Audio streaming has gotten a lot of attention lately. You’ve probably heard of Clubhouse, the audio streaming app that people like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg use to hold live talks (similar to live podcasts).
If you’re still waiting for an invite, don’t worry. Twitter is developing its own audio product, Twitter Spaces, and plans to launch it widely on both iOS and Android in late April 2021.
What are Twitter Domains?
Twitter Spaces allows users to host and participate in live voice chats hosted within “Spaces” (aka voice chat rooms).
The product is currently in testing and currently only shortlisted users can create their own Domains. However, anyone on iOS and Android can join and listen to a Space. You can be aware of Spaces and other Twitter updates.
How to use Twitter Domains?
How to start Space on Twitter
Note that at the time of writing, only approved beta testers can launch Spaces. Once Spaces is publicly available, anyone will be able to host a Space (your account must be public).
You will launch a Space as you tweeted:
- On iOS, long press create button
- Select the spaces icon (multiple diamond-shaped circles).
Or you can:
- Tap on your profile photo (as if you were creating a Fleet)
- swipe right to find gaps choice.
- When you’re ready to start, tap . Start Your Space. Your microphone will be turned off by default, so you have to turn it on by tapping the microphone icon.
Image credit: James Futhey
turn on subtitles
The first time you host or speak in a Space, Twitter will ask for your consent to have your conversation captioned. This allows users to view live captions while listening to a Space (they must select “show captions” in the Space settings).
As the Host, you must turn on captions for your Domain. We highly recommend turning them on to make your channel accessible and inclusive for all listeners.
add a description
When creating your domain you will have the option to add a description (up to 70 characters). We recommend adding a short but specific line that talks about the topic you will be talking about and/or the guest speakers you will be hosting. Your domain’s title defaults to “[Your Twitter Name]’s Space” which cannot be changed at this time.
How to add speakers to Twitter Spaces
You can add up to 10 people (other than the Host) as speakers to a Space.
Choose from three options for speakers:
- Everyone
- people you follow
- Only people you invite
You can change this later at any time when hosting a Space. If you choose “Only people you invite”, you can send invites to speakers via DM.
Image credit: @wongmjane
While a Space is live, you can approve speech requests from listeners. All speakers you approve will be included in the 10 speaker limit.
If you have problems with speakers (as the host) you can remove them, report them or block them.
Note that if you block a user in a Twitter Domain, you will also completely block them on Twitter.
There is no limit to how many listeners can join a Space.
How to end Twitter Domain
Hosts can end a Space by tapping Exit top right (this will end Space for everyone). Or a Domain that violates any Twitter Rules expires.
Once a Domain has expired, it is no longer available to users. Twitter will keep a copy of the audio and captions for 30 days in case it needs to review the conversation for any rule violations.
During these 30 days (which extends to 90 when an appeal is filed), hosts can download a copy of their Domain data, including a transcript if captions are on.
How to join a Space on Twitter
Anyone (both iOS and Android users) can join a Twitter Space as a listener.
There are currently two ways to join a Twitter Domain:
- by tapping a purple circle around a host’s photo at the top of your timeline (same as viewing Fleets); or
- tapping a purple Space box within a tweet. Remember that the space must be alive; You cannot join a Space after it has expired.
Image credit: @wongmjane
When you join a Space, your microphone is muted by default.
There are several actions you can take after entering a Space:
- change your settings (like turning on subtitles and sound effects),
- desire to be a speaker
- see the list of speakers and listeners,
- send emoji reactions,
- share tweets,
- and share Space.
Pro tip: If you want to continue using Twitter while listening to a Space, you can minimize it and it will be pinned to the bottom of your app. If you exit the Twitter application, the sound will continue to play.
How to find Spaces on Twitter
Discoverability is still a work in progress for Spaces. According to screenshots found by @wongmjane, Twitter plans to create a special tab within the Spaces app where you can search and explore Spaces. For now, you can type “twitter.com/i/ispaces” in the mobile app search bar to find Spaces.
Working on a dedicated page/tab for Twitter @TwitterSpaces pic.twitter.com/ggXgYU6RAf
— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) March 17, 2021
Spaces are public and anyone (including those who don’t follow you) can join.
Hosts and audience members have three options for sharing Spaces:
- Send invite via DM,
- share it on your timeline with a tweet,
- or copy the link to Space to share as you like.
