It’s just over 10 years since Twitter was developed as a concept. It now has 320 million monthly active users worldwide and there’s no sign of it going away. So whether you love it or hate it here are some interesting facts and figures about Twitter.

Fun Facts About Twitter

• • The original concept was a combination of instant real time reporting by normal people (where they are and what they are doing) via SMS (text messaging)
  • The idea was to ‘watch’ or ‘unwatch’ someone but better words were found – ‘follow’ and ‘unfollow’
  • The original working name for Twitter was Status or Stat.us, then Buzzing and Twitch.

• Developers Jack Dorsey, Evan Williams and Biz Stone looked for similar words and came across the word ‘twitter’ – ‘a short burst of inconsequential information,’ and ‘chirps from birds’. They felt it was perfect.
• Katy Perry is the most followed celebrity with over 84 million followers, Barack Obama has 71 million followers. But 79% of accounts are outside the US.
• 391 million accounts have no followers at all! (2014)
• The total number of user accounts that Twitter can handle is 18 quintillion (I assume that’s the America definition not the UK one)
• 80% of active users are on mobile. 3 in 5 users in the UK access Twitter while watching TV, 1 in 2 while commuting, 1 in 3 while out with friends or eating and drinking
• 25% of UK Twitter users look at social network while shopping which is why the big brands try to get you to follow them (and its working – 62% of Twitter mobile users follow brands on social media)
• Twitter is still banned in China where many ‘approved’ Chinese based social media networks thrive, nevertheless Twitter appointed its first MD in China in April 2016 – Kathy Chen

As a fairly late adopter of Twitter I have found it fascinating to develop this platform for my marketing business (follow me on @KimGTelford – please!). I am constantly learning new tricks and tips like scheduling, using lists, creating graphics, creating reports, curating content and using apps and tools.

There are lots of reasons for a small business to set up a Twitter account if you haven’t done so already. It’s a great way to connect and communicate with lots of different businesses, direct traffic to your website, build relationships, share information and expertise, find out what’s going on, build your brand and reputation, get feedback, improve customer service and of course to promote your business.

But not too much! However that’s the subject of another blog on another day.

Kim Gilmour
Connect Consultancy

Sources: Wikipedia, Los Angeles Time – interview with Jack Dorsey, Twitter.com (figures from Dec 2015), Nielson Consumer Surveys 2013/2015, Blog by Expanded Ramblings.com, Concise Training