Hello, my name is Alison and I am a social media addict.
I am also a very discerning follower.
I don’t play the ‘follow me, I’ll follow you back’ game. No sirree, I have a set of criteria as to who I follow back in each medium.
Yes, criteria. I know, right?
Here we go (warning: this will very likely give you an insight into how my mind works, scary and baffling stuff!).
Your Blog
Your writing. Compelling storytelling, written in a way that makes me want to reach into the screen and hug your face off and declare us BFFs. No diary-like stuff. No spelling mistakes. No grammatical errors. No music. No white text on black screen. No big-ass pop up video screen. No funny blinking stuff in the sidebar. Mostly though, it’s about the writing.
Don’t be an egg – include a picture, preferably of your face, not your cat’s. Write an interesting bio. Include your blog URL if you have one. Personally, if you include the words ‘coffee’, ‘chocolate’, ‘sarcastic’ and ‘Pinterest’ in there, I’m hooked. Also? Do tweet. After a few weeks if you don’t tweet, I use TwitCleaner to help me clean up my stream (i.e. unfollow inactive Tweeps).
If you post just links and nothing else? Clicking the UnLike button is just as easy as clicking Like. I do love funny, witty status updates; photos of your adorable children; pictures of you; hilarious stuff like this:
Dessert. Pin desserts. I will slobber all over love you.
Instagr.am
Pretty pictures of where you live! Your kids! Stunning landscapes! Sorry, too many exclamation marks? But not too many random pictures of your dog lying around in various positions around the house please. It’s just….. not my cup of tea. Ahem.
What would compel you to follow/ like someone on Facebook/ Twitter/ Pinterest/ their blog? Or more interestingly, unfollow them?
Hey, Amanda of parenting By dummies is featuring me as a Dude Mom! Come visit? She’s an awesome lady!
Latest posts by Alison (see all)
- The Easy Way Out - June 19, 2013
- Over It and Loving It - June 17, 2013
- My Motherhood Report Card - June 12, 2013
Hi, I'm Alison. I write. I mother. I make wishes. I keep memories. Founder of Little Love Media, social media consultancy. I get by on copious amounts of chocolate, cupcakes, coffee, blogging & social media.
I unfollow inactives in Twitter as well! And I do get twitchy if you post 1000 pics of your cat on Instagram, but if I like you I just roll my eyes and keep scrolling and don’t unfollow. I mean, if I love you I have to love your cat too, right?
I can’t read/follow blogs that look like they were written by third graders either. And we ALL know what I’m talking about, right?
Julie recently wrote…We don’t need cocktails, we have retail therapy!
So far, I haven’t unfollowed the animal lovers on Instagram, though by god, I have been tempted.
Yes, we do know what you’re talking about.
Preach it, woman! I put up with captcha IF I really like the blog/the writing if not it just annoying to bypass that. As for the pets of instagram I’m with Julie, not much of a cat person so I usually like one pic and skim over if there’s 5 cat pictures in one row lol.
Maureen recently wrote…My Sensitive Child
If I really like a blog and they have Captcha, I actually tweet them to tell them to turn it off, hah! (it’s always worked so far)
whew!!! i don’t think I would made up your list. hehehe! compel to follow or like someone in either of the social media, as long as what he/she blogs/tweet is interesting, where i will know a lot, because as of now, though i am a mom, i am still in the learning process of a lot of things especially when it comes to blogging. this is a new world to me indeed…
Ma. Teresa Grech Quiatchon Racal recently wrote…The Time Keeper: My Favorite Quotes
Don’t underestimate yourself
I unlike a lot of pages lately on fb. I get sick of the spammy feel.
I never unfollow on twitter because I am too lazy to check. I use tweetdeck and have so many lists that I rarely check the actual EVERYONE feed anyway.
Pinterest I suck about following people on. Which is sad because lately I hate my pinterest feed. So I have unfollowed a lot there, but it leaves me with an uninteresting and unpinnable feed.
Oh instagram. I am so choosy on instagram. Following people who post a zillion pictures of their vacation in a row like it’s NOT public drive me crazy. Or yeah, a million pet shots in a row? Stupid.
