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 Wasn't Born To Follow" by: sonja_pinion

I have stated in the past my Follow Friday list has to mean something to me. I wish I could spend more time looking into the reasons why and how I follow people but then I catch myself and think furgit about it. It shouldn’t be that complicated.

Granted, I don’t follow blindly anymore I actually do take the time to check people out. As a matter of fact stop wasting time with spammers on twitter. True Twit will validate your followers so you don’t have to. This little jewel of a tool has been very helpful in keeping the spam crap and bots off my twitter list.

I have never had a very strategic plan about why I follow people outside the obvious.

We. Connect.

But this is not about me and for the sake of starting my list and picking up where I left off here it is. My 1st, Follow Friday list 2010.

@ MARCOME what a pleasant breathe of fresh air. I have to be honest with you, I am not into what “New Age” music but I was pleasantly surprised. Her profile reads I’m a Canadian singer songwriter & musician. I do a mixture of pop world music mixed with new age, jazz & ambient voices. My name is pronounced Marko-may. I bet the fact she is so approachable, engaging and just down right the darling of social media with over 34,935 Followers has a lot to do with her charm. Then again her personality shines through a must follow if you aren’t already!

@linksgiving what can I say about him but a brilliant Italian, gentleman and yes geek suprimo! His profile is typically Italian (inside joke) it reads, Linksgiving Web Directory at Twitter. Alberto Rinaldi, its founder, is a computer, SEO, Internet marketing enthusiast, Web designer, yoga lover, and musician. How can you not be a geek when you manage and build a freaking directory?  Great conversations, and he is just adorable.

@BlondeByDesign Now there is a fresh approach to Twitter. Her profiles reads, An Evil person or situation may dominate time, but a Good Person or Positive Action Owns ETERNITY. Sounds earthy crunchy California? Sure, but she is wonderful strong woman as a matter of fact you can almost smell the sunshine. She is engaging, fun, witty, sexy, silly, and can hold her own in 140 characters!

@lookadoo this woman is generous with her time and knowledge. Her profile say’s it all it reads, SEO, User Engagement + all things Search support my Cycling habit. Let’s ride! … Launching YoYoSEO.com in March – @YoYoSEO. We actually spent time on the phone talking about everything from SEO, to California. There is nothing better than connecting right off the bat. She has clocked years as an SEO professional, including most recently as the founder of @Yo!Yo! SEO Word-of-Mouth SEO – Optimize the Conversation. Something she is very proud of, a must follow to all.

@regalaffair hello Twitter, now this is a woman to follow! Sassy, smart, engaging and yes, has a lot of knowledge when it comes to connecting. Her profile is short and sweet Destination Wedding & Event Planning based out of Texas serving brides world wide. The fact I am not getting married any time soon still doesn’t stop me from enjoying great information check her out.

@casettadelborgo there are two reasons I followed this feed, they are in Italy, and they live in my house! Okay maybe not but my dream is to go back home and retire with a small B&B. If you love Italy or you want to discover it’s beauty start here. Check out their Villa in  Italy, you can’t resist booking your next vacation there. Their profile reads, Holiday Accommodation San Gimignano Holiday Apartment in Tuscany with private garden & pool in Resort Borgo la Fornace with SPA & Restaurant & Tennis. Don’t take my word for it start following them today.

@mwilton13 we have just recently started following each other. I have to admit for a young buccaneer he knows his links. Extremely engaging and very generous with his RT’s. He describes himself as Search Engine Marketer and Social Media junkie by day; Blogger and father by night. (I think that’s sweet) Friend to nature and striving to live green. The last part requires further study.

@sharonmostyn if you aren’t following this lady, then you must. Sharon is a valuable connection. She actually had someone from Miami call when I volunteered to go down to Haiti during the recent Earthquake. Now that’s Social media working right in front of my eyes. Her profile describes her as a Marketing mgt at MEDEX & Inbound Mktg Cert Pro – ecommerce (email, SEO/SEM, affiliate, social media), DRTV, online & offline media buying. That’s impressive!

@AngsCopywriting Something about Canadian writers invading the US. What a wonderful find. I met her through another group I joined a while back, and have enjoyed getting to know her. Her profile reads, Copywriter, Coach & Content Consultant who likes SEO, SM, business & marketing. Also a bookmark addict & (coffee) bean brat So yeah you guessed it she’s a brilliant writer and extremely gracious with her time.

@RedheadWriting No introduction needed for this firecracker. Wow, Zing, Biff, Bang, is all I can say… add sassy, sexy, deliciousness to her writing and you have one hell of a twitter feed. Almost as good as sex, well maybe not but a definite MUST follow. Her profile aptly reads, Writer, disruptive presence, devil’s advocate (the devil, on occasion), snarkmeister, hash tag abuser in a 10 step program because I can’t commit to 12.

@marketingintell this young lady is smart from head shot to links. When I do catch links they were always spot on. Her profile reads, CEO, Marketing Intelligently, LLC. Marketing consultant for small businesses. Personal branding expert. 20-year marketing vet, Brit abroad. If you know me then you can see the fact she is a Brit is already a passing grade for me!

