How to write a good tweet, with examples
Updated
A good tweet says one specific thing in plain words. Put the most interesting part in the first line, include a real detail only you would know, and cut every word that doesn't help. Then ask who'd want to reply to it or send it to a friend. If you can't name anyone, make it more specific.
X calls them posts now, but people still search for "tweet," so we use both here. This method is our advice. No format is proven to always work.
The method
1. Keep to one idea. If you need "and also," you probably have two posts. X allows 280 characters on a standard account, and most ideas fit in much less.
2. Start with the point. People decide from the first few words. Open with the result, the surprise or the claim, and skip the warm-up.
3. Add a real detail. Use a number, a name, a place or a moment. Details prove you did the thing, and they're hard to fake.
4. Use the words you'd say out loud. Read it aloud. If you wouldn't say it to a friend, rewrite it.
5. Cut. Remove "I think," "really," "in today's world" and anything else that doesn't change the meaning.
6. Give people a way in. A clear position, a real question or something they can add. X's default weights put far more value on predicted replies and shares than on likes, although those weights need careful reading.
Before and after
All of these are invented, so swap in your own true details.
Advice
- Before: "It's so important to talk to your customers regularly."
- After: "I call one customer every Friday. Last month's call killed a feature we'd spent three weeks planning."
A lesson
- Before: "Failure is the best teacher. I've learned so much this year!"
- After: "We launched on a Tuesday to 400 emails. Eleven signups. The page never said what the product does."
An opinion
- Before: "Not sure meetings are always useful these days."
- After: "Most status meetings should be a three-line message. The only one I kept is the one where people disagree."
A question
- Before: "What do you all think about pricing?"
- After: "We're at $19 and everyone says it's cheap. Would you raise it for new customers only, or for everyone with notice?"
Each "after" gives you something to respond to. The "before" versions could have been written by anyone, which is why nobody needs to answer them.
First lines that tend to work
Use these patterns as a starting point, not a script:
- The result: "Cut our support tickets by half with one sentence."
- The surprise: "Our worst-performing page made the most money."
- The admission: "I've been wrong about cold email for two years."
- The specific number: "Eleven signups from 400 emails."
- The strong claim: "Your landing page doesn't need testimonials yet."
Only claim what's true. A strong line that the rest of the post can't support costs you trust. Our free tweet hook generator gives you five versions to edit.
Format
- Use line breaks where you'd pause. They help on a phone. Don't break after every word.
- Skip the stock emoji and hashtags. X's help page recommends no more than two hashtags, and most posts don't need any.
- Add an image only if it shows something, like a real screenshot or result.
- Keep links optional. X's leaders say links aren't penalized, but the post should still be useful with no click.
Remember how X counts: a link is 23 characters and an emoji is 2. Our character counter follows those rules.
Common mistakes
- Writing for everyone. A post for a specific reader is much more likely to get a real response.
- Motivational filler. "Keep going" could come from anyone.
- Fake hooks. "Nobody is talking about this" usually means it's been talked about a lot.
- AI habits. Tidy lists of three and "it's not X, it's Y" stand out. Try our AI tweet checker, and see how to fix them.
- Asking for likes. It reads as desperate, and X bars repeatedly soliciting engagement in its rewards program.
A 30-second check before you post
- Could anyone else have written this? If so, add a detail.
- Does the first line stand alone?
- Who would reply, and what would they say?
- Is every claim true, and would I stand behind it in a reply?
- Does it sound like me when I read it aloud?
Common questions
How long should a tweet be?
As long as the idea needs. Short posts are easy to read, but a few detailed lines can do better if they earn it. We know of no reliable ideal length.
Should I use threads or single posts?
Start with a single post if it fits. Use a thread when you have real steps or a story that needs more room.
How do I find things to tweet about?
Look at your own week: what you tried, changed or got wrong. We have 30 prompts, and a free idea generator.
Can AI write my tweets?
It can help with drafts, but you should add your own details and edit for your voice. Here's how to choose a tool. Don't invent experiences, and read everything before you post.
Next step
Take your last post that got little response, and rewrite it using this method. Repli does this each morning using your past posts to match how you write, and you check and post each draft yourself. See a sample on an invented account.