Lately, a few people have asked me about the best ways to find “good people” to follow on Twitter. Here are a few suggestions. They are perhaps more for those who are fairly new to Twitter but if you’re an old hand on Twitter, please feel free to add your own suggestions. This is by no means a comprehensive list.
Firstly, it really depends what you’re into, as to who you might want to find and start following, doesn’t it? It may take a bit of effort to find the people who are the most interested in similar things to you, depending on what you are into.
For instance, one of my growing interests is for emerging clean technologies, or cleantech. Here are some of the ways I have gone about finding people, organisations and blogs similarly interested. You could do the same for whatever subjects you are interested in.
1. Twitter (Real-Time) Search
One of the best ways to find people to follow and talk with is to use Twitter Search itself. Simply search for any term or combination of terms and you are sure to find people tweeting on that subject. The search updates in real-time, so it’s possible to keep it open and reply to some of those tweets as they happen. The search can be saved for later and repeated at will.
2. Wefollow
Wefollow is a directory of Twitter users who have added themselves by tagging their profiles by category. It sprang from an idea by the founder of Digg, Kevin Rose. You simply enter a search term to find a list of the most influential and most popular profiles in that category. Don’t forget to add yourself so people can find you too.
3. Who do you respect? Follow some of the people they follow
Out of the people you already follow, decide who you respect the most in your chosen category. Look at who they follow and have conversations with. Chances are you’ll find some great people to follow this way. You may even feel you want to contribute to the conversation.
4. Who do you respect? Look at their Twitter Lists
Twitter Lists have been around for a while now. Have a look for the public Twitter Lists of the people you respect in your chosen category. Chances are those people have made some lists of the people they most respect, for the benefit of themselves and others.
5. Mashable’s new Twitter List Directory
Mashable has only very recently started a Twitter List Directory. It’s by no means comprehensive yet, but is still worth a search under your chosen subject. You can also add your own Twitter lists to the index, which will help others find you.
Got any other other good ways to find the best people to follow? let us know.