@nicktadd I will admit I had to do a double take when I started following him I think the Mohawk threw me off.  Yes, he is a geek and very engaging, take a look at some of his video links. His profile reads, Landlord and exponent of technology to further learning and visibility… aka web geek! Fascinated by the optimisation of social media. Will follow back. At first you may think huh? Qu’est que c’est? No need to question, just follow you’ll see.

@smallbizanswers yes, I am a sucker for puppies especially cute ones. Don’t let that picture fool you, there is a pit bull of information under that soft brown exterior. Awesome links and great resources. The profile reads, Providing the best small business related stories from across the web. Tons of topics… profiles, sales, marketing, employees, finance, legal, social, etc. I will admit every link I have clicked I more often than not RT. The good thing is they are always informative.

@kjwelborn my list would not be complete without this wonderful woman. Granted we have worked and are still working together, but that’s not why you should follow her. Her profile says it all Marketing Consultant (TV, Film, Nonprofit, Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Lifestyle) + Director of D/FW Multi-Cultural SIG, American Marketing Association. We are talking heavy hitters when it comes to positioning her clients. What are you waiting for?

@massimopaolini this gentleman is into analytics. This my dear readers is the golden grail of SEO. Granted half the time we have no clue what they are talking about, however if you follow him you’ll be a lot closer to figuring it out. His profile reads, Passions: web analytics, social media, public speaking, startups, bootstrapping, balanced life, leadership, family. A great addition to your follow list, and keep up with one of the best in the industry.

That’s it for now, I will try to do another 15 soon. By the way do you recognize any of these names? Tell us about them, what are your thoughts…

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.

I keep thinking one day I will get through all the wonderful people I have in my Followers list. But what I have noticed is as weeks go by I am finding it difficult to add new people to this list. Not because I don’t have a great followers list to choose from but, because I keep removing names once I see certain posts. Let me explain, for those familiar with Twitter you have seen spammers on your feed. I used to add people as soon as they added me. It seemed easier than looking for people to follow.

Look you have your strategy I have mine. I stopped manually following everyone who followed me about 2 months ago. My reason was simple, what I have noticed is some of the people I was following started spamming. Well okay what I thought were great people and automatically followed turned out to be total duds. To tell you the truth I don’t follow any of the big names. The media Guru’s they are predictable and in my humble opinion boring. Self entitlement is unattractive in my books.

So lately I actually spend about an hour or so removing followers rather than adding them. You are probably saying I am wasting too much time thinking about my follow strategy… Maybe I am. But for every “great” person I follow the better my chances are to making Twitter a dialogue and not a monologue. I hope you find some great people in this weeks Follow Friday.

@MichaelHartzell I really enjoy his comments & posts. One day I was surfing the net & noticed his posts on his blog “Never Forget: Knowledge Empowers so Learn & Teach. Did I mention he is a great writer?
@AlanHowarth A great follow from the UK. A talented photographer I enjoy his posts, links, and conversation.
@AuctionDirect Okay you may be thinking car salesman on Twitter? There is more to this guy than cars… He is engaging, smart and always ready to join in the conversation.
@naomimimi A very creative writer, who is not afraid to speak her mind. I have enjoyed reading her posts and her links. If you want spontaneous then you must follow Naomi.
@knealemann This is a great guy to follow I should know I spoke with him. As a Marketing and Media Strategist he is extremely knowledgeable, and very passionate about helping you succeed. An idea man, who is not afraid to share his thoughts. Check out his blog… see for yourself.
@kristofcreative Here is a man who is not afraid to share great links. “I eat SEO for breakfast” is something I enjoy about him. A definite SEO geek.
@mayhemstudios A funny fresh follow for sure. Always has great design links, a great list of followers and of course all around nice guy. He definitely doesn’t need my recommendations just take a look at his followers.
@AndyWendt A wise man with loads of great links. I enjoy his links, conversation and information. Oo did I mention I like what he writes and how he writes.
@SEO_Web_Design You are probably thinking Ohh lord not another SEO geek? Yeah that’s him a sweet guy who is always ready to share & listen. A true Gen-Y with a great attitude.
@sillycows Two great gals from the UK. Not sure who I am talking to most of the times but it doesn’t matter. They are both very funny, creative, mooo girls.
@JeffHurt You want to know about non-profit? Well then Jeff is the guy… has great insight, very smart & always has great links to share.
@sethjenks A Young hip designer. Always has nice things to say, is very engaging talented and believe it or not knowledgeable.
DerekShowerman Here is someone I definitely recommend. Smart, creative thinker and a witty writer. Needles to say he is a great Social media strategist with great insight.
@toddvo What a great artist he is. I enjoy the links he shares and his artistic perspectives. Great follow if you are into design or just want to get inspired.
@LandinPageDzner I have to tell you it’s not easy designing landing pages. He is very good at what he does. Great links & info. There is no doubt he is a landing page design inspiration, optimization, testing ideas and ready to try them all out for you.

