Twitter 101: Who to Follow Pt. 2

By Megan Fingert

Welcome to Part Two of Who To Follow. Twitter has over 190 million users worldwide. It can be easy to get lost as you begin to search for people to follow. Some will look for their favorite celebrity; others will look for leaders within their field. Whatever it is you’re looking for in tweets, you’re sure to be able to find it. Whether you’re brand new to twitter or a regular Tweep, here are 10 accounts, spread over two blog posts, that I think any young professional can appreciate as both a young person and as someone looking to develop professionally. Last week, I recommended accounts to you that were global. Today’s focus is on local tweeps who are taking the #Purdue/Indy twitter community by storm! These are in no particular order.

1. Marc Muinzer, owner of BoilerCribs.com, @BoilerCribs

Why you’ll enjoy their tweets: Marc tweets about all things good. Whether he’s posting an interesting link, a funny quip about Purdue Athletics, or commenting on local property news, his tweets are always entertaining. You’ll enjoy this Purdue Alumns true Boilermaker spirit, which gives his twitter a local touch. I also love that Marc is always in conversation on twitter. He is not a silent account only pushing out information. If you mention him, he’ll probably reply back!

How it will help you develop professionally: Marc is a local, successful businessman. I think it’s nice to follow Purdue Alumni who have left their mark on our community after graduation. It really shows that your connection to Purdue is everlasting and that you can truly make an impact here whether you’re walking on the moon or providing students with affordable and comfortable apartments and homes.

2. Nick Moore, owner of HungryBoiler.com, @HungryBoiler

Why you’ll enjoy their tweets: Two words: CHEAP FOOD. What college student doesn’t love a good deal on grub? Nick is here to tell you about his amazing website HungryBoiler.com. Nick is also great about keeping up with conversation on twitter. He’s always looking out for mentions and will quickly reply to you. He links to both his website, our blog, Boiler Bites (yep, I co-author it!), and often posts the hilarious requests that some students ask of our local restaurants. For example, someone just the other day asked if we could have a local pizza joint “draw a maple leaf, a Sprite can, and a man on a moose holding an axe on the pizza box.”

How it will help you develop professionally: You have to realize that Nick isn’t some 40 year old dude who decided to bank on college students who want the ease of ordering online from their fave restaurants. Nick graduated just last May and has already achieved all kinds of success. He is a young entrepreneur who can be a real inspiration to you as a young professional. Following his tweets will teach you the value of timely customer service and how it can make your business grow.

3. Scott Wise, owner of Scotty’s Brewhouse, @Brewhouse

Why you’ll enjoy their tweets: Scotty is another dynamic Indiana business owner. Owner of Scotty’s Brewhouse, Lakehouse, and Thr3e Wise Men, Scott Wise has a knack for bringing you delicious food and drink in a great atmosphere. His tweets range in subject from funny links to updates about deals and promotion at one of his many restaurants. Scott, like the other’s, has discovered the power of engaging with his followers. Tweet at him and you’ll probably hear back!

How it will help you develop professionally: Scott is a great example of a good businessman who understands the nuances of social media marketing. By following his tweets you’ll see great examples of online marketing strategies that can take your personal brand or a companies brand to the top. He is witty, timely, and a Tweep that everyone should idolize.

4. Purdue University, our school’s Twitter account, @LifeAtPurdue

Why you’ll enjoy their tweets: Purdue’s account is friendly and helpful. If it’s burning hot in your classroom and you tweet about it, they’ll probably reply back saying they’re sending maintenance to check it out. If someone is handing out free pizza or having a callout, they’ll probably retweet or post about it. As well, they can keep you updated on sports, special events, and emergency information around Purdue’s campus. They are so friendly – I love their twitter!

How it will help you develop professionally: Staying connected to your Alma Mater is so important. Whether you’re graduating or have three more years ahead of you, this twitter account will give you the tools you need to make your Purdue experience the best that it can be. Go out, get involved, be active in your campus and be in conversation with it – even if it’s in just 140 characters.

5. Liberal Arts Career Development, @PurdueLACD

Why you’ll enjoy their tweets: Do we really have to tell you why on this one? Duh! All things career development brought to you by Lisa Lambert Snodgrass and the rest of the LACD team! Articles, job listings, and info on career development events on campus!

How it will help you develop professionally: To get that dream job and be prepared for the professional world, you have to be in the know. Our Twitter feed will constantly be posting the most current and up-to-date career information.

And while we’re at it, I’ll throw some bonus accounts your way! Follow the LACD Interns! @MeganFingert @angela_cooley @CLRipley @StephanieGrebe @Adam_Beasley and @CCCharles11 ! We will be tweeting and retweeting all kinds of interesting articles and thoughts on career development and our interests.