Hi Aaron, I really like the idea of asking people to follow your lists! It's not only easier, but a constant resource for those that miss your followfriday tweet.

Great post here with smart and easy Do's and Don'ts. I am going to begin trying just one #FF and give a reason as to why. Typically, I do #FF's for people that I made a specific connection with during the week. I have found that to be helpful because it can further the relationship.

SELF PROMOTION!!! =) #followfriday @hdwebsite lol

Wowzer! And I always have a tendency to do #FF's in groups, simply because I don't have any time during the day. So I kind of rush through it. I've also decided to do my Follow Friday mentions once a month this year, because it's a big hassle to do that every week with many followers. But today, one of my followers shared this article and, after reading this, I realized it is a peeve for some people. And certain strategies do work better than others.

Yes, I've done number 1 in the Dont's section many times before, but there were also times when I did numbers 1 and 2 in the Do's section. And the Do's section is very beneficial, 'cause people would either thank me for mentioning them, retweet it, return the favor, or follow the very people that I've mentioned. That has worked compared to just listing for mentions sake. So I'll make the effort to do that more often! :)

I like to answer in a way that uses the addressee somewhere within the text instead of at the beginning of my reply tweets. Thus, my reply can be read by everyone of my followers and automatically recommends my communication partner to them. By this procedure, write-only tweeps are automatically excluded.

Got it. Appreciate the explanation.

Oooo quite a celebrity I'm becoming in these kinds of posts hehe. @Thedigitaleb just brought my attention to this one, and I was mentioned before in a post by Diane, @adamsconsulting, but that one was kind of embarrassing :P
Thank you dear!

I learned from the original guy who started it all and I tweet like this: @melindesign (jewelry assembly), @jillidesigns (eco silversmith), @stevescott1 (blog master)

and so on. I like to personalize EACH person I tweet about. It shows I know what they are about and not just listing names. Sometimes I'll add "awesome" or "guru" or something like that in front of what they specialize in.

Create a twitter list and call it “follow friday”
That is a great idea!!!

I agree with you to a point Aaron. and I see the beni in smaller more personal...but...

I use #FF to say thanks to people that have retweeted ,my posts for the week, or have recommended me in any way, or if we have had a conversation.

Just another way to get their name out there in front of my followers. This has worked well.

But I do plan to do a #FF post for my top 10 followers for each weeks, to put more power to my referral.

Personal #FF wouldnt work if you have so many people to share.. that would take me all day lol

thanks for writing this Aaron! I always get so annoyed with simply a list of @someone tweets. Your suggestion of number 4 is great, will do that right away. Btw, do you have a certain limit of #FF you set yourself every week?

Cool Thanks, for sharing this. I'll certainly create and do one.

Very nice etiquette! I like to highlight the tweeps that engaged me for the past 7 days. Friday morning I will scan my Mentions and Favorites columns (in tweetdeck) and send those folks some nice #ff karma.

You know, turns out only about 50% of those folks might re #ff me, but it really doesn't matter. If you're using #ff strictly to see yourself on someone else's #ff list, you're in it for the wrong reasons, and everyone can tell.

I haven't actually started using twitter yet but with all of the hype and continued growth I am beginning to think soon it won't be an option but more of a requirement... Who would have ever thought.. I guess social media really is the next big thing.

Number one Don't is my personal pet peeve. Such FF would just stream by unnoticed on my timeline :)

That Follow Friday list is a cool idea!!

great tips :)

I still don't get it .......I think it is a senseless endeavor like the Wave, arg shid fug bobic nod

I've started just using a list. Create a link and just let it go. Follow Friday is good for one thing though. Sometimes certain people I follow and talk to regularly who don't follow me I'll recommend openly and hint that they're not following me. That usually works.

FollowFriday is a great way to find and follow real people. Who in his right mind would recommend a spammer who advertises tooth whitening products... :-)
I agree though that it is being 'abused' by many people and then it really is no fun.
I like giving out compliments as I really mean them and it makes the other person happy or at least they feel special.

These are great tips; the larger one grows, the more difficult it is to thank folks. A list seems more manageable, although my Followers appreciate being thanked :)

Agreed, you gotta tell people why you give someone props otherwise it's pointless.

If someone's worth a #FF shoutout, do a quick drive by bio in 140 chars or less.

(@liquidwholefood) I got the idea to give a reason for recommending from you months ago and I've noticed that people really enjoy it. When I think about it, everyone loves getting a compliment and that's the essence of a #followfriday mention!

I pretty much stopped with the follow Fridays, it just seems over used and pointless anymore. I do like the idea of a “follow friday” Twitter list though.

After months on Twitter, I posted my first #FollowFriday today. Each person I listed, I have had conversations with and consider their posts informative and worthwhile. There are some people who flood the stream with Retweets of every time their name is mentioned, and that's just egotism. I've been #ff-ed a few times and have thanked the posters and continue to chat with them. #FollowFriday should be used judiciously and not to suck up to the most popular twitterers. Just sayin'.

LoL.. @EmailCopywriter and me go a different path.
He chose a more professional twitter path where i chose a more personal twitter path.
I always try my best to connect with all my followers no matter where they are.
So you'll see me jumping in conversations and retweeting from my followers. I also reply to all 90% DM's (not spam though lol)

Conclusion: Be personal, be engaging =) that worked out well for me.
As for #FF I don't use em anymore but i do recommend my #FF + Interesting list to follow

Oh BTW getting mentioned on #FF doesn't seem to push up my followers more than usual.

It was a good reason why I decided to abandon the FF tweetmeme.

Here's a post about a suggested new way of doing FF - the Follow Friday Revolution: http://www.twitip.com/followfriday-revolution/

Best regards,
Kevin
https://facebook.com/drdollars

:) I'm a bit jaded by FF already after being on Twitter for almost 2 years. It's the day of the week my Twitter Feed get's flooded by all the #FF's from people who are obsessed with numbers but who don't build relationships.

FF happens everyday for me: I chat with someone who looks interesting e.g. an entrepreneur or who's from SG or MS. We have a conversation and we follow each other.

It also pays to have a good Twitter bio/profile. I used to just copy and paste people's bio into my FF recommendation's Tweets. It got a lot of attention until I stopped following FF.

Pardon my ranting ;) That's just my thoughts

Do tell us what drove you up the ranks in only 11 months? You beat my idol from Malaysia @EmailCopywriter

Kevin
https://facebook.com/drdollars

Thats a good method, but it only allows you to find people mate and follow. Not really bout follow friday =)
Good method though Kevin

How to: Do a Proper Follow Friday on Twitter http://is.gd/8dsqQ

I suggest using Twellow ( http://www.twellow.com/search?q=singapore&sear... ) to follow some SG Tweeters first @Honey

You can view their bios and follower counts at a glance.

Kevin
https://profiles.google.com/doctordollars

Thanks Aaron! Great info. I'm afraid the folks doing the don't list won't be the ones reading this and they are in the greatest need of it! =)

I have wanted to do a #ff, but wish there was an easier way to add people. How does everyone else do it? Do you simply remember all of your contacts names or do you use a program?

I am beginning to hate FF because so may people have a page full of everyone they know - its gotten horrible - even spilling over into facebook. I found this post by someone with over a page full off un-personal FFs. Obviously posted - without reading!