#FollowFriday on Twitter Is Like Flowers at a Funeral

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Okay, I admit that the title is a little morbid and maybe a bit extreme, but if you’ll bear with me I think you will see my point.

Have you ever been to a funeral and noticed that the gathering is comprised of a lot of people who haven’t seen each other in a long time (maybe since the last funeral)? When the service starts there is usually a time where friends of the deceased are allowed to share their thoughts about this person they were close to. Some will share precious memories and stories. Others will tell the mourners how great this person was when they were alive. And at almost every funeral I’ve been to, someone will say, “Why do we wait until someone dies to send them flowers or to say nice things about them?”

#FollowFriday on Twitter is the one day a week when people use the now common hashtag to recommend people they follow to others. Many simply list 8-10 people at a time who they want to recommend, accompanied by the hashtag. Others take the time to recommend a person at a time with a brief explanation of why. Still others, like myself, have taken to recommending people to follow in blog posts that allow for a more lengthy recommendation than the 140 character limitation of Twitter.

I’ve been using my blog each Friday to recommend some of my favorites to follow. I haven’t done it for the past few weeks due to illness, but today I am back healthy and I’ve been thinking about the limitation of only recommending people on Fridays. Obviously, there are reasons to do it on this day: it’s become a Twitter tradition, others are looking for the recommendations, and so on. But if you know me at all you know that I do not like to subscribe to the status quo. In fact, just about any time I begin to notice that I am heading in that direction, I promptly look for ways to disrupt the normalcy and challenge popular thought.

So I started thinking, “Why do we wait until Friday to say nice things about people?”

Why limit ourselves to one day a week to tell others how cool we think this person is or how nice that one is or how friendly or helpful or funny or intriguing our Twitter friends are? Because of a clever hashtag?

In a way it’s like waiting until someone dies to stand up in front of a crowd and say what an amazing person they were. Or sending flowers to a funeral.

Okay, the people you’re recommending are not dead. I admit that’s a bit of a stretch. But how about telling others how great they are on any day of the week? I’ve seen some people use the hashtag #FollowAnytime. Or just recommending others without using a hashtag at all (who says you have to?)

Here’s a suggestion I offer as a better way to sing someone’s praises other than only once a week. Next time someone you follow on Twitter impresses you, or tweets something that makes your day, or makes you LOL, or anything else that adds value to your life and/or your Twitter experience, recommend them right away! Tell others how great they are and why they should follow this person. Retweet the gem that lifted your spirits and then shout from the rooftops (via Twitter, your blog, or whatever media you choose) how much you appreciate this person. Tell your followers to follow them and why they’ll be missing out if they don’t. Become a momentary evangelist for your friend at the precise time they remind you why you enjoy them as you do. Let the excitement and enthusiasm of the moment explode from within you and resonate in your recommendation!

And how about taking this mindset a step further? Do it in other areas of your life, not just in social media. Tell your co-workers and colleagues how much you appreciate them. Hug your children and tell them why they are so amazing. Give your spouse love and appreciation in a new and different way than what has become the routine. Tell people you know about other people in your life and why you value them.

Why wait until Friday? Why wait until the funeral to send flowers?

Some things are just too good to not share right away.

« #FollowFriday Again? Really? (Plus 8 More People I Think You Should Follow And Why)

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Comments ( 13 )

This is a really good analogy… I hadn’t thought of it this way before. I think I’m going to start mixing in follow recommendations with normal posts throughout the week.

Good call!

[Reply]
bkmacdaddy Reply:
October 9th, 2009 at 6:38 am
Thanks Mike. I appreciate the encouragement and the feedback!

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Mike added these pithy words on Oct 02 09 at 7:39 am

((i concur, great points.))

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meg added these pithy words on Oct 02 09 at 9:42 am

Good pot, I usually do as your post says, recommend ppl anytime, and then I do a weekly recommendation of the ppl I have recommended over the week.

[Reply]
bkmacdaddy Reply:
October 9th, 2009 at 6:38 am
Thanks, my friend! I think that’s a good way to do it – throughout the week and then compile them into a weekly list. Smart! Thanks for the input!

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Pliggs added these pithy words on Oct 02 09 at 11:52 am

I feel the same way. I made a PSA about this http://www.askohdoctah.com/2009/06/twitter-following-psa/ I hope you enjoy it.. as I enjoyed this read!

[Reply]
bkmacdaddy Reply:
October 9th, 2009 at 6:37 am
Love it! Just watched your video & we are definitely of one mind here. Thanks for the link – everyone should check it out! Oh, and I followed you too.

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Ohdoctah added these pithy words on Oct 02 09 at 10:34 pm

Good post. I’m right there with you. This is the same concept as why do people wait til one certain day of the year to give gifts, or to give thanks for certain blessings?

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Todd added these pithy words on Oct 09 09 at 9:38 am

Initially I agree, we should share as and when, but doing it on a Friday makes it easier to really think about who you want to recommend.

Linking to a blog of why you follow is much better than just a list, which is why I like to put a small comment with mine. At least you get an idea of what they are about.

There is a woofwednesday too where animal twitter streams are mentioned.

Both are pretty useless lists unless there is an easier way to filter them,without clicking on every one. You might as well just click on the people you follow and then check their followers list.

Hmm this turned into a long comment.

[Reply]

Rachel added these pithy words on Oct 09 09 at 4:04 pm

Excellent points, as always. However, don’t forget that Follow Friday is how I (and I’m sure many others) found you!

[Reply]
bkmacdaddy Reply:
October 16th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Ahhh…you GOT me!
That is so true. Yet I’m sure heartfelt recommendations with explanations can help us better find each other too.
But good point. D-oh!

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