Twitter X 2023
Nice to see you moving forward in your affiliate marketing journey. However, if you have lost your followers on Twitter (now called X) and want to know why, you landed on the right post at the right time. So, the first thing to do is choose a place to take some copious notes, whether on your Smartphone, iPad, tablet, desktop, laptop or on a notepad. If not, no biggie. You can save and share this blog with friends, family, neighbors, or pen pals. It’s all good.
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What is Current Name of Twitter?
In April 2023, Twitter was officially rebranded as X. With Twitter no longer in existence, the ticker symbol (TWTR) has been delisted on major stock exchanges. The company is now known simply as X, reflecting CEO Elon Musk's fondness for the letter and desire to make X an "everything app" that offers a range of services beyond social media.
What is the New Twitter Called?
X is the new identity for the company formerly known as Twitter. The name change and new stylized X logo stem from Elon Musk's $44 billion acquisition of Twitter in 2022 and his vision to transform the news-focused social network into a super app with a wider range of features. While the twitter.com domain still redirects to x.com, Musk has removed Twitter branding from the site and apps.
Why Has Twitter Been Renamed?
Twitter's rebrand to X ties to Elon Musk's attempt to expand the platform beyond a social network. Part of the name change links to Musk's fondness for the letter X, which has appeared in his other companies like X.com and SpaceX. But it also signals his ambition to add everything from digital payments to long-form video publishing, making X a catch-all super app that locks users inside its ecosystem.
What Happened to Twitter Now?
Since Elon Musk acquired Twitter in late 2022, the platform has seen major upheaval. Musk quickly fired top executives like CEO Parag Agrawal and took Twitter private under a new parent company called X Corp. He eliminated about 75% of Twitter's workforce, including many employees focused on content moderation.
Musk also introduced paid verification via Twitter Blue, leading to impersonation problems before adding gray "Official" checkmarks for public figures and advertisers. These chaotic changes have accelerated the platform's user declines.
Do People Still Use Twitter?
Despite its ongoing turbulence, Twitter maintains a sizable base of active users. Recent estimates indicate that Twitter currently has about 237.8 million daily active monetizable users worldwide, along with over 500 million monthly active users.
The platform also generated $4.4 billion in revenue in 2022. Though its user base is shrinking faster than before Musk’s takeover, millions still use Twitter daily to keep up with news, politics, pop culture and more.
The Evolution of Twitter
Just to satisfy my curiosity, I joined Twitter in 2010. However, I very seldom utilized my membership. Whenever I visited the platform, I mostly read the comments of the celebrities and politicians. I just restarted using it about three years ago with more intention.
To my surprise my following increased exponentially. Twitter became my 3rd most frequented social media platform, next to Facebook and Instagram. After the Elon Musk take over many members lost their followers and status. So, as a result, I am on a mission to get my 1K followers back by 2024.
My Life Lessons Learned With X
What I've learned about X is that you should "tweet" on one topic at a time. Responding to too many tweets (posts) is the least effective way to use this application. For example, if your niche is about popular mechanics, try to respond or post articles solely about popular mechanics. Staying on topic is key.
When I joined Twitter back in 2010, I was tweeting all over the place. This, in and of itself, is a non-productive strategy, especially if you plan to monetize your membership sometime in the future. I recently discovered that X has the potential to provide members with another income stream. After all, isn't this what affiliate marketing is all about?
Why Should We Use Twitter?
People use Twitter (X) to get the latest updates and promotions from brands; communicate with friends; and follow business leaders, politicians and celebrities.
However, if you are planning to join the ranks at X, make sure you have a carefully thought out strategy to promote your website, products and services, and a unique call to action in mind. And be business- focused and intentional, at least in my humble opinion.
What is Twitter Best Used For?
Twitter allows users to discover stories regarding today's biggest news and events, follow people or companies that post content they enjoy consuming, or simply communicate with friends.
Who Mostly Uses Twitter?
The U.S. Has the Most Twitter Users
The country with the most Twitter users is the United States with a total of 77.75 million users. The other countries rounding out the top five are Japan, India, Brazil, and the United Kingdom.
Which is Better Twitter or Facebook?
Keep in mind that Twitter is better for bite-sized bits of content, and Facebook is better for longer-form content. Once you've created your content, it's time to start posting it out on both platforms. If you can afford it, try running ads on Facebook and Twitter to see which ones result in the most engagement.
The Disadvantages of X
- Posting Limits. Twitter limits each tweet to 140 characters.
- Follower Limitations. Twitter does not limit the number of followers that can follow you; however, accounts that have more than 2,000 followers are usually monitored for unlawful behavior.
- Spamming.
- Addictive.
What are the Pros and Cons of Using Twitter?
- Pro: Discovering helpful, unique ideas in threads by other professionals is one of the biggest pros of using Twitter. ...
- Con: Having to sift through a constant river of memes, news, and suggested follows can make Twitter a difficult place to be, initially.
Depending on the post, you may be able to capture the attention of a celebrity on social media platforms such as X. Interactions with politicians are more common on platforms such as X.
How Do You Get a Celebrity to Notice You on Twitter?
As part of their marketing machine, celebrities on Twitter often ask questions of their followers. The best way to get that famous person to notice another Twitter account is to post interesting responses and comments. Don't overdo the responses, however, as this is just annoying to celebrities.
What is the Best Twitter Alternative?
For those seeking Twitter options, some top alternatives include:
- Bluesky: Founded by former Twitter employees, Bluesky aims to be an ad-free social platform similar to Twitter.
- Mastodon: Open-source decentralized social network with anti-abuse tools and custom servers.
- Advertising-free platform optimized for political commentary and debate.