And blogs, oh blogs. i wish I had more time to actually read and follow these lately. Sigh.
Katie recently wrote…Project 365 {week 47}
Facebook – me too.
Twitter – I just do the clean up once every couple of months. I really suck at doing lists!
Pinterest – I love helping people clean up their Pinterest boards/ feed. Ping me if you want some help.
Instagram – Oh yeah, the vacation pictures, dear lord.
Blogs – There are so many good ones out there I don’t subscribe to, I just click on their tweeted links if I see it, or when they come here and I return the visit. I feel a little guilty!
I have never ever pinned a dessert. Does this mean that you unfollowed me? Bitch.
tracy recently wrote…In This Moment
I love you, I’ll never leave you. xo
Here’s my basic set of rules:
1) If you don’t have a bio, I won’t even contemplate following you on Twitter.
2) I do not accept Facebook friend requests if I don’t know the connection. If your public profile has nothing and I don’t recognize your name, I will not accept the request. A short note explaining who you are and how you found me might go a long way.
3) If I don’t know you and your Facebook/Twitter profile says nothing about you, I will judge you by your friends. I have to go by something.
4) I can smell a troll a mile away, and have no compunction when it comes to unliking/unfollowing/defriending people who I suspect are just out to cause shit.
5) I absolutely abhor racism, sexism, homophobia and similar forms of discrimination, and have no compunction when it comes to unliking/unfollowing/defriending people who I suspect are just out to cause shit.
Kirsten recently wrote…I Don’t Have a Sweet Tooth But…
Yes, yes, yes, yes and yes.
I’m actually even more discerning on Facebook – I don’t even accept requests from some people I know, that I don’t normally connect with. If I see you in public and don’t even say hi (and vice versa), why would I share what I post on FB with you?
Yeah, pretty much! I have a hard time keeping up with people who follow me on twitter, but the first time they talk to me, I follow back. But not somebody who just has links. Oh no.
Greta recently wrote…Project 365: Week 47
I unfollowed someone who tweeted not just links, but links in German. Hah!
This kind of makes me love you more. Don’t be an egg – ha! I’m picky on IG – I can’t do all the dogs and cats. I’m terrible about following back on Pinterst. I feel like Pinterest makes it difficult to really see who’s following you and who I’m following. Plus, the numbers don’t make sense to me. Blog – no daily diary. No catcha. Good and compelling writing. I wish I had more time to read more though.
Christine recently wrote…My Life in Numbers
So far, I’m really bad at following people on Pinterest – only because I’m so picky and I don’t have time to look through who’s following me!
This is a great post. It’s a reminder that I have to be better on Twitter and on my FB page. I talk to much and so Twitter is a challenge (maybe it will force me to get to the point). I’ve been blogging for almost two years and you’d think I’d have my act together with social media but I am afraid I kinda suck.
AnnMarie recently wrote…Mixed Bag of Thanks: Courage Behind the Screen
You don’t suck, you’re just busy!
Yes to all of this! Esp the black blog background with white letters. Oh my eyes! One things that’s hard for me is blog posts that are super long and pretty much all in one paragraph. That hurts my eyes too.
And I frequently clean up my Twitter account. One thing that bugs me is when someone tweets at someone else and they never respond. And I don’t mean to just one or two tweets, I mean all the time. That gets an unfollow from me every time.
Rach (DonutsMama) recently wrote…Down in the Frumps
Yes, what’s up with the unsocial behavior on Twitter?
This cracks me up! Love how you just tell it like it is. One of my pet peeves on Twitter is when I follow a blogger and tweet them with a genuine comment or question, and they just ignore it. Um hello? It’s called social media for a reason lol, why not be friendly back if someone is reaching out to you?
As for Pinterest, I find that I follow & unfollow people fairly often. For example, I’m a teacher and with the start of the school year, I went a little overboard following other teachers for ideas. Now I’m busy unfollowing them because my page has been hijacked by lesson plans & children’s lit titles.
