By this time, the investigative reporting of Business Insider and others--as seems commonplace in regards to high-profile tech firms these days--has muddied the waters about Twitter's origins, especially in terms of who technically founded it, who was shortchanged, and who came out on top to alter the story.
Odeo-us Beginnings?
What is agreed upon is that Twitter came out of a small startup called Odeo in 2006, a failing company whose podcast dreams were shattered by Apple iTunes.
Oh, Apple...
According to Mark Johnson with socialnomics.net, "When they first created the site, they were just looking for a way to send text messages on their cell phones and a way to reinvent a somewhat dying company. ... The [140-character] limit was set because 160 characters was the SMS carrier limit and they wanted to leave room for the username."
The platform took off, and as of the end of 2013, Twitter had 232 million monthly active users (and even more non-active users besides).
It Was the Best of Microblogging, It Was the Worst of Microblogging...
Arguably, Twitter's most unique characteristic is its 140-character post limit, which has changed the way microblogging is done. This has inspired some interesting impressions, including the following tweets, quoted by Socialnomics as descriptions of the platform:
What is agreed upon is that Twitter came out of a small startup called Odeo in 2006, a failing company whose podcast dreams were shattered by Apple iTunes.
Oh, Apple...
According to Mark Johnson with socialnomics.net, "When they first created the site, they were just looking for a way to send text messages on their cell phones and a way to reinvent a somewhat dying company. ... The [140-character] limit was set because 160 characters was the SMS carrier limit and they wanted to leave room for the username."
The platform took off, and as of the end of 2013, Twitter had 232 million monthly active users (and even more non-active users besides).
It Was the Best of Microblogging, It Was the Worst of Microblogging...
Arguably, Twitter's most unique characteristic is its 140-character post limit, which has changed the way microblogging is done. This has inspired some interesting impressions, including the following tweets, quoted by Socialnomics as descriptions of the platform:
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Despite its necessary foibles as an open social media platform, Twitter has become a hugely important site for news, fan followings, and business engagement alike. Let's look at some businesses that have used Twitter well.
B2B on Twitter
In light of my A3 subject, Modern Machine Shop Magazine, I thought it would be intriguing to look at successful B2B practices. Ryan Law wrote about several such companies in a blog early this year for Kapost. In it, he highlights a few different practices I found intriguing and that highlight Twitter's versatility (if the brand is willing to play creatively):
In light of my A3 subject, Modern Machine Shop Magazine, I thought it would be intriguing to look at successful B2B practices. Ryan Law wrote about several such companies in a blog early this year for Kapost. In it, he highlights a few different practices I found intriguing and that highlight Twitter's versatility (if the brand is willing to play creatively):
- Constant Contact Starts Conversations: "In addition to a constant stream of targeted, valuable content, the brand excels in engaging their audience with Q&As, opinion pieces, and conversation starters—providing a platform for their audience, as well as their brand."
- GE Keeps it Fun: "2012’s #IWanttoInvent celebrations saw GE ask their audience for crazy invention ideas, before turning their tweets over to a team of pro designers (my personal favorite: Droid Dog Walker). Their recent EmojiScience campaign continues the trend of fun over function, creating a community that’s genuinely enjoyable to be involved in."
- Maersk Makes Shipping Sexy: "Instead of sharing content in the vein of 5 Best Practices of Stock Handling, they’ve decided to populate their feed with stunning HD images of their fleet traveling to remote and beautiful corners of the world. ...[T]his bit of lateral thinking has transformed a potentially yawn-inducing Twitter feed into a unique perspective on a surprisingly interesting brand."