In an unexpected move, Elon Musk and X’s CEO, Linda Yaccarino have recently called out YouTube and LinkedIn as potential future competitors during an all-company meeting. This gathering marked one year since Musk’s takeover of Twitter Inc., and named it “X” Also it is significant as Musk and Elonit both addressed the entire company together for the first. Their discussions also revolved around the ambitious idea of creating a news wire service called XWire, designed to rival Cision’s PR Newswire.
A Year of Transformation
Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, made waves when he closed a monumental $44 billion deal to take Twitter private a year ago. Musk’s takeover resulted in significant changes on the social media platform. He swiftly let go of most of Twitter’s executives and instigated resignations from a substantial portion of the staff. The platform witnessed advertisers fleeing in the aftermath of these actions, and their return remains hesitant. Though some estimates from outside sources indicate a decline in active users from the prior year, Musk and Yaccarino have both stressed that more time is being spent on the site and that they claim to have 500 million members.
While Musk worked on a thorough redesign of the product, Yaccarino focused on cultivating partnerships with marketers. He used a crowdsourced fact-checking platform called Community Notes, redefined the meaning of account “verification,” and advertised expensive memberships as part of his plan. These changes have redefined the Twitter experience and how information will be disbursed on the platform.
Unexpected statement on the Competitors
Musk and Yaccarino’s announcement of potential competitors to YouTube, LinkedIn, and PR Newswire has sparked curiosity in the tech world. However, details regarding these competitors remain scarce. It’s unclear how X intends to challenge these established platforms, and the executives did not provide comprehensive information during the meeting.
In an internal memo shared with X staff, Musk and Yaccarino expressed that the company is now “positioned for growth” and highlighted a remarkable “decade’s worth of innovation in just 12 months” on the platform. This statement hints at the significant changes and innovations that have taken place under their leadership.
Financial Tools and Growth
The executives also discussed X’s payment ambitions during their talk with staff. They mentioned that these financial tools would “give people and businesses more opportunities,” providing a glimpse into the company’s future direction.
It suggests that X aims to diversify its revenue streams and create new opportunities for users and businesses on its platform. Currently, the majority of X’s revenue comes from advertising, accounting for about 75% of total sales. Subscriptions and data make up the remaining 25%, with subscriptions showing steady growth of 25% to 30% on a quarterly basis. However, subscriptions still represent a small fraction of X’s user base, as independent research indicates that they account for less than 1% of the total user base.
Looking ahead, X plans to target small- and medium-sized businesses in 2024 to bolster its advertising revenue. This strategic move aims to create new revenue streams and attract more advertisers to the platform.
In summary, Elon Musk and X’s CEO, Linda Yaccarino, have made bold statements regarding the future of X. Their plans to challenge YouTube and LinkedIn, along with the introduction of XWire, have stirred excitement in the tech industry. While the specifics of these challenges remain shrouded in mystery, X’s commitment to innovation and growth is undeniable.