Kim recently wrote…Beginning Life With You
Unsocial behavior on social media baffles me too!
I don’t like tweeps who are so self focused that they don’t look beyond selling themselves, or ingratiating themselves with bigger “more popular tweeps” if that makes sense.
I like to help out new writers, writers I feel I have a connection one with and writers who I learn from. I hate the follow me, I’ll follow you game and when I leave a comment, I don’t know if I always expect an answer but someone who NEVER responds is not interactive enough as a blogger for me to maintain interest, make sense?
Kiran
Masala Chica recently wrote…The Supermom Myth
I don’t like the non-responders either. You can be a ‘big’ blogger and still be kind and interact – Jill Smokler is a great example.
I love your Pinterest stream….so many yummy desserts, it always makes me smile, and then curse you under my breath because it makes me hungry….and while you’re pinning desserts, I’m usually pinning fitness inspirations
You crack me up. I love how your mind works.
Runnermom-jen recently wrote…Enjoy…
Hah! I know, I am like the counter-fitness-Pinner everyone hates to love.
Your Pinterest stream always makes me hungry. You have the most delicious sweet and salty things on there!
I try to only follow back people on Twitter that I really want to interact with. I want “real” people, not people who just tweet links…
Sometimes I feel that I already can’t keep up with the few people that I do follow… I’m probably just too much of a perfectionist – how do you keep up with everything?
Kerstin recently wrote…My life in 10 pictures
I don’t keep up with everything – my Google+ is absolutely neglected though as a social media consultant, I KNOW that’s where we need to be too. It’s all an illusion over here.
I do try to follow a lot of your “follow rules” and I do love to post pictures of my pretty surroundings on IG!!!
I do love social media but I try to not go crazy either. Sometimes, it’s just a big time suck… I’ll be going along, having fun and before I know it 2 hours have gone by!!!
Susi recently wrote…Picture Perfect Weekly #30 {Thanksgiving Edition}
I schedule time for social media, otherwise, I’ll never sleep!
I know this sounds bad but if someone is posting all the time non-stop whether on twitter or on their blog…if it’s not that interesting and just noise I unfollow.
Natalie recently wrote…What I Always Want to Remember…
Oh gosh, I have actually unfollowed blogs who write EVERY SINGLE DAY. I can’t keep up and the guilt of it gets to me, so I just unfollow. Awful right?
my biggest peeve is that Blogger Captcha. It’s why i don’t comment on some fav blogs but i do share. i would everyone to wordpress if there was an easy button
vanita recently wrote…Wear Your Blog With Pride
I HATE Captcha. It hates me.
I love your criteria! Though I’m lazy about unfollowing or unliking (I guess that’s what a lot of people hope for). So thanks for the reminder to go clean up and get rid of some people! I usually only actively unfollow or unlike if someone does something annoying. The bad grammar and spelling get to me more than anything else. Also, you reminded me that I need to actually do something with my blog’s facebook page
Katie E recently wrote…Monday Listicles: 10 Cellphone Pictures of Sunday Night
I schedule time to do social media spring cleaning, it’s necessary!
Yep, you pretty much nailed my criteria as well. Also, I like generous followers who share stuff they like…because I like to think I do the same!
thedoseofreality recently wrote…Black Is My Heart
Ditto!
Coongrats on being a Dude Mom!! I LOVE AMANDA. Her blog, her posts, her content: some of the highest quality stuff around.
And yeah: guilty guilty of the FB lack of interaction on my part.
Twitter’s my girl, and I spend my time there. FB is just such a long stream to catch up on. It is WORK over there.
Twitter is one two hey how are you? And you are caught up.
And I want to instagram. SO bad. Have you ever done a tutorial on the how tos? Because I can see more of my time going there..
Alexandra recently wrote…A Holy Day
You are such a Twitter badass!
I have not done any tutorials on Instagr.am, though there are many great resources out there. It’s real easy, download the app onto your iPhone or Android, take pictures and upload to Instagr.am! I just have issue with certain pictures.
