Twitter started, Meta (Facebook & Instagram) followed: paid verification seems to be an up and coming test for 2023. But is it good for lofi artists and beat makers in general? Worth considering? Let’s deep-dive it based on our current knowledge.
Before I start, let me tell you that I will reviewing the functions as a hobby lofi beatmaker. So not someone, who purely lives on the income of the music I produce. On the other hand I will add my few cents from the point as an experienced online marketing expert (which is my actual job).
Paid verification at Twitter – Twitter Blue
I drop my lines based on Twitter’s official page information. As per the page, for 8 USD per month, users get the following.
“Edit Tweet: This highly requested feature gives you a 30 minute window to make a limited number of changes to published Tweets. Use it to make updates, tag someone, or reorder the media you attached. Edit Tweet currently only applies to original Tweets and quote Tweets.”
My personal opinion is on this matter that we use Twitter for years without editing. Yes, it is a pain in the back if you misspelled something, yet makes it much more human either. And some misspells can offer fun moments.
“Bookmark Folders: Bookmark Folders let Twitter Blue subscribers group and organize Bookmarked Tweets into folders for faster discovery later. Twitter Blue allows you an unlimited number of bookmarks and Bookmark Folders which are always private.”
“Custom app icons: With Custom App icons, you can change how your Twitter App icon displays on your phone. Choose from several colorful options. Check your settings regularly for new featured looks available for a limited time.”
“NFT Profile Pictures: We’re adding NFTs as one of several ways to customize your Twitter profile so you can show off the NFTs you own in a hex-shaped profile picture on your Twitter account. After a temporary connection to your crypto wallet that allows you to set up an NFT as your profile picture, your digital asset displays in a special hexagon shape that identifies you as the owner of that NFT.”
“Themes: Twitter Blue Themes let you choose from colorful options for your app theme.”
Until this point it was difficult to me to add any useful comments as all of the given features are pretty subjective. I mean as far as I can objectively tell – none gives you any upper hand as an artist or storyteller. Having a custom app on your handy will not give you extra number of followers, nor you will be more interesting by having an own theme on your app/phone that is visible for no one. They could be fun but that’s it.
The article is still long, here’s a chill mix for you. Click play and enjoy some beats helping you focus on the article.
“Custom navigation: This feature lets you choose what appears in your navigation bar, so you get quick access to the content and Twitter destinations you care about most. You can select at least 2 and up to 6 items to keep in your bottom navigation bar or restore to default if you change your mind.”
This one is tricky: I could use it well for creating own navi for different topics I am following. I believe this is the first idea on the list that may offer you a competitive benefit as a creator.
“Spaces Tab: We’re testing a new interface within Spaces that gives easier access to audio content. The new Spaces Tab is a place to find podcasts, themed audio stations, recorded Spaces, and live Spaces. This feature test requires in-app language settings to display in English. It’s currently only available to Twitter Blue subscribers on iOS and Android devices, and a select number of people globally. Learn more about Spaces and this early access test of the new Spaces Tab.”
This one could deserve a complete article. I mean on initial glimpse it is pretty much like Clubhouse that became trendy during the past years. As I did not investigate this part too deep, I am not certain if music podcasts could be held of not. Still I find it a great opportunity if so for any lofi artists.
“Top Articles: Top Articles is a shortcut to the most-shared articles in your network. This feature automatically lists the most-shared articles from people you follow—and people they follow, too—so you can easily find the type of content you want to read.”
This can be tracked in Twitter Analytics. More comfy but no added feature to my point of view.
“Reader: Turn long threads into a more beautiful reading experience. We’ve designed Reader to let you enjoy your threads with less noise. Turn the Reader feature on when you tap the reader icon at the top of the thread, or use it to change your text size.”
“Undo Tweet: Undo Tweet gives you the option to retract a Tweet after you send it, but before it’s visible to others on Twitter. It’s not an edit* button, but a chance to preview and revise your Tweet before it’s posted for the world to see. Once the Undo period is over, the Tweet is viewable to your followers and you can either leave it or delete it, like you normally would on Twitter.”
“Prioritized rankings in conversations: This feature prioritizes your replies on Tweets that you interact with.”
This feature is interesting as it offers bigger exposure to your replies. Worth considering.
“Longer video upload: Share more content with your followers. Twitter Blue subscribers can upload videos up to ~60 minutes long up to 2GB file size (1080p) (web only).”
Well. I still say, your videos should be uploaded to YouTube primarily, still, if you see the benefit for adding your beats with video on Twitter either, here’s your chance…
“Half ads: Coming soon!”
“Longer Tweets: Want to Tweet more than 280 characters? Longer Tweets allow Blue subscribers to Tweet up to 4,000 characters. You can also compose longer Tweets in a Quote Tweet or reply. Standard functionality like posting media, creating polls, and using hashtags still apply. Everyone will be able to read longer Tweets, but only Blue subscribers can create them.”
Honestly, if you cannot express yourself in 280 characters (such as this article), you may use other channels (like a website) or start a string and have more tweets under each other. Which is quite often used.
“SMS two-factor authentication: As a Twitter Blue subscriber, you can add another layer of protection to your account with access to two-factor authentication via SMS. Please note that availability of text message two-factor authentication for Twitter Blue may vary by country and carrier.”
What about Meta paid verification?
Meta just recently launched it and is in test phase. According to Meta representatives they aim to support creators for 12 USD per month. Asking already 50% more – let’s see what we get for it.
“A verified badge, confirming you’re the real you and that your account has been authenticated with a government ID.”
I barely see this as a good feature. I mean I can live off without a badge to be fair. On the other hand there were several times in the future FB asked for identification so knowing that a lofi artist is indeed a living person with an ID gives me no additional value.
“More protection from impersonation with proactive account monitoring for impersonators who might target people with growing online audiences.”
Ok… this should be their task anyway if they are to keep a kind of reputation. I mean any channels, where you find too many fake accounts, you are to live after awhile. Facebook is continuously deleting fake accounts every year, I see no benefit here.
“Help when you need it with access to a real person for common account issues.”
This one could come handy. My music was indeed stolen once and I got 0 support from them even after reporting. I contacted Distrokid, my distributor. They were helpful but at the end we were not able to do anything. I wonder if it worths 12 USD on the other hand, being a creator and beat maker, who is not living purely on music royalties.
“Increased visibility and reach with prominence in some areas of the platform– like search, comments and recommendations.”
Almost copy and paste what Twitter offered. This one is beneficial, not a question at my end.
“Exclusive features to express yourself in unique ways.”
That is a perfect sales sentence but without going too much in depth, I don’t feel like being convinced.
Summing it up
Two lists, two major players and both in test phase. It is hard to say it is clearly good or bad. Let me try it from my angles.
As a hobby lofi artist, on my level I see no benefit in any of the 2 above. For mere more reach in case of replies and annual one time need for proper customer service, Facebook offers a terrible value for ~150 USD per year. I can buy a new PO-33 and Koala Sampler with some cables and create mass amount of music with royalty free samples.
As for Twitter, I could see more benefits. It costs much less, yet offers more – such as the lengthy video (which is available for FB, I know) and Spaces (place for lofi podcasts and playlists). Up to the person’s time to decide. Without deep-diving and having no information on the monthly usage of Twitter Spaces, I would say no either, but I am to look into it later. Which is why I say ‘possible’.
What do you think? Would you pay for a badge?
