If you’re a regular twitterer, you’ll know all about the data that it collects on you as you follow various interests through the microblogging platform. Now, the time has come to put that data to use – and advertisers are beside themselves with excitement at the prospect of it.

It seems like years ago that Twitter rolled out its promoted tweets model, but while this has proven to be quite popular, up until now it’s been held back by some big limitations – namely, no ability to target users.

Now, it’s all changing as Twitter introduces its new, targeted ad program that will allow advertisers to send promoted tweets to relevant users based on their interests – including the people they follow, the sites they have visited etc.

Users need not be too concerned, as the new advertising model won’t affect their twitter experience. The ads will look just like the promoted tweets seen now, placed at the top of your twitter stream.

Twitter has had a much tougher time getting its advertising act together than big rival Facebook, which already knows all about your interests. Because most people’s Twitter profiles are basic to say the least, the site has had to work hard to discover your interests. They haven’t explained exactly how they do this, but in theory it should be able to get to know you just as well as Facebook or Google can. What remains to be seen is how well it works…

Now, there’ll likely be two reactions to this – either people won’t care, or else they’ll be up in arms screaming about yet more invasion of their privacy. But in all honesty, it’s not that big a deal. While a few paranoid souls might be worried that someone’s out there ‘following’ them, the majority of users will very likely not even notice any change, except of course, they might suddenly start finding one or two of the ads at the top a little more interesting than they used to be.