Twitter plays catch-up with Instagram, will let brands advertise multiple tweets at once

Twitter is now letting its advertisers fit more text, photos and videos into a single ad than ever before.

The social network just launched a new type of ad that lets brands promote multiple tweets at once in a carousel format that users can swipe left and right through to view.

As with the company's current promoted tweet offerings, the tweets featured can be pulled from the brand's own account or that of a celebrity spokesperson or satisfied customer -- just as long as the brand gets explicit permission from the user in question.

The new product follows in the footsteps of some of Twitter's social media rivals, including Instagram and its parent company Facebook, which have rolled out similar carousel ads in the past couple years.

Twitter's version of the format is unique, however, in that it allows advertisers to merge tweets from any number of accounts other than their own. That should help the social network take advantage of its users' tendency to air customer service praises (and complaints) and its abundance of influential personalities and celebrities who aren't above shilling for a product. 

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Twitter has chosen a handful of big brands to kick off the testing phase of the effort this Friday. One of the first ads will come from Disney, which is using the new product to promote its upcoming film The BFG (Big Friendly Giant) with its own tweets and those of influential users on its payroll.

The company has been scrambling to find new money-making opportunities lately as its stagnant user growth keeps Wall Street skeptical of the company's prospects. 

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