A Tale Of Two Twitter Services

by Jeremy Schoemaker on January 21, 2009 · 86 comments

The first time I heard about Twitter was from my friend Neil Patel a couple years ago at the Elite Retreat. He was telling me all about this new thing that was going to change the way we communicate online… blah blah blah. The one thing that he said that really caught my attention was that he was one of the most followed people on the system (at the time, he was in the top 10). When Neil first introduced me to Twitter, he didn’t take me to his profile. Instead, he showed me a website called to Twitterholic.

Twitterholic was one of the first services, if not the first, to track users and rank them according to followers and other stuff. When I started using Twitter last May, I went through my del.icio.us bookmarks and saw this Twitterholic service. They were still ranking users but now they were only paying attention to the top users. I even tweeted the Twitterholic founders and received messages back saying things like, “If you are important enough, we will find you”. (These messages were also on their site.) Umm… okay you arrogant pricks. Here is my Twitterholic page. Notice how like, umm 5 months are missing! How busted is that?

So then I forgot about it… like I am sure most users did. But where one company gets lazy and arrogant, there is opportunity for another to come forward and take over their #1 position.

Let’s fast forward a couple months. I start to hear about this service called TwitterCounter.

twittercounter

Out of the gate, TwitterCounter was pretty slick. They gave you a TwitterCounter Badge (kind of like Feedburner images) that showed your site’s vistitors how many followers you had. It didn’t stop there. They kept banging away at TwitterCounter…implementing slick charts, an API, and were OPEN TO USER FEEDBACK (instead of being fricking jerks!).

Now TwitterCounter has not only become the #1 service for keeping track of users growth, but they have also found a way to monetize the website by featuring users.

You can see my page here on TwitterCounter

Notice the featured user at the bottom? That’s a paid placement. And it works. Look at the people from when they started placing their ads and their explosive growth and reach.

So I feel there is a huge lesson here – one that can apply to a lot of people out there trying to start and grown their own service. I see this happen all the time. When people reach the number 1 spot, they get all cocky and quit listing to user feedback. I have done it myself with some things and it’s a tough lesson to learn. It’s one of the reasons why I feel success that comes too quickly can be the worst possible thing for a young company/service.

I am sure that if today you asked the people behind Twitterholic about the service, they would say something like, “Oh well, it was a hobby. Who cares?” And that answer is all fine and good. Maybe it’s the truth and I can understand that. However, I still think there is a valuable lesson here for those who are trying to start something from nothing.

About the author...

Jeremy Schoemaker – who has written 2415 posts on ShoeMoney.com.

Hi I am Jeremy Schoemaker and ShoeMoney.com is my blog. 99% of the post here are done by me but you will see others occasionally make guest posts. This blog is fun to write but for my day job I run several online companies.

Images provided by ShutterStock

Mark recommends you read these posts also:

{ 79 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Sean January 21, 2009 at 1:27 pm

funny how they have found a way to monetize and twitter seems to struggle with it. And it is also wild that these services not owned by twitter are getting away with using their name. you wouldn’t see ebaycounter.com out there

2 Dave Ferrick January 21, 2009 at 1:48 pm

In reply to Sean, not sure if Twitter’s making money on this (I would have to think they are) but their new Suggested Users tab could be going to the highest bidder. http://twitter.com/invitations/suggestions

3 Sean January 21, 2009 at 3:39 pm

I didn’t think they were making money from it. It seems off target anyway.

4 Atniz January 22, 2009 at 2:05 am

It is not twitter making money.. it is the counter service that making money.

5 Make Money Online Tips January 22, 2009 at 3:35 am: Yup Twitter has no ads on it. I wonder how they run it? Or maybe its something like wiki.

6 Easy Google Profit January 21, 2009 at 2:40 pm

I still haven’t got into using twitter that much. it just doesn’t have all the cool features I like like the other networking websites, but I should give it a try.

7 Ruben Ricart January 21, 2009 at 4:34 pm: Maybe it lacks some features because that probably the way that it was meant to be, but the networking benefit goes beyond Twitter’s software platform….I suggest you sign up and start tweet’ing away.

