Comments by Patrick Kitano Subscribe

On A new Twitter business model – a comprehensive hashtag strategy

Thanks Natalie, Jason,

I've wondered about Twitter's problem with monetizing their platform. I see the Twitter platform more as a utility, like a radio signal, that can't charge access fees and outrage its user base. One of the main ideas I want to explore with this article is whether Twitter could build business models that layer over its platform, and then charge fees, either microfees or subscriptions, to access these business layers, whether they are $businesses or advertising based on *locations.

On A New Local Business Model for Twitter

Thank you Timo!

Your comment is apt, and leads to an extended idea for the Twitter business model. What you're proposing for b2b, retail and other business focused Twitter agendas can potentially be collated within a second hashtag, namely $, as in $walmart or $goldenstatewarriors (note, Twitter will need to extend their character limits for both businesses and geographies). The revenue opportunity here is obvious, collect recurring fees for the subscription of $ hashtags.

What's the difference between @ and $ for a business? Twitter can provide new features (all of course for an additional fee) including:

1) Enterprise privacy - only qualified vendors can follow $walmart or $cisco. This could be a simpler enterprise solution to Yammer.

2) Loyalty programs and coupon distribution. Registered followers of $officedepot can redeem coupons or check out using a QR code off their mobile Twitter feed.

3)Leverage Twitter lists to curate $business feeds into directories. For example, The geographical hashtag *SOMA_San Francisco can develop lists of $businesses by category: companies, restaurants, things to do, etc. To make it easy $businesses would be able to include themselves on these kinds of lists (included in the fee arrangement) via an online self service page. Granular local curation is powerful, CRM systems can be overlaid across curated data.

There's more...

Twitter can continue to create categorical extensions with hashtags. For example, Twitter might develop a Quora.com alternative of their Q&A framework by having the Twitter community ask questions to Twitter created feeds that mirror Quora topics like ?obama, ?socialmedia, ?Twitter, ?Twitter(company), ?dailydeals, all preceded by the "?".

Now Twitter can develop a comprehensive hashtag strategy:

* = geographies, places

$ = business

? = topics where Twitterers can ask questions  along the same lines as Quora

It would be best to limit the number of hashtags that Twitter employs simply due to confusion, but the hashtags for the three categories above are intuitive.

Nick, what's in it for the volunteers? Having the authority to curate Twitterers in your city is a valuable position akin to being an editor, and provides an instant connection to the community. I know many journalists, local business leaders, even real estate agents who are savvy about local media (they are the backbone to TheBreakingNewsNetwork.com, who would gladly take on this role. Twitter simply needs to find them, and it wouldn't be hard.

Related: A New Twitter Business Model - Developing a Comprehensive Hashtag Strategy

On The Search Engine of “Likes”

JWBrett, here's a good article published yesterday that posits the idea that crowdsourced semantic search may indeed just spew out stuff the masses like - http://industry.bnet.com/technology/10009171/google-shouldnt-fear-facebooks-search-engine-may-actually-get-worse-with-more-users/ - and thus, may be even worse for identifying best solutions to search.

On Build a dynamic local community news resource on Twitter in one hour

Local followers come naturally when you've added local Twitter feed sources. The beauty of Twitter Lists is its function to create good will and recognition to others, who may reciprocate that good will.

The other nice feature of Twitter feeds like the one described above is the organic growth of the feed with little maintenance. @BreakingSFNews, @BreakingLANews and @BreakingNYCNews all developed over 2,000 followers in the span of a few months without any PR at all, and without the benefit of Twitter Lists.

Also see Social Media Today article: Twitter Lists will organize the Social Graph

On Twitter Lists will organize the social graph

The proliferation of Twitter Lists in just the two weeks since I published this article is truer evidence of how the public views Twitterers by crowdsource classification.

On The end of local newspapers doesn't mean the end of local news

Most agree, including journalists, that local news will continue because it's essentially a cultural institution. Many miss the point that local newspapers, and to a lesser extent other traditional media like radio/TV, have been the communication organs of the city, and the lifeblood of local business. It's the local commercial engine that needs a replacement. New hyperlocal business models are required that can gain the respect and adoption of a citizenry, and thus far, a broad based national model hasn't appeared that works.

The best drivers of a local media business model are those individuals or groups who would gain most commercially from its use by the community. Chambers of commerce, real estate institutions and brokerages - these are the kinds of community hubs that should be committing to and investing in local media models that can drive business their way.

On 10 steps towards a new austere Twitter

The best analogy to a business focused Twitter feed (instead of austere) is that of a talk radio broadcaster. They stay on topic, but create conversations around that topic and make them compelling through personality. A radio broadcaster that sways from the theme may lose listeners. Finally, talk radio is usually one-on-one so the conversation remains focused and coherent. Twitterers should try to understand how to make their feeds as coherent.