Earlier this month, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey tweeted out that a change could be coming to the social platform. What’s predicted is Twitter will allow users to post long-form text (up to 10,000 characters) on its platform as early as March.
Social networks evolving to serve up more content is nothing new. In fact, Twitter may be a little late to the game. Facebook is already rolling out Instant Articles to attract publishers who want larger audiences and are fearful of ad-blockers. This is a win for the social networks as well. By hosting more content, the more time people will spend on the platform versus clicking off to a website.
However, Twitter’s limited character count still offers something. In fact, in Dorsey’s announcement, he said the 140 characters has “become a beautiful constraint.” Adding that he loves the way it can inspire creativity and brevity.
He’s right. Less definitely can mean more, and consumers are already easily distracted. Twitter’s limited characters challenge brands to be sharper and more concise, which can really bring out some great creative work.
Twitter’s auto-play video feature is also a great tool. The limited character count isn’t so daunting when you can create striking, eye-catching videos your followers will see as they scroll down the screen without having to click off to another website.
What also makes Twitter’s short-form approach attractive is the instant nature of it. It’s the place where brands can react to real-time events better than any other platform. Plus, it allows users to read and share quickly. If your message is short and easy to digest, it’s ultimately more engaging, too.
In short, short-form content still has value. But no matter the character count, brands should still evaluate how they’re using Twitter. What approach will give you the most engagement? Will your followers find value in long-form content on Twitter? Or does it make sense to keep it short and sweet and drive to your website instead? #TwitterStruggles