There are two good Twitter tools to find people related to your niche... tweepsearch.com and twellow.com. These tools search for your keyword within the username and bio, so they tend to bring back relevant Twitterers.
And then what? Here's how to "process your finds"....
Step 1) Do you recognize the Twitterers that you find? Are they well-related and potential good contacts? If so, follow them.
Let's say, for example, that your niche is about Anguilla. You would follow the hotels, villas, restaurants, tourist associations in the Anguilla tourist industry, etc.
If you don't recognize any of the Twitterers, check them out (more on this in Step 2 below).
But wait, you're not finished with your "found list" yet. Check out whoever they follow, too (hover your cursor over each square in the list of who they follow)...
Follow the ones who they follow and who you recognize as relevant. Check out the ones you don't (more on this in Step 2 below).
Note... If anyone follows a gazillion, untargeted Twitterers, stop wasting time with that Twitter-spammer and move on to the next person on your found list.
Step 2) For those whom you do not recognize (from either the original list that you found, or from those who are followed by those you found and added to your own "follow" list)...
These Twitterers may not be directly related to your niche, but that's OK. There may be an excellent "1 degree of separation" connection. Click to check out any who sound interesting...
Look for Quality...
Do they have more followers than those they follow? This is a good sign of authoritative Twitterers. Stay away from those who follow 50,000 and are followed by 50,000. They'll never reply to you.
And look for Relevance...
Is there a good indirect connection to your niche (ex., luxury travel magazines)?
These are influential potential contacts worth adding to your list. They may not be directly about your niche, but if you can establish yourself as the go-to authority about your niche, you just may find, for example, a general luxury magazine like the Robb Report contacting you and wanting to interview you one day!
Final note... Do not bother tracking down who the "1 degree of separation" connections follow. This "2nd degree of separation" is too low-yield.
All the best,
Follow Ken at Twitter
Great post as always Ken.
It really helps to weed out the 'Twitter Spammer' Why?
Its about value. That is why twitter authorities are more valuable than twitter spammers.
Posted by: Ryan | August 12, 2009 at 08:28 PM
Excellent post Ken. Always appreciate your insight.
Paul Meyers
http://www.ontario-motorcycle-rides.com
Posted by: twitter.com/paulmeyers | November 08, 2009 at 04:55 PM