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Twitter is being acquired. And according to this article, this time the news comes from trust-worthy source.

This time, amidst the various suitors is Salesforce,a cloud services provider for the enterprise. Google and Microsoft are also among the probable buyers list.

In an article, which I wrote last year, I elaborated as to why I think some big search Engine, aka Google will buy Twitter. But this time with SalesForce in the picture, one can assume it to be a very interested buyer as well.

While #tags synonymous with twitter, its real time search capabilities suit Google. The twitter, if seen from a very restricted perspective seems to be a good add on to Salesforce as well. But that way Twitter would have to be limited to a marketing tool for analytics gathering. And its current virtue of being a consumer driver (common Joe) driven platform will or eventually be shed down. A scenario which will negate salesforce's any chances of making money.

The final thing which will decide the acquisition, will of course be money. I don't think money will be factor, as Twitter will be not solicit much money, to the tune of LinkedIn's (Microsoft purchased LinkedIn for 26 Billion USD). I think Google will acquire it.

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Google , SalesForce , Twitter

Twitter's acquisition again in news | Google or SalesForce

Anil Singh Monday, September 26, 2016

Will you create polls on your tweets, if Twitter allows you to?

I'm asking this question as Twitter is working to allow Twitter users add quick polls to their tweets.

The Twitter Surveys or Twitter polls are presently being tested on Twitter mobile app and website only. That's the Twitter desktop applications like TweetDeck are not showing them at present.

For who the Twitter Poll feature is for?

With 316 million monthly active users, it's difficult to understand how Twitter wants to benefit from the Twitter Polls. That too when every Twitter user will have the ability create a poll in his/her tweet.

I'm saying this, as a 140 character tweet along with a hashtag in itself is a survey. With one missing feature though: A hashtag can show whether it's trending or not; but it doesn't tell what people opine when they used the trending hashtag. I think, Twitter rolled out Twitter native polls, just to rectify this deficiency. But has it taken the right way, is still questionable.

I think, rolling Twitter polls will weaken the Tweets and trending topics. As people will take the shorter route to make an opinion. And the shorter route will be the survey results.

Allow me to assume that Twitter is testing native polls feature just to get lump sum money from biggest of customers -- the Governments and Brands, who rely on polls to create a definite perception.

As far as Governments are concerned, then it can be assumed that they will use the Twitter Polls feature to create a pro-Government opinion; and that makes sense, as on political issues people don't take a second to register their slant; and an online poll suits this behavior as well. In addition, Governments live from one election to the other; hence even if an opinion can't be prolonged for years; a political party will not be much concerned.

But can brands benefit from the polls the same way? I think no. As unlike Governments they will be affected by the commercial logic. That's even after paying big money to Twitter to get the brand surge; they will not be able to get the results. That apart, they have to think about controlling perception both in short and long run.

On the hindsight, the ability of Twitter to create opinions or topple Governments, comes from the fact that Twitter users believe that their free will cannot be over-ridden by other means. The moment they start feeling that Governments, power groups and brands are directly paying Twitter to create an opinion; then they will lose the faith.

That's why I don't think, rolling out polls on an online platform, which is already an opinion maker, is a very good step. It will weaken the very foundation -- the Tweets.

If Twitter is rolling out polls to make its platform Government-friendly or brands-friendly, then it should think twice; as it doesn't gel well with what Twitter is known for -- create opinions.

But unfortunately Twitter plans to do exactly that. As according to some reports, the accessibility to embed these polls will remain with Twitter employees and certain verified profiles including those in media and sports. This means, Twitter doesn't want various websites or blogs (sometimes more honest voices online) to share a Twitter poll there. Another thing which points to Twitter's intent to create opinions in black and white through Polls, is the very structure of the Poll. The Twitter polls which many Twitter users are creating right now are displaying a simple poll structure, where you're presented with two options to choose from. Such polls particularly suit Governments as they create a clear boundary even on those topics where people hold an array of opinions.

What else is Twitter Testing these days?

