Has #FollowFriday Lost Its Meaning?
In the early days of Twitter, #FollowFriday or as the hashtag has turned #FF was a way for brands and users to give a shout out to those followers whom they want to highlight and thank for their following. The intention behind #FF is to showcase a user or brand so they could obtain more followers based on the recommendation of the user.
As with anything, no good deed goes unpunished. #FF has taken a hit from those within the Twitter community as it is has been overused, abused over the years. Too many folks feel obligated to use #FF and others have decided to stay away from Twitter on Friday’s simply because their streams fill with these shout outs and it is apparent some are only doing it for their own self promotion.
My take is that #FF is a way to show gratitude for individuals on Twitter and it should be taken as a compliment that someone thinks enough of you to spend any time to give you a recommendation. Of course, you should be gracious when you receive a #FF and thank the person who is sending it out. However, the only caveat I use in this, if you feel the person is not sincere in their use of #FF, don’t feel you have reciprocate. #FF is not a time for “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” If you truly feel someone deserves kudos on Twitter don’t wait until Friday. Anytime, any day is perfect to show your appreciation. The message behind #FF is that you put yourself on the line to recommend another. If you do not feel that they truly deserve #FF, don’t do it. On any platform, your recommendation of another is a way to transfer your integrity. If you are promoting others who are not up to snuff but you feel since they have a high follower count….or klout number, you are not doing anyone any favors. Followers are earned in everything we do on social media platforms. Our tweets, updates create the foundation of trust for each of us. If you are simply just riding the coat tails of others, you will not gain any brand loyalty or be considered “the real deal”
I use #FF to highlight those who have made an impact to my world. It is simply my way to say Thank You. I’d rather take the time to craft a personal #FF – even highlighting a great tweet from the individual – to showcase their work as proof that I believe in the connection made. I do not go overboard creating hundreds of tweets, rather think of 10 people who made a difference in your week. Do you feel they would make a difference to others?
What say you, how to do you use #FF on Twitter?
Well said Jen!
Thanks, John!
Jen, I appreciate your perspective. I feel like a novice on Twitter even though I follow many and have a fair amount of followers. The etiquette sometimes escapes me. Someone did a #FF for me the other day. It wasn’t a Friday but I did a #FF in response, wondering if I’d done the right thing. Your approach makes sense. Next time I will thank them, decide I really WANT to recommend them, and if I do, not worry about what day it is.
Thanks, Susan. If you feel the person deserves the moniker of #FF then by all means include it. #FF means that you recommend this person and want others to follow as well. #FF are not reserve for just Friday, as I said, any day is a good day to use #FF if you feel others should follow the user. I know that for many the etiquette can be overwhelming on Social Media platforms – there are so many do’s and don’t's but I feel you should do what feels right to you.
Like many things (example: LinkedIn endorsements, Klout, etc) that were intended to show true recognition and support, things can, over time, get diluted to the point of meaninglessness. After all, if someone’s going to #FF or endorse simply as a bait and switch tactic (and I think it’s hilarious when someone endorses someone they don’t even know), that will be like the one bad apple that spoils the bunch.
But being the optimist that I am, and a true believer in paying-it-forward and recognizing good people and good works, I will acknowledge in ways that I feel show true support, meaning and endorsement, even when the “tools” are sometimes mis-used or seemingly meaningless. Adding a personal comment to a #FF, for example, adds additional meaning. So I guess like everything in life: we choose the tool that best fits the job, and use it with purpose and intent. Cheers! Kaarina P.S. LOVE your #TeamBlogJack badge on your site:)))))))
I agree, Kaarina. I wrote no good deed goes unpunished and that’s what happens with the best of intentions in the #FF, LI endorsements and Klout. Too many dilute the meaning behind such actions when they are careless with their endorsements. I am gracious when others #FF me in a group tweet, however, to many that is such a lazy way to endorse. I like to believe that people who do endorse me have truly followed me and are putting their faith in my actions. If it is only to tag along with the crowd, I’d prefer they didn’t. Margie Clayman had a great post some time ago about endorsing “crap” and it rings true to me daily. When I endorse or even RT someone, I do it because I want to bring to light their work. It is not something I take lightly but I know everyone has different values.
YES – That #TeamBlogJack logo ROCKS but the people behind it are the bees knees and I happily endorse all.
Yes it does disappoint when you show how to deliver valuable #FF and folks still send you lame, lazy unfulfilling #FF tweets.
Question is how do we have a meaningful impact while there are waves of uninformed not really caring to the depth we care?
Not everyone is us, Michele. It only takes a few apples to spoil a good deed on Twitter these days. I think we need to model the behavior and when confronted by those who are playing by the rules, we have to speak up. Sometimes it’s lack of knowledge not malicious intent that is the culprit.
Ditto all you just said:)
Thank you very much. High praise from you and I appreciate it greatly, Kaarina
I agree 100%. I used to do them in a personalized manner. Unfortunately I couldn’t keep up with that plan. So I dropped it..
I think the best management is not to wait until #FF but you feel strongly about someone, give them a shout out no matter the day of the week. If you do it when it strikes you, it eliminates the time management issue for many. Thanks, Juan
I thought the same thing! That #FF is a way to show gratitude for individuals on Twitter and it should be taken as a compliment that someone thinks enough of you to spend any time to give you a recommendation.
Thanks, Patrick. It is a compliment when someone #FF and you should be gracious to receive it. #FF and even RT’s are a way in social media for others to validate your engagement.
