• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Social Media Examiner | Social Media Marketing

Your Guide to the Social Media Jungle

  • 🔥 Free Newsletter
  • ☀️ Web3 Conference
  • 🔎 Find Marketing Help
  • ⚙️ Tools
  • 🗓️ Events
  • 🎧 Shows
    • Social Media Marketing Podcast
    • Social Media Marketing Talk Show
    • Crypto Business Podcast
    • Our YouTube Channel
  • Content
    • Articles
      • Web3
      • How To
        • Instagram Marketing
        • Facebook Ads
        • Facebook Marketing
        • YouTube Marketing
        • YouTube Ads
        • LinkedIn Marketing
        • TikTok Marketing
        • Clubhouse
      • View Points
      • Expert Interviews
      • Tools
    • Video Tutorials
      • Instagram Marketing
      • Instagram Ads
      • Facebook Marketing
      • Facebook Ads
      • LinkedIn Ads
      • TikTok
      • Clubhouse
  • Sponsor
    • Podcast Sponsorship
    • Email Sponsorship
    • Event Sponsorship
  • About
    • Society
  • Search
  • Web3 Business ConferenceLearn how to put NFTs to work for your business.BIG SALE, SAVE NOW!

    8 Types of Twitter Cards Businesses Are Using

    by Kristi Hines / June 4, 2014

    social media how toDo you know what a Twitter card is?

    Do you wonder which one is a fit for your business?

    Twitter cards enrich your tweets with additional content, media and calls to action.

    In this article I’ll share eight types of Twitter cards, how to install them and their analytics options.

    #1: The Summary Card

    If your business has a blog or any page devoted solely to information, then you need the summary card. The summary card lets you include the title, description, a thumbnail image and Twitter handle attributions for a page.

    There is also a summary card with large image, which includes just that—a larger image from the page, as opposed to a square thumbnail image.

    If you have a global audience, @Google‘s tips for internationalizing homepages is worth reading: https://t.co/muSOLxBLEd

    — Search Engine Land (@sengineland) May 13, 2014


    It also includes three ways to click over to the article: the image, the post title and the View on Web link.

    #2: The Photo Card

    The photo card is great for any business or website featuring art or photography. Like the summary card with large image, the photo card features an image, title, description and Twitter handle.

    In the embedded tweet, you’ll only see the photo above the original tweet text, but on Twitter, you’ll see all of the details.

    twitter photo card
    Twitter photo cards showcase photos and art.

    The example above shows how the photo card provides a link to the Flickr Twitter handle, the main Flickr page, the photographer’s Twitter handle and three links to the photo page (the image, the title and the View on Web link).

    #3: The Gallery Card

    The gallery card is just like the photo card with one exception: You can have up to four photos in your tweet.

    Embedded tweets only show one of the four images, but tweets on Twitter itself show all four.

    Your Guide to the Future of Business

    Crypto Business Conference

    The Web3 renaissance opens up new opportunities for entrepreneurs, creators, and marketers who are ready to embrace the changes. But, who can you trust?

    Introducing the Crypto Business Conference; a premium event for anyone who wants to learn how to put Web3 to work for their business.

    Join us in sunny San Diego, California, for the first-ever crypto conference for business pioneers…not finance and tech nerds. You’ll get actionable, business-building ideas from proven innovators—without all the techie jargon.

    CLAIM YOUR SEAT
    twitter gallery card
    Show off a collection of images with Twitter gallery cards.

    In this SmugMug example, you can see how the gallery card includes a link to SmugMug’s main Twitter handle (the logo above the images), the gallery owner’s Twitter handle and two links to the gallery (from the title and the View on Web link).

    #4: The App Card

    If your business has or sells apps, you are going to love the app card.

    When someone sees a tweet about your app on their desktop, they get a link to view it on the web. But if they view the tweet on their mobile device, they’re prompted to download it!

    twitter app card
    An example of a Twitter app card viewed on a mobile device.

    In the EveryEvent example above, the app card detects that the user is viewing the tweet on an iPhone and directs him/her to the App Store to download the app.

    The desktop version of this tweet, on the other hand, shows the same details but with a View on Web link to the app.

    #5: The Player Card

    If your business uses video or audio, you can use the player card to tweet each piece of media you create.

    This card puts a live video or audio player within your tweet that users can play on Twitter and in embedded tweets.

    No need to duck, it’s a Rainbow explosion! RT @NikaHarper SKITTLES EXPLOSION https://t.co/HXWpbiaeG8 #sample

    — Skittles (@Skittles) May 6, 2014


    Skittles uses the player card to share their latest Vine videos within Twitter and embedded tweets. Vine also gets a link to their Twitter handle (just above the video).

    #6: The Product Card

    Any business selling a product should consider using the product card.

    The product card allows you to include a title, description, thumbnail image and Twitter handle attribution for your product, along with other pertinent details such as price, location, availability, etc.

    Launch Social Projects Faster and Easier

    FindHelp Marketplace

    Looking for a content creator, campaign manager, or strategist for your social channels or a special project?

