“Twitter brings you closer,” said CEO Dick Costolo during his Today Show interview.

In an effort to help you connect even more easily with other users, a new profile page layout has been unveiled. The updated look focuses on an improved, attention-grabbing first impression.

Addressing requests to add more personality to Twitter profiles, an option to include a customized background image follows along with the format alterations. The redesign – a “header” behind your profile picture – can be accessed through settings.

This increase in visual appeal is just as beneficial for businesses as it is for personal creative expression. It gives companies the opportunity to customize their message: another way to brand themselves and increase visibility. The ability to display more than one picture means more depth for business pages – a chance to show off other aspects and appeal to a wider range of followers.

As image-based social media platforms continue to rise in popularity, it’s no surprise that the more text-reliant sites are finding ways to incorporate various visual aspects. The Facebook Timeline layout from last year is another example.

In his interview revealing the new changes, Costolo also mentioned the influential role Twitter will play in the upcoming election, calling it a “real-time campaign.” Immediate feedback and connection potential adds an element that is groundbreaking, both in politics and in the overall social world.

To further examine the impact social media has had on this election so far, click here.

For more information about the basics features of Twitter, read on here.