Send to KindleOK, so I’m not a huge fan of #FollowFriday these days, because most folks just lump a huge tweet full of people together and say #FF with no specific reason on why you should follow those people, or have auto-tweets set up that recommend the same Tweeps every Friday.
However I do participate here and there and try to thank the folks who recommend me.
That said, I decided to write a post today on a handful of the tweeps I follow that I truly enjoy following and why. And please, if you don’t see your name here, don’t assume I don’t enjoy following you… but with as many tweeps as I have, I simply can’t put everyone here!
So keep your panties untwisted, I still adore you! 
(And mayhap I’ll do another of these sometime that mentions you!)
First up is:
@ MattLevenhagen
I love Matt because he is awesome. A founding member of #DorkBrigade and practically family from my Earn1KaDay forum days… a nicer, more helpful man you will never meet. He truly like to help others succeed, and runs a great membership site over at XtremeProfits for niche marketers. He’s also a great Tweeter that actually holds conversations with his tweeps rather than broadcasting 24/7 or spamming. Can’t beat that! So shoot him a tweet and ask him if you can be a member of the #DorkBrigade… he’ll know who sent ya!
@ jenniferwindrum
Jennifer is a newer tweep I’ve been stalking, and totally enjoy following her! Again, she is a tweep that actually holds conversations with her followers, and runs a blog called WTFLungCancer.com (and no, WTF does NOT mean what you think it means!) Her bio states “I don’t do status quo” and I’d have to agree… which is totally why I like her! Plus we had a lovely debate all about the joys of chocolate the other day on Twitter, so cripes… can’t hate her now! (Although she does hate me a little bit, but I’ll let you ask her why! Hee!)
@ skooloflife
Srinivas Rao (let’s just call him Rao shall we?) I’ve been keeping up with after I ran across a great post on his blog TheSkoolOfLife one day. Needless to say I was hooked… he is such a nice guy with some great things to say, and again… actually holds conversations on Twitter! (I know… you’re sick of hearing that part…) So I highly recommend checking out his blog and saying hi on Twitter… just tell him @BigGirlBranding sent ya!
@teevee2
Teevee I met on a blog once upon a time, doing a dorky little dance for a video contest and couldn’t help but stay in touch… he’s such an infectious, sweet guy… uber proud papa… and perfect Tweep and friend material. Also… wait for it… wait for it… actually holds conversations on Twitter! (You totally knew I was going to say that didn’t you?)
@abbykerr
I met Abby after she so graciously came out of lurker status during a small little contest I held for my readers to coax them out of hiding in the comments. She runs a new but EXCELLENT blog over at AbbyKerrInk. The new blog is absolutely beautifully designed, and the content is absolutely stellar. And like me, she tends to make words up sometimes… I’m thinking it must be a writer thing? Plus, like all the rest she actually engages on Twitter and conversates! Win-win all around in my book, so be sure to pop over and say hello to her sometime, especially if you’re an indie biz… those are her specialty!
@ AJDonovan
Andy is a wonderful tweep to follow… not only is he kind and holds conversations, but he’s also the father of triplets! That’s THREE… count ‘em THREE children all EXACTLY the same age… yikes. I’m good, but not that good, so kudo’s to Andy for holding down the fort and still being an amazing person to know. He runs a communications and event management company called the Donovan Group that’s doing some great things… so drop by and see what he’s all about. Better yet, hit him up on Twitter… and don’t be shy he’s a member of the #DorkBrigade too!
@MarsDorian
Mars is a cool cat to follow… I love his blog, I love his energy, and he’s an awesome tweep that engages with people, reciprocates, and HOLDS CONVERSATIONS! (Sorry, got a bit passionate there… whew. I think you get it now though.) You can check out his great blog at MarsDorian.com and see him tearing up the guest blogging world as well. My latest fave that I think he knocked out of the park is all about Lady Gaga. (Yeah, I’m a fan… and what?!)
So there you have it… a handful of Tweeps I love to stalk (erm… follow I mean…) and why. And since it’s #FollowFriday… you should stalk (erm… follow!) them too!
Quick Pop Quiz
What’s the reigning theme here that makes all these tweeps great? Besides being awesome of course?
¡¡¡suoıʇɐsɹǝʌuoɔ pןoɥ ʎǝɥʇ ˙ɐ
See, I knew you were reading!
Now how about you?
Have a few stellar tweeps you think should be added to my list? Drop them in the comments below so you can tell the world all about their awesomeness.
Warmest,
{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
Cori,
Thanks for the shoutout
. So you’ve probably guessed by now that you are part of my inner circle that I’ve written about in Malcom Gladwell post in Tipping points 
. Look forward to everything you’re doing. We’ll have to get you on at BlogcastFM in the next couple of weeks.
YW hun! Love what you’re doing, and love what a great Tweep you are, so I couldn’t not shine a little light.
And no, had no idea that I was part of the inner circle experiment you’ve got going there! LOL I’m honored though, and will be curious to see the results in a future post. I most definitely think it starts with reaching out without expecting things in return.. you may be pleasantly surprised at how things pan out! 
Thanks for dropping by hun!
C
RT @coripadgett New #BGB A Day of Recognition Top #FollowFriday Tweeps and Why- http://su.pr/1bVjJp << Wow! Thx for the mention! :blushing:
Look what @BigGirlBranding did! She actually wrote a #FF post on WHY she recommends you follow. SHE ROCKS. FOLLOW HER! http://su.pr/1bVjJp
Hey, some kudos for me…cuz i mentioned you with the text “#ff 4 u blogging types…”
That helps too…
Superprinses recently posted..How do you know if you’ve made some progress in your blogging
LOL.. yes kudos for you too hun!
