When we see accounts like @FreddyAmazin or @Y_U_NOOO, we wonder if we too can become Twitter celebrities. But how does one gain followers and handle the fame that comes thereafter?

Here are 8 simple steps to get more followers and one step closer to that Verified Account status we all covet.

1. Make it Personal

Nothing irritates people more than seeing an egg as a person’s Twitter display pic. Take some time to add a profile picture, bio, and change the background. You build a greater connection with people they see that you’ve put in effort into customizing your account.

2. Respond when people talk about you

Take a leaf from @GuyKawasaki. He has a separate Twitter account allocated just to responding Tweets addressed to him or his company. People like to know that someone in your organization is listening. Replying the person on Twitter makes things more personal between you and your consumer. There’s no easier way to convert an unhappy customer than a personal apology on Twitter.

3. Retweet your followers

RT-ing on Twitter is like standing on a stage and heaping praises on a person in real life. Retweet your followers if they have something interesting or relevant to say. It’s flattering for them and also makes you seem like a person who’s listening to what they have to say.

4. Share interesting content

On top of retweeting your followers, you want them to retweet you. Retweeting has the effect of spreading your message within their Twitter network. This is one of the primary ways to gain more followers. Your tweets can be relatable, like @FirstWorldPains, funny, like @Lord_Voldermort7, or informative, like @Mashable. The most important thing is that it should add value for your followers.

5. Ask for help

If you happen to be friends with someone who already has many followers, you could request some help in recommending you to his/her followers. This method generally works in increasing traffic to your tweets. However, the thing that ultimately decides if someone will follow you is the content your churn out.

6. Ask Questions

Posting questions on your Twitter is a great way of starting a conversation with your followers. It’s a good method to determine the general opinion about certain topics and share resources that your followers may be interested in.

7. Know where your limits are

Some Twitter accounts have the tendency to overtweet and flood their followers’ timeline with ads or promotions. This is especially true if the promotion is ending. Just as no one wants to be friends with a salesman, if you keep pushing your ads, you will lose followers.

8. Automate some Tweets

Sharing all the interesting content that you come across all at once can be overwhelming for your followers. At the same time, it’s annoying to remember to share some links later. Here are where scheduled tweets come in. There are many software or web applications that allow you to plan when you want to release those tweets.

Here are some of the best applications to manage your future tweets: http://socialtimes.com/10-apps-to-schedule-future-tweets-on-twitter_b8863

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