'Chirp' Sets Twitter's Sights On Revenue

After topping 105 million users and becoming a household name, Twitter announced Wednesday it's prepared to take the next steps to make its service more accessible and to designate revenue a priority.

The company held its first conference for developers, aptly called "Chirp" in San Francisco, where CEO Evan Williams echoed Twitter's focus on revenue.

Also this week, Twitter announced a new program called "Promoted Tweets," which is an advertising platform based on users' search terms.

Previously, the primary objective for Twitter, in addition to being a social media vehicle, was "improving the user experience." The explosion in usage by not only the younger generation with a desire to share minute-by-minute updates, but also celebrities, companies and even politicians has now shifted has shifted the company's focus.

Chirp's second day will target Twitter's developers, as they come together to build new tools and apps for the site.

Williams also announced changes to Twitter's infrastructure and search features, along with improving its ease of use. At its current rate, the site is growing by an impressive 300,000 daily users, according to conference presentation slides.

However, the effect of 140-character Tweets, or text blurbs, strikes some as more child's play than a legitimate tool for most businesses.

"Twitter is great for teenagers who need to express themselves irresponsibly," said Andrew Plato, president at Anitian Enterprise Security, a Beaverton, Ore.-based security solution provider. "For business, it depends on your model. If you need to reach people regularly with information, it's a viable media. But for most, your just one tweet away from embarrassment."

Twitter's ability to upload news within seconds, meanwhile, has already caused waves in the media industry and has become a popular feature on its own.

Twitter's popularity has even inspired TWTRCON, a one-day conference taking place this June specifically designed to unlock the secrets of how Twitter can directly boost businesses.

According to its Website, microblogging via Twitter can build a brand, influence opinions, increase organizational collaboration and create new business opportunities. Head honchos from major corporations will participate in the conference as just another indication of how much Twitter has infiltrated the corporate world.