Twitter has added a pair of new features: direct mobile video uploads and group private messaging.
On the surface, they’re worlds apart. But small businesses may be able to make creative use of each of them in upcoming promotions or for staying in contact with customers or co-workers.
First, Twitter is taking a slight departure from its own Vine product by allowing direct video uploads from mobile devices.
Writing about the feature on the official Twitter blog, Twitter product director Jinen Kamdar explains:
“We designed our camera to be simple to use so you can capture and share life’s most interesting moments as they happen. In just a few taps you can add a video to unfolding conversations, share your perspective of a live event, and show your everyday moments instantly, without ever having to leave the app.”
Kamdar explains that Twitter users can capture and edit videos using the app’s camera function. Those finished videos can be posted directly to a user’s timeline.
Right now, Twitter for iPhone users will be able to select videos already on their phones to upload directly to the social site. That service is expected to be available soon for Android users, too.
The videos uploaded with the new feature can last up to 30 seconds, while Vine videos loop constantly and only last six seconds.
Followers will see the video appear as a thumbnail on their timelines. The thumbnails will have a play button superimposed on them to allow for easy viewing.
The new Twitter mobile video feature could be used by small businesses to give quick updates to customers. Though obviously it would be best for simple, short video messages that could be created and uploaded on the fly.
Twitter’s new private group messaging service takes Direct Messaging to another level. Well, up to another 20 levels to be precise.
Users can can send private messages to up to 20 different users. The messages exchanged among that group are private but done through Twitter.
Kamdar writes:
Private conversations on Twitter are a great complement to the largely public experience on the platform. You might prefer to read (or watch) Tweets but converse about them privately. You might want to continue a public conversation privately with a smaller group, or start one based on a Tweet you saw. Many of you use Direct Messages to reach the people and brands you’re only connected to on Twitter. Whatever the case may be, the ability to converse privately with groups gives you more options for how and with whom you communicate on Twitter.
This function could also help boost a user’s following. The person who initiates a group chat must be followed by the person being added. However, all conversation members needn’t be followers of each other.
Twitter sends notifications to users when they’ve been added to a group conversation.
Images: Twitter, Background Photo via Shutterstock
I guess images really sell. They start with pictures and now they have videos. I guess it works because the Internet is now getting faster and faster.