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Twitter Matters More (…and More)

Twitter used to be a distant second to Facebook not very long ago as far as social media platforms go.

Most teams have a “twitter too” policy, and some have only recently launched a presence there after a few years of activity on Facebook. Yesterday’s announcement regarding a deeper integration of Twitter with the new Apple iOS5 merits a closer look at just where Twitter is at.

Twitter is perfect for mobile – and mobile is simply where the internet is going (Ha!). Apple’s adoption of Twitter makes a difference – and it will drive new users. This adds to the 200M+ users (that’s over 65M tweets a day) – these are serious numbers.  Arenas are getting increasingly wired to accommodate mobile use, and there are vast numbers of fans tweeting during games on their smart phones.

Twitter also launched a new “Follow button” which simplifies the follow process – much like a FB “Like” button, increasing the social aspect of the web.

Lastly, players and athletes are prominent Twitter users. When’s the last time you saw a player send a message on Facebook that was quoted on Sports Center? Twitter is the platform of choice, for sure. Expect to see more of this, and as player accounts draw considerable attention, I expect to see teams interacting more and more with players moving forward. Don’t believe me? Check out the UFC’s Twitter policy for bonuses.

So a word to sports teams – invest in Twitter. In fact, make Twitter a priority. It already is for your fans and your players.