Writing is very important to me, too. I like posts that make me think, make me laugh or cry – writing that ‘speaks’ to me. On social media, I like to follow people that are ‘social’ – folks that interact and are personable. So I don’t usually follow eggs, either!
Kim recently wrote…10 Phone Photos
Writing is THE most important to me when it comes to blogs, that’s for sure.
Hug your face off.
Just too cute!
Yes, discerning is good.
My reasons for following are much the same as yours. As far as unfollowing? Really inappropriate or gross stuff. Know it’s out there, just don’t want to read it or see it. That, plus anyone just going after quantity. So I’m number 43, 567. Wow, do I feel special…
Oh my goodness, Alison. I went over to Parenting by Dummies and have been giggling ever since. She has those parenting moments down to a science!
Kim recently wrote…10 Rules for Delightful Gift Giving
Yes, why do some people do the gross and inappropriate? Mind boggling.
why do you like ME again?
I spend most of my day just hoping that you never unfollow me…I am so thankful for your friendship, for your support, love, giggles in my life. You have made the internet such a wonderful place for me.
and the writing, well I hope what I do, what I publish, makes you happy to know me. (somedays. )
xoo
Kir recently wrote…Trifecta: Singin’ A Song
I don’t know why anyone would not follow you, you’re a delight, my friend. xo
What great guidelines! I love more than links on Facebook too.
JDaniel4′s Mom recently wrote…Snack for Kids- Christmas Tree Themed Bento
Thanks Deirdre!
I think for me the writing on the blog is the most important part. I wish I was into social media…I am trying and it is fun. But what gets me to follow a blog are the posts. I love posts that make me think beyond the familiar. I like hearing interesting ideas, thoughts, and situations. I love reading posts that have a way with words.
Olga recently wrote…Redefining Special
Yes, DITTO!
Confession: I post a lot of dog pics on Instagram. We foster so there is a new one every few weeks. Does this mean we have to break up?
ilene recently wrote…Baking A Difference
When it’s a different dog, then you’re forgiven
Alison I love this! So true! I don’t know why we feel so pressured to follow everyone. I was doing this at first, and then I just found that I had an email box full of blogs I never had any time to read, or really even desire with some of them! I have limited it down to my faves… so that I actually have time to read and comment on the blogs I enjoy! So funny – and I didn’t know about that way to de-follow inactive Twitter. Thanks for that tip!
Alexa recently wrote…Day 17
You’re welcome!
I was the same when I first started blogging – just following everyone I met. It takes time to get settled into your faves.
I don’t care if you’re a small blog or have a million followers, if your content is shit, I will not read it.
Kimberly recently wrote…Kicking Leaves And Thoughts
I Looove!!!!
My Inner Chick recently wrote…Blogging Without Boundaries
EXACTLY.
You have gorgeous content, by the way.
This post just made me want to follow you everywhere. Go you for telling it like it is!
Meredith recently wrote…What Moms REALLY Want for Christmas
Aw, thanks Meredith!
I pretty much agree with everything you said, except for the grammar part. ( But that’s because I always overlook something. Sadly I always see it AFTER you have been to my blog (sorry!) And thank you for still reading.) Oh and on Instagram, you forgot cute little scrumptious chubby baby boys!! You don’t happen to know one do you?
Mirjam recently wrote…Sunday gatherings
You don’t have any grammar issues, Mirjam!
Ah yes, scrumptious babies, how could I forget?
I like my twitter people to tweet a variety of things: funny updates, links to their stuff, links to other people’s stuff, links to good stuff. But most importantly, I want them to reply. If I reply to you, and get crickets (especially when I can see you tweeting at other people), I will hit the unfollow real fast.
If a facebook page updates twelve times a day, I will hit the unfollow real fast.
I pin desserts. But I don’t actually make any of them – I’m too lazy for that.
Tracie recently wrote…How (Not) To Relax In A Bathtub
OMG the non-responders! It’s just…. rude.
