Twitter users can now broadcast themselves live using a new service called Twitcam. The service, introduced by Livestream, provides users with an opportunity to add live streaming video to their Twitter feed and host live chats.
In a press release by Livestream, the company said, “Twitter-centric services for sharing photos and videos have been exploding and are in high demand by Twitter users. Twitcam fills the application void for those wanting to stream live and chat with their followers with a single click.”
Livestream is right. There has been an explosion of new Twitter services for users to get more out of their Twitter experience. From Twitthis, a service which allows people to send Twitter messages about a blog post or Web site, to Twitpic, a site that lets you share photos on Twitter, users have more options to interact on Twitter (check out Mashable.com’s Twittermania blog to see a comprehensive list of Twitter tools).
But what we really like about Twitcam is how easy it is to use. Twitter users simply visit the Web site, log on using their Twitter username and password and click on the ëlive’ button. Livestream’s Twitcam automatically detects the users’ webcam, generates a page and live video player, and posts the link in your Twitter feed.
Twitcam has received numerous reviews including positive feedback from technology bloggers and Web sites such as CNET and Mashable.com. Ben Parr with Mashable.com compliments the service saying the concept is simple, but solid. Twitcam is a great example of how companies are leveraging the power of social media sites such as Twitter to provide organizations with the tools they need to interact and engage with audiences in these mediums.
As organizations continue to incorporate interactive marketing strategies into their marketing plans, (see our recent blog post, “Interactive Marketing Proves More Effective Than Advertising“) Web sites such as Twitcam are well positioned to offer brand managers new, creative ways to interact with Twitter followers. From a PR perspective, Twitcam offers a variety of inexpensive tools to facilitate a press conference, conduct an audit with consumers to determine their perspective on a new product or service, and can be used to secure user testimonials for marketing materials.
With the continued explosion of social media Web services like Twitcam, it will be exciting to see what other services launch and how the way consumers interact with social networking platforms like Twitter and Facebook continually evolves.