How to Find People at Twitter

Twitter is nothing without your network of people who you are “following”. Sure you can read the public timeline and occasionally make finds of real 140 character gems, but it’s almost like trying to find a needle in a hay sack. Not fence, Twittererers.

When I first started on Twitter I found maybe 7 people I knew to follow. It was fun, but only when they were online, otherwise I was just watching the screen waiting someone to tweet something. When I was following the first 50 people, I started realizing why people like it so much, but it wasn’t until I was following over 500 people when I realized how powerful Twitter was.

Building your network is the key to success. Here are some tips how to find people you want to get connected at Twitter.

1. Your existing contacts.
- Let your contacts know you are now on Twitter, if you don’t feel like emailing them and letting them know, add your twitter handle in your email signature and let people find you.
- Add your twitter stream or link to your Facebook page or your blog, so people who want to get connected with you, will find you.
- Search people who you know and start following them.
- Many of your contacts might have their Twitter handle in their Facebook, LinkedIn or other profile, as well in their blogs & business cards.

2. Find people in your field
- When you visit your favorite industry blogs, check out if they have Twitter links for the authors.
- See the top people in your industry at Twitter from Twellow.com, where you can find people categorized by industry and interest.
- Follow your competitors, clients, vendors and retailers – and everyone who they follow.

3. Some people also recommend Twitter search sites like:
Twellow.com
Twitter Local

You can also Search Twitter for keywords you've interested.

4. Most importantly: see who the people you know are following and start following them.
- See who your peers talk to or follow, and join the conversation. If the discussion was private it wouldn’t be on Twitter – you can jump into a conversation anytime.
- Ask your Twitter friends, who they recommend you to follow, you can even send out specific tweets like "I'd like to know more real estate agents at Twitter, know anyone?"

5. Meet Twitter people face to face
- Twitter meet ups or TweetUps are a great way to get connected, and if you live in a larger city, the odds are pretty high there is a TweetUp group gathering.