process easier. The Twitter Tag Project seemed to be the answer.

Easy enough right? You put in your Twitter user name/password and voila. The engine will scan the last 200 tweets, count the dupes, and return your most active friends. The results will display: #FollowFriday @friend1 @friend2 @friend3 @friend4…

Now, I’m not going to get into why you should or shouldn’t use The Twitter Tag project, or any tool that will automate the process (that’s for a later post). My intent here is to share with you, and hopefully continue sharing with you, my list for #FollowFriday.

I feel they deserve more than just 140 characters. To me, the recommendation should be of value not just to my followers, but to new people reading this post. Below is my first list. If you aren’t here this week, check back next week, since I’m only going to do fifteen per week. After all, I do have work to do.

1. @monicakozak A wonderful smart funny woman. It helps that she is A VP of marketing at one of the hottest Public Relations companies online. I have to tell you she is extremely engaging, informative and a great leader.
2. @julibarcelona I recently watched her interacting with a group of Chicagoans.  That is when I realized this woman is going to be fun to follow. She is the VP @Barcelona Creative Group. Always willing to ask questions and share valuable information. I enjoy all her links & information.
3. @deanmeistr This guy is a visual problem solver. What is that? I had not clue until I got to know him better. We chatted while he “created” He is brilliant, and I hope to do some work with him someday soon.
4. @elizabethonline What a great lady. She is extremely smart and committed to helping her students by helping them develop college application materials. She is funny & a rare find on twitter.
5. @remarkablogger He is one of the first people I actually engaged with on Twitter. I was gun-shy back then but he was very laid back & really genuine. Extremely helpful, with online marketing, blogging, never a negative comment. Which is always refreshing.
6. @anthonylujan This photographer is actually good. One of those diehard picked up a camera at eleven and has never turned back since. I can only imagine how much dedication it takes to get into such a competitive field.
7. @mikefleming What a doll this guy is. Not only is he smart engaging and cute he actually adds value to my day. Part of the Chicago posy.
8. @ArteWorks_SEO Here is a guy that actually appreciates Texas Longhorns. Not only does he have great information, about SEO, social media and online marketing but he like “Rick rolling” people. Nice to see some people have fun.
9. @MyMelange Is a breath of fresh air. A great writer, photographer and bloger. She loves to travel and talk about food. The fact she goes to Italy every year has won me over.
10. @brokerkathy A lovely lady to follow. She is a real Estate Broker in So Cal with a positive outlook on life. Full of energy & curiosity.
11. @Nenad An entrepreneur, a coder, an adventurer, a visionary, a father, a husband is what his profile says. I personally have found him very engaging and a great guy to exchange links with.
12. @ginidietrich A true Professional. She helps business owners with their Public relations needs. She is fun, smart, and a wonderful Twitter personality.
13. @Lotay Here is another Jewel His company is raising awareness for, and providing grants, to non-profit organizations that serve one of the following core areas: Education, Environment, Healthcare, Global Development, and Poverty Relief.
14. @igrafix A great lady who has become someone I go to for advise. She is a great graphic designer with an appreciation for everything creative. She shares great links and even better information. The fact she speaks Italian, German, & English helps.
15. @ButtercupD a Super star in her own rights. Sure she works for someone famous on Twitter but guess what I would follow her regardless. She is very passionate about Social networking and it shows.

Tune in Next week for an update. You can see My first list here & then my third one

I can remember my first #FollowFriday; I felt like a deer caught in headlights. What does the little “#” mean? What is #FollowFriday? All I saw were feeds that looked like this “#FollowFriday @firstname, @secondname, @anothernam”. You don’t have to be a genius to figure out the concept, but I couldn’t understand or reason why I should follow these recommendations.

We all want to participate and make a difference on Twitter. It’s a great tool, but I will admit the dynamic of using Twitter is not for everyone. Individuals to corporations use it in different ways, and not always for the best. Some get it, and use it as part of their online brand as an extension of their services, while others still see it as a waste of time, a slow sinking ship.

