Almost Unanimous: Don’t Retweet It When Someone Mentions You in a #FF Tweet
I used Twitter and Google+ to survey my followers on Friday about the somewhat common practice of retweeting when you get included in someone else’s Friday Follow (#FF) tweet. Several dozen replies came in (see below) and the overwhelming response is that it’s a bad idea.
I’m in the same camp as the folks who called it unnecessary and vain. It’s like you’re saying, “Look! I was included in someone else’s #FF! Aren’t I great?”
Suggestion: If you get mentioned in someone else’s #FF tweet, thank them via a direct reply, don’t retweet the #FF itself. The direct reply is much more personal and authentic, and much less narcissistic.
There’s a sports saying that seems relevant: When a football player scores a touchdown and does some crazy celebration in the end zone, people say “Act like you’ve been there before.” I think that applies here, too. Act like you’ve been mentioned before in other people’s #FF tweets.
i’m bummed i missed this survey!
i would be in the “yay” crowd with a couple restrictions: if you can vouch for the others in the list, then RT’ing to your followers is probably good for them; and if you can retweet and remove your own @ name, then that accomplishes the non-selfish goal of getting others some exposure.
i see re-tweeting an #ff with you in it as more of a credit to the person that tweeted a good follow list more than anything else. if i’m included in a crap list or from somebody i do not know yet, i’ll refrain from re-tweeting it.
James – in your first paragraph, you’re describing something different from what I asked about. I asked about RTing with yourself in it. It’s a different thing if you remove your own @name from there before RTing, right? 🙂
In any case, I still say that just thanking the original tweeter is the best way to proceed, and certainly the method that has the kleast risk of looking completely vain/narcissistic.
Hey Matt
Gutted you didn’t use my tweet!
It was the F-bomb right? Lol!
Nice post. Now let’s hope people take note and stop polluting twitter with this utter useless nonsense.
Cheers
N
Hello,
I know this post is old, but it came up on a Google search for me and I enjoyed it so I thought you might have some insight into a similar question I have. Forgive me if I’m being dense, I’m knew to this stuff.
Do I retweet other mentions on Twitter?
Thank you 🙂