Twitter Business Plan Count-Up: Snuggie-Tweet!
by Kara Swisher
Posted on March 6, 2009 at 6:46 AM PT
Yesterday, BoomTown decided to start a new “Twitter Business Plan Count-Up” because the fine folks over at the hot-as-Alabama-in-July start-up were taking too long to do so.
Oh, they’ve been promising for a while to deliver the financial goods, but Twitter still has a devil-may-care attitude toward its lack of revenues.
(Who do they think they are? General Motors?)
My first idea was simple, taking advantage of the excessive hype around Twitter in the media by charging pundits, television anchors, bloggers and anyone else, a small microfee every time they mention Twitter in the vain hope of seeming hip, happening and relevant.
Last night, I was lucky enough to grab drinks with two of Twitter’s major venture investors and board members: Fred Wilson of Union Square Ventures and Spark Capital’s Bijan Sabet.
While we had a lively discussion about a lot of stuff, they had just come from a Twitter board meeting, but would tell me bupkis about their money-making ideas.
Thus, I foisted my next one on them: A wearable Twitter-branded device and fleece blanket outfit that vibrates every time you get tweeted.
Bear with me.
First, it links two completely overhyped trends: Twitter and a Snuggie. Enough said.
Second, Snuggies get boring after a few wears–I have one, so I speak from experience. But one that lets you know you are being bombarded by meaningless online chatter in real-time translates to endless fun.
Third, it’s a little naughty. A few days ago, watching “The View,” the group was chattering about Twitter and could not get through a three-minute segment without making wink-wink-nudge-nudge comments about “getting tweeted” or declaring, “Careful or I might twitter you.”
Combined with a Snuggie and vibrating, it’s a multimedia experience everyone can make giggly jokes about.
Lastly, imagine the extensions that are possible of a whole line of Twitter devices. A George Foreman grill that tweets everyone about how much fat you are cooking off your burger. A twit-on-twit-off light switch called the Tweeter.
And, of course, the Chia-Twit.
Comments
I can’t believe you forgot about Popeil’s Pocket Tweeter! For those days when you can’t wear your Snuggie to the office or meetings with clients … and the Tweet-O-Matic? Mmmm…. that’s great Tweet!
Posted by janet roberts at March 6th, 2009 at 9:14 amtwitter’s unique value is going down now that every social network is embedding the “what are you doing?” into their services
Posted by Sam Harrison at March 9th, 2009 at 11:51 am