Twitter has unveiled a new design which dramatically changes the way some posts appear on its users’ newsfeeds.
Previously, posts featuring links to images or videos contained only the tweeted text and the link highlighted in blue; now, users are presented with a thumbnail preview of the linked content.
The redesign coincides with recent efforts by Twitter to make itself more appealing to investors ahead of its IPO.
Some analysts believe the move could help the social giant – which a recent survey suggested is now more popular than rival site Facebook among younger people – compete for ad spends with other popular social networks.
However, the media director of Isba – an organisation representing advertisers in the UK – gave the changes a cautious welcome.
Speaking about the redesign, Bob Wootton said that while the increased opportunity to publish engaging content is a good thing for advertisers, it’s important that any changes made keep the user experience in mind.
Twitter said the changes offer more benefits besides the promotion of company brands, as it described its post-makeover look as more engaging and visual.
For news suppliers and internet marketing strategists, the move could lead to an increase in user engagement.
The recent redesign isn’t the only change Twitter has brought in ahead of its floatation on the stock market. Earlier this week, the company announced the launch in South Korea of Promoted Products, a service that will allow companies to pay for an advert tweet that will appear above relevant search listings on the site.
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