5 Twitter Stars You Must Follow Today
Communication & Cognition - By Samuel D. Bradley – January 2, 2009
Many people will tell you how to build a big Twitter network. My new Twitter friend, Owen Greaves, got 1,000 followers in 10 days. He’s now up to 1,400 in 14 days. He wrote the best post I’ve seen on how to build a quality network quickly.
Instead, I will offer complementary advice.
I will spend the next semester telling every student (and non-student) who will listen that they need to be on Twitter. I won’t extol the benefits today. But for a person working in the communications industry today, it is vital.
If you’re one of those people new to Twitter, please understand that the quality of your network is far more important than the size.
Here are a list of people from whom you can learn immediately.
Plunk around for more than 5 minutes, and you’ll find the obvious ones, such as @chrisbrogan, @scobleizer, and @guykawasaki. You’ll find those on your own.
Instead I offer you 5 opinion leaders who are approachable, cool, and fun. They’re smart and friendly, which is an excellent combination.
@PressReleasePR — Danny Brown may live in Toronto, but he’s one of the coolest guys and sharpest minds in social media today. His blog, Social Media PR, is intellectually stimulating and uplifting. A must read. If there were a Twitter expansion draft, he’d be the first protected player on my team.
@jasonfalls — The first thing that Jason taught me is that Kentucky is finally wired for the Internet. Then, a comment I left on his blog probably landed him in the hospital. Seriously, though. I left a comment on his Social Media Explorer blog, and he reached out to say that we should flush it out into a post. Very cool. And he may be even more irreverent than I am, which is always a plus.
@thebrandbuilder — Seriously? When did the South get so many smart people? From South Carolina comes The Brand Builder, Olivier Blanchard, who is a forward thinking brand strategist. He has great ideas about brand identity, and I think he’s so smart, I’ve arranged a conference call. Saying a lot given that I’m allergic to the phone.
@Jimconnolly — Jim Connolly has almost 15,000 followers, which puts him at true rockstar status and should make his ineligible for this list. But his Jim’s Marketing Blog is a must read, and he has been part of several conversations with me. Not many rockstars are so willing to share their advice. (Read Jim’s network-building advice here).
@NickLongo — This guy helped revolutionize the Internet at a time when I thought it was just a toy. He founded CoffeeCup software, and he’s as cool as can be. We’ve traded meaningful information and bantered about parenting, Texas, and black eyed peas (the food, not the band). Read his bio to be astounded.
Honorable Mentions
Funniest on Twitter
@TheBloggess — She’s not rated G, but she’s hilarious. Funniest person I’ve met on Twitter. It’s a travesty that she’s not a full-time humor columnist.
Best of Texas
@sarah_crisman — Sarah’s been helpful and funny. A very cool person from whom I hope to learn a lot. You need to know her.
Best People with Whom to Trade New Year’s Eve Quips
@nanpalmero — His epic “yellow unibrow” and “@wifebradley3″ comments won’t soon be forgotten. He’s also a tech pimp, and if you ever Tweet about a hardware problem, rest assured he knows people.
@Adrigonzo — She chased off dozens of New Year’s Eve followers with my favorite word, and she rocked a New Year’s Eve bash wearing two hoodies. Enough said. And she lives in the Bay Area, and I don’t. Sigh.
All of these people will add value to your network and your life. Follow them today.
Your Suggestions from Comments
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