By Guest Blogger, Donna DeClemente, Donna's Promo Talk

Twitter has been in the news lately with their recent filing with the SEC for plans to go public. They have not released a specific timeline, but it has been reported that their IPO filing could be as early as this week. However, with the U.S. government shutdown that may now be delayed. Estimated value is up to $15 billion.

The Twitter IPO has captured the public imagination because Twitter has become such an integral part of popular culture. They recently announced a partnership with the NFL and with some major TV networks. Reports estimate that Twitter users worldwide are about 240 million. According to research firm ComScore, Twitter had nearly 62.3 million unique visitors in the U.S. in August, up from 55.5 million in February. Earlier this year Twitter launched Vine, a social network app for sharing short videos. Over the summer it hit over 40 million monthly users, a remarkable growth rate. So it will be interesting to see what Twitter’s opening share price will be.

Twitter, and now Vine, are both very popular platforms to run promotions on. We are currently assisting in a Twitter promotion for Dunkin’ Philly, which is a local independent DD franchisee group in SE PA, South NJ and Kent/New Castle Counties DE. The “Download and Doop” Twitter Sweepstakes started on Sept. 25 and runs through Oct. 8. Twitter users based in PA, NJ and DE are asked to first follow @DunkinPhilly. They can then enter the sweepstakes by downloading the Dunkin’ Donuts App, capturing a screen grab of the home page and then tweeting it to @DunkinPhilly with the hashtag #DownloadNDoop. Or, entrants can just tweet a photo of their favorite Dunkin’ Donuts Restaurant to @DunkinPhilly with the hashtag #DownloadNDoop. The photo should not include any identifiable people other than the entrant.

A random drawing will take place at the end of the promotion. One Grand Prize winner will receive 4 tickets to the October 26 Philadelphia Union game along with breakfast with a Philadelphia Union player, an autograph jersey and a $100 Dunkin Donuts gift card. Two First Prize winners will each receive 10 Suite tickets to the same game along with $375 food/beverage credit, 2 parking passes, an autograph jersey and a $50 Dunkin Donuts gift card. Two Second Prize winner will each receive 2 tickets to the game, a Union prize pack, an autograph jersey and a $25 Dunkin Donuts gift card.

This football season Dunkin’ Donuts Corporate is using near-real-time Vine creations to replay key Monday Night Football plays. You can find them on the DD Vine page and with #nfl #Dunkinreplay. Here’s one from the Denver vs. Oakland game when Denver went ahead 24-7 with a record-breaking pass. Dunkin Donuts Football! How Fun!