You did specify something in your tweet which is helpful! 
And thanks for your shout out too.
Whoh, Cori! I didn’t see this coming. Thank you for the lovely, in-depth shout-out and the screen clip to boot. Nice!!!
I’m honored to be included among your other Tweeps in this post. Especially because although I’ve been on Twitter for, oh, about a year and a half {admittedly just getting INTO it about six months ago}, I still always wonder, “Am I doing this right?” I’m still waiting for the day where I don’t feel as if I’m Tweeting into a void. Anyone else *still* feeling that way?
Thanks for always being such an encouragement and someone who pulls people together. Your energy is infectious — even in pixillated form! You inspire me to reach out even more and slap a few backs in friendship.
You’re welcome Abby!
You’re definitely doing it right babe.. don’t give up. 
And yeah, I feel that way sometimes too.. I’m always amazed at the type of tweets that generate a response and the ones I think will… actually don’t! LOL And glad I could inspire you a bit.. that is awesome, mission accomplished. 
::hugs::
Heya Cori, thanks for the mentioning.
Srini is a coool guy, both because of skooloflife AND blogcast fm.
He’s owning the niche of interviewing kick-ass bloggers, and if he plays his cards smartly, he can create a kick-ass digital business around it.
Thanx for giving back to the community, you rock !
Mars Dorian recently posted..The Power of Cause Marketing- Increase Your Influence and Save the World
Yw hun!
Srini is a cool guy, although I haven’t even had time to listen to any of his podcasts.. it’s on my list. But I do read his stuff (I can read faster than listen!) lol and I love the things he has to say. And you’re no slouch yourself buddy, that Gaga post was awesome..arguably the best yet in my book. 
RT @BigGirlBranding: @MattLevenhagen @jenniferwindrum @teevee2 @skooloflife A day of recognition- #FF http://su.pr/1bVjJp
You my dear are too much!
I appreciate the mention in this group pf awesome people.
(bowing in appreciation)
I don’t have very many followers and have decided to follow even less people on twitter in this reincarnation of myself (hence teevee2) which was directly influenced by my Minimalist Mentor @evbogue
Some people never talk even when I try to say hello or tell them I love their stuff (whatever stuff that may be). And 9 times out of 10 I get no response in return. The most annoying thing is when these same individuals reach out to me and want them to retweet something. AHHH! Are you kidding me?
I want to have conversations. I want to talk and share and give! You have been the most engaging person I have found and always enjoy talking to you.
Once again, thank you for the kind words and I look forward to getting to chatting with you like we always do!
Aww.. thanks hun.. and you’re welcome, the mention was well deserved.
I think sometimes you have to show up in peoples stream a few times before they take the time to respond.. and there are probably a lot of folks who get so darn many they simply can’t respond to them all. But you’re right, some are just down not interested in taking the time to respond to a tweet, but have no problemo asking for a rt! 
Yikes, and look how many times I can use tweet in a sentence! 
YIKES! The keepers of the English language are likely disgusted with the fact that tweet is now a verb.
You knocked out all your responses this morning, eh?
As for non-responsive twits… no worries, I am following who I need to follow. The others will make themselves known and I follow them too is what I shall do.
LOL.. right? Woe to the grammar police! Yes, I try and knock them out all out once, otherwise I end up getting distracted way too often! Yikes.. you sure that’s yoga and not Dr. Seuss?
Hey, thanks, @BigGirlBranding! RT @MarsDorian @AJDonovan @AbbyKerr A day of recognition- #FF http://su.pr/1bVjJp
RT @BigGirlBranding: A Day of Recognition- Top #FollowFriday Tweeps and Why ##BGB ##blogging http://su.pr/1bVjJp
I have never participated in the Follow Friday thing on Twitter. Nothing to do with having nobody interesting on my list, I just haven’t got round to doing it.
I think I might have found some interesting people to follow thanks to your indepth post.
Dean Saliba recently posted..Recycling Old Content
That’s awesome Dean, glad to hear it!
You definitely can’t go wrong following these tweeps here. 
I am a horrible twitterer. I don’t spend enough time doing everything I know I should be doing. Seems there’s just not enough time in the day. I’ll try to do better.
Organization sometimes escapes from it’s cage and I have to spend hours chasing the damn critter!
Ha ha.. I feel ya Joella.. it’s hard for me too to keep up with all that needs to be done. I focus on using a triage method.. what’s vitally important for the day must be done..everything else I accomplish is gravy! LOL Darn organization critters…
Imagining organization as a critter just makes me LOL in a loud type manner!
Lol..I know, I did too as soon as I read it.
Joella’s a funny gal!
Thank you.. the whole twitter world can be overwhelming so having some great folks to consider following is quite helpful. I’ll have to make some time to read this more thoroughly and follow up on all the links.
You’re welcome Walker.. definitely check them all out they are awesome folks!
You know it was an insane summer and start to fall when I am just getting around to “Googling” myself for kicks and came upon your amazing shout out bella. Thanks so much – the beauty of knowing you is that you are a true friend through and through – and although not friends in real life I will always have your back here.
xo
Hey Andy m’dear..
Googling oneself… sounds mildly dirty! lol You’re very welcome, well deserved.
All of them seem like a group of very awesome individuals. I’ll check them out on twitter. I always wanted to follow someone I can learn something from. Thanks for the list, Cori.