This post is to put the case for a SuperTweet. I’m positing it in response to an exchange I had last night with @al3x who heads up the Twitter API. The example below is a SuperTweet mock-up in the simplest of terms. I also made a related case “Twitter and the Business Model 2009” for which I never got so much as a comment but should be read for more thinking in this area.
Super Tweet. Adds one additional data field which equates to a blog post body. This field is available for developers. It will have constraints on size and content. Example. A Tweet that is a Twitpic Tweet in SuperTweet format would include the Twitpic under the original Tweet. “Link URL’s” that traditionally sent tweeters off Twitter will now drill down or optionally present a Super Tweet.
Example Mockup
From @al3x’s comments at SFMobile2.0 I know this is not a completely new thought around Twitter. It seems the larger concern is “no myspace” keep it clean. My key case for this approach is strategic. Twitter is open but as long as the majority of “escalation” value is created off Twitter the less likely Twitter is to capture any revenue. There are two revenue streams in my view. Search based which is where the current focus is and “Transactional” or Tweet based revenue. That is what the SuperTweet represents.
How would Super Tweet benefit Twitter, developers and users alike?
1. Users want Super Tweets. Adding a Super Tweet option allows any Tweeter to add detail to their Tweet. I’d see this as a paid option. Eg I pay $5 per year and now I can create a few “super tweets” per day. I’d keep a limit on this or keep a ration between tweets and super tweets. Twitter is mostly about status. Yet this blog will be posted to Twitter as a Tweet. The post title and URL will go into Twitter. Why can’t someone drill down and see the post under the Tweet on Twitter? In fact I’d probably then do my blogging in Twitter too! It can still be posted to my blog!
2. Developers that current put links into Tweets send users off to other sites. A most popular example would be Twitpic. However why can’t that “picture” be part of the original Tweet. What’s the relationship here? The developer wants to be able to provide services that augment Tweets. Services that Twitter may not want to do alone. These services rely on Twitter search or Tweets for updates. Encouraging the development of such services would benefit Twitter. (I will share one of my developed solutions tomorrow). Thus if this Super Tweet could make the Developer a $1 then should Twitter make 10 cents or 20 cents? Now think what a Super Tweet service might look like. It’s allowed within a confined or constrained place. Phweet was designed for this type of purpose. It results in an escalation to a voice call. Phweet might provide the service to an Astrologer. The SuperTweet provides the extra info and Twitter now can be in on the value creation.
Twitter in one simple step creates a new field and potential for revenue. By limiting personal Super Tweets we don’t get away from the essesence of Twitter. Concurrently we create the opportunity for richer conversations and a new filter. Eg for my first 100 friends I see everything. For the next 1000 I only want to see thier SuperTweets (filter that further by personal account and external / augmented services). A user of an outside developer service shouldn’t be limited in the number of SuperTweets they can create with that service. Note all those Twitter APP developers Twhirl, TweetDeck Twitterfon etc can use a single button to make calls on these services … or alternatively the users can add or subtract them from an APP store like approach. With oAuth the users are no longer impacted by password insecurity.
Here’s a hypothetical example of a possible free service. TwitAbout. It creates an augmented Tweet that contains more “about you” info. Another example. A gaming company. I start a SuperTweet game. People join it. It remains active… and perhaps on some leader board while still playing at SuperTweetGames. When I leave the game my hosting session is over. I may pay SuperTweetGames a small sum to play. Twitter will get a % of that revenue. Etc. Other tweets will become permanent collaboration points. Some SuperTweet content may be public or private.
By pursuing this strategy Twitter encourages Tweeple to build more value into the community rather than exporting it to other environments.
I’d like nothing more than the opportunity to actually talk to the Twitter team. I’ve now worked like crazy on and around Twitter for 9 months. I’d almost draw the conclusion it was all in vain until last night. Now I’ll wait and see.
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