A question for the Twitterati

[lukasahero]

So - I'm finally Twittering. (Not really tweeting yet - just trying to find my way around.) So I'm wondering what tools you use and who you're following? Anyone good I should be paying attention to? Any advice welcome.

[Lex]

1. I like following

@ebertchicago

@crooksandliars

@MJMcKean

@NYTimeskrugman

@alfranken

@BenjaminFolds

Some other local news and restaurants and the like.

My number one hint is learn to use and search on # (hashtags).

[lukasahero]

2. Thanks!

I guess the part I'm trying to figure out is how to find folks I want to follow... Definitely some names on your list I will add to mine. :)

Do you use Twitter directly or some other 'engine'? I just downloaded TweetDeck, which is awesome for following but doesn't have a 'directory' of sorts...

[Lex]

3. I just use Twitter, but

I've tried out some of the other platforms. Tweetdeck moves real slow on my computer for some reason.

What I do is go look in the "following" list of other people to see who THEY are following that I might want to follow too.

If you have certain interests, like cooking or sports or music, you can follow people who might Tweet interesting things in those areas of interest.

You can also search on certain words or topics, like #whodat when the Saints are playing, and just get the tweets of people who are tweeting stuff as they are watching the game and using that hashtag.

[lukasahero]

4. Excellent advice!

Thanks! I appreciate it.

Honestly, it's a little overwhelming for a newbie...