@BillClinton tweets, abandons @PrezBillyJeff

(CNN) - It looks like Stephen Colbert's Twitter peer pressure ultimately paid off.

The satirist and comedy show host got Clinton to join Twitter earlier this month, even starting up an account for the former president: @PrezBillyJeff

[twitter-follow screen_name='politicalticker'] [twitter-follow screen_name='KilloughCNN']

Clinton sent his first tweets from the account, with Colbert typing the messages for him. At the time, it was unclear whether Clinton's new Twitter presence would last longer than the comedic segment, which took place at an annual meeting for college students involved with the Clinton Global Initiative.

Now, Clinton has been checkmarked. He has an official account, verified by Twitter's trademark blue sign.

But long gone is the name @PrezBillyJeff.

The former president opted instead for the more dignified handle: @BillClinton.

The background promotes his organization, the Clinton Foundation. Of the eight people he's following, six of them are related to his projects or global health initiatives. The other two are Colbert, of course, and his daughter, Chelsea, who welcomed her father to Twitter Thursday morning.

He has more than 300,000 followers. His former account is now private.

Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, will be in Dallas Thursday for the dedication ceremony of the George W. Bush Presidential Center.

- CNN's Alison Harding contributed to this report.