Twitter Profile Changes

Have you noticed the big change on Twitter lately? Twitter now has a new header - you can create a "cover photo" in addition to your profile photo. The similarity between Facebook and Twitter now is that the header and cover photo are like mini billboards within social media. Brands can use the header to showcase a larger image rather than just their logo as their profile picture. 

To avoid overcrowding, do not make your header and background a busy image. You want the follower to focus on your content rather than your background or header photo. The photo gives a visual aspect to a site that is supposed to be content driven. 

Some of the benefits of the header photo:

1. As a brand you should make sure the photo is meaningful to your company. The header photo functions similar to the cover photo on Facebook - it has to have meaning to your brand or else it is a pointless photo sitting at the top of your page.

2. Individual people can have a consistent branded photo in addition to the company Twitter account. In other words, individuals that work for a specific company can keep their profile picture as their face but the header photo can be the brand's photo. For example one of the anchors for "The Today Show", Matt Lauer has a similar header photo to the main Today Show Twitter. 

3. Similar to Facebook covers photos, Twitter header photos allow the user to use their creativity. Creativity can come in a variety of ways, such as Ryan Seaccrest's Twitter header photo. He is using his header and profile picture in one image. Take a look: Ryan Seacrest 

Two drawbacks to the new Twitter change:

1. Forcing all profiles to switch over in the next few months - similar tactic to Facebook and the Timeline layout. Twitter talks about the change in their blog: Header photos. Once all Twitter accounts have the header photo, maybe Twitter will have modified the app as well? In the meantime, online, Twitter accounts will all have a header photo option which is under the design tab in edit. 

2. New header photo feature is not visible on the Twitter app for the iPhone unless you are viewing the users profile - which how often does that happen? The header photo IS visible but someone would have to actually visit that profile, otherwise the profile picture is the only photo on Twitter that is automatically viewable. Backgrounds are not visible on the app either - so the hard work that goes into creating a background goes unnoticed by those who are on-the-go and viewing Twitter from their app. 

Advertising is now available for Twitter accounts : ABC News has an ad under their profile picture. In this image ABC News doesn't have their header photo activated. 

Have you tried using the ads on Twitter or activated your header photo?