Twitter us working on redesigning its “Follow” and “Tweet” buttons, which will be rolled next month. The follow button will remove the count. A Good move. As this will increase the value of the Tweet. Right now, the follower count of a particular Twitter user, also pushes the people to decide whether to re-tweet or not.

But, Don't you think Twitter Native Polls and Follow button will no follower count, contradict each other?

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Twitter , twitter native polls , Twitter polls , Twitter surveys

Twitter Native Polls Or Twitter Surveys will weaken the Tweets

Anil Singh Sunday, September 27, 2015

As you already know, Jack Dorsey is back at Twitter. The current Chief Executive Officer Dick Costello, who was brought in to bring money to Twitter, will leave on July 1; and Jack Dorsey, the co-founder of Twitter has been made the interim CEO. Thus what began with Dorsey (Jack Dorsey, Evan Williams, Dick Costello) is ending with Dorsey. Or in other words, what began with the founder is ending with the founder. Alright, Evan Williams the co-founder of Twitter may had held the CEO position after Dorsey, but the founder is at the helm again. This means that money-wise Twitter never managed to perform much.Hence, it's like: We need a professional to earn money; oh nothing is working even after the change, lets bring the founder again, may be that way we can make money(the other way).

Actually, Twitter has very little virtue in it to make big money. It may still have incredible value as one of the premier social media properties, but I don't see any significant way by which it can make enough money to make its shareholders happy. And the answer to it is in the engagement and the number of active users on Twitter. Who will sit all day on Twitter monitoring one's timeline? Twitter may be a great service for spreading World news fast and in real time; but is it good for engaging users. That apart, even those social interactions which take place on Twitter are hard to monitor. The very format of Twitter makes it difficult to put money making content in front of people's eyeballs. The primary reason for it is the absence of search aspect to Twitter. How will Twitter make money when people don't search some information which can be indirectly or directly linked to some product.

That's why ever since the social media micro-blogging site went public in 2013, it has produced less than desired results for shareholders, including tepid user growth and earnings.

Some experts online are speculating sale of Twitter, so that it keeps running as a useful part of some bigger company. I seriously doubt even this option. As in that case the buyer should be a search Giant, such as Google or Microsoft; else the very meaning of 'Trending on Twitter' will be lost. After all one needs a search engine to broadcast to the World, what's trending on Twitter.

I don't think any other giant with Trash troves will buy Twitter (current valuation 33 billion $) to simply understand consumer behavior (analytics). For such studies, only millions are spent.

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Twitter

Twitter's valuation 2015 and Real Earnings

Anil Singh Saturday, June 13, 2015

Simply by replying to the Tweet with #AmazonCart Hashtag.

Whenever you see a Tweet with some Amazon Product link , a product which you plan to buy later on. Simply, reply to the tweet #AmazonCart (#AmazonBasket in the UK) to place it in your cart.

This is Amazon's way of helping you buy Amazon products, without leaving Twitter.

To start with, you need to connect your Twitter and Amazon accounts from your social settings page (you can also opt out). Once done, when an Amazon product link shows up on your Twitter timeline , you just need to reply with #AmazonCart (#AmazonBasket in the UK) to place it in your cart. It's not quite an impulse buy, as you'll need to enter your Amazon account to complete the purchase.

The #AmazonCart is currently launched for the US and UK. As hashtag will promote Amazon Products too, hence lets be assured that the feature will be launched for other parts of the World as well.

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#AmazonCart , amazon Cart , Amazon products , Twitter

How To Add Products To your Amazon Cart directly from Twitter

Anil Singh Monday, May 5, 2014

Twitter acquires Data Analytics firm Gnip. What Gnip's acquisition means to Marketers , Bloggers and Businesses.

Twitter has bought the data analytics company Gnip. The Colorado, USA based Gnip analyzes tweets to offer valuable insights on various metrics to the advertisers or other customers (bloggers, online marketers and marketers).

How Big is Gnip ?

