Twitter in many ways reminds me of Google, and I’m not talking about the way that using it to post 140 character updates has become a verb in the same fashion that “to Google” sometimes refers to searching. It’s more so how Twitter has become a way of life for many, in the same way that Googling has, but for communication and connecting instead of querying.
This puts Twitter in a unique position of building its following and usage in an organic and grassroots type fashion, especially since their users become evangelists for their service … “Connect to me!” “Follow Me On Twitter!” “Become my friend!”
Being in such a position also lets Twitter properly forecast its valuation to the point where they can apparently continue to grow, and not have to rush into quick monetization tactics which could stunt growth or their credibility.
According to Twitter co-founder Biz Stone (who I always get mixed up with Stone Phillips), Twitter will not be adding Twitter powered advertisements or Sponsored Tweets just yet, not in 2009 at least as covered in Reuters :
“Any kind of approach toward advertising is going to be awhile … We’re not thinking about that just yet,” Stone said at the 140: Twitter Conference in Los Angeles.
Twitter does however plan to add analytics and reporting for its premier business users this year, as analytics show a return on investment, which in turn shows numbers and proof that a marketing campaign is working :
Stone said Twitter aims to offer premium features for commercial account users this year.
“We wanted to show people that we’re here to stay and here we are making money,” Stone said.
Those features, which could debut in test form, are envisioned as for-pay features and potentially could include “light analytics” tools that allow commercial users to gather data on their followers, he said.
I feel that this is the first step in many of launching TwitterAds since if commercial users are already plugged into their analytics and tracking system, this environment would make for the perfect beta testing ground of a Twitter advertising program. Thoughts?
I am very curious the next twitter in 2010. May it’s too difference if this would come up. I love twitter and i always update about that and post some beautiful and unfortunate experienced in my life.
I think advertising will take away from the expereince of twitter.
I like that I can now go on anyones page and not have to see an ad, either for something I am interested or not interested in, on the sides of my page or anyone elses page. Which the add is usually based on what I have typed in my bio of whatever networking tool I use.
I LIKE SEEING MY BACKGROUND!
if twitter starts charging money for commercial accounts , iguess many would discontinue accessing their accounts. And that could be an added advantage for yahoo meme if they continue to offer the service at free of cost.
I knew it was a matter of time..
It is a horrible idea for twitter to start having ads. It will take away from the site. I like being able to see people’s backgrounds without ads up and down the sides. it would realy be nice if they kept it that way. But I’m sure it will happen sooner or later.
I think it would be a valuable service – businesses are anxious for the analytic information. The problem with ads is unless they’re in the stream, people on third party apps won’t see them. If they are in the stream, many will treat them as spam.
I use the mobile version of twitter and i’m used to seeing ads on my wapsites, so maybe they could just add one on each page. Wouldn’t make much difference
I like twitter too and I think that when a company reaches a certain size there’s no avoiding the fact that if you’re seeing millions of page views per day that you’re going to see the potential to find ways to capitalize on such traffic volume. At the end of the day websites with such traffic volume are about business and making money.