Twitter Testing Promoted Accounts on Desktop Timelines
BY JOSH PETERS
Twitter is currently testing, with an eye on launching, promoted accounts directly into the desktop timelines. This feature is already available on mobile (since there are no sidebars) and the suggested users sections have been around for a while, but this is the first time promoted posts will be in-stream.
So far Twitter has tested three different promoted account types with varying features. One is basically the bio of the account laid out to look more like a tweet with a large Follow button. Another is an actual tweet with the same large Follow button in the lower right hand corner. The last is just the name of the account and a large Follow button and to see more info you have to click on it.
No word yet which of these will end up being the final product that gets rolled out, but if these options were porridge the first one would be Baby Bear's; just right. The one that's the tweet is too hot, it looks like something it's not and could cause confusion. The one with just the name is too cold and has no info or CTA just a name, picture and large Follow button till clicked on (warmed up).
This is a move that makes perfect sense for Twitter and with it being on mobile for quite a while now it's a wonder this wasn't done sooner. Though in another twist to this story it comes alongside the desktop redesign that makes it more like the mobile experience.
Beyond the obvious this is interesting because it displays the shifting mindset of Mobile first. Instead of bringing desktop functionality to it's mobile product it's doing the exact opposite. Instead of making it's mobile product look and behave more like it's desktop it's going the other route.
It's a neat new feature, but an even better analogy of the industry as a whole.
