Read on Twitter
I wrote 30 Twitter threads in 30 days.
The goal?
Learn how to craft interesting threads, and grow a following. It (mostly) worked.
- New followers: +2.5K (+100% MoM)
- Top thread: 373K impressions
- Top tweet: 2.5K likes
Here& #39;s what I learned. Quick thread
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👇" title="Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten" aria-label="Emoji: Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👇" title="Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten" aria-label="Emoji: Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten">
The goal?
Learn how to craft interesting threads, and grow a following. It (mostly) worked.
- New followers: +2.5K (+100% MoM)
- Top thread: 373K impressions
- Top tweet: 2.5K likes
Here& #39;s what I learned. Quick thread
To start, here& #39;s the most popular thread I& #39;ve written.
Thoughts on what made it work, below. https://twitter.com/mariodgabriele/status/1301302318508519426">https://twitter.com/mariodgab...
Thoughts on what made it work, below. https://twitter.com/mariodgabriele/status/1301302318508519426">https://twitter.com/mariodgab...
1. Quality
The threads that performed best were (usually) the ones I put the most effort into.
One example is this one about Jeff Bezos& #39;s origins. I spent hours researching and drafting it.
It& #39;s worth taking the time to craft your words. https://twitter.com/mariodgabriele/status/1288889939401363456">https://twitter.com/mariodgab...
The threads that performed best were (usually) the ones I put the most effort into.
One example is this one about Jeff Bezos& #39;s origins. I spent hours researching and drafting it.
It& #39;s worth taking the time to craft your words. https://twitter.com/mariodgabriele/status/1288889939401363456">https://twitter.com/mariodgab...
2. Timeliness
Capitalizing on the news can be one way to expand viewership.
When Fornite launched its #FreeFortnite campaign, I wrote this thread.
At the time, it was my 2nd best performing thread. It also introduced me to the lovely @JoshConstine. https://twitter.com/mariodgabriele/status/1293999159364575232">https://twitter.com/mariodgab...
Capitalizing on the news can be one way to expand viewership.
When Fornite launched its #FreeFortnite campaign, I wrote this thread.
At the time, it was my 2nd best performing thread. It also introduced me to the lovely @JoshConstine. https://twitter.com/mariodgabriele/status/1293999159364575232">https://twitter.com/mariodgab...
3. Narrative Arc
Have a clear start and end in your mind.
I made this mistake with a few Amazon threads. I thought because my first one worked, I could keep the story going. But they didn& #39;t have as clear a narrative arc and were much less popular. https://twitter.com/mariodgabriele/status/1292932395184742400">https://twitter.com/mariodgab...
Have a clear start and end in your mind.
I made this mistake with a few Amazon threads. I thought because my first one worked, I could keep the story going. But they didn& #39;t have as clear a narrative arc and were much less popular. https://twitter.com/mariodgabriele/status/1292932395184742400">https://twitter.com/mariodgab...
4. Imagery
Creating a special title image made no difference.
The threads that took off used photos. And some of the most fascinating stories that used a title image went nowhere.
One example: the story of the kidnapping of Freddy Heineken. https://twitter.com/mariodgabriele/status/1293623912283037696">https://twitter.com/mariodgab...
Creating a special title image made no difference.
The threads that took off used photos. And some of the most fascinating stories that used a title image went nowhere.
One example: the story of the kidnapping of Freddy Heineken. https://twitter.com/mariodgabriele/status/1293623912283037696">https://twitter.com/mariodgab...
5. Polls
Polls are good for engagement, but not likes or RTs.
100 people played this Twitter trivia game I tried out, but it yielded very few likes or RTs. A few people liked it a lot though. https://twitter.com/mariodgabriele/status/1295835383096254464">https://twitter.com/mariodgab...
Polls are good for engagement, but not likes or RTs.
100 people played this Twitter trivia game I tried out, but it yielded very few likes or RTs. A few people liked it a lot though. https://twitter.com/mariodgabriele/status/1295835383096254464">https://twitter.com/mariodgab...
6. Quotes
In their brevity, quotes are well-suited to Twitter.
This one about Abraham& #39;s Lincoln wisdom did reasonably well for me (at the time). They also take much less time. https://twitter.com/mariodgabriele/status/1297335673922281472">https://twitter.com/mariodgab...
In their brevity, quotes are well-suited to Twitter.
