Even though Twitter might seem like it’s for a niche crowd and doesn’t look like it would be able to gain mainstream popularity, Twitter is more popular than ever. Who would have ever thought that a social network that limited each of its posts to 140 characters could explode the way that it has?
Not only is Twitter responsible for the adaptation of the hashtag into everyday life, the network now boasts at least half a billion users. Twitter has become a platform for just about everything. Businesses use it for customer service, celebrities use it for just about everything including having Twitter feuds, and the average Joe uses it as a way to socialize with their friends and family.
The popularity of Twitter has never been more apparent as it was during the 86th annual Academy Awards. Host Ellen DeGeneres organized a selfie that included quite a few of the U.S’s most popular celebrities. Now deemed “the selfie heard round the world,” Ellen’s photo was re-tweeted over 3 million times. This Mashable article has a 50 second animation that shows all of the activity on Twitter during the awards show, from all around the world.
Here are a few more uses for Twitter, the social network that’s on fire right now:
- Getting the news – most major news outlets have a presence on Twitter. Following them is a great way to get headlines quickly, without much of the filler that major news websites might have.
- Crowdsourcing – Twitter does have rules about raising money on their platform, but using Twitter can be a quick way to get a link out to your crowd-funded project.
- Storytelling – have a story that you want to get out into cyberspace? Write it out on Twitter, 140 characters at a time. You’ll get your followers to come back to your Tweets by getting them hooked on a story that they want to hear.
- Talking to companies – tons of companies, big and small, have a presence on Twitter. Most of us have learned that social media is a quick way to get a response to a customer service problem or issue. You can also tweet compliments or funny anecdotes to companies. You might be surprised how often you get a response.
- Follow people in your industry – using Twitter is a great way to follow experts in your field and learn more about what they do.
These are just a few ways on how you can use Twitter. So what are you waiting for? Join Twitter now and take advantage of all it has to offer.
