How to write a thread on X that people finish
Updated
To make a thread on X, write your first post in the composer, tap the plus icon to add more, then tap Post all. To write a good one, make the first post work entirely on its own, because in X's published code the later posts are replies, and replies from accounts a viewer doesn't follow are filtered out of For You by default. So strangers mostly decide based on post one.
How to create a thread
From X's help page:
- Tap the compose icon and write your first post.
- Tap the highlighted plus icon to add another post. Repeat as needed.
- Tap Post all.
You can also:
- Save a draft. Tap the delete icon, and you'll be offered the choice to save it. Thread drafts show how many posts they contain.
- Add to it later. Open the thread and choose Add another post. Only you can see that prompt.
- Delete a post before publishing. Use the delete icon on that post.
X says a thread with 2 or 3 posts generally appears connected by a line. With 4 or more, it's cut short and readers see Show this thread.
Writing long text first? Our free thread splitter breaks it at sentences and numbers the posts.
Why the first post does most of the work
This comes from our reading of X's published code, not a statement from X.
A thread's later posts are replies to your earlier ones. The OONRetweetReplyFilter removes replies from accounts a viewer doesn't follow from For You, under default settings. And X's new-author lift applies to original posts, not replies.
So for someone who doesn't follow you, the first post is usually the door. If it doesn't work alone, they won't reach the others. This doesn't mean threads are bad. It means post one can't be a mere teaser.
A structure that works
We suggest this as a starting point:
- First post: the promise and a proof. Say what the reader gets, and why you can say it.
- Context, if it's needed. One post at most. Skip it if you can.
- The body. One point per post. Each should make sense when read alone, since people can share a single post from a thread.
- The last post: the takeaway or next step. Summarize it, or ask a real question.
Here's an invented example:
1/ We cut our onboarding from 6 steps to 2. Setup completion went from 31% to 58% in a month. Here are the 4 steps we removed, and the one we regret removing.
2/ Removed: picking a team name. Nobody had an answer on day one. We now use the company's domain, and people can change it later.
3/ Removed: inviting teammates. People invite after they've seen it work. We moved it to after the first result.
4/ Removed: the product tour. Almost everyone skipped it. We replaced it with one sample project.
5/ Removed: choosing a plan. It made a free trial feel like a purchase.
6/ The regret: we also removed the role question, and now our welcome emails are generic. It's coming back as one optional click. What would you have kept?
It's specific, and each post stands alone. It also ends with an honest admission and a question.
How long should it be?
As short as it can be while still delivering. We know of no reliable ideal length. Most ideas with three to seven real points fit in about that many posts. If you find yourself adding filler to reach a round number, stop.
If you have only one point, make it a single post. If you have a Premium subscription, you can write up to 25,000 characters in one post instead.
Details that help
- Numbering is optional. It shows how long a thread is, and you can leave it out.
- Use the first image well. If a screenshot proves the claim, put it in the first post.
- Mind your links. Links count as 23 characters. Put them where they fit naturally, and don't assume they hurt reach.
- Stay around. Answer replies in the first hour or two, since the first post's early window is when it's most likely to get its lift.
- Don't post a chain of duplicates. Posting very similar threads repeatedly can read as spam under X's authenticity policy.
Common mistakes
- "A thread 🧵" as the first post. It says nothing.
- Teasers with no value. "Here's what nobody tells you..." makes people work for free.
- One sentence broken across posts. It's annoying to read, and it doesn't add depth.
- "Follow me for more" on each post. Once at the end is plenty. Better still, let the profile do that.
- Summaries of someone else's book. Add your own experience, or it's hard to see why anyone would need it from you. X's rewards program also excludes content that mostly repackages others' work.
Common questions
Do threads get more reach than single posts on X?
We can't say. Some blogs claim they do, but we found no primary data. Test both on your account, and compare the first post's impressions.
Can I schedule a thread on X?
Third-party tools can. Typefully offers this, and Buffer's free plan includes one threaded post. See how to schedule posts on X.
Should I number my posts?
It's optional. Numbers help people see how far along they are, but they use up a few characters.
How do I add to a thread later?
Open it and choose Add another post. This can work well for updates, like the results of an experiment.
Next step
Take your best recent post that had more to say, and turn it into a short thread using the structure above. Paste your draft in the thread splitter to check the length. Repli can also suggest what to post each day, with drafts in your voice. See the demo.