- Diaspora: Non-profit, open source, decentralized network that combines aspects of Twitter and Facebook.
Who is the Most Famous Twitter Username?
Currently, the most followed accounts on the platform now known as X are:
1. @elonmusk – Elon Musk
2. @BarackObama – Barack Obama
3. @justinbieber – Justin Bieber
4. @cristiano – Cristiano Ronaldo
These figures have built massive followings on X/Twitter over the years thanks to their celebrity status, political positions and cultural influence. They each have over 100 million followers apiece.
Should You Have Your Real Name on Twitter?
X doesn’t strictly require users to display their real full names or photos. However, impersonating other individuals or entities is against platform rules. Accounts should accurately represent the people using them rather than deceiving others through false identities. Having your real name adds credibility but isn’t mandatory.
Twitter API Changes and Costs
In February 2023, Twitter introduced new pricing tiers for API access:
- Free: Post 1,500 tweets/month with read-only API access.
- Basic: $100/month with 3,000 tweet posting and more read access.
- Enterprise: Custom pricing for highest usage needs.
This move away from the previous free model has disrupted many developers and services relying on Twitter's API functionality. The fees are part of Elon Musk's wider effort to diversify revenue after advertiser withdrawals. But researchers have argued the costs are prohibitively expensive for gathering even basic amounts of public Twitter data.
Elon Musk’s Blue Check Chaos
Elon Musk’s decision to strip some users of their verified checkmarks has proved chaotic. Under Twitter's old system, blue checks signaled account authenticity. Now they simply mean a user has subscribed to the $8/month Twitter Blue program. Many celebrities refused to pay for checks, leading Musk to arbitrarily give them back to some stars after removal.
This scattershot policy means the checkmarks now intermix paid subscribers with verified public figures approved by Musk personally, creating disorder. Critics argue the checks have lost credibility as badges of account legitimacy.
Why Follower Counts Sometimes Drop
Losing Twitter followers can stem from multiple causes:
- Platform crackdowns on fake/bot accounts
- Prior purchases of invalid followers
- Tweeting on divisive topics
- Shadowbanning and restrictions
- Aggressive unfollowing of others
- Too much self-promotion
- Infrequent posting
- Spamming followers' feeds
While minor follower fluctuations are normal, noticeable drops often link to these issues. Typically there’s no cause for panic, but examining your recent content and platform account status can help determine if you violated any rules or posting best practices. Focusing on quality over quantity of followers tends to be most effective.
The Future of X
As Elon Musk’s chaotic ownership continues to shake things up, the future direction of the rebranded social platform X remains filled with uncertainties. Despite shedding some previous power users, X still boasts over 500 million monthly active users tapping into news and discussion.
However, Musk’s seeming tolerance for harmful speech and haphazard product changes has accelerated declines. Whether X stabilizes as a niche web3, free speech-focused network or collapses under the whims of its mercurial CEO, it seems the old Twitter is gone for good. But X’s ultimate fate rests on Musk’s next moves.
Final Thoughts
Twitter's sudden rebranding as X symbolizes the platform's identity crisis under Elon Musk. By linking ideological goals like "free speech" to half-baked product changes like paid checkmarks, Musk shows more focus on controversy and disruption than constructive reforms. For now, X feels like a playground for its billionaire owner rather than a digital town square for the public good.
Whether X becomes Musk’s everything app for users or his personal bespoke app for himself remains unclear. Perhaps X will yet find its footing. But in the process, the good faith and trust at Twitter’s best has been buried beneath layers of chaos and uncertainty. What emerges next from Musk’s swirling mix of innovation and impulse is anyone’s guess right now.
Any thoughts about Twitter (X)?
TheRachele
Recent Comments
18
I throw a post on X once in a while. My focus is on creating content and not on nurturing a social media presence... yet. At some point, I will pay more attention to Facebook probably.
Dave
Hi Dave,
X (formerly Twitter) has not been my favorite social media outlet. However, they do have some new features that are appealing. One of my 2024 goals is to join their affiliate program.
I am with you about not nurturing a SM presence, Than can be non-productive.
Anyways, have an amazing Sunday (West Coast).
Rachele
I'm warm and comfortable in my house. Outside, it has been raining pretty steadily, and as the temperature drops into the thirties overnight, 4-6 inches of snow is supposed to fall. Hmmm, yuck. It has been a productive Sunday -- best to you as well. Upstate NY.
Dave
I hear you, Dave.
I grew up back East (N.J), so I am well aware of the snow and temps.
However, we also have the four seasons our here too. Right now it's snowing up in the mountains.
Rachele
Hi Linda.
I hear that. I have been on Twitter since 2010 and never gained any traction.
However, I plan to join their affiliate program ASAP.
Rachele
He paid $44 billion for it...it's his yard and his football, so he gets to make the rules...if we don't like them, we can go play in someone else's yard...
Happy Sunday, Joe.
Looks like he is Elon is doing his thing as usual. He has full range now. However, I only wish he'd have left the cute tweetie bird.
Rachele
Pretty is as pretty does, and smart is as smart does. Musk isn't looking very smart, here. Probably not something I want to get involved with.
See more comments
Great and informative post. I put my website links on Twitter. I got more than 150 link clicks over a period of a month on Amazon products. Unfortunately none of them have converted into sales which I find quite strange. I have around 900 followers. Am I doing something wrong or have I been just unlucky?
Hi Tony.
I doubt if you are doing anything wrong. When Elon took over, everything changed. Most people lost followers. However, there seems to be a way to get your account back up to par.
Congratulations on your links. There hopefully will be sales soon. Keep rolling and never give up!
Rachele