Special Update: Mike has responded to this review in the comments below. Be sure to read them and chime in with your own questions…
Mike Filsaime is known for coming out with products that are innovative, cutting edge, and monetized almost to a fault. TweetGlide is no different. Allow me to share with you how this free Adobe Air based application can make tweeting easier for you, create a revenue stream (if you want it to), and can be used to advertise on Twitter. I will share my first impressions of TweetGlide, who TweetGlide is for, who it is not for, and explain the business model behind the product. By the end of this review hopefully you’ll have enough information to decide if TweetGlide is for you.
Review of TweetGlide from Mike Filsaime
There has been so much buzz around twitter, it has been almost deafening. With it have come a hoard of applications, a select few of which are reviewed here on this site. Mike Filsaime’s creation TweetGlide is no different. If you are familiar with other adobe air applications for Twitter, like Tweetdeck, then you’ll understand this application quickly.
First Impressions of TweetGlide
The application itself is indeed similar to TweetDeck. I don’t expect it to be as smooth as TweetDeck, because TweetDeck has been out so long and ironed out many of it’s bugs. That said, TweetGlide already put out and update which addressed a duplicate tweet bug (kind of important). Get the latest version of TweetGlide here…
The Good Stuff:
- The tweets seem to flow in nicely across all columns.
- The bottom of each colum has a relevant set of functions based on what the column is (mentions, DMs, Favs, etc.) so that you can quickly take action.
- After clicking the search button, typing in your search terms, and hitting ok, TweetGlide creates a new column for your search. I found this useful, and if I don’t want it, just click the X in the upper right of the column.
- Provides support for common URL shorteners (with some analytics).
- iPhone: while not yet available, based on their homepage it looks like they have a version for the iPhone under development. Smart move.
TweetGlide User Interface - TweetDeck Users Will Find this Familiar
Where it Needs Improvement:
I think Mike and his team know that they have to be vigilant to build in features and add value to the product for it to be a success, and as mentioned earlier, they already released a fix for a but this morning, yet there are some things I did notice…
- Tiny Tiny buttons. The font isn’t too bad, but the buttons are a bit too tiny for my liking, and I see no place to configure them (to make them larger). They are also spaced out a bit, perhaps that is what is necessary with the black background, but the buttons need to be larger.
- Non functioning buttons. More about buttons…There is at least one button that does nothing, and tells you nothing. Case in point, there is a Facebook button… Perhaps this is to indicate a future feature, maybe I’m just picky, but remove the button entirely, or gray it out, or make a tooltip (bubble) indicating this is for the upcoming Facebook integration.
- URL Shortener: While it is part of the product, I didn’t see where I can integrate my bit.ly account so that analytics is tracked for my login. If you know where to set this up, please share in the comments below this post.
Who TweetGlide is For
If you are looking to get a windows application with a TweetDeck-like user interface, with advertising capabilities (more on that in a moment), as well as an opportunity to make money (more on that in a sec, too), TweetGlide may be a good fit for you. Get the full story on TweetGlide here…
Who TweetGlide is Not For
If you are a corporate user, or someone that doesn’t like the idea of making money using twitter, or with affiliate marketing referral systems, TweetGlide will most likely be a turnoff for you. Let me be clear, I do understand, it is not for everyone. More on the business model below.
Business Model Behind TweetGlide
The application is free. That is good. And as a free user, you get to build advertising credits. There is an Sponsored Tweets column in the software, and with that enabled your add credits build, and your ads will be shown. Yep, you get to write ads that are exposed to other TweetGlide users. So as the application get’s more popular, or viral (classic Filsaime businesses model), the ad will get more and more exposure.
