Read on Twitter
Nothing I’ve written to date has generated as much passion as yesterday’s piece on how to fix Twitter.
We all love the product, want more from it, and want to see the company perform as well as it should.
15 ideas for @jack to make $TWTR as loved as @twitter:
We all love the product, want more from it, and want to see the company perform as well as it should.
15 ideas for @jack to make $TWTR as loved as @twitter:
1. Don’t mess with the feed.
Despite the trolls and bots and outrage Twitter, so many people get so much value from the conversations that take place in the Twitter feed.
My Weekly Screen Time Report is proof that my suggestions come from a place of love. (& that I need a life)
Despite the trolls and bots and outrage Twitter, so many people get so much value from the conversations that take place in the Twitter feed.
My Weekly Screen Time Report is proof that my suggestions come from a place of love. (& that I need a life)
2. Recognize that Twitter is more than a social network; it’s also a pro network.
I got good pushback on the idea that Twitter thinks it’s Facebook but is really LinkedIn. For some, it’s passive & fun. Others rely on it to grow their business.
Start focusing more on the latter.
I got good pushback on the idea that Twitter thinks it’s Facebook but is really LinkedIn. For some, it’s passive & fun. Others rely on it to grow their business.
Start focusing more on the latter.
4. Focusing more on a pro, subscription product means less time chasing engagement.
Social networks need engagement, which @paulg points out leads to toxicity.
Pro networks focus on delivering value to power users - in Twitter’s case, the 10% Creators who send 80% of tweets. https://twitter.com/paulg/status/1281824854010929154
Social networks need engagement, which @paulg points out leads to toxicity.
Pro networks focus on delivering value to power users - in Twitter’s case, the 10% Creators who send 80% of tweets. https://twitter.com/paulg/status/1281824854010929154
5. Understand the Job to Be Done for Creators.
What is Twitter’s JTBD for Creators? “I need to get my ideas in front of people.”
That means tools & products that allow Twitter to capture more value that it creates and currently gives away for free. https://hbr.org/2016/09/know-your-customers-jobs-to-be-done
What is Twitter’s JTBD for Creators? “I need to get my ideas in front of people.”
That means tools & products that allow Twitter to capture more value that it creates and currently gives away for free. https://hbr.org/2016/09/know-your-customers-jobs-to-be-done
6. Get closer to the Bill Gates Line.
Per @benthompson, BGL is when the value to everyone on a platform exceeds value to the platform.
Twitter is so far above the BGL that it’s closer to another Bill Gates Line - the world-record $35 billion that Gates has given away.
Per @benthompson, BGL is when the value to everyone on a platform exceeds value to the platform.
Twitter is so far above the BGL that it’s closer to another Bill Gates Line - the world-record $35 billion that Gates has given away.
7. Build the back rooms, where business gets done, behind the town hall.
@Post_Market points out that Twitter is the town hall, an incredible walled garden in which all of us spend so much time.
We’ll pay for tools to help us build in the back rooms. https://twitter.com/post_market/status/1281612545938329600
@Post_Market points out that Twitter is the town hall, an incredible walled garden in which all of us spend so much time.
We’ll pay for tools to help us build in the back rooms. https://twitter.com/post_market/status/1281612545938329600
8. Verify Identity and Allow Filtering by Verified
People pointed out that verified people can actually filter by verified, but Twitter needs to verify a lot more people, as @drorpoleg pointed out. Then, people can choose who to engage with. This is table stakes.
People pointed out that verified people can actually filter by verified, but Twitter needs to verify a lot more people, as @drorpoleg pointed out. Then, people can choose who to engage with. This is table stakes.
9. Build Twitter+, a subscription product for creators.
Here are 6 feature ideas, from @Marc_it @cm @nikillinit and me.
This is an immediate $1 billion opportunity (30% of current revenue).
Here are 6 feature ideas, from @Marc_it @cm @nikillinit and me.
This is an immediate $1 billion opportunity (30% of current revenue).
10. Build, Buy, or Partner on Products for Creating, Sharing, and Monetizing Ideas.
Twitter Create should be the place that they go to build subscription businesses. Don’t buy Substack, build it. Built podcasts (per @AlexCartaz) or partner with Spotify. + other options: ($2bn)
Twitter Create should be the place that they go to build subscription businesses. Don’t buy Substack, build it. Built podcasts (per @AlexCartaz) or partner with Spotify. + other options: ($2bn)
11. Make Profiles Incredible Places to Hang Out.
Twitter Profiles are the most underdeveloped RE on the internet. Let me DJ my profile, show off what I’m reading, listening to, etc... add a newsletter subscribe button. Storefront.
Profile is behind the feed; get experimental.
Twitter Profiles are the most underdeveloped RE on the internet. Let me DJ my profile, show off what I’m reading, listening to, etc... add a newsletter subscribe button. Storefront.
Profile is behind the feed; get experimental.
12. Get a little bit mean.
Twitter creates so much value. Its stock chart shouldn’t look like this:
Meanwhile, Facebook, lacking scruples in its pursuit of Rubles, quadruples.
Twitter should be mad. It should leverage its power and get its mojo back.
Twitter creates so much value. Its stock chart shouldn’t look like this:
Meanwhile, Facebook, lacking scruples in its pursuit of Rubles, quadruples.
Twitter should be mad. It should leverage its power and get its mojo back.
13. Recognize all the communities that thrive on Twitter.
People pointed out that my view is tech and creator Twitter-centric. They’re right. Twitter needs to improve the experience for everyone.
But the better Twitter is for the Creators, the better content is for everyone.
People pointed out that my view is tech and creator Twitter-centric. They’re right. Twitter needs to improve the experience for everyone.
But the better Twitter is for the Creators, the better content is for everyone.
14. Open up that API and make developers comfortable building on Twitter again.
Particularly for profile plugins and Creator tools, a thriving, official ecosystem would be great for Twitter, its customers, and its community.
Particularly for profile plugins and Creator tools, a thriving, official ecosystem would be great for Twitter, its customers, and its community.
15. Easier Threads
These threads take me so long to write (hence the Screen Time), please @TwitterSupport make it easier to create threads
These threads take me so long to write (hence the Screen Time), please @TwitterSupport make it easier to create threads
Original thread, with 325+ (mostly) great ideas here: https://twitter.com/packym/status/1281611904721588224
If you want to read the original piece, including @GwynethPaltrow Sliding Doors and @sarahfrier Vine references here:
(If you like it, I’d love it if you subscribed to Not Boring to get this kind of analysis every week!) https://notboring.substack.com/p/if-i-ruled-the-tweets
(If you like it, I’d love it if you subscribed to Not Boring to get this kind of analysis every week!) https://notboring.substack.com/p/if-i-ruled-the-tweets
