MUMBAI: Microblogging site Twitter is expected to triple its advertising revenue to $150 million in 2011, according to a report from EMarketer Inc.

The report said that in 2010 Twitter earned an estimated $45 million through ad revenues. This figure can go up to $250 million by 2012 as more companies turn to the growing social media website to market their products. 
 
"One reason for the dramatic growth forecast this year is the upcoming launch of a self-serve ad platform such as that used by Google and Facebook," eMarketer said.

Twitter introduced its advertising program last April and has attracted in major ad campaigns from big companies such as Mercedes-Benz, Pepsi, Starbucks and Disney.

"Twitter is poised to go after the same performance advertising business that has funded much of Facebook‘s growth," said eMarketer principal analyst Debra Aho Williamson. 
 
The San Francisco micro-blogging site won‘t pass Facebook in terms of revenue anytime soon, but it should pass MySpace by 2012, the report said.

Twitter has 175 million users worldwide, whereas Facebook stands with 600 million users worldwide.

Last month, Twitter raised $200 in funding from investors to help fuel its growth, reportedly giving the company a valuation of $3.7 billion.