Twitter Launches Location Spotlight, Builds Business Directory Into Platform

Twitter Launches Location Spotlight, Builds Business Directory Into Platform

by  @lauriesullivan, August 4, 2022

Twitter Launches Location Spotlight, Builds Business Directory Into Platform

Local businesses with a Twitter presence may now have a good reason to set up a Professional Account. The company on Thursday announced a feature called Location Spotlight that puts business information like physical location at the top of the business’s Twitter profile page.

A Professional Account now offers Location Spotlight, and Shop Spotlight. The professional profile separates general from business accounts.

Think of both as a directory for people searching on Twitter, as well as a way to gain additional traffic from Twitter to a brand’s website or physical location.

Twitter does not call it a directory, but the information in the profile acts as a directory, giving visitors to the Twitter account information at their fingertips.

Location Spotlight lets businesses display specific information about its brands or offerings under the profile. Businesses, creators, publishers, and developers can showcase and highlight their content, products, and services on Twitter for free. And drive traffic from Twitter to the brand’s website, ecommerce page, or physical location.

Businesses can add the ability to contact the business via Twitter direct messaging, of a tap option to contact a business via phone. It also lets businesses post store hours, physical address, email address, phone number, and Google Map with directions.

The information in Location Spotlight could make it easier for consumers to determine whether or not to shop with the store. While it may be faster to search for a business on Google Search or Microsoft Bing, or even a map application, Twitter has found a convenient way to drive traffic from online into stores. It’s also an easy way for businesses to adjust any information they want to convey to consumers or potential customers.

Other projects in the works include on-demand courses through Twitter Flight School to support professionals wanting to improve marketing on the platform.

The services launch in the midst of a battle with Tesla CEO Elan Musk. The company is asking for all of Tesla’s documents and communications related to Musk’s bid to take over the social media company. It is also pulling in his circle of friends. 

Musk was served a subpoena that outlines a list of 27 requests to Tesla, including internal communications between Musk and Twitter, and between Musk and co-investors such as Larry Ellison. The Verge reported earlier this year that Ellison gave Musk $1 billion for the deal.

Local businesses with a Twitter presence may now have a good reason to set up a Professional Account. The company on Thursday announced a feature called Location Spotlight that puts business information like location at the top of the business’s Twitter profile page.
 

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