I completely agree. It is a shame that #FF has been diluted to the point of people thanking new followers with this once-proud hashtag. It has become mechanical and has completely lost its significance. Perhaps its time for a new hashtag? Maybe #TPTAWW (this persons tweets are wonderful wednesday). Naw – too long. Anyway, great post.
Thanks, Ryan. I feel the thought behind the idea of #FF is still valid just need to remember to be gracious every day…and keep it consistent with you values
Let me offer a different perspective. I send quite a few #FF tweets on Friday that include more than one person, usually several. I carefully select the people I include. I try to add a few words that describe why I recommend these individuals. The time I am willing to invest in my various social communities is limited so this is the most efficient way for me to thank people who I have learned from throughout the week. I suppose these tweets may be lost in the wash these days but they are not intended as acts of quip pro quo. So lest we lump everyone in as lazy and insincere consider that there may be some of us out there who still have our hearts in the right place. That said…I do appreciate the points made here and given that this perception is probably growing in many communities maybe I’ll have to take a different approach. The same applies to RT’s, I RT quite a bit but I am thoughtful in what I RT and I tend to focus on people I trust to share great content and themes I feel are important. Is it lazy or insincere to RT a tweet without making each one unique or commenting on the quote, post, etc.? I am simply trying to pass along content I think people who follow me might enjoy. So my point is yes there are people who abuse these forms of participation but lets be careful about casting too wide a net with out perceptions. Thanks for listening.
Well written!
Well, my first visit to your blog, so it feels nice to connect with you here too.
The topic as such pulled me here and yes, for some FollowFriday has lost it’s meaning, while for others it is their way of showing appreciation.
Speaking of myself, I simply love to connect with people, more so those with whom I otherwise might not be interacting more during the week. I think saying a polite hello once a week is a great way to remain connected – isn’t it? And I like to add a little something of my own to make the conversation a little more interesting.
Thanks for sharing this with us.
Hi Harleena! So good to see you here. I’m glad you stopped in. I would agree that even just saying hello, asking about a connections day is a great way to keep in touch. Social media is connecting with people and the more we can do that in our own way the better. I think #FF has become diluted to the original meaning. The more personal you make your connections, the more you put in the effort, the better the results. I will be sure to stop again at your blog as well, I always love your POV.
Thanks, Scott. I would agree that the time for many is limited. My suggestion was to take 10 people that week that made a difference to you, with a little effort you can keep note of those who had a impact on your stream – or maybe shared a post that you found helpful. RT’s are a way of showing appreciation as well. To keep in mind who you RT and #FF is a reflection on you. You need to be careful as to who you promote with #FF – if you are suggestion someone with #FF – you are putting yourself out there and your reputation. Your followers have faith in your recommendations, so you need to be sure you are recommending those of great value.
I agree with not casting a big net over all – but unfortunately, there are many who use #FF to only push their own metrics. I do believe there are many who simply may not know the etiquette behind #FF and may be new to idea as well.
I do far fewer #FF recommendations than many people do but when I do them, I really do them. I state who to follow, often why I follow them and what YOU get by following them. If I find someone who I believe is truly worth following I’ll recommendation them and that’s the only way I recommend them. I do get a fair amount of people thanking me for a #FF that I didn’t offer, I suppose that’s just to get into my Twitter stream with a #FF attached. Guess they are just trying to get noticed but they would do better to just tweet good content and get noticed that way.
Anyway, nice post, if the long list of name followed by a #FF continues on Fridays it will indeed eventually destroy the whole idea, if it hasn’t already.
Thanks, Steve. I appreciate the care and time you take to craft a proper #FF message as well the time you take to ensure you are recommending someone who is worthy of a follow. It is this time and attention that creates a trust with your audience. For some, they go overboard thanking everyone with very generic reasons. It only degrades their trust and let’s others know they do not know enough about the person they are recommending. #FF is meant in goodwill, sadly, too many take advantage of others. Thank you for comment, Steve. I’m very honored.
Thank you for the follow. I hope you will find something that interest you. Comments and thoughts are always welcomed. Peace~David
Thanks, David. My pleasure. Cheers
I’ve just started using #shoutout on any old day I want to. I still do use #FF via commun.it which makes it personalized, and easy, automatically.
Thanks, Patricia. I can appreciate that there are sometimes automated tools can help. I do not use them and that’s my preference.
I’m indifferent about the issue. I don’t mind getting some recognition, but I don’t pay too much attention to it either. Twitter and the other social media forms can consume valuable time and I have to pick and just the things that seem to have the greatest import. I think a list flying around cyberspace might get noticed by a few, but for the most part gets ignored much like I usually have to ignore it. It’s a boost for new Twitterites I suppose.
Thanks, Arlee. I think it has become only an issue for those who use Twitter a lot and most of the time you’re right, most folks aren’t paying attention to the mass #FF tweets. As I said, the original intention was good but a few have taken it too far. Thanks for your comment
Great points, and as a relative newbie to twitter…much appreciated. I like to #FF on the content of the tweets I received that week…”learned from”, “enjoyed content from” “inspired by” tend to be the top reasons why I appreciate tweets. I use #FF to let them, and others, know what I liked from them that week. I tend to group them together though, and like the idea of making it more personal and individual…and more real time. Thanks for the great information.
Thanks, Lisa. Personalized #FF gives more meaning to those who might see your tweet. If you can give a compiling reason to follow another, that will ensure that you recommendation will be read, IMO.