If you are a business on Twitter, you may be interested in two new Twitter feature updates that happened this week.
Twitter quietly released a new feature that allows Twitter users to receive direct messages from anyone. Previously, Twitter required users to follow each other before sending direct messages. Twitter rolled out a new option in the settings that lets you opt to receive direct messages from anyone who follows you, even if you do not follow them back. This feature may not be available to everyone yet, so keep an eye out for it.
To find out if you have the option yet, simply go to Twitter settings and look under the “account” section. You should see the following:
It’s important to note that this is an opt-in feature. In other words, if you like the way direct messages worked before, you don’t have to change it — at least not yet.
The second feature Twitter announced allows users and businesses using Twitter’s advertising products to schedule tweets, including promoted tweets. Businesses can create and schedule tweets up to a year in advance. Using the blue Tweet button on the top right corner while you’re logged into ads.twitter.com, you can schedule when your tweets will post. You can also reach the scheduled tweets from the “creatives” tab in the top navigation bar next to Campaigns and Analytics.
In the lead-up and aftermath of filing for its IPO, Twitter has announced a number of changes and new features — especially ones geared at businesses.