If you’d like to see the other weeks click here

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

Twitter this, Twitter that, ReTweet, DM, Follow Me – Once you’ve found the “Twitter craze” there’s no going back – right? Everyone is on Twitter – right? You can even meet famous actors, actresses, politicians – hell, even the President twitters… Right?

Erm – I hate to burst your bubble… but I’m about to burst your bubble. So, if you’re a Twitter-holic and this particular medium can do no wrong, stop now. No, really, don’t read on.

I’m waiting.

Okay – those of you who stuck around, get ready for some nuggets of knowledge, starting with: Twitter ain’t all that.

When you read about social media, Twitter is one of the first things that pop up. There are even “gossip channels” about the higher-ups on Twitter. You hear about the A-list, where people like Guy Kawasaki smile down from on high. However – did you know that less than 10% of American Internet users are actually on Twitter?

Did you know that a lot of businesses, famous people, etc. use ghost writers? That’s right. That personal message from Mr. Famous Muckety-Muck you’re so proud of may actually have been written by Ms. Not-so-Famous Ghost Writer. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg ladies and gentlemen.

Now, let’s see: there’s Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Twitter, DiggIt, Technorati… probably a few more social media or book marking places at the top of the list. But, did you know there are more than 1,000 other social media sites? That’s right, over 1,000, and the number is growing daily. The number also doesn’t add in the sites created for specific groups.

Recently, I had a client who really wanted to get into the social media arena. Now, I know a lot of the big players, but he needed more than just seven or eight. Conscientious, hard-working woman that I am, I took myself to the Internet and began to search. What I found was absolutely astonishing.

People from every walk of life use Twitter, and for every purpose conceivable.  However, the information I gathered pretty much makes Twitter moot.  For instance, if you’re looking for business connections and couldn’t care less about who’s in line for coffee at Starbucks, you might want to take a look at Ziggs or  Gather.

Ziggs is a social media site committed to “organizing and connecting people in a professional way”.  The site is specifically for increasing your company’s online presence and meeting professional career goals.  Gather, on the other hand, is perfect for meeting your target audience and finding out what they want – what they’re looking for.

Sphinn is another often-used site, though seldom mentioned.  An online forum and networking site for the Internet marketing crowd, Sphinn can help create interest in your company or connect with other like-minded professionals.  For small business owners wanting to share entrepreneur-related articles and gain exposure, Small business brief is the site to be.

Now, I’m not knocking Twitter.  Who wouldn’t love a platform that allows you to communicate quickly and precisely in 140 characters or less?  I mean, really?  The point is, however, not to get stuck on the idea that Twitter is the end all and be all of social media.  Ask yourself why you’re using Twitter.  Why are you really there?  Business, friends, contacts, just because?

If you’re using Twitter by itself and not getting the results you’re looking for, it might not be your fault, though many may say it is (you aren’t engaging, you’re not following the right people, etc, etc, etc ad nauseam).  It could just be that you’re using the wrong platform. One last thing it’s a blancing act that has to be waged. What works for you may not work for the next person, therefore look into all options and make sure you have a strategy.

Do you remember the terms “glad-handing” and “rubbing shoulders”?  The uses of these terms indicate physical, social interaction, but, thanks to social media, they apply to “chatting up” people.  Herein lies the issue.

As much as I love social media and what it can do for my business, it has its side affects.  For instance, before we could “connect” online, everything had to be done mostly over the phone or face-to-face.  In those circumstances, it’s easy to keep a professional demeanor.  Business conversations are normally polite, calm affairs.
However, with the advent of the Internet in general and social media, specifically, very seldom do people have to meet on such a personal level.  For instance, I communicate with my people through email and instant message generally.  Some businesses use places like Twitter to communicate with their employees – “here’s your assignment” in 140 characters or less.

Because of all this, a serious decline in social interaction is starting to rear its ugly head.  Maybe you’ve noticed, but if you haven’t, think about it.  Where are the manners?  Where is the politeness?  Where is the professionalism?

Maybe it’s noticeable to me because of the type of work I do.  In general, I might talk to a client over the phone – maybe – three times; otherwise, we communicate through email.  What I’m seeing because of this is a serious lack of professionalism.  It’s like people think they don’t have to be polite because – well, hey, they’ll never meet in person, so who cares?

Face-to-face, most people are non-confrontational, but I truly believe that they feel they’re safe behind emails, short messages, instant message and the like.  If they’re safe, if there is no threat (implied or imagined) as there is in public, they can say what they want without consequences.

Time and again over the past few years, I have had potential clients email me, using a tone that I wouldn’t use on my worst enemy.  No matter how I respond, it only seems to make them more belligerent.  There doesn’t seem to be anything I can say or do, and I’m stuck, staring in confusion and surprised at their sudden hostility, with no idea how it got there in the first place.  In one instance, I swear, all I did was send them a project agreement; they sent me a scathing email!