Investing in the Twitter Ecosystem: Why DataSift?

This article discusses the investment made by GRP Partners in DataSift, a company that provides a real-time data platform and tools for leveraging the power of Twitter data.

The author, a venture capitalist, believes that Twitter is a crucial platform for businesses, offering a wealth of real-time information that can be used for everything from marketing to investment decisions.

The Value of Twitter Data

The author argues that Twitter’s value stems from its unique characteristics:

Real-time: Twitter provides near real-time information, giving businesses a significant advantage in today’s fast-paced world.

Open: Twitter data is publicly available, unlike data from other platforms like Facebook, which can be locked behind a firewall.

Asymmetric: Twitter's follower model allows users to follow others without having to be followed back, providing insights into interests and preferences.

Social: Twitter facilitates conversations and interactions, providing businesses with insights into relationships and influence.

Viral: Twitter's retweet feature drives viral adoption, making it a powerful tool for content dissemination and brand awareness.

Location-aware: Many tweets include location information, offering businesses valuable insights for targeted marketing.

Referral Network: Twitter has become a powerful platform for driving traffic to websites and blogs.

Explicit and Implicit Data: Twitter provides both explicit data (such as links shared) and implicit data (such as followers and interactions), offering a comprehensive view of user behavior.

DataSift as a Twitter Platform

The author highlights DataSift as a platform that can help businesses make sense of the vast amount of data generated by Twitter.

DataSift offers tools for processing and analyzing Twitter data, turning the "fire-hose" of information into a manageable stream.

DataSift provides a product that creates a permanent database of Twitter data, allowing businesses to capture and retain information that would otherwise be lost.

DataSift has access to historical Twitter data, enabling businesses to conduct retrospective analyses.

Twitter's Ecosystem for Startups and Investors

The author discusses why Twitter is a valuable ecosystem for startups and investors.

Twitter is a valuable platform for businesses, offering a unique set of capabilities and opportunities.

Twitter's management team is communicative and committed to fostering a thriving ecosystem for third-party developers.

Twitter has a clear vision for its future and is committed to providing a robust platform for business growth.

The Benefits of Twitter for Business

The author emphasizes the numerous benefits of Twitter for businesses, including:

Real-time insights: Twitter provides access to real-time information, allowing businesses to stay ahead of the curve.

Targeted marketing: Twitter's data can be used to create highly targeted marketing campaigns.

Customer engagement: Twitter facilitates direct communication with customers, allowing businesses to build relationships and respond to feedback.

Brand awareness: Twitter's viral nature allows businesses to amplify their brand message and reach a wider audience.

Competitive advantage: Leveraging Twitter data can give businesses a competitive advantage in today’s market.

Twitter's Future

The author concludes that Twitter is a valuable platform for businesses, with a bright future.

The author's investment in DataSift demonstrates his belief in the power of Twitter data and the potential for businesses to leverage it for success.