This one about Abraham& #39;s Lincoln wisdom did reasonably well for me (at the time). They also take much less time. https://twitter.com/mariodgabriele/status/1297335673922281472">https://twitter.com/mariodgab...
6. Good News
If you have something big to share, share it.
Even though other threads performed better, the 1K that liked my thread about going full-time on The Generalist meant the most.
Twitter can be a supportive place. https://twitter.com/mariodgabriele/status/1295031676989345792">https://twitter.com/mariodgab...
If you have something big to share, share it.
Even though other threads performed better, the 1K that liked my thread about going full-time on The Generalist meant the most.
Twitter can be a supportive place. https://twitter.com/mariodgabriele/status/1295031676989345792">https://twitter.com/mariodgab...
7. Answer a Question
After I announced going FT on The Generalist, I had other writers reach out asking what tools I used.
So I shared that list publicly. It made it easier for me to give people detailed information. https://twitter.com/mariodgabriele/status/1299401812047360001">https://twitter.com/mariodgab...
After I announced going FT on The Generalist, I had other writers reach out asking what tools I used.
So I shared that list publicly. It made it easier for me to give people detailed information. https://twitter.com/mariodgabriele/status/1299401812047360001">https://twitter.com/mariodgab...
8. Curate Information
This was written after the 30 days, but is something I& #39;d like to do more of: compile info into a single thread.
This covers 2020& #39;s IPOs. It features my writing along with others& #39; work. There& #39;s value in simplifying consumption. https://twitter.com/mariodgabriele/status/1309583517647613953">https://twitter.com/mariodgab...
This was written after the 30 days, but is something I& #39;d like to do more of: compile info into a single thread.
This covers 2020& #39;s IPOs. It features my writing along with others& #39; work. There& #39;s value in simplifying consumption. https://twitter.com/mariodgabriele/status/1309583517647613953">https://twitter.com/mariodgab...
9. To https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👇" title="Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten" aria-label="Emoji: Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten"> or Not to https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👇" title="Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten" aria-label="Emoji: Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten">?
I& #39;ve heard some folks find the use of thehttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👇" title="Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten" aria-label="Emoji: Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten"> annoying.
I think it may feel manufactured to some.
Personally, I think it is a useful visual to let readers know that there& #39;s more to the story. To each their own.
I& #39;ve heard some folks find the use of the
I think it may feel manufactured to some.
Personally, I think it is a useful visual to let readers know that there& #39;s more to the story. To each their own.
10. The Perfect Topic?
Why did the Tesla tweet work?
Written on a plane, quicker than usual. Not based on any news.
But it hit a sweet spot: something ppl know a *little* about, but not as much as they& #39;d like. Familiarity gets ppl intrigued, uncommon insight seals the deal.
Why did the Tesla tweet work?
Written on a plane, quicker than usual. Not based on any news.
But it hit a sweet spot: something ppl know a *little* about, but not as much as they& #39;d like. Familiarity gets ppl intrigued, uncommon insight seals the deal.
11. Astroturfing
If you want to, you can post your thread into other threads to get visibility.
I did this for the Fortnite thread. Then I felt sick for being spammy and deleted them all. It may be a viable strategy but feels icky to me.
Again, do you.
If you want to, you can post your thread into other threads to get visibility.
I did this for the Fortnite thread. Then I felt sick for being spammy and deleted them all. It may be a viable strategy but feels icky to me.
Again, do you.
12. Where Next?
The threads I found most fun to write were narrative and evergreen. I think a year from now, readers will still be interested in:
- Jeff Bezos& #39; Origins
- The Life of Tesla
+ some others. So that& #39;s what I plan to write more of.
The threads I found most fun to write were narrative and evergreen. I think a year from now, readers will still be interested in:
- Jeff Bezos& #39; Origins
- The Life of Tesla
+ some others. So that& #39;s what I plan to write more of.
I& #39;ll also write my newsletter, which is my number 1 priority. If you& #39;d like to be a part of that journey, sign up here.
You& #39;ll join +11K creators and thinkers interested in technology. Entirely free. https://www.readthegeneralist.com/ ">https://www.readthegeneralist.com/">...
You& #39;ll join +11K creators and thinkers interested in technology. Entirely free. https://www.readthegeneralist.com/ ">https://www.readthegeneralist.com/">...
