Twitter really wanted to get this one right. After all, the social media company hasn't had the clearest path toward monetization in spite of the immense popularity of its microblogging platform, but after two years of limited testing it's finally ready to offer up its Buy Now button to a wide audience.
The commerce button will be available to U.S.-based sellers and individuals who utilize one of three popular platforms – Demandware, Bigcommerce, and Shopify – making it possible to purchase goods through a tweet.
Today's announcement follows news that YouTube has added similar functionality to its platform, allowing users to embed buy buttons in videos. And, as The New York Times handily points out, a slew of top-tier social sites including Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram are currently testing similar services.
Twitter has already tested the offering with hundreds of partners, from big-name retailers like Home Depot and Burberry to artists like Megadeath and the New Pornographers, focusing on ease of use, with a two-click purchasing process and security.
"Your payment and shipping information is encrypted and safely stored after your first transaction, so you can easily buy on Twitter in the future without having to re-enter all of your information," according to a statement by the company. "Of course, you can always remove this information from your account. Your credit card is processed securely and won't be shared with the seller without your permission."
While it's currently available to millions of merchants, the Buy button will likely take a while before rolling out to mainstream adoption.
Source: Twitter
