Twitter invites users to preview new features with launch of beta app

Social network Twitter is launching a radical new app to help it stay relevant and fight off competition from other sources (as well as criticism). As a primarily discovery medium, Twitter is an app that many people use to comment on their favourite shows, get disaster awareness information and discover the latest news – it also scores highly for branded content trust according to its own data. At the same time, it’s also often noted that it isn’t the easiest platform to use when there is a slew of messages or trending topics.

Showing that even the biggest names in the app world often need user input, the social network has revealed that it will launch a beta app so a selection of people will be able to test new features and feedback to the platform on the same. The beta app data will then be used to help determine if new features will be rolled out and what tweaks if any need to be made.

Around two thousand people are expected to be given access to the app and they will be able to share their experiences and give details of features they are testing in the app to the wider world – as Twitter says they won’t be made to sign an NDA before they are given access to the beta app.

Twitter says the app is a real departure from a standard beta because the users testing the features and getting a first look via the app will be given access from the start, rather than when the feature is almost ready to be launched.

One of the first features that new app users will be charged with testing is an improved conversation thread design. Many Twitter account holders have called the current conversation thread functionality confusing and less than user friendly so the beta will address this issue with a suggested new format including colour coded responses.

The beta will also tackle the initial on-boarding process for those who are new to Twitter and logging on for the first time.

The Twitter beta app is set to launch soon with users who are accepted into the beta program then given access to download the app. We think this is a great way of putting the ease of use, convenience and versatility of the app format to use to help make an existing product better and more aligned with user expectations.

Would you ever use an app to solicit feedback and input from your customers? Let us know with a Tweet @EaziApps!