There are a ton of “people you should follow” Twitter lists out there, some of which I have found quite helpful. But I still haven’t seen one that provides a list of people who specifically want to engage with new friends – people who care about what you have to say, no matter the subject. So I decided to make my own list.
Some of the people detailed below are well known and influential, online and/or offline. Some are not. But they all have one thing in common: they care about people, and will take time out of their day to have a conversation with you, if you choose to engage with them in an honest way.
You probably won’t get through this whole list at first glance, but I encourage you to save it and come back later. There are a ton of awesome people on here, and I’m excited to see what new ideas come from the conversations you’ll have with them.
Here they are, in no particular order (except for that guy in the front, haha) . . .
@ItStartsWithUs: Well, this is me. My site is devoted to helping all of us make a positive impact in the lives of those around us, and I’m always looking to connect with new and interesting people. Oh, and if you want to help me make a difference, I’m building up a group of people who dramatically change the world in 15 minutes a week. No kidding – it really works.
@BuzzEdition: Susan is a friend to all and a great Twitter mentor. She seems to know everyone online, and is always ready with kind words and good advice. Plus, she gives out digital hugs all the time. 
@absolutelytrue: Gerri knows her way around social media, she writes for a variety of sites, and she’s awfully nice to newbies. She’s often up late working on stuff, so if you’re online after 1:00am, give her a shout.
@mayhemstudios: Calvin is the creative director of a design firm in L.A. and an all-around nice guy. Just ask him, haha… But seriously, he’s kind, generous and funny. (Oh, and congratulations, Calvin – you just made another list. )
@krystynchong: Krystyn is a social butterfly. She knows a bunch of cool people and always seems to be having fun. She spins tunes on Blip, takes pictures of her dinner, does a lot of video chats, and cares about what you think.
@webaddict: Joel is an established internet marketer with a huge track record of success. He runs a weekly live chat to help people understand the web, and he has a great sense of humor. You’ll usually find him hanging out with the Krystyn and Calvin – these three are very cool.
@Jeff0134: Jeff is a super nice guy. He runs a small charity called Bear2Care2009, which delivers teddy bears and other stuffed animals to hospitalized kids with life-threatening illnesses.
@kathyireland: Kathy is one of those rare gems, a celebrity who not only cares about others, but works to help them as well. Her site is devoted to finding solutions for families, especially busy moms, and her Twitter stream is filled with replies and encouragement to everyone. She’s a fantastic lady.
@avinashkaushik: I don’t know how he does it, but somehow Avinash finds time to interact with people, despite being the Analytics Evangelist for Google. I once emailed him a small compliment on his blog, and within the hour he had emailed a much longer message in return, thanking me for reading. Wow. (Plus he gives great movie reviews. )
@missdestructo: I can’t say enough about this girl. She is unique, engaging, witty, sarcastic, and all-around awesome. I actually can’t even think of any other way to describe her – just go talk to her and you’ll see what I mean. Oh, and she has blue hair, if that helps.
@sethsimonds: Seth writes for multiple sites and is very active on Twitter (and other services as well). Wherever you come into contact with him, he always seems to be throwing out thoughtful and intelligent articles and comments. Interacting with him is always beneficial, and usually entertaining as well – he has a good sense of humor. He’s also a guy that’s willing to help out the awkward new kid (me). Thanks, Seth.
@CarlosMic: Speaking of thoughtful and intelligent, go check out Carlos’ blog. This guy is a deep thinker, and has a unique and interesting perspective on just about everything. Also a great guy to chat with.
@jenny_blake: Love this girl! She’s so full of enthusiasm and love for life. Super smart (works for Google), tons of fun, and her blog is very helpful for young professionals. Trying to get her back on Twitter more often . . . she has this bad habit of running around and living her life.
@DannyBrown: This guy has a ton of heart. He runs the 12for12k Challenge, which I’m a part of – social media for good. He raises a ton of money for charity, chats with everybody, and is a friend to all – including you. So go talk to him.
