Twitter just launched a 'Tweet' button, an easily implementable piece of code that makes it possible for users to share any page on the Web. The button, Twittter's official sharing option for third-party sites, will be replacing the ubiquitous Techmeme 'retweet' button.
The Tweet button will likely start popping up all over the Web next to other sharing buttons, like Facebook's 'Like.' Clicking the button opens an overlay window, which, if the user has already logged in to Twitter, automatically fills in the text area with the name of the page being shared and its URL. After tailoring the tweet to his or her choosing, the user submits the message and sees a second screen with suggestions for users on Twitter to follow. The user can then close the overlay window and see that the tweet count on the button has increased in real-time. The tweet count is not just affected by tweets from the button, but also from retweets made on the main Twitter site and through the numerous third-party applications that employ Twitter's API.
Techmeme's button sees about 750 million daily retweet button impressions, so Twitter probably made the right choice in taking over the technology from the third-party.
By visiting twitter.com/tweetbutton, Web developers and publishers can build and customize their own Tweet button. Configurable options include style of button (with or without count), text or URL to automatically insert into the tweet, and language. In the second step, one chooses up to two Twitter accounts to suggest that the user follow, after they have completed tweeting the Web page. Twitter then displays a preview of the button alongside a short bit of code that need only be integrated into one's Web site.
Techmeme, whose retweet technology will be bowing out to Twitter's new official Tweet button, supports the change:
"We will be assisting Twitter with the technical challenges involved with the button and secondly we will be working even more closely in the future on delivering real-time curation of the Twitter Firehose. This will manifest itself in the launch of a number of new products and the first of these is being unveiled today."
