Twitter is rolling out the Professional Profiles option to users who care to have a “unique and clearly defined presence on the platform.” The new upgrade will allow any user to convert his or her account to a Professional Profile right there within the settings. Now, all Twitter users can go through the conversion process in their account settings, which opens up a whole new set of features, like a new business information display, product listings, and so on.
After a few brands agreed to be beta testers for Twitter’s Professional Profiles in April last year, they were able to use them for the first time. As a result, Twitter started inviting more businesses to sign up. In September, it opened it up to everyone else. Now, you don’t have to get Twitter’s permission to change your profile. You can choose to have a Professional Profile or not in your profile options.
However, there are a few caveats to consider. These rules must be followed to qualify for a Professional Account.
- You must not have a history of repeatedly violating the Twitter User Agreement
- You must have a complete profile with an account name, a bio, and a profile picture
- Your authentic identity must be clear on your profile. Your profile must not feature another person’s identity, brand, or organization, nor does it use a fake identity intended to deceive others. Profiles that feature animals or fictional characters are ineligible unless directly affiliated with your brand or organization. Parody and fan accounts are not eligible for Professional Accounts.
It’s important to keep these rules in mind to avoid being imitated. But if you don’t want to do that, you can sign up and try out the new listings. Your in-app listing could be an excellent approach to boost engagement with your business or, at the very least, increase your brand’s visibility. Either way, it seems like a worthwhile experiment – and you can always switch your account back to a personal profile if you don’t like the results.
To convert your Twitter profile to a Professional Account:
- Go to either your profile settings or swipe open the sidebar when on your Home timeline in the app. If you’re in the sidebar, scroll until you see the “Twitter for Professionals” tab and select it. If you’re in your profile settings, scroll until you see “Switch to Professional” and select it
- Once you’ve entered the conversion flow, select “Get Started”
- Select a category for your Professional Account and select “Next”
- Choose either “Business” or “Creator” and select “Next”
- Congratulations! You are now a Professional on Twitter!
