Twitter 280 is here. Handle with Great Responsibility

When Twitter announced that they were testing the expansion of the character limit from 140 to 280 in late September it rattled the cages of many users and non-users. In a blog post, the company explained their reasoning was based on the ease in which users of Japanese, Korean, and Chinese can post their thoughts more effectively due to the language.

Part of the appeal of Twitter has been its brevity. It (either right or wrong) forces you to get your thoughts across in one post. If you need to expand, simply write another post (and add 1/2, 2/2). For me, I’ve found it a good challenge over the years to say what I need to say in 140. I honestly believe it has helped to make me a better and more focused communicator.

I also understand the need for Twitter to tweak its model from a marketing standpoint. There’s no secret the social platform is losing its appeal. Twitter reported this past July that its monthly user base in the States declined to 68 million from 70 million when it was predicted to increase. Younger digital media users are turning to Instagram and Snapchat to tell their stories and share their lives. Adding characters is a way to potentially unclog your feed and help share news more effectively.

On Nov. 7, I was given the Golden Social Media Ticket. The 280 character limit was in my hands. The idea of doubling the character limit has grown on me, just as many of the tweaks social networks have made over the years. When networks do not improve, people move on to their next channel. Sure, I would have liked Twitter to consider more important changes that would strategically help loyal users. The ability to edit tweets, anyone? That’s one of the bonuses with Facebook. If facts change, I can edit the post. Another adjustment could be to expand the character count by not counting hashtags.

Having 280 characters at your disposal is not a bad thing. It should make you realize that, in your hands, you now have a more enhanced social media tool to get your message across. Begin your research now on how brands, influencers, and companies are using the increased limit. Then, audit your own Twitter profile and see how you can be better and more effective.

The ability to tweet in 280 characters is an important step. Make sure you grasp the power and responsibility as a pro.