Gnip analyses more than 500 million tweets its users publish, analyzes them ; and then offers the derived and inferred information in the palatable forms such as trends , insights projections etcs.

On the acquisition , Jana Messerschmidt, vice president of Twitter's Global Business Development & Platform, said,

"We want to make our data even more accessible, and the best way to do that is to work directly with our customers to get a better understanding of their needs,"

On the acquisition, the Colorado-based Gnip's CEO Chris Moody said,

"the deal will allow the company to provide broader, more deeper social data. This acquisition signals clear recognition that investments in social data are healthier than ever,"

What Gnip's acquisition means to Marketers , Bloggers and Businesses ?

Just like Facebook, Twitter is also drawing a line between its Free users and its Paying users. Paying users are those users who are paying for Sponsored Tweets or Post Boosts, Ads (in the case of Facebook). The acquisition of Gnip means that the Twitter analytics , the social network is offering to its paying users will become more insightful. The segregation may look partial to Free users; but this is how Twitter and Facebook can earn money. After all, Free users are using these social networks as consumers of a free service. That's why it's alright if they don't get analytical insights. Call it an irony, those companies which depend on User Generated Content (such as Facebook and Twitter) for their growth , have to keep cutting free services to their Free users. ---------

Acquisitions , Analytics , Data , Gnip , Twitter

Twitter Data Analytics enhanced with Gnip Aquisition

Anil Singh Wednesday, April 16, 2014

A day ago, we informed you about Twitter planning to roll out Tweet views feature for ordinary Twitter users (you will be shown the number of views your tweet received). Now Twitter is offering something else too. This time for the Twitter app for iPhone users.

Twitter has announced a few new features for Twitter iPhone app today.

Users with the latest update to the Twitter for iPhone app will soon have the ability to select up to four photos at a time to upload when composing a tweet. These photos will be displayed as a collage on the tweet’s detail screen. Yes, Twitter is allowing a Twitter user on iPhone to upload multiple photos (up to 4 photos to a tweet). Up to now, a user can add just one photo to a tweet. Don't worry, the feature will sooner than later, will be rolled out for Twitter users on PCs.

Along with the multi-photo support, iPhone Twitter app users will now be able to tag other people in their photos. A similar feature is already available on Facebook; where a Facebook user can tag a photograph with the names of his Facebook friends. With Twitter allowing photo tagging, it's allowing Twitter users to tell the world “who’s in these photos?”. The “who’s in these photos?” button allows a user to add the username of other people in the picture. The good thing is, the Photo tags won’t count for the characters in the body of the tweet, allowing user to use full 140 characters even after loading the photo with tags.

How you can use this feature to your advantage? Well, you can tag a photo with the Twitter username tags of your most ardent Twitter followers, and who knows your tweet can see more retweets.

Availability of the New Twitter photo tagging and multiple photo uploads per tweet features:

Both features are being rolled out to users gradually. To be able to use the new features, all you have to do is update your Twitter app on iPhone.

Twitter for iPhone is a free download on the iOS App Store.

Are Social networks moving towards homogeneity ?

At the time of their launch , every social network begins with some USP , such as Real time news for Twitter or Like button for Facebook; but as the time passes by, they start implementing each other's features. Who would have thought photo tagging will come to Twitter!

This brings us to a question: Are Social networks moving towards homogeneity ? That's no matter how a social network begins, it has to implement the USPs of rival social networks in order to remain competitive?

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collage , multiple photo uploads , photo tagging , Social networks , Twitter

Twitter allows photo tagging, multiple photo uploads per tweet for iPhone users

Anil Singh Thursday, March 27, 2014

A study conducted by the University of Chicago Booth School of Business suggests that social media is more addictive than sleep and sex.

For the study, out of the 205 participants that were surveyed, a majority appeared to find social media more addictive than sleep and sex.

Do you agree? ---------

Facebook , sex , Sleep , Social Media , Twitter

Social media more addictive than Sleep and Sex

Anil Singh

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