Reply

8 Taris Janitens January 21, 2009 at 3:23 pm

It’s true – probably because twitter doesn’t have the legal arsenal – at least not yet! Be sure that when the site gets big, so will the trademark suits

9 Scott Prock January 23, 2009 at 1:11 am: If they do they will be faced with a tough battle because their trademark is very week right now because they haven’t been protecting it. That is why eBay and other companies that are seen as ruthless are the way they are … they want to protect the their trademarked brand, if they didn’t protect it viciously, their trademark will become week and defending it would become more difficult.

I’m not saying I agree with eBay, but I understand why they do it, and it’s clear that Twitter isn’t as worried about their trademark becoming diluted. Some companies look at them differently and it seems Twitter sees all the tools and sites out there as something that only helps populate Twitter, therefore they don’t need to worry about their trademark.

Just a thought … Scott

Reply

10 Brent Nau January 21, 2009 at 1:44 pm

I came across TwitterHat dot com. They are short URL service where they overlay the landing page with an advertising banner across it. I have no affiliation with the service, but the one of the owners stated to me that there is a low cost of entry right for it. Worth checking out as well.

@brentnau

11 ZK@Internet Marketing Blog (required) January 21, 2009 at 1:58 pm

I am sure Twitter is looking at strategic options for monetisation based on its theme and content. It does not want to paste ads all over the page. Innovative monetisation would be an interesting aspect for the site. Would be interesting to check what they would come up with to monetise content.

12 Rajbir January 21, 2009 at 2:02 pm

I’ve never used either of those, probably because I’m not “important enough” but Twittercounters homepage looks way better than Twitterholic.

13 Zac Johnson January 21, 2009 at 2:06 pm

Great write up, and a big inspiration for today’s blog post!

14 Too Many Secrets January 21, 2009 at 2:26 pm

Jeremy,

Great advice about getting the top and then being jerks and stop listening to the customers.

It happens all the time and we can all learn from that lesson !!

- Richard.

15 Erica DeWolf January 21, 2009 at 2:30 pm

I was aware of both of these services, but never really placed them side by side and evaluated the “better” or “more updated” of the two.

Just further proves that when there’s a hole in the market, a need that either is NOT being fulfilled, or not being fulfilled well, a new company will step in and fill the hole, and do very well!!

16 Joshua godinez January 21, 2009 at 3:03 pm

Thanks! I’ve totally put that on my blog.

17 Ruben Ricart January 21, 2009 at 4:33 pm

I feel you jeremy, it happens more often than not! I’ve been to twitter counter and seen the featured user section but had no idea that it was based on paid placement…thanks for sharing these nuggets.

18 Sky Xavier January 22, 2009 at 12:31 am

is the site paying you any commision for featured user? or site takes it all with them only? bit confused.

19 Ruben Ricart January 22, 2009 at 10:45 am: huh????? not sure I understand your question…

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20 BORIS January 21, 2009 at 4:43 pm

I’m going to print this review and hang it next to my bed. Thanks for appreciating our work!!!

And yes; all feedback is welcome! I’m Boris@twittercounter.com

21 Aman@BullsBattleBears January 21, 2009 at 4:45 pm

it would suck if the second, newer company gets somehow bought out thanks to their better customer services while the first program slowly dies..I’m sure then they will kick themselves (hobby or not, a buyout is usually on a lot of tech startup minds)

22 Work At Home Community January 21, 2009 at 4:55 pm

Will there be a new TWITTER service soon that everyone goes too? last year it was myspace, this year is facebook? will twitter become stale in a year as well?

23 brad January 21, 2009 at 6:08 pm

It’s very funny message. Life doesn’t have to be serious.

24 Money Academy January 21, 2009 at 6:27 pm

i try to insert both feedburner and twitter counter in the same line ” as shoe do ” but i couldn’t !

it always show twitter counter under feedburner .

but nice counter ” i followed you shoe .

25 Aleksandar M. Velkoski January 21, 2009 at 7:03 pm

I never got into the “twitter” thing. I really can’t see the value as of right now. I’ve got many individuals trying to get me using the site but…eh…not right now. Not yet.

26 Dennis January 21, 2009 at 7:21 pm

have to get that for my personal blog..
Thanks for information

I never knew about the Twitterholic site, thanks!

27 Raja Kamil (required) (required) January 21, 2009 at 8:13 pm

Lesson learn !

28 Stephen January 21, 2009 at 8:58 pm

Word 2 that Shoemoney. But I have to say some of those cocky sites still end up being successful. Instead of quantity they focus on quality.