Option to Upgrade TweetGlide
Beyond that there is a special opportunity presented when you activate the application to become a “Premier Member”. This one time offer allows you to pay for ad placement such that your ad stands out from non paid ads with color, and up to 400 characters (not the 140). I’ve spent a fair amount of time studying and using 3rd party Twitter advertising networks, and what is offered in TweetGlide seems like a decent value, and will increase in value as the application becomes more popular. I don’t know the inner workings of the business model, but I would imagine it is a supply and demand thing, as it gets more popular it makes sense that the price will go up. Get the full story on TweetGlide here…
In simplest terms, the advertising is attractive, and it is setup as an multi level marketing business model. The best way to understand it is to watch the video on the TweetGlide homepage.
Bottomline on TweetGlide
I think the application has some promise, but what will win users over is the ability to advertise with it, and monetize their tweets (ads) using the TweetGlide interface. The best thing you can do is download it, and try it out for yourself, I think it is time well spent. Get the full story on TweetGlide here…
Chime In: What are your impressions of the product, did you decide to download it? How did you respond to the process? Are you planning on testing the advertising component of the product? Chat it up in the boxes below.
#1 by charles - October 28th, 2009 at 18:25
Very well done. I kept seeing stuff from my followers today, and glad to see this overview of tweetglide. I also checked out the other advertising service referenced at the beginning of the post.
Do you know when the iPhone app version will come out?
#2 by Twitter User - October 28th, 2009 at 18:35
Charles- Not sure about the iphone app. I’m sure they wanted to get this out the door. My understanding is the UI may indeed be updated as well. Hopefully they will take into account some of my observations here.
#3 by ashton - October 28th, 2009 at 18:33
Thanks for putting this together.
#4 by Twitter User - October 28th, 2009 at 18:37
Ashton- Sure thing… is this something that would be useful to your business, or not?
#5 by Max - October 28th, 2009 at 21:02
Nice to see a decent review and not all the hype. I downloaded it played for while and do not see the point really. Other than your user interface points above which I agree with I have a couple of other points.
1. Why would I want to see a whole lot of ads in my twitter stream/client? I do not see them with TweetDeck or other Twitter clients. I could perhaps forgive this if I could move the column but we do not have this option. Its easy finding IM products without having them in my face.
2. Thought it a little tricky having the system send two Tweets on my behalf about TweetGlide. I installed it a second time on another computer and did see this little tick box option but very subtle. I have plenty of followers not interested in this kind of marketing or app and was not happy about this, but Mike is excellent (a tad aggressive) with Viral marketing so no surprise really.
3. Feel that this app reeks of an MLM type program and takes away from the ‘genuine’ publishing aspect of Twitter. I can see new users sending heaps of nonsense Tweets just to earn credits. I could be wrong but I think this will reduce the value of info provided and account for a lot of UnFollows.
Perhaps I am simply not getting it just yet. I will keep following the TwitterGlide conversation (via TweetDeck) and see if I get any useful comments/uses rather than all the random generated ones with affiliate links.
Oh yeah if you refuse the first upsell option you get the same deal with a second upsell at $47 I bet that’s going to annoy those people who pay $97 and find out later. But still all the affiliates are not going to advertise that fact are they?
#6 by Twitter User - October 29th, 2009 at 00:29
Max- I cannot argue with you here. It depends on your style. For me, I’m not a huge MLM fan, as compelling a business model as it is, the ‘business model’ often trumps people/relationships…which I’m not a fan of, either.
That said, it can be a very compelling business model. As I said, this is not for the corporate or casual user. Nearly every product Mike puts out has an MLM spin to it. If you don’t mind having ads in your fact (which you’ll likely be conditioned to ignore…for the most part), this can be a great option, and maybe make money (for affiliates).
Yeah, no doubt TweetDeck is a more refined app, but nobody using it makes money with *it*. The reason TweetGlide will be successful is for the monetization users anticipate, either as an affiliate, or by advertising offers.
As for the second upsell at $47, all things being fair, it is for half the amount of ads and such, so not just a straight up discount.
Thanks for taking time to chime in.
Others? What say you?
