Twitter: Fanatical users help build the brand, but not revenue

Bill Snyder — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 01:01:01 -0700

TWITTER see slideshow

10 ‘Net services that will:

Succeed
Trulia | SceneCaster | CafeScribe OverlayTV | Fav.or.it | Hulu
Huddle | Kaltura | ModiFace Cognitive Code

Fail
Joost | Twitter | Zillow | Chumby eCirkit | Flock | Spock | Jobster Squidoo | Second Life

Service: Twitter

What it does: On-the-fly social networking, using texting, IM, or the Web.

Failings: There's no compelling reason for most people to use it, and many existing services -- ranging from AIM to FriendFeed to social networks -- have overlapping functionality. And how is it supposed to make money?

Turnaround potential: Twitter has a simple user interface, and there is a growing number of compelling third-party services that have been built off of Twitter. In addition, a clever name, upbeat publicity, and a small but loyal core of Twitter fanatics have helped build a recognizable brand in a hurry.

'Net Views:

Bits: "Openness is the right thing to do for users. It is what has helped Twitter grow to its current position of the darling of the geek world. But it undercuts Twitter's ability to create a huge business."

Management: CEO Jack Dorsey; co-founder Biz Stone (co-founded Xanaga); co-founder Evan Williams (co-founded Blogger).

Other related content:

Slideshow home: Opinion: 10 'Net services that will succeed (and 10 that will probably fail)
Ian Lamont: 10 'Net services that will succeed (and 10 that will probably fail)
Prediction: eCirkit will shut down its social networking service by Jan. 1, 2009
Prediction: Chumby Industries announces it will discontinue alarm clock line by February 1, 2009
Prediction: Cognitive Code's Pocket SILVIA technology will appear in mass-market consumer electronics by end of 2008
Prediction: Hulu will announce 200 full-length feature movies by May 15, 2008
Prediction: Overlay.TV comes out of beta on or before June 30
Prediction: CafeScribe acquired by October 2009
Prediction: SceneCaster will come out of beta by June 1, 2008
Prediction: Second Life usage will not break 40 million user hours per month by the end of 2008
Prediction: Joost will announce a Web-based viewer by November 1, 2008

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