I’m not that picky with Twitter and Facebook, though I prolly should use TwitCleaner. Is it fast? I hate having to click each and every “person”. LOL, don’t use an egg as your profile pic. I just did a mass cleansing of FB “friends” and hide posts from Facebook pages that don’t interest me anymore. Oh, and ppl who post a thousand photos of themselves on IG just ’cause they’re bored really irritate me.
lisacng recently wrote…The funnies
One more thing: Blog turn-off: ugly design, unreadable print, content that doesn’t relate to me, really bad photos
lisacng recently wrote…The funnies
It does take a little time, TwitCleaner – but well worth it! It categorizes who you follow into inactive etc. Oh yeah, the incessant selfies on IG annoy me too.
—Mama A.
Will you excuse me while I go correct all of my grammatical errors?!!
I’m still not too cool w / Twitter
I’m such a Damn DORK.
Xxx Kiss
My Inner Chick recently wrote…Blogging Without Boundaries
Pffftt, you write beautifully, no grammatical errors ever.
xo
I’m kinda the same, Alison. I only follow blogs where I really enjoy the writing
otherwise I end up just deleting the email update and not even clicking to read. I do love coming here. You’re always entertaining 
One of my faves!
Aw, thanks Sarah! The feeling is mutual.
Hmmm. I don’t expect you to be following me on FB, then! It’s nearly impossible for me to post there during about 90% of my waking hours, so I stick to Twitter. BUT I can definitely add to the baby cuteness quotient!
Leslie recently wrote…{Real Parties} Thanksgiving Recap
I love cute babies!
I follow blogs of people who are good writers or are just plain interesting. With Twitter, I do the same. With Instagram, I usually just follow people I know well and who I am genuinely interested in seeing pictures from parts of their life.
IG – yes, me too! Though I have unfollowed a few, because of the incessant pet pictures, hehe.
Love your rules woman, and thank my lucky stars that I fall into (at least some of!} them! xo
Galit Breen recently wrote…I’ll Never
You fall into the Awesome category, my friend! xo
I need to assert some of your criteria, my friend. Also, sorry you probably untwittered me. I kinda fell out of the tree there for a bit.
Jessica recently wrote…My apologies…
I did not unTwitter you at all!
I am with you on the blog one… the writing is first and I do not like the black backgrounds either. I have been absent from mine for a bit but am keeping busy with other creative projects (but not apologizing for it). I still love my Instagram and the occasional Facebook…and stay connected that way. I am not on twitter much but am super happy to get a RT or a comment from there.
For me it is a lot to keep up with so I pace myself and try not to get overwhelmed.
In all media forms I enjoy wit, humor, honesty and an interesting picture ( but not a perfect over processed one) .
Alma recently wrote…A Secret Garden
You always post quality content, Alma, know that it’s appreciated!
Yes, yes, yes!! I am with you on each and every follow.
And I promise to refrain from posting too many photos of the puppy sleeping in various positions.
Tonya recently wrote…Have You Ever?
You mix it up with a lot of other good photos, so all your puppy pictures are loved!
I don’t know if you follow me or not (I never check) but based on your criteria, I’m glad you like me enough to pop in once and awhile!
Blond Duck recently wrote…Oh Pink Christmas Tree
Of course I like you Miranda!
LOL so true! Oh that awful egg! Don’t forget these DM’s that come too! I am a social media addict too! Following you on Twitter and look forward to your tweets.
Raquel recently wrote…My Leftover Recipe
Eek, automated DMs are a no-no!
{Melinda} Love all these criteria. I follow many of them myself.
Thanks so much for visiting our blog on our SITS Day!
Mothering From Scratch recently wrote…support “SITS” well with us
Hope you had a great SITS Day!
LOL, I love that picture, hilarious. And yes, I def don’t auto-follow and try to look for real content and connect with real people. I love cleaning my Twitter & FB feed every now and then. Blogs are a little more difficult to choose or unchoose from haha.
Vivian recently wrote…It’s a Viet Thing – The One Month Cleanse for Moms
Yes, sometimes it’s hard to unfollow blogs – I feel so guilty! But if I skip post after post, then it’s time, right?
This is so funny. And true. I can’t stand diary entries.
