Twitter has just launched a new feature that makes following third-party companies and websites easier than ever.
The micro-blogging site introduced a “Follow” button, which any online entity with a Twitter account can post anywhere they want. When users click that button, they’ll automatically begin following that entity.
Previously, users had to first click on a button to be directed to the Twitter account in question, and then from that page it could be added to their Following list.
So, in essence, the new button makes what was a two-click, two-site process into a single one-click action.
It’s not a huge time saver, but it shows how important it is for social networks to make everything as simple as possible. This new button is the same thing as Facebook’s external “Like” button, which also highlights the tug-of-war between those two networks.
“Adding the Follow button to your website and using Twitter to stay connected with your audience is a powerful combination. People who follow your account are much more likely to retweet and engage with your Tweets, and to repeatedly visit your website,” explained Twitter’s Brian Ellin in a blog post.
In addition to having as many as 200 million users, Twitter has become an important tool in everything from politics to corporate communications. There seems to be no end to the website’s possibilities.
