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.