Natalie recently wrote…She is One
Those should be private
You rule…just found your blog thru a comment on mine and thank you for TwitCleaner. Had no idea how to get rid of all those people I randomly accepted a while back. I am in debt…
Nice to meet you!
xoxo from Trinidad
You’re welcome and nice to meet you too!
Oh shoot no more dog pictures then. (Just kidding). But seriously I need to get my act together on FB (I just post links) and twitter (barely on there) and Instagram (still haven’t signed up). I’m glad you love me anyway.
Lady Jennie recently wrote…Dog Days
Of course I love you!
I’ve been a little too unfollow-happy lately. I know, I’m the new Grinch. But I just can’t stand certain things/posts/nonsense clogging up my stream or reader. Blah.
Kimberly recently wrote…Little Man, Huge Heart
Hah, I’m with you on that, my friend!
I need to do the TwitCleaner BAD!!
I may start something with this part of my comment but the other thing on Instagram that gets on my nerves is the boob shots. If EVERY other picture you post is of your boob (even if a baby is on it) I don’t want to see that ALL the time. I think breastfeeding is awesome and that people should take lots of pics of it but SO many pics of any same thing gets old no matter what it is. (even your face) Whew! I feel better now.
p.s. I really am a nice person. please don’t unfollow me. xo
Elaine A. recently wrote…Bloggity Blog Blog Blog
Haha! You said what I was thinking. I really don’t want to see anyone’s boobs. And I’m a big advocate of breastfeeding. I just don’t need to SEE it.
I’d never unfollow you! xo
I would have never guessed you liked pinning desserts on Pinterest.
Jessica recently wrote…To Do or Not To Do – It Yourself
Hah! Funny lady.
Ninjas and Pirates and Lasers and Shit … hehehehe.
I have to agree on the grammatical errors. Nothing makes me run out of a blog faster than cringe-worthy sentence structure.
Now I’m off to check out TwitCleaner.
Phase Three of Life recently wrote…No, I did not win the Powerball. (Or did I?)
Hope TwitCleaner helped!
Thank you! This is something that gets me all the time. I hate eggs on twitter too. And now I feel special that you like my writing.
Amanda Jillian recently wrote…Call for help {Project Community Portrait}
You ARE special!
I am so glad you wrote this! WE were not following you are Pinterest! How is that possible? And you are like a sucrose psychopath. You have your desserts in categories! That.Is.Awesome. And here I just started my food journal again yesterday to help fight the holiday bulge. I can now just live vicariously through your boards.
Great post! Ellen
Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms recently wrote…A Guide For Procrastinators On How To Complete a Pinterest Worthy Project
“Sucrose psychopath” may be the best thing I’ve ever heard, hee! Yes, I have Pinned over 1,000 food items – how could I not categorize them?
I agree wholeheartedly. I follow people who interact – who are their authentic selves. People who will be the same hilarious and warm folks in person that they are online.
I wish I was better at commenting but never have the time, so I worry people think I’m not reading. That’s the hardest part for me.
Susan recently wrote…I’m Actually Enjoying Sending Christmas Cards This Year
I know what you mean. Which is why I connect with them on other platforms. Thank goodness for social media!
Oh, I think we pretty much have the same list. However, if you check my spelling on my Tweets I’m in big trouble. So full of typos it’s embarrassing. I’m Tweeting on the fly, ya know.
Heh. I have major typos on Instagr.am all the time. My phone hates me!
I am not a huge social media person, so I don’t really follow nor do I have many followers. Your instaclean would have wiped me out day one. BUT I do peruse blogs often. Really any blogs – ones that catch my eye or better, make me laugh. But for the love, if someone cannot run spell check or read it through to make sure it even makes sense. I.just.can’t.deal. I’m not a big fan of the lots of contests either. A few here and there are totally fine but if all they do is run contests, I’m out.
Amy recently wrote…Gravity wins again…
I think some blogs go really overboard with the sponsored posts, reviews, giveaways etc. I don’t mind one here and there, but each and every post? No thank you.
Haha! Good checklist! I’m honored to you following me in some of these places.
adrienne recently wrote…tick, tock.
But of course!