Twitter looks to simplify buzz tracking

US-- Twitter has been touted as a possible research resource – now the micro-blogging site is aiming to make it easier for users to find out what's being talked about.

Tests are underway to integrate the site's search and trends functionality into users' homepages.

To date, this has been available as a subdomain of the site, but now a select number of Twitter accounts have had a search box and drop-down list of the hottest topics added to their navigation bars.

Writing in the company's blog, co-founder Biz Stone said: “We're looking forward to a full launch once a bunch of us have kicked the tyres a bit.”

Stone added: “Searching over Twitter messages is like a filter for what is happening right now – it's an interesting look into the real-time thoughts of people and organisations around the world.”

Taking this idea further, Albert Kim of Chicago ad agency Denuo recently suggested Twitter could start making money by charging companies to target questions at particularly groups of its users.

His Twitter Antenna concept recently won a contest organised by the Silicon Allery Insider blog.

Author: Brian Tarran