The implementation of Twitter Search has enabled users to leverage data captured by Twitter in more ways than we can imagine. You can do queries on keywords, get RSS feeds to track discussions and much more, but where Twitter Search falls short is in real-time Twitter tracking. Enter Jazzy Chad (@jazzychad) and Tweet Grid.

Tweet Grid allows you to “create a Twitter Search dashboard that updates in real time.”

You’ve seen things like this before with constantly-streaming Twitter election coverage, but Twitter hasn’t made that functionality available to users outside of that project. Jazzy Chad knew that wasn’t available and saw an opportunity to bring that functionality to users everywhere.

Pick Your Grid and Your Keywords

To get started on Tweet Grid, first choose your grid size and then enter the keywords you want to watch. You can look at one keyword at a time or up to nine. It’s that simple. Tweet Grid ran it’s own version of election coverage this fall and arguably did a better job at it than Twitter, as competing keywords (or candidates) were able to be matched up side-by-side, instead of all in one stream.

Another example you can try is to view Twitter’s current trending topics in a 3×3 grid. Tweet Grid grabs these topics as soon as you click the link and places them into their own boxes.

We ran of 1×3 Tweet Grid comparing the highly competitive terms for microblogging:  microblogging (our favorite), microsharing (@pistachio) and micromessaging (@timoreilly)

Manipulate Data

For each grid you are viewing, you have the option to start and stop the streaming, perfect for when you spot a great link you want to click before it passes by. You can also filter tweets being streamed by language, adjust the number of tweets per box and adjust the number of boxes in your grid.

Share What You’re Watching

To make sharing easy, Tweet Grid provides the full URL for each grid you create and also creates a shortened URL, perfect for sharing in IM, via email or on another microblogging platform. However, if you’re looking to share the grid on Twitter, just hit the the ‘tweet it’ button and Tweet Grid will help you post the link to Twitter.

Final Thoughts

Tweet Grid is great for doing queries on competing keywords/topics, or for following event hashtags, because the service provides updates in real-time without refreshing.

Accounts to Follow

@jazzychad, @tweetgrid