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Yesterday's post on the top 10 reasons I don’t follow people on twitter got passed around quite a bit. In particular, reason #7. I felt that I should follow up with a positive post letting people know why I DO follow people. I encourage everyone reading to please share what makes them follow someone. Perhaps your comments can help those poor souls who are constantly begging people to follow them or who are confused about why their follower numbers are fairly stagnate.

1. BE FAHN! [English translation, be good looking or attractive]. There’s nothing like scrolling through your timeline and seeing the photo of someone who starts your inner ignition. I’ve heard some people say they never follow based on looks. I suspect that’s because they are, themselves, not attractive—or don’t consider themselves to be so--and are seeking to make the world a fairer place. But unfortunately, the world isn’t fair. America is not a meritocracy and neither is my twitter timeline! Looks do get people ahead. Just ask Sarah Palin. It’s not my job to change this dynamic, after all, I’m just an innocent victim of society’s dreadful obsession with the physical. I will say that looking good won’t prevent me from unfollowing you. But if you’re cute I’m more likely to give you a chance in the first place. Once I’m following you, you are more than welcome to be vapid, but if you’re offensive or corny looks won’t save you.
2. Tweet about Television and Movies. I don’t watch TV or movies but I love to hear about them and ask stupid questions. If you follow me on twitter, you’ve probably already answered one of my silly questions like “What is Lost?” or, “I keep hearing about this movie called Avatar, is it new?” In my world there is no such thing as a spoiler, I’d rather someone tell me about a movie than have to sit through it myself. If I follow people who tweet about TV/movies I can be aware of what’s going on without actually being aware of what is going on. I find value in those tweets.
3. Signal your Country ways. I have met some of my favorite tweeters simply because we bonded over our southern and country ways of thinking and communicating. For example, I twit-met @smashedthehomie and @creolepimp the bloggers behind Elegant Ignance and Creole Pimp Chronicles after we spent about 2 hours going in on the hashtag #yeencountry. i.e. #yeencountry if your neighborhood doesn’t have a candy lady, and other such non-stereotypical southern observations.
4. Start good social, sports, or music discussions. By “good discussion” I don’t mean…”ladies, does the size of his penis matter?” Of course it matters, that’s about the dumbest question in the world that still gets a response. Another example of a stupid discussion is “Jay-Z or Nas?” I’m sorry, is it 1996? Exactly how is that relevant? I’m looking for engaging RELEVANT conversations. Some of the best discussions I’ve seen are sparked from personal experiences that people have had and perhaps they are looking for some feedback from their followers. I am also likely to follow those who tweet their political perspectives provided they’re not decidedly liberal or conservative. I’m also a HUGE football, MMA, xtremesport, and tennis fan, so I follow a lot of sports tweeters, but you gotta know what you’re talking about! Casual observations don’t count.
5. Make me laugh. I can’t explain this one because everyone has their own sense of humor. What’s funny to some is offensive to others. What’s sad is that some people are very funny in real life but not so much on twitter. So if you are one of those people, don’t feel bad b/c there are plenty of people who are cool on twitter and lame everywhere else. This is God’s way of creating innanet balance.
6. You run a Faux Account. I have followed all types of fake accounts from Drakes knee to the Fake R Kelly. Those accounts are often hilarious.
7. Tweet about Southern hip hop. Aside from Baroque Pop, southern hip hop is my favorite genre of music. I have followed people after they tweeted random obscure UGK verses or vintage Outkast lines. If you remember Drama or Lil O, you can probably get an instant follow!
8. Alternative lifestyle? I love following people who have alternative lifestyles whether you are stripping, swinging, or living in Antarctica, I will probably be curious about your daily life depending on how you tweet about it.
9. You tweet to me a lot. This is the most effective way to get a follow. Only thing is, it can’t be fake. Some people try to tweet you a bunch of small talk and compliments because they think if they stroke your ego you will follow them. Well, my ego is already the size of the innanet, so I’m more interested in people who want to engage with me than I am in those who compliment me—although I surely do love compliments. Lol
10. Have networking potential. Twitter is a great networking tool. I met my fabulous web designer on twitter--@huny (my new design will up in a couple months). I’ve also met other bloggers, screenplay writers like @skinnyjeanius, super talented stylists like @apuje, and promoters like @2hood4hollywood. I’ve also reconnected with talented college-mates like the amazing celeb stylist @chandarenee and the head of Vitalize Entertainment @rondelonline.

All in all, to be followed by me or anyone else, your tweets need to be valuable in some way. If you’re not on twitter to promote something, it’s hard to know what of your life will be valuable enough to another person to make them follow you. That’s all the more reason to just be yourself!

Feel free to use the comment section to list reasons you DO follow folks…the comment section on the previous blog is still open for those folks who want to post their twitter pet peeves!