    Find the right expert for even the most complicated project or campaign in just a few clicks with our new FindHelp marketplace. You'll have more time to focus on other areas of your business without sacrificing your social presence. Browse highly qualified Facebook and Instagram experts today.

    FIND HELP TODAY
    twitter product card
    Give followers as much information as possible to promote sales.

    In this example, you can see how the product card includes a link to Pure Costumes‘ Twitter handle, three links to their product page (from the image, title, and View on Web link) and details about the featured product.

    #7: The Lead Generation Card

    The lead generation card is a great way to get better leads on Twitter. When users see a lead generation card, they can click one button and share the email address associated with their Twitter account with you.

    twitter lead generation card
    Lead generation cards let people share their information voluntarily.

    In this example from TaxACT, notice how the email address in the lead generation card is auto-populated.

    All the Twitter user has to do is click the Sign Me Up button to subscribe to TaxACT’s blog. This saves the business from potential conversion losses between Twitter and the website.

    #8: The Website Card

    Last but not least, if you’re looking to drive traffic directly to your website’s homepage or other specific landing page, you can do it with the website card.

    The website card simply includes a thumbnail image representing your website, your website title and a Read More call-to-action button to encourage viewers to click through.

    twitter website card
    Use the website card to drive traffic to your site.

    This Lincoln Motor Company tweet shows the website title, thumbnail and Read More call-to-action button.

    Of all of the Twitter cards, this one has the most potential—but only if Twitter decides to include a better description and customizable call-to-action button.

    How to Install Twitter Cards

    To install any of the Twitter cards (except the lead generation and website cards), add the appropriate metadata to the head section of your website.

    You can find the metadata on the developer page for each card: summary card, summary card with larger image, photo card, gallery card, app card, player card and product card.

    You can install the metadata manually for individual pages or you can use the suggested plugins and integrations for your specific CMS (content management system) in the CMS integration guide.

    Once you’ve installed the code for your Twitter cards, use the Twitter Card Validator to ensure everything is working properly and to verify your Twitter cards. Once verified, your cards will start showing up in relevant tweets.

    To create lead generation cards and website cards, you need to log into the Twitter Ads interface and click on Cards under the Creatives menu. Once you’ve completed your cards, you’ll be given a custom link to add to your tweets.

    Track Twitter Card Analytics

    As an added bonus, Twitter cards come with their own set of analytics data. You can access it via your Twitter Analytics dashboard under Twitter Cards.

    You’ll be able to keep track of overall tweets, impressions and clicks from your Twitter cards in a given date range.

    twitter card analytics
    A snapshot of your Twitter cards’ performance.

    You’ll also be able to see which types of Twitter cards have been the most successful at driving engagement and traffic.

    twitter card analytics view 2
    The top-performing Twitter cards on your website.

    Twitter card analytics also give you data such as the most influential Twitter users who tweeted your Twitter card–enabled links, which tweets resulted in the most clicks and the apps people used to send those tweets (e.g., Buffer, the Twitter button, TweetDeck, etc.).

    Conclusion

    There’s a Twitter card for every type of business out there. Giving your followers an attractive package with as much information as possible helps drive traffic to your website, improve sales and grow your list.

    What do you think? Have you used Twitter cards? What results have you seen so far? Please share in the comments!

    Curious about NFTs, DAOs, and Web3?

    Crypto

    Follow the Crypto Business podcast to find out how NFTs, social tokens, DAOs (and so much more) will affect your business in the near future.

    Every Friday, host Michael Stelzner interviews leading industry experts about what works right now in Web3 and what to expect in the future, so you can prepare your business for the shift, even if you're a total newbie.

    FOLLOW THE SHOW

    Tags: Twitter

    About the authorKristi Hines

    Kristi Hines is a freelance writer, ghostwriter, and copywriter who develops blog content, ebooks, emails, lead magnets, and website copy for marketing agencies, B2B, and SaaS.
    Other posts by Kristi Hines Âť

    Get Social Media Examiner’s Future Articles in Your Inbox!

    Get our latest articles delivered to your email inbox and get the FREE Social Media Marketing Industry Report (39 pages, 50+ charts)!

    Industry Report Cover

    Worth Exploring:

    Facebook

    Marketing Help Explore More →

    Instagram

    Marketing Help Explore More →

    YouTube

    Marketing Help Explore More →

    Linkedin

    Marketing Help Explore More →

    Facebook Ads

    Marketing Help Explore More →

    Social Media Marketing Industry Report

    Get Free Report →

    Social Marketing Trends

    The data you've been missing!

    Need a new plan? Find out how thousands of marketers plan to change their social marketing activities in our 14th annual Social Media Marketing Industry Report. This 39-page report reveals what marketers have planned for their organic social activities, video marketing, social ads, and more. Get this free report now and never miss another great article from Social Media Examiner.

    Enter your email to get
    our free report:


    Footer

    Your Guide to the Social Media Jungle
    Copyright © 2022 Social Media ExaminerÂŽ
    All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy.

    Helpful Links

    • About us
    • Our content via email
    • Our podcasts
    • Our YouTube channel
    • Our live show
    • Our industry report
    • Sponsorship opportunities
    • Write for us…
    • RSS
    • Accessibility