Twitter has begun testing a new Professional Profiles feature that will allow anyone who uses Twitter for work to add business-related information to their profile.
Twitter Is Testing Professional Profiles
The company announced the new feature in a post on Twitter.
People who are included in this test are able to add various work-related tidbits to their profile, including business address and contact information. Currently, Twitter accounts for personal use do not list any such work information on profiles.
Professional Profiles are a new tool that will allow businesses, non-profits, publishers, and creators---anyone who uses Twitter for work---to display specific information about their business directly on their profile.
The social media platform has begun testing the new Professional Profiles with a small number of business users in the US, with additional accounts gaining access to these new tools in the coming months.
There's no telling when the feature might launch for everyone and Twitter could choose to never release it publicly.
Twitter Business Handles Are Coming
While Twitter currently only has accounts intended for personal rather than professional use, the company may provide separate personal and business handles in the future. Twitter outlined why it thinks it's important for companies to establish brand and business presence on the micro-blogging service in its Analyst Day presentation.
First impressions count, and your profile is your chance to make a lasting, positive one. Each element of your profile should accurately reflect your brand’s purpose and values, and persuade a potential customer to follow you.
It's fairly safe to assume that Professional Profiles will be launching for all business users on Twitter after this test has been completed. With the likes of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp already offering separate business profiles, Twitter would be wise to monetize businesses with presence on its platform with a similar offering of its own.
Twitter Communities in the Works
The company has also been testing other ways to monetize personal and professional accounts with paid Twitter features like Super Follow, Communities, and more.
A pay-to-follow subscription, Super Follow would have users pay a fee to get exclusive access to content put out by their favorite creators.
It's like the YouTube business model of sorts, only applied to Twitter. Subscribers may get access to a subscriber badge, a subscriber-only newsletter, special deals and discounts, community access, as well as other kinds of paywalled content.
Twitter's mockups suggest a Super Follow subscription may cost users $4.99 per month.
And with Communities, basically an imitation of Facebook Groups, Twitter wants to make it easy for its fans to explore different communities on the app. And when they find something that they like, users will be able to join that particular community.
Upon joining a group, you'll get access to tweets surrounding that specific topic.