According to the Twitter Spaces team, they are working on a scheduling feature for Spaces that will make it much easier to promote and notify your followers in advance. Once you schedule a Space, you’ll be able to tweet its link and your followers will be able to set a reminder to join your Space when it goes live.
Image credit: @c_at_work
Twitter Spaces vs Clubhouse: How do they compare?
On the surface, Twitter Spaces and Clubhouse look pretty similar in design and function. But even though the Clubhouse was the first to walk out the door, Spaces has long outstripped the Clubhouse in some ways (more on the features below). Initial users seem to agree:
The clubhouse feels like going to someone else’s house for a social gathering and perhaps you’ll have to interact with people you don’t know. Twitter spaces feel like a little meeting with friends at home.
– anna melissa 🏀🐍✨ (@annamelissa) March 5, 2021
I know @TwitterSpaces It’s only in beta, but I’m very impressed with the sound quality and emoji functionality that allows for more active Listener engagement.
I can’t wait for more! https://t.co/NPoQo4G6B1
– ro kalonaros (@yoitsro) February 11, 2021
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of Twitter Spaces and Clubhouse (as of April 7, 2021):
It remains to be seen how the full launch of Twitter Spaces will impact Clubhouse’s popularity.
A big difference between both platforms is their User base. While Clubhouse is a new app that is building its base from the ground up, Twitter already has millions of daily active users, which gives Spaces a boost.
1. The network is already here.
No need to rush, buy another social channel and increase your followers on a new audio network from scratch.
already here @Twitter plus you get built-in network effects.
— Lucas Bean 🗯 (@Luke360) March 31, 2021
5 ways to use Twitter Spaces for business
The question on every marketer’s mind right now is: Should I plan to integrate Spaces into my Twitter marketing strategy? Before answering this question, make sure you have a solid Twitter marketing strategy.
Using the latest features won’t help if you don’t have a strong foundation in having intimate conversations with your followers and recognizing your brand’s voice.
Once you’ve got that locked in, here are some initial ideas for how your business can use Twitter Spaces.
1) Thought leadership
For many businesses (especially B2B ones), building your brand as a thought leader is one of the many benefits of using social media. Given the Spaces’ multi-speaker design, using it to house industry panels seems like a natural fit.
Build your business thought leadership and deliver value to your customers by organizing a Twitter Space with experts in your industry. Or host a live webinar where one of your employees shares industry expertise.
2) Q&A/AMAs
Hosting a Q&A or ask me anything session would be a great use of Spaces’ lively nature and willingness-to-talk features. Many businesses do this with Instagram Stories stickers, but using Twitter Spaces will create a much better experience for users who ask a real person a question and are instantly happy to hear answers right away.
Consider holding a Q&A session in their Twitter Space to answer customers’ questions about a new product or feature. Or invite a celebrity or loved one in your industry to hold an AMA session (with your job as a special facilitator).
3) Commentary on live events
Twitter is already quite popular for hosting conversations at live events like sports and TV shows/live streams. If you’re a media business or broadcaster, your business can use Twitter Spaces to share comments on relevant live events and invite your community to join as speakers (such as radio talk shows). We’re already seeing this in communities like NBA Top Shot. Publishers hosting Spaces to discuss the last drops.
4) Game shows/gifts
Another potential use case for radio-inspired Twitter Spaces: Host a live game show with your followers. A new research report could be themed around a platform launch or market expansion. Or if you’re launching a new product, have the audience compete in some fun quiz and reward them with their first experience of your new product by awarding it to the winner.
5) Album/film/product releases
What could be better suited to an audio platform than music? Twitter Spaces for musicians offers a great opportunity to promote future albums: hosting a live album listening party with your biggest fans.
The idea can also be adapted for broadcasts for movies, TV shows, apps – anything a business has already built anticipation for. Then, on release day, invite your best fans or clients to a Space to celebrate and discuss the release. Be sure to share some exclusive audio content during the Space to reward listeners and encourage people to join your future Spaces.
With the early popularity of Clubhouse and the soon-to-be-launch of Twitter Spaces, it looks like the social voice will endure. With Twitter, Spaces feels like an improvement over its current product: adding a dimension of sound to text-only conversations, making the platform feel more intimate and human.
Twitter Spaces is expected to go public in April 2021. Keep watching us!
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