People come to Twitter to connect with the latest information on the topics and people they care about. From the beginning, brands, businesses and charitable organisations have been an important part of the Twitter experience, providing people with special announcements, access to exclusive content, great offers and other useful information.

Just over a year ago, we introduced a suite of advertising products designed to help brands and businesses quickly and more easily reach people with this information on Twitter. Initially, these products -- Promoted Tweets, Promoted Trends and Promoted Accounts-- were available only to U.S. advertisers, and directed at Twitter’s global audience of more than 100 million active users.

Starting today, that changes. UK brands can now geo-target all of our Promoted Products, making it easier to reach local users with more geographically relevant content.

We’re happy to be working with Sky who is using this new functionality to help spread the word about the latest season of Glee, launching today in the UK. Other than being huge Gleeks ourselves, we’re excited they’re using our full suite of Promoted Products to increase awareness of and conversation around the show among people in the UK. Check out @gleeonsky, #gleeonsky, and look for their Promoted Tweets.

In addition to Sky, we look forward to working with a select set of launch partners this autumn, including BT, Electronic Arts, Eurostar and Paramount Pictures UK, to reach an active and vocal audience through Twitter. And, with a team in the UK officially on board, we can provide local support for a wider audience of brands who appreciate the simplicity of using Twitter to engage directly with users.

From the start, our philosophy around advertising has been simple: We put our users first and strive to create products that enrich the Twitter experience for every Twitter user. We’re excited about this next step and look forward to your feedback.

What else have you seen first on Twitter?

London Fashion Week starts today, which means models, designers, fashion industry insiders, and reporters are descending on the West End in their sky high heels and stylish attire. They are also tweeting from backstage, the front row and all the hottest parties. So if you missed out on tickets and can’t be there in person, or if you’re there and want to know what everyone’s talking about, be sure to follow the action in real-time through the #LFW hashtag on Twitter.

To make it a little easier, we’ve put together a list of people whose Tweets will help you feel so connected that you might forget you’re not actually there. Say hello to Tom Ford and Henry Holland for us if you see them!

The official London Fashion Week account, run by the British Fashion Council, is the ultimate source for #LFW info and they’ve created great fashion-focused lists as well. The team is also organising a series of Twitter Q&As, so be sure to tweet your questions to #AskLFW and follow @LondonFashionWk to hear from:

Big name designers are showing at LFW this year and here are a few that can’t be missed:

Never be late to a trend or miss an “it” bag again by following industry insiders like:

Follow fashion journalists to get the scoop before their stories run:

And make sure you know when the newest fashion hits the stores (and goes on sale!) by following your favourite retailers, like:

More than 40% of British MPs are on Twitter as well, according to a list compiled by Tweetminster.

British museums and art galleries like @Tate, @BritishMuseum, @saatchi_gallery, @NationalGallery, @MuseumLiverpool and @V_and_A. Check out the list we've started with these accounts and more.

396 British Olympic hopefuls like sprinter @jodiealicia27 (Jodie Williams), show jumper @skeltonnick (Nick Skelton) and cyclist @MarkCavendish.

All of the UK police forces are on Twitter, including @metpoliceUK in London, @GMpolice in Manchester, @HantsPolice in Hampshire and @WMpolice in the West Midlands.

Local restaurants and shops, like these that we've stumbled across in London: @freebirdburrito (food truck), @vinoteca (wine shop), @taylor_st (coffee), @LaFromagerieUK (cheese shop) and @dauntbooks (bookstore).

And other recognisable personalities like @mayoroflondon, @AlanCarr, @jamieoliver, @EmWatson (Emma Watson), @andy_murray, @McIlroyRory and @cherylcole, who sent her first tweet on August 30th!

We started putting together lists that focus on different interest areas, but we have a long way to go! So please let us know who you love to follow, who makes you laugh, who inspires you, and who just can't be missed and we'll be sure to add them!