How Do You Decide Who to Follow on Twitter?

Chris Cree asked an interesting question in the comments of yesterdays post about my Twitter competition.

I’m curious what criteria you use when deciding whom to follow in return. Would you share some insight into that at some point?

The thing is I am not sure I know the right way to decide who to follow, I just know what I do. What I do has changed since I first joined Twitter and I am sure will evolve.

Initially what I did was to follow Twitter users who’s blogs I read, and also to look at who those folks were following and see who was interesting. There were other ways but those I think were the main approaches.

Lately though I have found for some people the best approach is to see who the people you already like are talking to. If you “over hear” a good conversation then the people in that conversation are likely to be worth a follow.

I did try following everyone who followed me but I quickly found there gets to be a point where you can’t follow everyone, and there were one or two people who I unfollowed because I didn’t like their argumentative or abusive nature. I guess you get trolls and bullies everywhere.

As far as the usual niggles, lack of posting or over self promotion, I am probably more tolerant but those do factor. I won’t follow anyone who hasn’t Tweeted yet. At least get a full screen of Tweets before following me if you want me to follow you back.

In general if you say something interesting then I am more likely to follow but more and more I am going the conversation route.

As I say, I don’t have a perfect answer so let’s have a poll 🙂