Honestly, I've always seen the suggestion to use the PM section in the first post. It is more interesting to watch interactions without it, as a spectator anyway. 

Having a friend and/or selectively sharing information is just a very powerful tool. I also find that deciding how many friends you want to have is part of the strategy. You have more control with more friends, But it's easier to harbor a killer in later rounds. There are all kinds of games you can play with this strategy.