Twitter is rolling out its new layout and it's giving brands a chance to perform a quick social media facelift. The platform is a popular way for brands to reach out and engage their audiences, offering followers everything from customer service to exclusive content and deals.
But despite programs like Sponsored Tweets, the platform still struggles to become profitable. Twitter's new layout gives brands an opportunity to reach their audiences with a multimedia experience that goes beyond just 140 characters; it also gives Twitter an opening to engage more brands.
One of the features many users love about Twitter can also be one of its drawbacks: its impermanence. A brand with an active timeline might also see tweets disappear from visibility quickly. Use sticky tweets to make announcements, offer time-sensitive content and keep important information at the top of a timeline.
Twitter's newest features include up to four images in a single tweet. This opens a world of possibilities for brands: using photos to tell a short story or offering previews of upcoming products and services. Brands can also tweet crowdsourced photos from followers, encouraging them to share images that represent the brand best.
The tagging feature allows users to tag up to 10 people in a single tweet. This allows brands to carry on conversations with more than one follower at a time, and to aim content specifically at followers. Brands looking to target particular influencers can use this feature to encourage content sharing with target audiences.
Much has been made about Twitter’s new Facebookish layout, but the large header photo can serve a host of purposes for brands. Post a single, bold image to establish your brand’s voice. Or, switch photos weekly or even daily to showcase new images that represent your brand.
Tweets that are shared often now get more page real estate and appear larger on a Twitter account’s timeline. Brands looking to attract more retweets and keep users on their pages need to optimize their tweets for maximum tweetability.
But how? Pay attention to what your followers are tweeting about, and use those keywords, phrases, and images in your own tweets. Tweets shared often are bigger—both figuratively and literally.
Twitter’s not done remaking itself—the platform plans to drop hashtags and replies in the future—and these latest changes make it easier for brands to offer more content to their followers. These updates could do more than break down barriers between users and brands on Twitter. They could also help the platform partner with brands and operate in the black. And that might be a win-win for brands and for Twitter.
