socialmedian: Twitter is Growing Like Crazy: Up 422% in 12 Months

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Twitter is Growing Like Crazy: Up 422% in 12 Months - Mashable

Submitted by Michaelfidler

Sep 16, 2008

Summary

The latest numbers are in, and Twitter is apparently growing at a torrid pace. According to stats just released from Nielsen Online, Twitter recorded 2.3 million unique visitors in August (US-only), an increase of 422% from the same period last year. Read the full article

Comments (13)

Jasongoldberg,

Sep 17, 2008

how much of this is from summize?

Jasongoldberg,

Sep 17, 2008

There was a nice piece on Twitter on NPR last night. Talked about how it's still relatively small compared to Facebook but that the influencers are all on Twitter by now.

Michaelfidler,

Sep 18, 2008

I was in a meeting today when someone brought up CNN, and their use of twitter. Suddenly several others responded "yeah, I've heard of it, Mike do you know anything about this twitter thing"? I had to try not to laugh. "Ah yeah, Ive heard of it". A minute later, one signed up on the spot. Another planed to at home, and the rest of the "e-tarded"(I think I just coined a new phrase), wanted to know more, but were willing to try blogging first. What, did I hear them right? I better get my hearing checked ASAP.

Eyebee,

Sep 18, 2008

It's good to see Twitter turnaround after the prophets of doom and gloom had it in a coffin just a couple of short months ago.

Michaeldaehn,

Sep 18, 2008

@Michaelfidler Dude your comment is hilarious! I think I was at that meeting in a parallel universe.

Michaelfidler,

Sep 18, 2008

@michaeldaehn It is going to be strange when it truly goes mainstream. Here's another thought I've been having of late. The so called A list of twitter, are likened as celebrities, and they are in a the niche tech/blog world, but not for long. Penn Gellette just signed up and developed an instant following. But, he's small potatoes. Imagine if TomCruise, Scarlett Johansson, or Brad Pitt really started twittering what they where doing. 100,000 followers easy, 1,000,000, it's possible. Hope Twitter is ready for a real Power using Celebrity!

Michaelmuse,

Sep 18, 2008

The point I have been making about Twitter is that its business model is pending and just focusing on growth right now, but there are two real problems with growth and no revenues: (1) How replaceable is this technology? Is it possible that other social networks havent focused on it because it is a service that will only ever be used by geeks and self promoters? (2) What is causing this service to grow? As tweets increase, is it more useful content creation or SPAM posts like "I need coffee!". Similarly, as more people connect, are these meaningful connections or are they being diluted by the "courtesy follow"? I am wary.

Michaelfidler,

Sep 19, 2008

I have only one problem with growth and no revenues, which is , this was the same formula that led to the .com crash. Forget even revenues, I want to see earnings. In defence of twitter seeing that Fred's not around, it's a different situation. They could monetize right now, but at the possible cost of new users. Twitter is the new crack all generations. Let's assume I'm right, then the best plan is to string out as many people as possible, and then charge what the market will bear. Microsoft rolled out some features in hotmail today along with a letter in your mail. in it they described a new SMS. Hate to use the crack metaphor, but, people do get hooked on it.

Malouie,

Oct 07, 2008

i didn't like twitter initially but found tremendous value for last minute get togethers and tweetups ;) the twitter feed to facebook is the best.

Jasongoldberg,

Oct 09, 2008

@malouie @michaelfidler great to see this post come up again.

Michaelfidler,

Oct 09, 2008

@jasongoldberg I'll bet the numbers are even higher next time around. Remember that post about Facebook and the Mainstream, just yesterday by @robdiana. I just got back form a meeting, and 7 people set up twitter accounts right there. they wanted to know about streaming live video on the net also. One of them has a computer with the old style AOL shell on it. I told him, that would have to go first!

Robdiana,

Oct 09, 2008

@michaelfidler I think we are watching a big change. With CNN using Twitter, they are force feeding it to the masses. The masses are on Facebook, and were probably wondering what all that stuff on the feeds was. Be prepared, and be warned, tech people have strong opinions, but I am curious how the conversations change when everyone joins.

Earlwallace,

Oct 09, 2008

I don't mean to seem arrogant but I will miss the early-adopter-bloggers who peopled the earlier Twitter posts. I am not looking forward to a homogenized Twitter stream.