I never got a friend into AC, but I've met some of my best friends through AC!
When I was 9, I was playing WW while waiting for my brothers to be done with a class they were in. When the class was over, some boy who was in the class saw me playing DS and asked what game it was. When I said it was Animal Crossing, he informed me that his sister loved that game. I asked him if he could introduce me, so he called her into the room and she sat right down beside me on the stairs and asked where I was in the game.
9 years later, I'm still great friends with her, and we both play New Leaf.
I used to go on a Build-A-Bear forum (don't judge), and I would exchange friend codes with the people there. I got to play CF with a bunch of great people. I met my best friend through playing CF with her, and we've met in person twice. She doesn't play New Leaf because she doesn't have a 3ds, but we've been friends for five years now, and our friendship isn't dependent on AC.
Now, I've taken to going on Club Tortimer to meet other players and exchange friend codes with them. xD I've missed playing AC with people.