My favorite comment ever made about Twitter was by the creator, Jack Dorsey: “Twitter is intended to be a way for vacant self-absorbed egotists to share the most banal and idiotic thoughts with anyone pathetic enough to read them.” Granted he was talking about the civil unrest in Iran and I don’t want to misuse the quote… But it did strike me as funny since I have heard variations of that sentiment.

Like any new beginner, I was overwhelmed at how to do the whole #FollowFriday “thing”. I started searching for sites that would make the process easier. The Twitter Tag Project seemed to be the answer.

Easy enough right? You put in your Twitter user name/password and voila. The engine will scan the last 200 tweets, count the dupes, and return your most active friends. The results will display: #FollowFriday @friend1 @friend2 @friend3 @friend4…

Now, I’m not going to get into why you should or shouldn’t use The Twitter Tag project, or any tool that will automate the process (that’s for a later post). My intent here is to share with you, and hopefully continue sharing with you, my list for #FollowFriday.

I feel they deserve more than just 140 characters. To me, the recommendation should be of value not just to my followers, but to new people reading this post. Below is my first list. If you aren’t here this week, check back next week, since I’m only going to do fifteen per week. After all, I do have work to do.

1. @theGypsy brilliant mind, great writer and of course an SEO guru. May sound like I am brown nosing but I really enjoy his comments. I have signed up for his SEO Newsletter and always read it from cover to cover.
2. @LeftTheBox engages in Social Media, SEO, and Affiliate Marketing. Always open to discussing what I love most: SEO and how it affects your overall presence on the Internet
3. @sherinola someone I have actually met. Wonderful lady, she is extremely creative, and not afraid to think outside the box.
4. @ShellyKramer what can I say about this lady other than she is one of the few people I would follow regardless of whether she follows me back or not. She is extremely creative fun to chat with. From her insistence on perfect grammar, discussing marketing, or social media, she’s a worthwhile follow.
5. @KGBTexas a true gentleman, cowboy, writer all around goofy nice guy. Shawn has made me laugh and shared some great useful links. A definite must if you want enlightenment with the world of public relations/advertising.
6. @pfrigerio a true find and now a dear friend. His interests are Social Networking, Online Marketing, his family and it helps that he is Italian.
7. @styletime an all around great guy. He seems to be a free spirit, doesn’t sweat the small stuff and always has great advice. He has some great ideas for anyone’s online presence.
8. @Burnsie_SEO a true SEO Geek at heart. Willing to give of her time and knowledge. She is funny, creative and I am glad to be part of her “Rick roll” jokes.
9. @briancray here is a very smart businessman. He is extremely laid back and always has some of the best links with the latest news. It helps that he engages… After all isn’t that what we all want?
10. @balmeras this woman was a great find. She is a Writer, bloger, educator, speaker, and has actually given me some great feedback. Took the time to engage how cool is that?
11. @seotips2go new Media Consultant (social media, seo, pay per click, blogging, podcasting, video marketing, and more!) He never fails to share some great information and is not beyond RT’ing.
12. @dudeman718 always full of energy great information and funny. It’s rare to see him posting links that don’t get passed around. Plus the fact, he actually read one of my favorite series “Steven King’s The Dark Tower Series.”
13. @RosevilleRockLn This lady has become a fresh welcome to all the “wanna” be cool people on Twitter. She is a real, sassy, smart and extremely creative marketing and e-communications manager.
14. @CGprogram When I first started chatting to this guy I thought, what a laid-back guy. Then I got to know him a bit more (reading his blog) and realized WOW what an absolute jewel. As a successful radio talk host, he is an inspiration to all who want to think outside the box.
15. @luiserpa Where do I begin? Customer Experience analyst, UX expert, Information Architect, edge pursuer, crazy thinker, funny guy. I find it refreshing to see the camaraderie’s he nurtures.

You can see the new ones here