Tweet to the right people.
When your tweets are favored by the algorithm, you have an improved chance of being seen by those your brand is built to serve.
Because social media algorithms control the way information is displayed on platforms, knowing how to work the algorithm is your ticket to winning against competitors.
According to data from Twitter itself, there are currently 217 million daily active users on Twitter. While the user base may not be as big as TikTok today, people still regularly use Twitter to obtain industry news as well as real-time updates from their favorite thought leaders and influencers.
Twitter is the place to be for a fast turnaround of thumb-stopping, share-worthy information. But you need to know the algorithm to be at the center of the action.
What is the Twitter algorithm?
At its core, the Twitter algorithm is built on personalization. A user’s home feed comprises tweets from accounts they follow as well as recommendations of other content Twitter predicts the user will enjoy. The way users behave on the platform acts as ammunition for Twitter’s content predictions.
This boils down to:
- accounts you follow
- device location
- post timeframes
- tweet engagement.
Currently, the algorithm fueling the Twitter timeline can be categorized into three main sections: ranked tweets, the “in case you missed it” section as well as tweets in reverse chronological order.
Ranked tweets appear at the top of the timeline. This is where Twitter shows the tweets the algorithm has determined to be relevant based on the above criteria. Ranked tweets can include content from accounts your followers interact with, even if you don’t already follow or interact with said accounts. If the accounts you follow have liked or replied to a tweet, those tweets can also appear in the ranked section of the timeline.
The “in case you missed it” section yields earlier tweets from users you regularly connect with.
These tweets appear when you skip past the first collection of ranked tweets.
Tweets in reverse chronological order encapsulate the most recent tweets from the accounts you follow. Tweets that gather more engagement rise to the top, while those with less fall to the bottom.
As with all social media algorithms, the Twitter algorithm uses machine learning to sustain itself. Because of this, even Twitter itself can’t be completely certain of the outcomes of a constantly evolving algorithm. There are, however, a few perennial factors that determine a quality tweet.
The anatomy of a top tweet
Tweet quality can be distilled to four main factors:
- engagement
- relevance
- richness
- timeliness.
Engagement is a key piece at play in ordering posts on a feed. It goes without saying that posts are more likely to be prioritized if lots of people are liking, commenting and retweeting, etc.
Tweet relevance relates to whether the content resonates with target users. For a tweet to be deemed relevant, it must make the audience feel heard. Whether it provides educational insight, answers customer pain points or solicits comedic value, tweets must be part of a broader storytelling effort that connects brands with their respective audiences.
Richness refers to whether the tweet includes any rich media (e.g. gifs, videos). Tweets with rich media often encourage more engagement because they make posts more attention-grabbing, provided that they’re relevant to the tweet and the account posting.
Finally, timeliness encapsulates whether a tweet was posted recently. A tweet is more likely to appear at the top of the feed if it has been posted recently. Timeliness also refers to peak engagement time. Brands can garner greater visibility when they post at a time when their target audience is most active.
Now that you know the anatomy of a top tweet, learn the strategies to bring top tweets into your arena.
How to tweet your way up
Here is our roundup of the best ways to tweet your way up:
- Retweet popular tweets [occasionally]
Twitter prioritizes accounts that post relevant content. When you include retweets of top posts into the mix, it can help boost reach because it connects your brand with the audiences of high-performing accounts.
- Include relevant hashtags
Be discerning with the hashtags you include in your tweets. Your tweet appears in the search results of the hashtags you include. Ensure the hashtags are relevant to the post to make their appearance in the search results worthwhile. It could trigger a few new followers! As a general rule, up to two hashtags is optimal. Any more than that looks like spam and can work against other ranking factors.
- Actively engage
Respond to all replies to the latest tweets (ideally within the initial 2-3 hours after posting). It can be a great way to connect with your audience as well as identify potential leads. When you engage with popular tweets in your niche, Twitter may also suggest accounts that are similar, making it easy to build your network and find your tribe.
- Be consistent
It is generally recommended to post on Twitter 1-2 times per day, and no more than 3-5 times per day. This ensures a steady stream of content to your Twitter profile and builds your personal brand recognition. To keep up with this post frequency, you can also schedule Tweets natively (straight from your Twitter account) for free if you don’t already use a social media management tool.
Being at the center of Twitter action is a pivotal opportunity to earn more exposure and community rapport. But tracking the success metrics across all your campaigns is such a headache. You have to dig deep into the native platform and then propagate the relevant metrics across multiple other reporting touchpoints. Not fun!
Thankfully, there’s an easier way…
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