Follow smart people you don't know
You can use Twitter to stay in touch with friends and family. But to get the most out of the service, follow at least a few people you don't already know. They'll point out articles you wouldn't normally see. They'll give you a sense of what's important in another region, industry or social sphere. In addition, if you're using Twitter for professional reasons, following peers and thought leaders in your sector can help establish a connection.
A number of services can help you find smart, interesting people to follow. First, start on Twitter's own search site (http://search.twitter.com), look up a few terms that are important to you, and see who's sharing good ideas and links. Then take a look at searchable directories like We Follow (http://wefollow.com) and Twellow (http://twellow.com), which organize Twitterers by topic.
Finally, try a recommendation engine, like Mr. Tweet (http://mrtweet.net), shown here, or Who Should I Follow? (http://whoshouldifollow.com). Based on your Twitter activity and existing network, they'll suggest other Twitterers you might find interesting.
Incidentally, while you're surfing around these sites, add yourself!
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