The numbers game: Real relationships in social media

The Best Twitter Applications

Before you read this entry, consider how you use Twitter. The following information is most useful for the moderate to more advanced user. For a quick background, read the provided links:
- What is Twitter? click here
- What should I Tweet about? click here

Twitter is not only a streamlined method of communication between people, but a way for users to obtain news, ideas and information not previously available. However, finding the right users to follow (aside from your little buddies) can be a difficult task. A short user bio simply does not provide an accurate assessment of who you might want to keep up to date with.

There are thousand different ways to use Twitter to search for topics or relevant information, find users, and manage your own account. If you have not been able to try out at least one of these applications, now is your chance to catch up on more efficient technology! This is your invitation to come out of the Twitter stone age.

To be clear, there are countless applications. These are a few I have found to be some of the best.

Desktop and mobile applications: Stop going to Twitter.com!
1. Twhirl - The most popular and convenient desktop item. Similar to an IM box.
2. Tweetdeck - The most useful and efficient, includes a subject and keyword filter, separating information of interest without staring at the Twitterfeed all day.
3. Twitteriffic - The application for the iPhone and iPod Touch only - download it if you own either!

Search: Only read what actually matters to you.
1. TwitterSearch - Search by username
2. TweetScan - Search by tweet and keywords
3. Twitterverse - See tweets appear on a world map, by location
4. JustTweetIt - New, but is a self-selected submission directory organized by categories

User Information: Wonder what kind of Twitter users people are?
TweetStats - Get the rundown on peak usage times, what people Tweet about and to whom. Just enter their (or your) username.
TweetWheel - Find out which of your friends follow each other on Twitter

Make money on your account
WhatsYourTweetWorth - Find out how much your Twitter account is worth, literally.
TwittAd - Sell the background of your Twitter profile page to advertisers, or advertise on other's pages

A Complete List of Twitter applications: By platform (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.)
TwitterFan

Want to add more to the list? Thoughts on which application works best? Leave a comment or drop me an email at pauljmatson@gmail.com.