A new feature has materialised on everyone’s second favourite social media portal, Twitter. A golden coloured ‘Promoted’ button has appeared at the bottom of the trending topics list. For many, this will signal a real movement towards monetising what is a hugely popular site.
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It is tempting to be rather cynical about these revenue-generating tactics, but it is worth noting that Promoted items are required to be trending in the first place – therefore, Twitter might claim, the integrity of the site’s user generated ethos is secure. Social media people have to make a living too, though - and we might well agree. Just how Twitter utilises Promoted trends (or how colossal U.S. animation firms use it) is outlined in the ‘FAQs on Promoted Tweets’ page.
Clicking on the Promoted button takes you to a list of Tweets about Toy Story 3; topped by the Promoted Tweet. That uppermost Tweet has another inviting, golden tab labelled ‘Promoted by Pixar’, which takes you to the FAQ section on Promoted Tweets.
Twitter has finally, it seems, worked out how to make some hard cash from its hugely popular site, following in the footsteps of Facebook – albeit in a rather less Big Brother like fashion. Disney’s Pixar looks set to be the pioneers of this new marketing method – harnessing the currents of public interest in what is an already popular franchise. Indeed, Disney look set to make a mint – and so do Twitter.
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