Twitter redesigns signup process to entice new users

Originally published on 05 September 2014

Yore Koh, writing for the WSJ:

The company on Friday redesigned the layout of the signup process to address common complaints among new users that the service is too difficult to understand. The redesign, the first in three years, is subtle in its changes.

Indeed, the learning curve for Twitter can be slightly intimidating for some folks. Dealing with operational limitations, like 140-character tweets, and the learning of new concepts (i.e. follow, retweet, etc.) can be the determinants for an individual’s acceptance of a new order.

But Twitter believes the issue lies with identifying other folks to network with (or follow):

Much of the confusion comes from the time required to identify the accounts users would find most relevant to them. Previously, upon signup, Twitter would suggest users follow a few accounts from genres such as music, news, technology and sports.

Now, it first asks users to identify their interests. Twitter’s list of options include photography, fashion, entertainment, news and popular accounts. Based on those choices, Twitter offers suggestions. For example, users who chose “funny” might see a recent tweet from actor and comedian Aziz Ansari, while fashion mavens would be shown designer Marc Jacobs’s account and shutter bugs would see the Historical Pics accounts.

This most certainly helps with people who sign up simply for the sake of following selected users, but not necessarily having an intention to interact or engage.

Motivation is a key factor when, in this case, considering a service’s adoptability. Compared to Facebook, Twitter is a harder nut to crack because of all the little things that a full-fledged user would need to be knowledgeable about — in order to use the service effectively.

Kinny tweets aviation, social media and technology on Twitter.