Twitter is only as good as the people you follow. Literally. If you follow no one then Twitter is absolutely pointless, and you'll be presented with a wall of nothing every time you log in. If you follow people with nothing interesting to say, Twitter is dull and dreary.

The answer, my dear Twitterati, is to follow interesting accounts in thriving Twitter communities based on your interests. Whether they be individuals with insights to impart, brands with bags of bonuses, or any other kind of intriguing accounts which tweet things you'll actually be interested in reading. As usual, we are here to help.

20 Essential Twitter Accounts

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We have compiled a list of 20 Twitter accounts we strongly suggest you follow. Between them they offer a mix of frivolous fun and interesting insights, all of which will interest you to varying degrees.

We have an entrepreneur in the form of Richard Branson, a geek god in the form of Bill Gates, a Trek legend in the form of George Takei, and plenty of other sources of useful and/or ridiculous social media updates.

Richard Branson @richardbranson

We are human beings not human doings – let’s start acting like it & take the time simply to be http://t.co/i4HAnApQxp pic.twitter.com/3qSXA4D1qY

— Richard Branson (@richardbranson) February 10, 2015

As rich people go, Branson is pretty down to Earth. His tweets are likely to inspire you to better yourself and the world around you.

Beautiful Pictures @BEAUTIFULPICS

Just your average sunset in #Hawaii. pic.twitter.com/gY2IEIsFVE

— Beautiful Pictures (@BEAUTIFULPlCS) February 10, 2015

With nothing but an endless succession of beautiful shots, this account proves the old adage that "a picture is worth a thousand words."

R.L. Ripples @TweetsofOld

Another child shoots himself with a pistol. A revolver is a nice toy for children, and parents should always have a supply on hand. KY1889

— R.L. Ripples (@TweetsofOld) February 9, 2015

Local newspapers often show the color of life. This Twitter account uses that fact to reveal life as it was around 100 years ago.

ClickHole @ClickHole

This Photographer Revealed The Human Side Of Our Enemies And We Hate Him For It http://t.co/NPrpEFLJlg pic.twitter.com/NHlc4XMKRg

— ClickHole (@ClickHole) February 10, 2015

The Twitter account of Clickhole, a website dedicated to satirizing sites like Buzzfeed and Upworthy, which rely on the virality of their content for traffic.

Brands Saying Bae @BrandsSayingBae

Great job. Without "bae" I doubt this tweet gets that single favorite. pic.twitter.com/GDwTCmwM2h

— Brands Saying Bae (@BrandsSayingBae) February 4, 2015

Brands, or at least the people running their social media efforts, think they're down with the kids. This Twitter accounts tracks this nonsense.

Modern Seinfeld @SeinfeldToday

Kramer pitches an insane ad to McDonald’s. “Sure everyone loves your burgers but what if you made it seem like your burgers loved everyone?"

— Modern Seinfeld (@SeinfeldToday) January 12, 2015

Despite having been off the air for many years, Seinfeld remains a highly watchable show. If only they were making more episodes…

Boring Tweeter @b0ringtweets

I've just opened a door, walked into a different room and then shut the door behind me. What a time to be alive.

— Boring Tweeter (@b0ringtweets) February 4, 2015

Some people on Twitter are extremely boring. Don't follow them, but do follow this account, which satirizes those dullards.

Perspective Pictures @Perspective_pic

Why do I relate to these clouds pic.twitter.com/TpnhVsMVwz

— Perspective Pictures (@Perspective_pic) February 6, 2015

Looking at the world from a different angle can put a whole new perspective on things. As this Twitter account sets out to prove.

Snopes.com @snopes

No, #Facebook isn't giving away free cars. Sorry. http://t.co/l9s4Qc2EKJ pic.twitter.com/l0PLcBTql0

— snopes.com (@snopes) February 8, 2015

The Twitter account of Snopes, the website which looks past the headlines and seeks the truth. Which is more essential than ever in these days when everything is shared online.

KimKierkegaardashian @KimKierkegaard

Use one tenth of the power which is granted to you, use it to the utmost. Be the hottest mom in the entire world.

— KimKierkegaardashian (@KimKierkegaard) February 10, 2015

What do you get when you cross the philosophy of Søren Kierkegaard with the meandering musings of Kim Kardashian? This beautiful Twitter mashup, of course.