@zaibatsu: Everybody on Twitter knows who Reg is. He’s the one filling your stream with worthwhile content. The thing is, he also talks to people . . . even brand-new Twitter users like me. He’s a nice guy, folks. Trust me.
@KimberleKelly: Kim (I always call her that, but I’ve never asked if she likes it – works well with the 140-character limit, though) is one of my favorite people on Twitter. She’s fun and upbeat, kinda crazy, sometimes loud, but she always cares. She makes my online experience much more enjoyable.
@chrisguillebeau: Chris is a guy that I really, really respect. He has helped so many people learn that they don’t have to settle for the hand they’ve been dealt, but can get up and make a positive change in their lives. Check out his Brief Guide to World Domination, and then go say hi to him on Twitter. Great guy.
@foiledcupcakes: Mari runs a cupcake business in Chicago. I am not kidding. Just ask her about it – she’s a lot of fun, talks to everybody, and can be very sarcastic once it gets to be about 2:00am (which is when I usually talk to her). She attends a lot of real-life meetings with online friends – she’s one of the best I’ve seen at bridging that gap.
@ladybuggin: Krista is a friend of Mari’s, and she’s just a happy person all around. She’s got great energy (she even went to a 24-hour dance-a-thon, or some such thing) and a fun personality. I always enjoy talking to her if I’m feeling a little down.
@rosa7987: Speaking of fun and happy, Rosa is one of my favorite people on Twitter. Just look at her profile pic, my goodness! Consistently positive, with a casual (and bilingual) blog . . . she always has time to chat.
@lotay: Lotay is amazing, and one of the most fascinating people I’ve met this year. He’s the founder of the Black Card Circle and a very sincere guy with a heart for others. Highly recommended.
@DWiley224: Debra is a caring soul with a mischievous streak. She helps keep late-night conversations interesting and takes a keen interest in the happiness and well-being of her followers and friends. Be prepared for long conversations with her (in a good way).
@DerekMarkham: Derek is an interesting guy. A proponent of all things natural and “green”, he not only speaks the language, he lives it. Ever friendly and helpful, I’ve left every one of our conversations better than I entered it.
@miltownkid: Casey represents my hometown (Milwaukee), and is a tireless force for good. He’s huge on fundraising, encouraging community building through social media, and just plain fun. I love this guy. Talking to him is like getting on a ride at Six Flags.
@mrsalbrecht: Sarah has been one of the coolest people I’ve met on Twitter. She’s teaching and raising her kids in Japan at the moment, always busy with all sorts of stuff, but still finds time to check in on me and make sure I’m doing okay. A great lady with a great heart for people.
@northernchick: Kathryn is cool. Every time I interact with her I think to myself, “Self, that is one smart chick.” She always adds value to our conversations, and has helped me think about things in new and different ways.
@DavidDCain: I’ve mentioned David before, but I have to do it again. His is one of the few blogs that I read religiously. He has a way of looking at things that always makes me think a little harder about my own life and the things that are really important. He’s built an amazing community around his work. Give him a try.
@PaulTTran: Here’s what Paul does: “Wealth/Business Advisor – Private Equity Franchise Developer.” Yeah, I don’t understand it either. But here’s the thing – he really cares about people. This guy is helping me change the world, and I really appreciate it. Connect with him, and you’ll be better for it.
@vickie_frisbie: Here’s another lady with a great passion for helping others. She’s heavily involved in all of our “change the world” activities, and does a ton of stuff to encourage people, both online and off.
@Jason_Pollock: Last, but far from least, is Jason Pollock. He’s a filmmaker and writer who just directed a very interesting movie (The Youngest Candidate). He talks to everybody on Twitter, including you. If you want to broaden your horizons a bit, give him a shout.
So there you have it, folks. 30 people who will engage with you, add value to your stream, enrich your life, and possibly even become your friend.
Who else deserves to be on this list? Throw their names down in the comments section, and let’s check ‘em out . . .
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