What did you expect? Twitter to remain virtuous and "cool" for all of us "in the know"?
Today's Tweet of the Day, by far, is this Tweet about the commercialization of Twitter. Over 30 clicks on this URL in Brightkit (@IsCool's Twitter management tool)
- RT @justin_hart: Ugh. Twitter marketing meets Real Estate snake oil. Me no like. #IsNotCool but expected. http://ow.ly/1FQ
I was there in the early to mid 90's when there were debates about the commercialization of the internet. People were adamant that the internet was developed for research and knowledge and "goodness". How could those evil marketers use it to sell law services! OH MY GOD. You could not corrupt the internet with advertising. No way. "We" were not going to take it.
Well, that was then and now the most powerful company in the world (OK I may be exaggerating) is the "do no evil" Google. Whether you like it or not Google is essentially an advertising company. Pure and simple.
99% of Google's revenue comes from Google Adwords or advertising related products.
So, while you may love GMAIL, Google Docs, Google this and Google that remember that you get those things because Google is the King of World in terms of advertising.
Why do you think Google has a stock price (still) in the stratosphere while the New York Times is about ready to be sold to the Chinese for cents on the dollar?
So it was inevitable that Twitter would become a place for Tweeple to complain about overt and covert commercialization. Ads? How dare they! Marketing? No way!
People, Twitter is currently NOT MAKING MONEY.
Like the Dot Com companies that are no longer with us (PETS.COM RIP) Twitter will need to find a revenue stream(s) or, they will be a Wikipedia entry in a year.
I hope not.
