How To Grow On X (Formerly Twitter)

Introduction.

Building an audience on X (formerly known as Twitter) has become a key part of establishing your online presence.

With the platform’s shift from Twitter to X under Elon Musk’s leadership, the dynamics have changed. But some fundamentals remain solid.

Let’s break down how you can effectively grow on X, tap into its ever-evolving tools, and avoid getting lost in the noise.

Understanding the Landscape of X

First off, let’s be clear—X is fast-paced. Tweets (now called “posts”) have a fleeting lifespan of about 15-18 minutes, so you need to make an impact quickly.

You’re competing for attention in a highly dynamic space with around 550 million monthly active users globally (as of early 2024), meaning growth requires consistency, creativity, and strategy.

With this in mind, here’s a breakdown of the essential steps for growing on X.

1. Consistency is King.

To grow on X, one of the most important things is consistent posting. It’s not just about quantity, but maintaining an active presence throughout the week.

Successful users post anywhere from 3-10 times per day. This doesn’t mean spamming your followers—it’s about engaging content.

Here’s what consistency does:

• Keeps you relevant in timelines
• Increases the likelihood of engagement
• Strengthens your relationship with your audience

Using tools like Buffer or Hootsuite can help you schedule posts and keep you consistent, even on your busiest days.

2. Engage Authentically.

Simply posting isn’t enough—X is a two-way street. Engage with your followers by replying to comments, liking other people’s posts, and retweeting content that aligns with your niche. Interactions signal to the algorithm that you’re active and push your content to a wider audience.

A great strategy here is to reply to popular posts with something insightful or funny. This can increase your visibility and potentially draw in followers from more prominent accounts.

3. Use Hashtags Wisely.

Hashtags are still relevant on X, but it’s about using them smartly. Studies show that tweets with hashtags get up to 100% more engagement than those without. However, overloading a tweet with them can hurt readability.

The sweet spot? Use 1-3 targeted hashtags relevant to your content. You can also jump on trending hashtags when appropriate, but avoid appearing too promotional—audiences value authenticity over forced relevance.

4. Leverage Visuals.

Adding images, GIFs, or short videos can drastically improve your post performance. Visual content is proven to get up to 150% more retweets than text-only posts.

People are naturally drawn to visuals, and this can give your posts a much-needed edge in a cluttered feed.

Also, don’t shy away from posting polls, live videos, or even voice posts, which are newer features that can drive engagement.

5. Tweet at Optimal Times.

Timing is everything on X. Given the short lifespan of posts, knowing when your audience is most active can help maximize visibility. Studies suggest that the best times to post are generally:

• Between 9 AM – 12 PM (when users check the app in the morning)
• Around 5 PM (as people wrap up their day)

However, analyzing your personal audience’s behaviour is key. You can use X’s built-in analytics or third-party tools like Followerwonk to determine when your followers are most active.

6. Create Shareable Content.

To grow quickly, your posts need to be shareable. Ask yourself what your followers would be excited to retweet. Humour, breaking news, interesting stats, or thought-provoking quotes tend to perform well.

A great way to create shareable content is by contributing to ongoing conversations in your niche. For example, if you’re in tech, join discussions about the latest AI developments or product launches. Make your content interesting enough that others feel compelled to share it.

7. Collaborate and Engage with Influencers.

Collaborating with influencers or engaging with them directly can expand your reach to a broader audience.

A simple reply to one of their posts could spark a viral conversation. If you’re able to get influencers to retweet or engage with your content, their followers are more likely to check out your profile and follow you.

8. Use X’s Advertising Options (But Carefully).

X offers promoted posts as a way to expand your reach. While organic growth should be your primary focus, investing in ads can help give a little boost when necessary.

This could be especially useful if you’re trying to promote a new product, event, or special announcement. Start small with your budget to see how ads work for your audience.

9. Participate in Trending Topics (With Caution)

Jumping into trending topics can be a quick way to get eyes on your content. However, you want to make sure your contributions are meaningful.

Just hopping on a hashtag to get attention can backfire and make you seem inauthentic.

When you do engage in trends, provide valuable or entertaining content that people will want to engage with.

Pros and Cons of Growing on X

Growing on X can be incredibly rewarding, but it’s not without its challenges. Here’s a quick look at some of the pros and cons.

Pros:

• High Engagement Potential: The conversational nature of X allows for real-time interaction with followers.
• Fast Growth: If your content goes viral, you can see a surge in followers quickly.
• Targeted Reach: Hashtags and trends let you reach niche audiences more effectively.
• Visibility of Conversations: Engaging with popular accounts or participating in conversations boosts visibility.

Cons:

• Short Content Lifespan: Posts disappear fast in users’ feeds, meaning you need constant content to stay relevant.
• Algorithm Challenges: The algorithm changes frequently, which can impact your reach unpredictably.
• High Competition: With millions of active users, standing out can be tough.
• Time-Consuming: Managing and consistently posting on X can be time-intensive, especially when you’re aiming to interact with others.

Conclusion

Growing on X isn’t rocket science, but it does require persistence, adaptability, and a willingness to experiment. It’s not about going viral overnight; it’s about building a loyal and engaged community over time.

By staying consistent, interacting authentically, and making use of the platform’s tools like hashtags and visuals, you’ll slowly but surely grow your following.

Now that you’ve got some strategies to work with, the real question is: What will your next post be about, and how will you make it stand out?