I use TweetDeck which is a great software that makes using Twitter a lot easier. The multi column look is very helpful and needed to keep track of what is going on in your part of the Twitter stream. I use four columns:
• All that I follow
• Responses
• Direct Messages
• my Twitter Friends

The fourth column, Twitter Friends, is a group that I have created in Tweetdeck. It shows those I have selected to follow more closely, their tweets turns up here and is easier to find.

Learn more about How to use TweetDeck.