Choosing between a Twitter business vs. personal account can change the way you use the platform, as both account types are designed for different purposes.
For instance, a business account can access in-depth analytics and professional advertising tools to help brands and companies grow their presence. Meanwhile, a personal account is for more casual use and allows users to freely express themselves on the site.
If you’re having trouble solving the “Twitter business vs. personal account” dilemma on your own, this guide will provide an in-depth comparison of the two account types and offer expert tips to help you select the best one for your needs.
Let’s dive in!
What is a Twitter Business (Professional) Account?
A Twitter business account, called a Professional Account, is a type of profile on X designed for professionals, companies, and brands looking to build an online presence. This account type comes with features like analytics and social commerce to help businesses increase brand awareness, reach audiences, and drive sales.
From fostering connections with the audience to keeping track of current social media trends, there are several reasons why brands use Twitter for business, and a Professional Account is best for this purpose.
Fortunately, this account type is easy to set up.
How to Set Up a Twitter Professional Account
To set up a Twitter Professional Account, you need a personal account that meets the app’s eligibility requirements, namely:
- Must not have a history of violating the platform’s User Agreement policy.
- Must have a profile complete with an account name, bio, and a profile picture.
- Must not feature a fictional character or animal unless directly associated with the brand.
- Must have a clear and authentic identity; fake, parody, or fan accounts are not eligible.
If your account meets these criteria, you can convert it to a Professional Account by opening X/Twitter on your phone or desktop and going to Profile settings.
Then, scroll down until you see the option to Switch to Professional.
Next, click Get Started and select your account’s category.
Afterward, choose between a Twitter Business vs. Creator account type and click Next to convert your account.
You’ll have the option to learn more about the new features you can now access. If you’re already familiar with these tools, simply click Skip for now, and you’re done!
If you want to switch back to a personal account, you can do so at any time by going to your profile and clicking Edit Profile.
Then, tap Edit Professional Profile and click Switch Account Type.
4 Crucial Twitter Business Account Advantages
Having a Twitter business vs. personal account can come with several new features and advantages, including:
#1. Access to Advanced Analytics
One of the best advantages of having a Twitter business over a personal account is full access to Twitter analytics. This feature allows you to monitor your main Twitter demographic, engagement rates, and overall content performance so you can make more data-driven decisions about your strategy on the platform.
When you know what content resonates with your audience, you can focus on creating tweets that attract engagement and help you get more followers.
#2. Access to Professional Tools
In addition to advanced analytics, what makes a Twitter business account worth it is professional tools like Twitter ads that can help you reach a broader audience. So, if you plan to use the app for lead generation, having a Twitter business instead of a personal account is a must.
Unlike regular tweets that rely on the Twitter algorithm, ads are targeted content and can be customized based on your audience’s interests, demographics, and top keywords, significantly increasing the chances of reaching your audience and maximizing your return on investment (ROI).
Another feature exclusive to a business account is Twitter Shops, a tool that allows you to promote your products on the platform directly. However, unlike Instagram or TikTok shopping, users won’t be able to actually make the purchase on Twitter; instead, they will be redirected to the brand’s website after clicking on a product.
However, this can still encourage follower-to-customer conversions since the consumer won’t have to exit the app to make a purchase, which creates a seamless shopping experience.
#3. Better Networking Opportunities
By choosing a Twitter business over a personal account, you can easily network with potential clients and partners in your specific niche. According to Cripps et al. (2020), Twitter can help brands build business relationships by allowing the exchange of information in real time, making it essential for brand building.
Since a business account has strict eligibility requirements, it can also be useful when trying to venture into influencer marketing. Creators won’t hesitate to engage with this account type, as they can be assured they won’t get scammed by a fake profile.
#4. Enhanced Brand Recognition
Choosing the former in the “Twitter business vs. personal account” conundrum means you’ll be able to access advanced customization options to reinforce your branding on the platform. With this account type, you can add your business website, contact information, and location to your profile, making it easier for customers to interact with your business.
Official X/Twitter business accounts also get a coveted gold checkmark and a unique square profile picture to distinguish their account from others on the site.
3 Significant Twitter Business Account Disadvantages
While choosing a Twitter business over a personal account can have unique advantages, this account type also has some disadvantages you should consider before making the switch.
They include:
- More formal image. While one advantage of a Twitter business over a personal account is its more professional profile that’s great for networking, it lacks the relatability and authenticity that consumers look for in brands. In fact, according to a survey by Stackla, now Nosto, authenticity is an important factor for 90% of consumers when deciding which brands to support.
- More hands-on management. Converting to a professional Twitter account costs nothing, but you would need to spend more time and effort managing your profile to ensure growth because business accounts are expected to create and publish content more consistently.
- Increased risk of public scrutiny. Unlike personal accounts, business accounts are subject to more scrutiny, and one wrong tweet can lead to a negative brand reputation if not handled right away. With a business account, it’s crucial to have a well-thought-out Twitter marketing strategy to succeed on the platform.
What is a Twitter Personal Account?
A Twitter personal account is the default account type on X and is designed for individual users and creators who want to use the app for personal reasons, such as self-expression and community building.
Whether you are on X to keep tabs on your favorite brands and influencers or to share your thoughts on your latest TV show obsession, it’s best to choose a Twitter personal account over a business account.
How to Set Up a Twitter Personal Account
To set up a Twitter personal account, all you have to do is sign up on the platform using one of these three methods:
- An existing email account
- An Apple account
- Creating an account from scratch
If you click Sign up with Google or Sign up with Apple, a pop-up window will appear, and you can log in with the email address you want to use for your account.
