Do you know what Twitter Cards can do for your tweets? Seeing tweets in the stream with images and videos inspired me to learn more about these multi-media cards years ago. After all, they do generate more buzz on the Twitter feed even today. Learn how to use the Twitter card validator and how to set up your cards in this blog post.
Now, a Twitter Card allows you to attach media experiences to your tweets that link back to your own content. I love the way they look in the Twitter stream.
What Do Twitter Cards Do For You?
Twitter cards make your tweets stand out. They help you get beyond the 280 character point with images, video, etc. By making your tweets more visible in the stream, you can generate more clicks to your website or blog.
Not only that but you may generate more followers which helps your tweets spread out more on that social network.
Furthermore, these Twitter cards can increase engagement on the social network. People can reply to your video and engage with you right there.
And finally, if you are selling products you may be able to sell more products right from your Twitterfeed.
Yoast Plugin for Twitter Cards
As I was considering doing away with my Yoast plugin many years ago and doing research on these media cards I learned that Yoast was easy to integrate with the Twitter Cards. Yoast is here to stay and it made it so easy!
You will love how the images come out when you see the posts in your Twitter stream. Over the years, Twitter expanded to show the 280-character count, you may remember it used to be 140 characters only per tweet.
Listen to the most recent episode of my podcast: Sweet Tweets of Summer with Lisa Sicard, Twitter for Biz Part 2 https://t.co/UWrZEiF7Ot with @Lisapatb and a sweet @MadalynSklar tale too! #TwitterTips
— Sue-Ann Bubacz (@SueAnnBubacz) October 26, 2019
After all, they do generate more buzz on the Twitter feed. #Twittertips
Click To Tweet
How Can You Get Your Twitter Cards?
First, you must register via Twitter and they must grant you permission. It took several days for mine to come through. You will receive an email from Twitter that you have been approved or not.
Then you must follow the instructions on how to code for the Twitter cards which can be quite technical. You can see the meta tags you would need to add.
These cards can be set up in these 4 easy steps below!
How To Use The Twitter Card Validator
Ready to get started with Cards? Here are the 4 steps below from Twitter:
- Choose a card type to implement.
- Add the correct meta tags to the page.
- Run the URL through the Twitter card validator tool to test.
- After testing in the validator or approval of your Player Card, Tweet the URL and see the Card appear below your Tweet in the details view.
If everything works correctly, the Twitter card preview will show you how your card will appear in your Twitter feed.
Furthermore, you will see the information on the type of card, the number of meta tags, and a message of the card loading successfully. If not you will receive an error message.
Yoast Made Installing the Cards Easy!
Luckily I have the Yoast SEO plugin and it was super easy. Check off one box and add your Twitter username. That’s it!
Otherwise, you must add special coding to your site. That’s why I did not apply immediately. I knew it would not be simple until I read about Yoast’s easy settings for Twitter Cards.
If you are not sure about Yoast you can follow the developer Joost de Valk on Twitter. If I can learn how to use Yoast I think you can too. However, it’s not the easiest plugin to learn. There are many settings within it.
Getting strangers to buy something on your site involves a lot around trust. Showing that you are a genuine person that has put their heart and soul into a product will ensure that you get a repeat customer, but what else can you do? 🤔 Here’s a list! 👇🏼 https://t.co/nKajUl2Iq1
— Yoast (@yoast) March 10, 2022
Luckily I have the Yoast SEO plugin and it was super easy. Check off one box and add your Twitter username. That's it! #yoast #Twittercards
Click To Tweet
Different Types of Twitter Cards
Summary Cards
The Twitter summary card can be used for many kinds of web content, from blog posts and news articles to products and restaurants.
It is designed to give the reader a preview of the content before clicking through to your website. There are not many today using this format as most seem to prefer using the large image Twitter card to show off their blog posts and web content.
Data-driven #marketing. Is there any other kind in today’s business environment? Today’s marketers know they need to make fact-based #strategic decisions about #customers, #markets, and #products. #smartbusiness https://t.co/njw0IeWVjX
— VisionEdge Marketing | #smartbusiness (@VisionEdgeMktg) March 10, 2022
Large Image Summary Cards
The Twitter summary card with a large image features a large, full-width prominent image alongside a tweet.
This Twitter card is designed to give the reader a rich photo experience, and clicking on the image brings the user to your website.
13 Best Sites To Make Money Online Writing Reviews https://t.co/vENnZydmCQ pic.twitter.com/5jfOTwr5c9
— Enstine Muki (@enstinemuki) March 10, 2022
Player Card
Video and audio clips have a special place on the Twitter platform thanks to the Player Card. By implementing a few HTML meta tags to your website and following the Twitter Developer Policy, you can deliver your rich media to Twitter users across the globe.
You can listen to the podcast below right on the Twitter stream with the player Twitter card.
While it seems like online gurus have it all figured out, Chrissie says that since every business is so unique, no cookie-cutter advice will EVER work for every single business.
Learn more: https://t.co/UJ7QrQ7Psy pic.twitter.com/XobIQxmoQP
— Ruthie Bowles (@annaruthus) March 10, 2022
App Card
The App Card is a great way to represent mobile applications on Twitter and to drive installs. Twitter designed the App Card to allow for a name, description, and icon, and also to highlight attributes such as the rating and the price.
However, Twitter auto-creates App Cards for Tweets which contain a link to either the App Store or Google Play. This means that you can create an App Card experience just by sharing links directly to the download page for your own application.
This Twitter card type is currently available on the twitter.com website, as well as iOS and Android mobile clients. It is not available on the mobile web.
Do you need all of the above Twitter cards? No, you can pick and choose which ones are best for your and your business.
More Examples of Using Cards for Tweets
A local RE/MAX office uses their Twitter cards for YouTube right in the Twitter stream. I love sharing YouTube to Twitter because you can watch them in the stream. Don’t try this with Facebook because it will not work!
RE/MAX Agents Earn More – Learn How and How You Can Too! https://t.co/dtVZZFukRM #rirealestate #remaxagents
— RE/MAX Preferred (@REMAXNorthernRI) March 3, 2022
In Conclusion of Twitter Cards
With over 500 million tweets going out daily in the Twitter stream, make sure your tweets are noticeable with the right Twitter card today. Don’t forget to add your hashtags to these tweets as well to gain more reach.
A picture paints a thousand words. – Frederick R. Barnard
Have you seen some great uses of Twitter Cards? I’d love to hear of some examples that you have come across on the social network.
Now, have you set up a Twitter Card, and/or are you using the Twitter Card validator for your blog or website? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
Do more with your Twitter account with Agorapulse, not just posting but listening and engaging.
