What is a Twitter Card?

In simple terms, a Twitter Card is an expandable area attached to a Tweet. It provides a window of extended information and media (image or video), beyond Twitter's 140 character limit, and is a great way to enhance the appeal and visibility of your site's content.

There are several Twitter Card types, many of which are free while others are part of Twitter advertising:

• Summary Card: The default Card that includes title, description, thumbnail and Twitter account attribution.
• Summary Card with Large Image: Similar to Summary Card, but with prominently featured image.
• Photo Card: A Card with a photo only.
• Gallery Card: A Card highlighting a collection of four photos.
• App Card: A Card to detail a mobile app with direct download.
• Player Card: A Card to provide video/audio/media.
• Product Card: A Card optimised for product information

It's easy to get started with Twitter Cards. Simply, add a few lines of HTML to your webpage and users who tweet your content will show a "Card" that's visible to all their followers and links back to your website. If you're using WordPress, there's a plugin available that will add a field for the metadata to each of your posts.

Benefits of using Twitter Cards

There are many benefits to using a Twitter Card. To start with, it dramatically increases your visibility as the call to action is clearer and more attractive. Also, when others share your site content, you get to control how your content is displayed on their posts and it comes with an automatic link back to your website.

The other benefit of using a Twitter Card is that it gives you more than your 140 character limit set by Twitter. More information (up to 200 more characters) means users are more informed, which leads to more targeted users clicking the link and finding your website. Interaction is 100% trackable with new Analytics that measure URL clicks and retweets on your cards.

Get more than web design with iFactory

At iFactory, we're already having success with Twitter Cards. In particular, we're favouring the Summary Card with Large Image, as we know the power of using images to capture people's attention and imagination. Accompanying your tweet, there's a full-width image that provides users a rich photo experience and a direct link to your website.

If you're using Twitter as part of your social media marketing, iFactory can free up your valuable time by incorporating Twitter Cards and other advanced features to drive more leads for your business.

Our multi-channel marketers can customise a digital marketing solution that best suits your business goals and budget. Contact iFactory today on 07 3844 0577 to get started. In the meantime, find out other useful social media tips at our blog or like us on Facebook to stay updated.