Then, simply follow the on-screen instructions to finish setting up your new Twitter account.
If you click Create account, you can manually enter your details, including your name, preferred email, and date of birth.
When done, click Next, and you’ll be prompted to authenticate your account. Click Authenticate and complete the test.
Afterward, you need to verify your account using the verification code sent to your email.
Next, set the password for your account and select the username and photo you want to use. X provides several suggestions for usernames, but you can always use a username generator to make a more creative one.
Lastly, you’ll have to select your preferred languages and at least three topics you want to see on the platform; this will populate your feed until you start following some accounts.
3 Key Twitter Personal Account Advantages
Despite having fewer features, there are multiple advantages to having a Twitter personal vs. business account, such as:
#1. Stronger Connections with Followers
By choosing a Twitter personal over a business account, you can foster stronger relationships with your followers and engage with them in a more relaxed manner. This can encourage your audience to interact with your account by leaving comments and messages.
With personal accounts, you can showcase your personality and engage in more conversations without worrying too much about keeping up appearances.
#2. More Profile Flexibility
Another advantage of Twitter personal vs. business accounts is that they allow more flexibility in the way you manage your account. Unlike a business account, your personal profile doesn’t have to be about yourself; it can be a fan account, a parody, or a fictional character.
You can also set your profile to private to limit the number of people who can see your tweets. This is especially useful if you only want to share content with a select number of followers, allowing you to protect your privacy and avoid unwanted interactions.
#3. Personalized Content
Since personal accounts are meant for more casual X/Twitter users, users can share their thoughts on various topics without following a specific tone or branding. Whether you want to talk about your hobbies or simply share your thoughts and feelings, having a personal X/Twitter account means that you can do so without judgment.
3 Major Twitter Personal Account Disadvantages
While choosing a Twitter personal over a business account can offer excellent advantages, it also comes with some disadvantages, including:
- Lack of access to analytics. Personal accounts without an X Premium subscription won’t be able to see their account’s analytics, which can be a big disadvantage for creators who want to grow their presence.
- Privacy concerns. While personal X/Twitter accounts offer great flexibility when it comes to content and account management, this also means that the line between your personal and public life is often blurred, leading to potential privacy concerns.
- Limited reach. Since personal accounts can’t run targeted campaigns, their reach is much smaller than business accounts. Fortunately, you can increase your content’s chances of visibility by scheduling tweets during your audience’s peak hours on the platform. Targeting the best times to post on Twitter ensures that your posts rank much higher on the feed and generate engagement.
Twitter Business vs. Twitter Personal Account: 3 Key Differences
To the viewer, a Twitter business and personal account may look similar, but they are completely different account types that serve specific functions.
Let’s take a look at the main differences between a Twitter business vs. personal account:
#1. Purpose
The most recognizable distinction between a Twitter business and a personal account is in their purpose: the former is meant for users who want to present a more professional image on the platform, while the latter is ideal for those using the app for leisure.
Since business accounts can’t be fake or parody profiles, a Professional Account is a direct reflection of your organization, business, or branding. Meanwhile, your personal account doesn’t have to bear any similarities to your actual name or photo and can be used for virtually any purpose without being associated with you.
#2. Features
Both account types share the basic features for tweeting, liking, and following profiles, but only business accounts can access the app’s native analytics and advertising tools. That said, there’s a way for personal accounts to access their profile analytics using social media scheduling tools like Publer.
While you can also schedule tweets natively on a personal account, using Publer to manage your posting schedule means you can monitor your content’s performance in real time with our built-in analytics tool. This platform also comes with a variety of other features, like a hashtag generator and an AI Assist tool to help speed up content creation.
#3. Customization
With a personal Twitter account, you can freely customize your profile to your liking. You can create a random username or use a photo of your favorite cartoon character as your profile picture, and it will be completely fine.
A Twitter business account, however, should focus on elements that reflect their brand or business to avoid confusing their target audience. For instance, your profile picture and header should bear your company’s logo and feature a specific color scheme associated with your brand.
Example of a Twitter personal account
Example of a Twitter Professional Account
How to Choose Between a Twitter Business vs. Personal Account: 3 Expert Tips
Now that you know the key differences between a Twitter business vs. personal account, here are some expert tips to help you choose the right account type for you:
- Consider your goals. There is no objectively better option between a Twitter business vs. a personal account, as the best choice will depend on your goals on the platform. Each account type has unique features that can help you achieve specific objectives, so define your goals clearly before deciding.
- Determine your target audience. Aside from your objectives, the type of audience you are trying to reach will help you choose between a Twitter business vs. a personal account. If you’re more interested in networking and building professional relationships, then a business account is best for you. Meanwhile, if you prefer fostering close-knit communities, go for a personal account.
- Try both types. You don’t have to choose just one account type and stick to it; it’s better to try both Twitter business and personal accounts to familiarize yourself with all their key features. Plus, you can always switch from a business account to a personal one, and vice versa, in your account settings.
Key Takeaways
- A business account on X is designed for businesses that want to use the platform for marketing. This account type comes with in-depth access to Twitter analytics and professional advertising tools but requires more hands-on management.
- A personal account on X is perfect for individuals who want to connect with their audience and build a community on the platform. This account type allows for more personalized content and flexibility but offers fewer profile customization options and analytics access.
- There are two account types on X/Twitter—Professional and personal—and these differ in their purpose, features, and customization options.
- To help you choose between a Twitter business vs. personal account, you need to determine your goals, identify your target audience, and try both account types.
Ervin Kalemi
