Twitter is testing Twitter Notes, a nifty feature that allows authors to post long-form content directly on the platform.
Yes – users may no longer need to upload a screenshot of the text or create extraordinarily long Twitter threads if they want to say something a little longer than 280 characters.
Read on to learn more about the potential of Twitter Notes and how it stacks up with alternatives like TwitLonger and Twitter threads.
What are Twitter Notes?
Twitter Notes is a way to create long-form content and articles on Twitter. Unlike regular Tweets, which are limited to 280 characters, Notes can be up to 280 characters. 2,500 words long. Think of them as blog posts that you can share directly to Twitter without linking to a separate website.
It includes all the essential features of a blog post, including notes, headlines, header images, and embedded media.
Notes too:
- Shareable. Notes are published with a unique URL so your reader can view the notes even if they don’t have Twitter or aren’t logged in.
- People. Notes are always public, even if the author has chosen to protect their tweets.
- editable. Notes can be edited even after they are published. If you choose to edit your note, an Edited label will appear on the Note.
Once published, you can share your Note on your profile using a Twitter card. The card includes a preview link and any additional text you want to add. Here is an example of what this looks like.
I wrote about attending one of Prince’s last shows for Black Music Month. https://t.co/7OE13YQ1IK
– Jewelry Wicker (@jewelwickershow) 30 June 2022
Clicking on the card opens the Note in the Twitter app.
People cannot reply to or interact with Notes, but they can do so with a Twitter card.
Why can’t I see or create Twitter Notes?
Currently, only a certain number of users can create Notes. If you have access to Twitter’s long format feature, you will see a tab in your menu called Write with Notepad icon. Click on it and you can edit drafts, create new Notes and view published Notes.
Not all Twitter users can access published Notes. The feature is being tested on users in Canada, Ghana, the United Kingdom, and the United States. If you’re in a country where grades are tested, these are easy to find. Otherwise, you may not be able to write or view Notes.
To view an account’s Notes, simply go to the Notes tab in their profile. (However this only works on the web, not the app).
How to use Twitter Notes
Notes is still in testing, so if the feature goes public it might look a little different than it currently does.
As of now, here are the instructions for creating and publishing Notes:
- Open your Twitter account.
- choose Writing tab from your menu.
- To choose To write To create a new Note.
- A blog builder tool opens where you can add title, text, images and other media such as GIFs or tweets.
- click Publish When you’re ready to share your note with the world.
- Choose whether you want to Tweet the note to your timeline or copy the link to share it.
- choose Publish.
- Depending on what you chose in Step 6, your Note will be published on your Timeline or you’ll have a nifty link to share it anywhere on the Internet.
If you’re more of a visual person, check out Twitter’s GIF of the process.
✨ Introducing: Notes ✨
We’re testing a way to write longer on Twitter. pic.twitter.com/SnrS4Q6toX
— Twitter Write (@TwitterWrite) June 22, 2022
Sharing Twitter Notes is similar to sharing regular tweets. Notes are shared on the author’s timeline so you can retweet and quote tweet cards here.
From a tweet, you can share the Note as follows:
- Go to the Twitter card.
- choose Share icon (located next to the Like icon).
- To choose Copy link to tweet or Send by Direct Message.
If you want to share directly from a Note reading view, you can share it like this:
- Go to: note.
- choose more icons (three horizontal dots) in the upper right corner.
- To choose Share via tweet or Copy link to Note to share elsewhere.
It’s also not necessary to have a Twitter account to read the notes, making it easy to share outside of Twitter. Note that the note may not be visible to viewers in some countries.
Alternatives to Twitter Notes
Until Notes is available to the masses, many users will need to find alternative ways to share long-form content on Twitter.
While linking to an external platform is an easy solution, you may want to consider options to keep the user on Twitter.
Here are a few Notes alternatives to consider.
Twitter threads
When 280 characters isn’t enough, many users choose to create multiple tweets under a single thread. Chain tweets appear repeatedly, which makes them valuable for storytelling, sharing real-time updates, and providing additional context.
There are two ways to create a Twitter thread. You can post each tweet individually or post all tweets at once.
If your thread is based on real-time announcements (for example, if you’re following a live event), you may want to broadcast individual tweets. However, if you want to publish a fully rendered title, it’s probably best to publish them all at once.
Here’s how to compose one tweet at a time:
- Open Twitter.
- Tap plus icon (on mobile) or start typing “What’s happening?” the prompt at the top of your timeline (on the desktop) to compose the first tweet.
- choose Chirp publish.
- Go to tweet and select Answer to add additional tweets.
And here’s how to create and publish your thread in one go:
- Open Twitter.
- Tap plus icon (on mobile) or start typing “What’s happening?” the prompt at the top of your timeline (on the desktop) to compose the first tweet.
- instead of tapping Chirp select button plus sign symbol. On mobile, it’s at the bottom right of your screen. On the desktop, it’s just to the left of the Tweet button.
- Add your additional tweets.
- To touch Tweet All to stream your entire array.
TwitLong
One of the most popular text-based social media platforms, Twitter is an obvious choice if you want to promote a post. But how can you share long-form content if threads aren’t cutting it and you don’t have access to Twitter Notes?
Many creators choose to link to other blogging platforms like Medium, but some choose websites like TwitLonger. This simple platform allows users to write posts and then share them on Twitter.
There are some drawbacks to using TwitLonger. Posts do not have text formatting and you cannot upload images or other media formats. It is designed for simplicity, so you can do nothing but publish the words.
If you don’t have a blog and need to occasionally write long-form content for Twitter, TwitLonger can be a good option.
This post was made on TwitLonger. A lot of people ask how it works, so the easiest way is to show you how… (continued) http://t.co/jltkGfIBKF
— TwitLonger (@twitlonger) June 1, 2014
You can use TwitLonger like this:
- Go to the TwitLonger website and log into your Twitter account.
- After logging in, you will be redirected to the new post page.
- Write your post.
- choose sticky paper publish.
- The first 100 characters of your post are published on your timeline, with a link to read the rest.
Twitter Notes FAQ
Who can write Twitter Notes?
Twitter Notes is currently in testing, so only a select few users can write Notes. Twitter selected a small group of authors to try out the feature and provide feedback. Depending on the test results, Twitter may change some features before releasing Notes to the general public.
Why can’t I see Notes on Twitter?
If you’re not in one of the countries testing the Notes feature, you may not see Notes on Twitter. Notes are only available to users in Canada, Ghana, the UK, and the US. If you are located outside of these countries, you cannot write or view Notes.
When will more people be able to write Notes?
It is on the Twitter agenda that more people can write Notes. according to a note “We’re excited for the moment everyone can use Notes, but for now we’re focused on getting it right,” he wrote on Twitter.
There’s no exact timeline for when more people can write Notes, but Twitter plans to expand the feature at some point.
Who can read Notes on Twitter?
Anyone can read Notes on Twitter. It is not necessary to log in to your Twitter account or even have an account. Notes are given unique URLs that can be shared over the Internet even if the author’s privacy settings are set to private.
What is a Note card on Twitter?
A Note card on Twitter means a tweet promoting a Note. When you post a note, you have the option to share it in a tweet on your timeline. If you choose this option, a Twitter card with a link to your Note will be generated. You can also add additional text to your tweet to expand on what your note is about.
Is it possible to edit a Note after it is published?
Unlike tweets, it’s possible to edit a Note after it’s posted. Readers will see an Edited label appear above your Note for transparency. To edit your note, go to the authoring composer tool, select the Note, and then make your edits.
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