I still use both, but not that it matters because I am just a tiny spec in twitter land.

29 nora January 21, 2009 at 9:21 pm

How does Twitter make money? I do not get the business model.

30 gumbosan January 21, 2009 at 11:33 pm: Ask Shoe.

Right now he’s madly attempting to demonstrate the various marketing possibilities of twitter. Be it a competition, paid placement etc. The affiliate stuff will turn up next.

Both he and a few high profilers positioned themselves (and continue to) quite well.

Reply
31 nora January 22, 2009 at 12:27 am: Okay, thanks for the non-imput here, expected with the lame readers here. How about you Shoe, the God of affilite marketing, what say you ace?

Reply

32 Crazy Old Guy January 21, 2009 at 10:16 pm

I found this from google: http://blogs.zdnet.com/SAAS/?p=308 so maybe Twitter does make money and will make more once the ads start coming up in the blank spaces on those pages

33 Ari Lestariono January 21, 2009 at 11:43 pm

Thanks Shoe, I was just wondering does Twitter worth it to be followed, I don’t concentrate to Twitter anymore though I upated once in a while, I think the best way is making connection to real readers and make it addictive to our site, that’s what I called real visitors

34 teamray January 22, 2009 at 12:25 am

wow especially for a small company bad customer service isnt acceptable.

35 Sky Xavier January 22, 2009 at 12:28 am

yeah thats true… there is always way to earth for arrogants. By the way its nice written post to show twitterholic once again their face in mirror.

36 nora January 22, 2009 at 12:33 am

I do not get the interest in this blog. It is so lame. It’s only reason to be online is to market crap in hopes to catch a few morons in the cracks to pony up a little money.

37 joe gelb January 22, 2009 at 12:36 am

thankyou for the twitterholic tip and other tips. im glad to learn of such great sites and services

38 nora January 22, 2009 at 12:45 am: You sound like a proud man who lives in India!

Reply

39 nora January 22, 2009 at 12:37 am

Hey Shoemoney commenters, read your posts, you sound like dumb asses.

40 nora January 22, 2009 at 12:49 am

I have to ask Shoe, do all these morons who respond here buy stuff fom you? If they do I can understand the whole dumb ass respond deal here.

41 nora January 22, 2009 at 12:59 am

Really, what do you bring to the internet that is of any use, except old recycycled content?

42 Ruben Ricart January 22, 2009 at 10:47 am: Do I smell a Hater? I think I do…

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43 Atniz January 22, 2009 at 2:01 am

I’m new to twitter too. I never heard about both services before. At least we learn not to be so arrogant here.

44 xHumanHealth January 22, 2009 at 6:24 am

Me, too. I am very new to twitter. I learn all of these by the time…

45 TomL January 22, 2009 at 7:19 am

This was new to me.I have been on Twitter for a while and the only Twitter dedicated site I knew of was Twitip.com

46 Miky Shadow January 22, 2009 at 9:54 am

I believe this is one of strategic by Twitter, first build brandname or trademark , then monetise it later. This is similiar what youtube do now.

47 Money Academy January 22, 2009 at 10:15 am

now i used this counter in my blog but i have a problem .. it not updated !

is it updated daily or what ??
i have 107 followers and the counter still show 40 !

48 Boris January 22, 2009 at 10:19 am

It is updated every 24 hour but you can also manually update it on your TwitterCounter profile. The button to do that is in the right sidebar.

I just did the manual update for you and it now shows the correct number on your profile. The button on your site will update a little later..

Any other questions: boris@twittercounter.com

49 Money Academy January 22, 2009 at 10:46 am: woow thank you Boris , now i love this place much more now .. i will update it myself now . thanks again

Reply

50 emmanuel January 22, 2009 at 11:47 am

Great piece of infor, i think am going to give these a trial. kind of new to twistter

51 Pheak Tol January 22, 2009 at 12:04 pm

i had twittercounter on my page for a while,but does it seem like it’s slow in updating how many followers you have? or am i the only one with that problem haha

52 Money Academy January 22, 2009 at 1:06 pm

check Boris comment about the same question i asked him , he say it take 24 hours to update or you can do it manually from the sidebar in your profile .

