Follow Friday, Fearless Edition
Some people tell it like it is, at least in their own words, their own ways. They’re the ones with whom I sometimes disagree but love having around – to keep me honest.
If you’re not already, here are four fearless bloggers to follow this alliteration-happy Friday:
Danny Brown, marketing and social media type who’s got his way and ain’t afraid to say so.
Margie Clayman, who’s got a great, hopeful perspective on this social experiment and is NOT down with sharing and co-signing on crap.
Olivier Blanchard. I like that he touts ‘common sense’ truths about marketing and social media as much as anything else, and his blunt, direct style keeps me reading.
Nancy Davis. “Life” blogger sharing some deeply personal experiences, making them relatable and isn’t afraid to disagree with anyone on any ‘list.’
I picked samples of some frank posts, and yet there’s more. I see them mixing it up in blog comments, challenging others to change their thinking. They take the time to write compelling, interesting remarks – full of bite, humor, intellect, insight – that rival some posts.
I’d write more except it’s their words that are worth reading and following. FWIW.
Unfollow Friday, Redux
Seems to be going around. It’s your Twitter, do whatever the hell you want. Promise you, that be my plan.
Unfollow Friday, Part Three, Act LDXV, Version 4.7
Whenever I do this I nix mostly news, bots, RSS feeds – anything that’s push only. (Fare thee well Social Media Today; you’re still in the Reader). I also look at people, what value I get from what they tweet, very WIIFM per my Twitter rules.
My follow/unfollow strategy of the moment includes:
- Not giving two wits about your Klout score, though I’ve been tempted to peak at what influence PeerIndex says I don’t have, just to see.
- Automation overload. Tools are nice, scheduling works but too much of a good thing – that’s getting some more unfollows, especially since I can now Circle you on Google+. Until you figure out how to program and noise that up too.
- Platitudinal randomness. I like quotes, I get quotes but random tweets of “time is like an ocean, make your bed” aren’t moving my furniture these days.
- My streams a little organizationally challenged, so seeing if following lists makes things any easier.
- Profile pictures of bacon or kittens, that’s just cheating. Dancing, animated avatars, please say no.
- Content, engagement, fun, interest. Winner, winner, winner… that’s what I want, from a funny feed like OHnewsroom or a clever blogger who gets it, whether they tweet 10 or 50 times a day.
Insert whiny chorus of [whah whah 'need to get more from Twitter' whah] here. Think I’ve zapped a few dozen this week, moved a few people to Lists or Google+ instead. This is of course requires looking at the streams to see what’s what, which has another benefit: I’m noticing people again and actually taking the time to be social. Whataya know.
What moves you to break out the unfollow button? Besides posts like this.
Follow Friday: Happy to Share Edition
I really try to follow a mix of people and don’t expect everyone to do things my way, according to my Twitter rules. (Though of course they should.)
I’m lucky to be building a diverse group of friends who read, engage and share in their own ways. 
John Falchetto, blogs from the south of France living my dream life (so I of course secretly hate him) and enjoying regular diet of bread, cheese, and wine, naps and 2-hour lunches, what I’d imagine France to be. He’s blogging some social media marketing and brings expat consulting to the table, big on relationships, supporting his Tribe and more.
Amanda Oleson blog reader, she gives good RTs, sass and snark after my own heart. She uses her Twitter for the CommentLuv, to share since she’s not linking her own blog. (I wonder if she likes to guest post? *cough* unsubtlehint *cough*) Twin Cities PR pro, Vikings fan and vodka drinker.
Brian Meeks, the well above average. You’ve probably seen his dreck and drivel masquerading as hilariously good posts on Fake Hashtags and Silly Acronyms, mocking follow back, egghead Twitter miscreants and Bieber fans. Been lucky enough to post some myself, just don’t believe him when he promises you bacon.
If you’re not following any of these folks, check out their streams and see if you like what you see. FWIW.
Photo credit: Cute Pink Sheep cartoon.
Follow Friday: Can’t we all just disagree? Edition
These are people who make me THINK, ask questions, reconsider topics and recognize other possibilities. How? By having opinions different – dare I say – contrary to my own. When it’s smart and well-done, me likey!
The theme of this week’s picks: Different opinions FTW!
Ari Herzog is not only a social media guy, he’s an educator and a City Councilor too. Insert [silly politician joke] here. I’ve seen him around the blogs, not one to shy away from sharing his opinions in the comments, almost always worth a read. He will say “you’re doing it wrong” and stand by that, which I gotta respect that. His post and the comments on tweet ownership still has me thinking, seeing the various sides of the argument.
Mitch Joel. I don’t read all his posts but get a lot from them when I do. He makes some convincing arguments for his case so I cannot say he’s ‘wrong’ .. just there are times his style is not the ‘right’ one for me. Whether it’s his approach to comments and community, or his podcast debate with Mark W. Schaefer on Twitter strategies, I usually tend to agree with him in theory, but how I use it in practice will vary. Plus I just think his blog design is pretty.
Judy Gombita. We’ve lurked each other’s blogs a few times, yet this is almost strictly a Twitter connection which totally rocks. She really engages and uses Twitter to its fullest, talking about public relations and social media; she’s active in a number of chats (I know her from #soloPR). What’s great about Judy is that so good to share things with me, will send me tweets and DMs on posts that might be of interest. To me! I read, comment and share almost all of them, she finds such good stuff. Even better? She’ll disagree with me, call me on my crap in the nicest, most professional ways; she’ll point out things I hadn’t considered.. not afraid to debate. LOVE. Just bloody love that when it’s so smart, done so well.
Who keeps you honest?
Not talking about the contrarians who are just pushing buttons and being trolls, I’m not a confrontational person. Who helps you find brains you never knew you had? Who shares blogs and stories you’d have never found otherwise? This is about who walks that talk, makes you think and rethink your positions, see the other side.
To me the people who keep you honest are worth following just as much as those who love everything you write, tweet every post. FWIW.
Follow Friday: Welcome Anytime Edition
My general approach to Follow Friday goes something like this:
- Don’t suck at it. Unless you’re into that sort of thing.
- Skip the usual suspects from the likes of public relations, social media and marketing. NTTAWWT, but there’s something to be said for fighting sameness and shaking things up a bit.
- Show some gratitude and support for some of the best commenters on the Internets, MY commenters. I’m biased, these peeps rock. Deal.
All too easy. (Hope the Schwartz was with you Wednesday.)
Bill Dorman. Full-time insurance guy, part-time Marcus Sheridan impersonator. He pretends to be a basic, invisible blogger but I see right through that malarkey. His comments bring hilarity to any post, of the LMAO variety. Don’t believe me, just ask him.
Jayme Soulati. I said ‘usual’ suspects and she’s anything but that, and I so do NOT believe I haven’t picked her before. Woman on a mission, she’s launched the SMB Collective AND has been tackling heady topics like defining PR and Influence. Plus her blog is just the right shade of Tiger purple.
Riley Harrison. He blogs about untapped potential and writes some straight up, direct comments that make me think, smile, and laugh.. that certain ‘no bullshit’ style of comment I just dig on. Plus he helped inspire this post, reminding me to show some love to my favorite commenters.
Christina Crowe. Relatively new to my blog, I so jump for joy when she drops by because hot damn her comments are as good as anything she blogs. Not surprised to see her picked by Stu, she is just the kind of person I want to comment on my blog. Plus she thinks I’m funny, and that’s just good for my ego.
These fine liars tweeters are welcome in my blog comments and Twitter stream anytime. FWIW.
Photo credit: I’d be lost without the Someecards.