Join us Sept. 24 in NYC to connect with execs from Digitas, Claire's, Marriott, Havas and others
Twitter has replaced the customer call center. Just look at any airline’s Twitter feed.
Today, Twitter is making it easier for brands to initiate a direct message when private information is needed, say a record locator or a credit card number, with a new button within a tweet that directly opens a direct message. That makes it easier to keep track of the conversation and making the app easier to use to those not intimately familiar with the tabs.
Twitter said in a statement that handling customer’s problems through direct messages leads to increased brand loyalty and even sales. People who have their issues resolved through direct messages are willing to pay companies more in the future because of the convenience, according to research from social media managing tool Sparkcentral. Also, it’s always nice not have to pick up a phone and talk with a human.
Here’s what the new button looks like in action:

The button has been slowly rolling out in the wild, with Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, Hyatt and Starbucks among the first to trial it.

Ideally this will cut down on people publicly tweeting their record locators, which is a privacy nightmare for airlines.
More in Marketing
OpenAI’s next ChatGPT ad format: click to chat, not to site
The new format lets brands turn an ad click into a conversation with an AI agent inside ChatGPT, rather than sending users to their websites.
As Google’s ad tech case nears its end, the antitrust fight moves to AI
Google avoided breakups in antitrust cases as AI ads and CTV draw scrutiny; see what regulators may target next.
Future of Marketing Briefing: One more helping, for gluttons still hungry for Publicis and PepsiCo takes
Yes, more thoughts on what it means, or doesn’t, that Publicis walked away from competing for Coca-Cola’s media dollars to grab PepsiCo’s instead.