You Had One Job @_youhadonejob

Huh? pic.twitter.com/7bXdainOC8

— You had one job (@_youhadonejob) February 10, 2015

Not everybody is blessed with that attention to detail which separates the good from the great. This Twitter account collects examples of those who fail. Hard.

Bill Gates @BillGates

This trip enriched my life. Sign up if you’re interested in becoming a global citizen: http://t.co/Eq4oMfcx4g pic.twitter.com/ulK1asJWRo

— Bill Gates (@BillGates) February 3, 2015

Bill Gates is probably the biggest geek in the world. He's also the richest man in the world, and a generous philanthropist. Why wouldn't you want to follow him?!

Earth Pics @EarthPicturz

Aurora filled sky above a lake in #Alaska. pic.twitter.com/cDRqifcbah

— Earth Pics (@EarthPicturz) February 10, 2015

We often forget to look around us at the majesty of the planet we all call home. This Twitter account should remind everybody that Earth is rather wonderful.

Saved You A Click @SavedYouAClick

People are suckers for emotion. RT @FastCoDesign: These scientists studied why Internet stories go viral. You won't believe what they found:

— Saved You A Click (@SavedYouAClick) February 6, 2015

Clickbait is very prevalent on the Web right now, and nowhere more so than Twitter. This account seeks to save you from clickbait by revealing the true nature of articles.

Grammar Police @_grammar_

It was possible for @TaurusIsMagic to have posted “person was better [than] you…” instead. ‘Then’ doesn't compare; ‘than’ does.

— Grammar Police (@_grammar_) February 10, 2015

You may not think the odd typo here and there matters, but it does. Very much so. Which is why I for one am pleased the Grammar Police are now patrolling Twitter.

God @TheTweetOfGod

On this World Cancer Day, please take a moment to reflect on what a cruel bastard I am.

— God (@TheTweetOfGod) February 4, 2015

Yep, that's right, God is on Twitter. He's funny too, and not half as conservative as you might have expected.

Guy Kawasaki @GuyKawasaki

Relationships, engagement and authenticity are what put smiles on employee faces. pic.twitter.com/p0p8jzuCJf

— Guy Kawasaki (@GuyKawasaki) February 10, 2015

This former Apple evangelist is now a social media monster. And the content he pushes out will both entertain and enlighten.

Disalmanac @Disalmanac

Today in 1863, the fire extinguisher was patented. Before this, fires were put out by encouraging them to get in touch with their feelings.

— Disalmanac (@Disalmanac) February 10, 2015

These aren't real facts, but they look so authentic you'll be able to persuade some people they are by retweeting them. Trolling? Me? Never.

George Takei @GeorgeTakei

Across the Pond, the struggle is just as real. pic.twitter.com/Y2QS0vrsaH

— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) February 9, 2015

George Takei was once Mr. Sulu on Star Trek. But now he's a social media maven with millions of followers. Oh my!

MakeUseOf @MakeUseOf

What #Twitter Accounts Should Everybody Follow? [#WeAskYou] http://t.co/7OOeI8yOif pic.twitter.com/u268WqUxTQ

— MakeUseOf (@MakeUseOf) February 5, 2015

Last but not least we have the Twitter account of the very website you're reading right now. Following it ensures you'll never miss another article. Our Twitter account is also a life hack resource. What more could you possibly want?!

Continue the Conversation

We think this list represents a great selection of Twitter accounts everybody should follow, whether they're a veteran or a n00b (though if you're the latter, here's a little help making sense of things). You may not appreciate all of them, but the beauty of Twitter is how quick and easy it is to follow and unfollow people. So why not give these particular accounts a try and see if their tweets appeal to your personal sensibilities?

Please continue the conversation in the comments section below, as, although a good number of our readers took part in the original discussion, there is always room for more opinions. Do you agree with the accounts selected for the list? If not, then please add your own suggestions to the conversation happening below. Remember, there are no right or wrong answers here, just opinions.

For better use of Twitter on the go, check out the best Twitter apps for Android, as well as these Twitter tools.

A Debt of Gratitude

In order to compile this list of essential Twitter accounts everybody needs to follow, we received help from the MakeUseOf community. As always, our readers proved to be an invaluable part of the site you’re reading right now.

The readers we need to thank took the time to answer the question, What Twitter Accounts Should Everybody Follow?, and their responses helped us compile this article. Noteworthy comments include those from MerryMarjie, Pamela, and our own Ben S.

We also recommend following these brands on social media.

Image Credits: mkhmarketing and internetcases. All via Flickr.