Twitter Continues To Experience Tremendous Growth and Latinos Embrace Social Media

Twitter continues to experience tremendous growth after the social network site launched in March 2006. According to compete.com Twitter is experiencing nearly a 75% increase in unique visitors since January of this year. This amounts to more than 19 million unique visitors engaging with Twitter. Not only are social enthusiasts flocking to Twitter so are brands such as Honda, Jet Blue, San Diego Chargers, The Travel Channel, Marvel Entertainment, TV Guide, Best Buy, Whole Foods, Starbucks, Dell, Kodak, and Dunkin Donuts to name a few. Brands are using Twitter for instant communication with their followers. By doing so they create a personal relationship with their audience, making them feel even more connected with the brand. Even celebrities are jumping on the band wagon and staying connected with their fans across the globe. Amongst the list of Twitter savvy celebrities such as Britney Spears, Spencer Pratt, and Tila Tequila, Ashton Kutcher made headlines in April '09 as the first tweeter to reach 1 million followers. Kutcher appeared on Larry King Live and shared his view on the importance of social media, "We now live in an age in media that a single voice can have as much power and relevance on the Web, that is, as an entire media network." As Twitter continues to have exponential growth so will the power of tweets. Advertisers will discover new ways to leverage the platform's capabilities.



Pizza Hut's Twitintern is promoting the companies social media promotion. Earlier this month the intern tweeted "free stuffed pizza rolls offer for current and new facebook and twitter followers! look for the special code on July 4! Luv my new job!" The Stuffed Pizza Rolls were not exactly free unless a follower purchased a large pizza on July 4th but the promotion was cost effective and reached their audience who genuinely has an interest in the brand. Twitter also works as an exceptional tool for breaking news from worldwide to local news like following the Iran Election Crisis to Arnold Schwarzenegger's emergency landing. Twitter users embrace the instant gratification of being in-the-know by socially interacting through tweets.


Twitter is not only gaining interest from the mainstream but the Latino market as well. Matt Reyes founded Twitteros by utilizing the Ning platform. Matt explains the idea behind the Latino version of Twitter as “The whole idea of Twitteros is to connect all Latinos (de sangre o de corazón) that Twitter. We have so much to say and so much to learn from each other, and this group will only connect us even more!” Reyes branded the site with a parrot to illustrate the connection with the Latino culture. Twitteros.net is the ultimate online lounge for Latinos, it allows users to share profiles, music, photos, blogs, forums, and groups. Twitteros gives Latinos a platform for their voices to be heard and allows them to be expressive within their culture. The site launched last December. With just over 300 users it has a way to go before becoming a powerful social media platform like Twitter or Facebook. However, Twitteros isn't going unnoticed and has received coverage by the press and the Today Show. Real time communication and the power to have ones' voice heard is a reflection of how influential and powerful social media is becoming in all segments.



Monica Camacho, Junior Strategic Planner