The recent past when using Twitter played a lucrative economic role in my career feels like a distant memory. For instance, in 2020, I tweeted a story idea out to my followers, expecting little. Instead, more than 400 people liked the post and among the comments was a message from a magazine editor. Using fewer than 280 characters, I secured a story commission for a national publication and a four-figure paycheque.
scammers. This fantasy is the most frequent “business opportunity” that I cross paths with there today., rushing to replicate them on similar apps. But filling voids of community and conversation is one thing, and replacing professional opportunities is another entirely. Twitter had long marketed itself as a place to do business. Not only for large advertisers but for small businesses and entrepreneurs. The ability to connect with colleagues and customers through bite-sized messages was an attractive business development tool across a multitude of industries.
On another hand, there have been shifts in reach and audience that hinder professional intentions. My original posts get minimal interest compared with even a year ago. I’ve almost been embarrassed to make professional requests because, despite having more than 1,200 followers, they’ll be seen by a paltry fraction. Tweeting a story idea for sale now feels like shouting into a void instead of an interested marketplace.