Kevin Rose, a founder of Digg, co-founder of Revision 3 and Pownce, as well as investor in Twitter, has just published his tips to getting more followers on Twitter. With over 1,167,000 followers he is the most followed user of  Twitter after Barack Obama.

So here are his tips:

1. Explain your followers what retweeting is and encourage them to retweet your links.

This will promote your username not only in Twitter, but all across social networks. Further, you can follow your retweets using the Retweetist software.

2. Fill out your Bio (adequately).

This will allow people that you do not know to learn a little about you. This field is also published on the “suggested users” Twitter page. A blank or inadequate bio will eventually discourage people from following you.

3. Post links to your Twitter profile EVERYWHERE!

Post links to your Twitter profile on Digg, LinkedIn, Facebook, in your blog, in your email signature and all your other online profiles. You can also use TwitterCounter widget for your blog. It is much like the FeedBurner counter.

4. Tweet about your passions in life and #hashtag them.

The use of #hashtags helps users to find content and thus people with similar interests more easily. If people like your content they will follow you.

5. Bring your Twitter account into the real world.

Push your Twitter profile in your presentations, podcasts, business cards…

6. Take pictures.

Photos are easily shared on Twitter. Those of the US Airways flights that landed in the Hudson were viewed over 350,000 times. Also use iPhone apps such as Tweetie or Twitterific for photos taken on your mobile.

7. Start a contest.

@jasoncalacanis promised to offer a Macbook Air if he became the most followed person on Twitter. He did not succeed in becoming number 1, but this strategy allowed him to gain several thousand of followers.

8. Follow the top Twitter users and watch what they tweet about.

Notice how they address their audience and what kind of content they tweet about. But never copy them!

9. Get involved in #hashtag chats.

On search.twitter.com you will find a list of the hottest current Twitter topics. Join the conversation and use the #hashtags in your tweets.

10. Monitor your results (of course)

The TwitterCounter tool allows you to know how many new followers you acquire every day. Quitter notifies you if someone unfollows you after and after which of your tweets.

You need to realize, though, that increase in number of followers is not a goal in itself. There are many tools, which i really do not approve of, that will generate you thousands of followers quickly, but it is actually better to have 100 followers only that are actually interested in what you tweet, than to have thousands of followers that do not even read your tweets. However, integrated in a larger strategy, the tips recommended by Kevin Rose can be really useful. Please, do not hesitate to comment about your own thoughts and experience on this subject.