Twitter first announced it would begin showing ads in April 2010, but until today it’s been invite only. Now, after three years of slow roll outs and testing with specific brands, Twitter announced that advertisements would now be available to all US businesses.
Twitter’s Senior Director of Product for Revenue, Kevin Weil, made this announcement at TechCrunch Disrupt, a move expected to generate revenue for Twitter right before they announce their widely anticipated IPO. EMarketer in late March estimated
that Twitter’s total ad revenue will more than double year-over-year to $582.8 million in 2013 and is on track to hit $950 million in 2014.“Until today it’s
been invite only, we’ve had brands and agencies and small business using the platform, and today we’re opening Twitter to all businesses, every account, every individual. Now every business in the US can use Twitter ads,†said Weil.This move follows last week’s announcement that Starcom Mediavest Group had signed a huge advertising deal with Twitter representing hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue over multiple years.