This might be the most ridiculous post I’ve ever written.
But I’m okay with it.
I’m okay with it because people are getting WAYYYYYY to heated over whether or not Twitter should have 280 characters or whether Twitter should have stuck with 140.
Here’s the thing:
As much as we love Twitter… As much as we grew to adore the 140 characters… And as much as we’re attached to the nostalgia of finding a creative way to be witty in 140 characters.
Here’s what all of us need to keep in mind when it comes to the 140 vs. 280 debate:
This. Really. Doesn’t. Matter.
Yes, Twitter is important for media.
Yes, Twitter is important for politics.
Yes, Twitter is important for global communication. I agree, Twitter is an important part of the world around us and the way countries, leaders, professionals, teachers, students and organizations connect, share, collaborate and every other term for communication under the sun…I get that.
But getting upset over 280 characters is not something worth being so upset about that you’re truly draining your energy on this new move. That’s why I’m okay with this being a ridiculous post. Because I know that there are far too many things going on in this world that need attention than this idea.
And while 280 characters has some people losing their minds, I’m using the news about this 280 characters as a mental break from the chaos happening all around us.
So… Let’s get to it…Without further ado… Here are 11 creative ways that you can use the new 280 character limit on Twitter to tell your story in a unique, compelling and interesting way:
1) Share Multiple Links In One Tweet
In the past you had to annoy your followers by tweeting out back to back to back tweets with different links. Thanks to the 280 character limit, you’re now able to take a page out of Bill Simmon’s book and include all of the articles in one tweet:
Here’s @bykevinclark on a show-me week for Week 4 contenders: https://t.co/FvAeWsMAHV@DannyBKelly on the Vikings QBs: https://t.co/Ye3fyiSN30
Cousin Sal’s gambling pod: https://t.co/wz3qls2DaZ
BS Podcast: @gladwell – https://t.co/YhgjswEYjn
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) September 29, 2017
2) Tweet In Two Of Your Favorite Languages
I’m still waiting for Justin Trudeau to catch onto this one but never again will Canadian politicians and governments be forced to send a tweet twice. Or at least now they have the option to simply include both French and English in one:
All true Canadians know there is only one proper use of the new 280 character limit on Twitter. |
Tous les vrais Canadiens savent qu’il n’y a qu’une bonne utilisation de la nouvelle limite de 280 caractères sur Twitter.— Matt Boo. (@tederick) September 28, 2017
3) Tell Two Stories In One
You’re no longer limited to be witty with 140 characters or rely on a threaded tweet. You can now break up two tweets into sections and deliver gold like this:
BREAKING: The world’s problems will not be solved by arguing with strangers on Twitter. We’ll update you when we have more on this story.
UPDATE: The world’s problems will still not be solved by arguing with strangers on Twitter, even with 280 characters to play with.
— Channel 4 (@Channel4) September 28, 2017
4) Create A Ridiculously Long Tweet Using Breaks
Want
To
Make
People
Scroll…. Kidding. Please don’t do this…
W
H
A
TC
O
U
L
DP
O
S
S
I
B
L
YG
OW
R
O
N
GW
I
T
HA
2
8
0
–
C
H
A
R
A
C
T
E
RL
I
M
I
T
?
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?— Chris Smith (@Lilyachttty) September 26, 2017
5) Create Character Art With Your Messages
You can now get even more creative with your character tricks. Whether it’s creating a happy birthday message like this or building a bus with the different letters of the alphabet – You now have more space than ever to do it.
Happy birthday Steve Reich
appy Birthday Steve Reich H
ppy Birthday Steve Reich Ha
py Birthday Steve Reich Hap
y Birthday Steve Reich Happ
Birthday Steve Reich Happy
Birthday Steve Reich Happy
irthday Steve Reich Happy B
rthday Steve Reich Happy Bi
thday Steve Reich Happy Bir— Lev Parikian (@LevParikian) October 3, 2017
6) Tweet More Emojis and Make Emoji Patterns
Emojis are all the rage these days and the introduction of 280 characters is only goingn to make the world of emojis a little bit more special. Create your own emoji patterns based on your brands story and the things that make you unique like this:
It seems we have been granted 280 characters..so here’s 280 characters dedicated to the best sport ever!
🏐💙🏐💙🏐💙🏐💙🏐💙🏐💙
💙🏐💙🏐💙🏐💙🏐💙🏐💙🏐
🏐💙🏐💙🏐💙🏐💙🏐💙🏐💙
💙🏐💙🏐💙🏐💙🏐💙🏐💙🏐
🏐💙🏐💙🏐💙🏐💙🏐💙🏐💙
💙🏐💙🏐💙🏐💙🏐💙🏐💙🏐
🏐💙🏐💙🏐💙🏐💙🏐💙🏐💙— Mizuno Volleyball (@MizunoVolley) October 3, 2017
7) Create Clever Vertical Tweets
Want to create a ladder with a snake climbing up it? You always could… But now you can make the ladder even longer than it was before.
[—]
[—]
[—]
[—]
[—]
[—]
[—]
[—]
[—] What
[—] a
[—] thrill…
[—]
[—]
[🐍]
[—]
[—]
[—]
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[—]— John Guerra (@johndaguerra) October 1, 2017
8) Share Memorable Long-Form Content
Whether you’re into Backstreet Boys or Drake, 280 characters gives you even more room to share lyrics, poetry and creativity. This tweet from The Muppets is pure gold as it shows us the full potential of 280 characters:
Mahna Mahna!
Doo do doo do doo
Mahna Mahna
Doo do doo do
Mahna Mahna
Doo do doo do doo, do doo-doo, do doo-doo, doo-doo do do do do do
Mahna Mahna
Doo do doo do do
Mahna Mahna
Doo do doo do
Mahna Mahna
Doo do doo do doo, do doo-doo, do doo-doo, doo-doo do do do do do
Mahna Mahna!— The Muppets (@TheMuppets) September 29, 2017
9) Share Photos With Repetitive Text
I bet ya can’t say Otter 20 times fast….
Ready? Set? Go…
Otters otters otters otters otters otters otters otters otters otters otters otters otters otters otters otters otters otters otters otters otters otters otters otters otters otters otters otters otters otters otters otters otters otters otters otters otters otters otters otters pic.twitter.com/WAKrKTQDYS
— Oregon Zoo (@OregonZoo) September 27, 2017
10) Make List Posts On Twitter
Do you have three reasons why you’re so over Avocado toast? Maybe four reasons you want to see the Fresh Prince on Netflix? You can now use a more robust list format like this:
I’m going to be annoying with my 280 characters
1. why b24 was managed by cj/liveworks but suddenly it was changed to cj/mmo
2. how sungho haejoon yonghyun yongkwon is now under liveworks
3. how alex is there in liveworks
4. did doha fully escape and become independent trainee— jasmine (@0327_0926) October 3, 2017
11) Make Fun Of The Fact That You Don’t Have 280 Characters Yet
Kinda like this…
We’re celebrating @Twitter‘s #280characters in the best way… by revealing how the #PLLMoms made it out of the basement. First, they opened
— Pretty Little Liars (@PLLTVSeries) September 27, 2017
Wrapping Things Up
If this post provided you with inspiration for how you can share creative 280 character tweets – Awesome. If this post provided you with a mental break from chaos happening in either your life or in the news – Awesome.
Let me know if you come across any other creative examples of accounts leveraging the 280 character limit – I’d love to see them. You can find me on Twitter: @TheCoolestCool.