One of the most requested features for Twitter is the ability to create groups. While users wait (and wait and wait) for Twitter to add this feature, a number of startups are going ahead and showing how it should be done. The latest of these is a LaunchBox Digital startup called Buzzable which just launched today. Buzzable lets you create Twitter groups around RSS feeds, and does so in a very compelling way.
Right now anyone can browse public groups, but you need an invite code to create a new group. Anyone with a twitter account, however, can join a public group and post a message. We have 500 invites. Just use the promo code: techcrunch.
You sign in using your Twitter ID, which lets you join and create both public and private groups centered around different topics. Some of the public groups right now include Android, Kindle, the New York Knicks, and the White House. There is even one for TechCrunch.
Groups are built around RSS feeds. So the TechCrunch group is simply our feed. But you can set up topic-specific groups which pull from a number of feeds, including Google News, Eventful, Digg, Yahoo Finance, Twitter itself, blogs, and so on. You can set it up so that the feeds are filtered by keyword (such as “Android,” Kindle,” “Knicks,” etc.). Members of the group can then discuss any headline by commenting in-line. Each comment can be pushed out to Twitter proper as well. Both RSS headlines and comments can be “Buzzed” up by popular vote. The result is a combination of RSS content and Twitter conversation, all in the same stream.
By priming the pump with the RSS streams, Buzzable hopes to stimulate conversation, even among people who don’t normally Twitter twenty times a day without prompting. In addition to micro-messages, images and YouTube videos can be added to each comment. And since Buzzable uses your Twitter ID, every time you create a group, it asks you if you want to invite all of your Twitter followers. Every Buzzable member can also be followed on Twitter simply by clicking a follow button on their Buzzable profile. Buzzable groups can also be republished as their own Twitter account. In these ways, Buzzable tries to take advantage of the viral nature of Twitter itself to create as many entry points as possible for new users. Each group can also be republished as a separate RSS feed or as an embeddable widget (see below)
Buzzable’s co-founders are Satjot Sawhney and Ashish Kundra. The company was part of LaunchBox Digital’s 2008 summer incubator program. LaunchBox founder John McKinley is chairman and the lead investor. Check out the demo video below:
Buzzable Demo: Creating a Group from Satjot Singh Sawhney on Vimeo.
I’m not sure that I like how each tweet includes a long url. Not good for retweeting. If it can be optional (maybe use hash tags) and use a url shortener, it might be better.
Hey Noah,
You’re right. The link is a bit too long in its full form. All links will be tiny once we push the next update live.
Also if there’s room for a hashtag, it might make sense to add that as well.
Thanks for the feedback!
Best,
Ashish
Hi All,
Can someone please explain to me the whole hype about twitter? I am into most web 2.0 application but I just can’t see the obsession people have with twitter. It truly seems like a big waste of time to me to read vague, 140 words, status updates. It’s quite a narcissistic application in my opinion.
Sure the value of Twitter…
Is conversation! If you enjoy such you’ll enjoy Twitter!
It’s an open Facebook. The open database allows any access to surface thousands of live conversations. Take a look at our integration of photo, video, and Twitter chat streams. http://tv.tEarn.com/
ya its pretty long
freefreebiefinder.com/
We are doing this on BunkerShot.com just for our Golf Favorites. Been very effective so far.
Please may I have an invite? I love new toys!
Hey Michaela,
To create a public or private group, you can use invite code: techcrunch.
You can join existing groups and start buzzing without an invite code.
Best,
Satjot
Just saw this: http://www.tweetizen.com/beta/ – makes grouping tweets dumbified!
looks like a rip-off of buzzable! didn’t twitter buy one of these a while ago?
I don’t think it’s a rip off at all… it’s a dumbified version of buzzable.. and isn’t twitter all about making things easy
Supercool. Really like the automated search that you can set for keywords.
Just started a group at:
http://buzzable.com/SpiderOak
Looks sweet! (not to mention that it’s always fun to be so early that the founders personally answers your questions..)
Heh. All hands on deck =)
Yeah Buzzable! I just joined twitter in January and something like this will definitely prove useful, as it’s already so hard to keep up with the hundreds of updates from various people I’m following. Breaking things in to groups should make it easier to follow specific groups of people and topics. Thanks Buzzable!
As you might expect, the dialog about Buzzable is happening on twitter:
http://search.t...arch?q=buzzable
Congrats to Satjot, Ashish, and the whole crew – an awesome job!
I’ve been recommending all our corporate clients get on Buzzable… it’s Google Alerts Amplified! Predict adoption will be swift!
I’ve used Google Alerts. Started and ended many. Too much noise in each stream. Went back to RSS streams from each source.
Another startup doing the same thing..
That is one lame attempt at adding value to the conversation.
“Another commenter with head up ass…”
and another twatter post from the link machine
http://www.flokio.com
can i give them my Twitter password, and then change it?
I know it’s not their fault, but I am getting tired of start-ups asking for my Twitter password.
It’s hunter3.
oops, I meant hunter2 http://www.bash.org/?244321
ahh eriks fav subject.. hey why ont you go and give mikyboy a bunch of grapes
For some reason I didn’t need an invite, I was already signed in to Twitter and just joined two groups without being asked for an invite id. I like that you can embed the groups widgets on your site and they work great.
Shelly,
That’s right, you only need an invite code to create a group.
Let us know if there’s anything we can do to make your experience better.
Best,
Satjot
Pretty sweet. FYI, I like that I could kick the tires a bit before deciding whether to join. I am digging on the RSS filtered inputs. That was a solid idea.
Thanks for the kind words. Please let us know if there’s more you’d like to see.
Best,
Ashish
This is great, I can not believe how much I love twitter.
Nice one, just the thing I was looking out for.
Think I’ll join your group.
Phill(synapticLight)
i need an invite so i can create a group…sweitzman at gmail
you’ve got mail
Revenue, Revenue….oh where art though revenue…? Wonder what will happen if/when twitter decides to implement this and other services like it as features…
Wow, this looks like the best way thus far created for putting together a group in Twitter. I signed up right away. Thanks. I wanted a group for authors and publishers interested in book marketing.
This is fantastic. Considering that Twitter is adding more on it makes everything perfect and a lot has been using it as well. i will go ahead and check it out as well. This will definitely be very fun.
Congratulation Ashish and Satjot ! I created several groups for hospitality Associations. My local associations are in the process of creating some groups.
This is great feature, nor Twitter will rock the world.
Sure the value of Twitter…
Is conversation! If you enjoy such you’ll enjoy Twitter
can i give them my Twitter password, and then change it?
I know it’s not their fault, but I am getting tired of start-ups asking for my Twitter password.
It’s hunter3