53 Pheak Tol January 22, 2009 at 1:41 pm: Hey I saw that after commenting haha, good looking though!

Reply

54 BrandC January 22, 2009 at 12:43 pm

I have yet to jump on the twitter bandwagon, but maybe i should start. It seems like something everyone is doing.

55 MLDina January 22, 2009 at 4:08 pm

I love using twitter, but there are so many additional plug-ins and trackers, it’s hard to keep track. It also can get to be too time consuming, so I try to keep my twitter tracking to a minimum. Does anyone feel the twitter counters have made a difference traffic-wise or quality-wise to your twitter profile or blog?

56 contentpig January 22, 2009 at 6:53 pm

I’m signing up for twitter counter now. The only issue is I have only 6 followers at the moment. So now I created a post explaining that I will follow anyone that follows me.http://xr.com/xgm follow me and i’ll do the same. Does anyone really have any data that shows that followers = conversions or ad-clicks?

57 Markus January 23, 2009 at 1:24 am

Here in Germany Twitter is just starting, but it´s growing. As for earning money: I think it´s possible now by combining other services. But let me make a prediction: If Twitter continues to grow that fast (around 3k% per year worldwide), Google will buy it, because they are loosing too much attention – Then we will have TweetSense

58 Article Spinning January 25, 2009 at 4:39 am

Ha ha ha, Markus, I think you are right. Hmmm, it will be interesting to see another billion dollar buy from Google. But TweetSense, hmmm, maybe that’s a domain worth buying… maybe.

59 Article Spinning January 25, 2009 at 4:43 am: I just checked and sure as hell – some dude already registered it with the “this domain may be for sale by owner” sign. Who knows, maybe the owner of that too is probably waiting and hoping,

Reply

60 ZK@Internet Marketing Blog (required) (required) (required) (required) (required) (required) January 23, 2009 at 2:27 am

Wikipedia is growing money like Obama did by sending emails to many people so you can expect that twitter will also do such kind of things in coming future.

61 Nick Stamoulis January 23, 2009 at 8:21 am

I love it when companies arrogance allows them to think they can sit back and enjoy the ride. Ride is over.

62 http://vipmillionaireleague.blogspot.com January 25, 2009 at 12:53 am

I haven’t used Twitter that much but I’m still getting into using Twitter for social media and marketing..TwitterCounter seems like a great tool and the fact that they listen to user feedback will help them a lot

http://vipmillionaireleague.blogspot.com

63 Loky January 26, 2009 at 7:34 am: …and this is why i’ll start using this Twitter service. Thanks for the article.

Reply

64 Trouy January 25, 2009 at 12:54 am

http://vipmillionaireleague.blogspot.com

65 Flashes In The Dark January 26, 2009 at 4:11 pm

Thanks for the tip. I’ve played with Twitter a bit…but haven’t really maximized its use.

66 Serene007 January 27, 2009 at 8:30 am

Hey thanks, great info on Twitter, I am thinking of setting up a profile for thias website beauty therapy courses I will be sure not to get too cocky or to complacent, cheers.

67 Your Reader January 27, 2009 at 11:13 am

Good work! Thank you!
I always wanted to write in my site something like that. Can I take part of your post to my blog?
Of course, I will add backlink?

Regards, Reader

68 Classifieds January 28, 2009 at 3:25 pm

This is a great lesson here, you should always satisfy your users, and make sure you are happy, no matter how big you are.

69 diabetes man January 29, 2009 at 10:19 pm

twitter again….very popular tools since one years ago

70 Busby Tester January 30, 2009 at 2:16 am

everyone talks about twitter.
indeed, it is popular topic

71 Ali Hussain January 30, 2009 at 4:37 am

I don’t like twitter at all. I don’t know why but i don’t like the interface

72 JainsRilianed February 5, 2009 at 3:00 pm

Your site displays incorrectly in Opera, but content excellent! Thanks for your wise words:)

73 Ari Lestariono February 5, 2009 at 9:41 pm

Content is like what repeated in many suggestion on every blog marketing article is the ….King

74 Paul @ HollywoodDJ April 29, 2009 at 1:58 pm

twittercounter rocks man. we are going to sign up as afeatured next month. pretty nice tool. we can send out specials to anyone that follows, especially DJs.

75 Portland window cleaning August 21, 2009 at 2:28 am