#7 by Max - October 29th, 2009 at 02:03
All fair enough comments. Yes the MLM business model is very compelling I admit, and yet it does ruin many relationships. Kind of what I mean with the UnFollows that I foresee occurring with TweetGlide.
Would have to disagree with no one making any money with TweetDeck (Twitter) though. Simply provide value, be interesting and link to your blog/website. If people (especially in the Marketing arena) were not making money with Twitter or other social media tools we would not have so many people using it. Or providing ‘books/courses and tools’ to make more money with it…
All that said, these are just my opinions. Mike is very good at what he does I’ve purchased his products before and I’m sure is a good guy, no criticism of him personally intended at all. In fact, he just retweeted this site so good on him.
Like you say, interested in what others have to say as well. I’ll butt out now
#8 by Twitter User - October 29th, 2009 at 13:30
Max-
What I meant was nobody is making money with *it* (as in Tweetdeck). Truly how many of us can make money with any software running. How we use it, yes, we can add value, etc. as you state. Software, like what Mike is providing is not commonplace. Time will tell just how commonplace it becomes.
Others?
#9 by Mike Filsaime - October 29th, 2009 at 02:00
Hi if I may offer just facts. I will not push the use of my TG software. I think this review was fair.
The face book button opens a facebook STREAM only if you go into settings tab and then click on general settings and login with your Facebook credentials.
The button does not work b/c you did not set up your facebook credentials. I will have a note say that when you click it and have not set that up yet.
The Iphone app will be ready Before Christmas. It will be free and have no ads. A page will explain more on the site.
Here is the biggest thing that is missing by many. And I need to make it more clear.
“ANYONE can shut off the ads. Seeing adds are optional. When you shut them off, you simply do not earn credits. And not it is a ad free tool.
Tweetglide feels we have a BETTER solution for websites owners. Many of them are just SPAMMING all of us with their ads. Tweetglide encourage non promotional tweets. We feel (like GOOGLE) that sponsored advertisements have their place. if you choose to see them, we allow you to have your own add shown to thousands. If not, shut the ads off.
Most website owners are always tweeting about their sites. Now they can engage in conversation the right way and keep the twitter stream clean with great content. Remember that ads are only for those that want to see them.
In the end TweetGlide encourages more organic less spammy tweets and puts ads in an appropriate “Sponsored Tweets” column where they belong. (Like Google does.)
And we will have an open API developers community coming soon as well. More at the site for that. So many people will be developing cool stuff for users.
To the Website owner. Please feel free to use any of the information here to update your post.
Have a good day everyone and happy tweeting.
#10 by Twitter User - October 29th, 2009 at 13:53
Mike, glad you could stop by. You cleared up a few issues for me (Facebook integration), a note when hovering or clicking that button would make it easier.
Interesting point on Twitter users spamming with their ads. I like the idea of encouraging your customers to have non promotional tweets. However, customers will do what they want, they want to sell their stuff, and that is the best way they know (hard sells, etc.). In my opinion in order to realized a stream of non-promo ads, there must be some guidelines, and oversight/enforcement (example here). I could be wrong, but that likely goes outside your plans for the product. But will be necessary for non-promo tweets to be more than an encouragement.
Re: website owners, “Now they can engage in conversation the right way and keep the twitter stream clean with great content.” That is a high goal, I hope you achieve, but the reality is, if you make it clear all day long, website owners still want to promote…that is their ‘ad’ mindset.
Your API sounds interesting, I’m interested to see how people will use the API in value-add ways. Feel free to respond with any examples you may have.
Thanks for stopping by and ‘listening’. You are an example to many who are seeking to make it online.
#11 by Twitter User - October 29th, 2009 at 15:08
Looks like Mike has already updated the application per the comment above, nice work!
#12 by Mike Filsaime - October 29th, 2009 at 21:33
Just to let you know. My DEV page on the site never made it from the production side. It was redirecting to the home page.
For more information on what is to come with the Developers Community check out here.
http://tweetglide.com/dev
Thanks
Mike Filsaime