Twitter threads are the new blogs.

Over the last 5 weeks, I've 32x my Twitter following posting a thread a day.

These 15 learnings will help your threads go viral

1. Identity

Figure out what you want to be known for and create around it.

Overtime, you will form an idenity.

For ex:

@david_perell = The Writing Guy

@mrsharma = The DTC Guy

I want to be known as "The Marketing Guy."

So, 50 marketing threads over 50 days to jump start the process of forming my digital identity.

2. Long-Form

A study showed that long-form content gets 56% more social shares.

This is why threads are a gold mine for building an audience.

Unlike a typical tweet that is 280 characters or less -- threads break that barrier.

Writing a thread is like writing an article.

2. Pick an emotion

People share content that sparks emotion.

There are 27 basic emotions.

When I write threads I want readers to feel:

- Excitement
- Interest
- Triumph

I want to readers to feel excited to implement new marketing strategies.

I want them to be interested in this diff marketing perspective.

And I want them to feel triumphant because they now solved a problem they've been facing.

Figure out the emotions you want readers to experience and write to make them come to life.

3. First tweet is everything

Think of your first tweet as the above-the-fold on your site.

People are scanners.

If it's not appealing when they scan -- they will move on.

Your entire goal should be to get the reader to the next tweet.

4. Brief Declaration

Let's talk your first tweet.

When it comes to your first sentence -- I like to start with a brief declaration.

An opinionated strong statement.

It gets the readers attention and sparks their curiosity.

It's also not intimadating.

Reading a 6-word sentence is easy to understand and digest.

My goal is to make sure you read the first sentence that you want to read the second sentence after you read the first sentence.

5. Use numbers

Numbers help readers visualize context.

Amazon says to replace adjectives with numbers.

Don't say "Dropbox grew a ton in the last 15 months."

Say "Dropbox grew 3900% in the last 15 months."

Our brains are attracted to numbers.

It helps us organize info.

6. Name drop

10/10 times I'll name drop who or what I'm talking about.

For example, name dropping Elon Musk or Airbnb is like dropping a power word.

People know them and their success -- and are more likely to give you their attention.

7. Value prop

Your last sentence is like your CTA on a site.

It gets them to take the next step.

Everytime I write one -- I want the reader to know exactly what they're going to learn when they read my thread.

Make sure it's value driven and you'll influence their next step

8. Valuable Info

People share what they haven't seen before.

So, don't copy content!!

Do your research.

Find an interesting perspective.

Find content that feels "exclusive."

I like to call it "holy shit" content.

Content that makes the reader say, "where has this been?"

9. Use Visuals

Our brains love visuals.

Copy + Visuals is a cheat code.

Combine the two, and you create an "aha" moment for a reader.

It will help readers register and remember the information.

Think of it as brain candy.

(I should use more visuals)

10. Add a CTA

YES! Add a CTA to the end of your threads.

Don't hope people will follow you. Tell them.

Don't hope they sign up for your newsletter. Tell them.

This is content marketing.

Use it to drive an end goal.

11. Add your handle

A lot of readers won't know who you are.

This piece of content is their first time interacting with you.

If you want them to follow you -- add your Twitter handle in your CTA.

It decreases friction.

And makes it easy for them to click through and follow.

12. Optimize your CTA

Want the above to work?

Don't make your CTA selfish.

I always tell readers the value to expect after following me.

Your job is to deliver that value.

13. DON'T end with a CTA

Your CTA should not be your last tweet.

Twitter condenses your threads into your first and last tweet on someone's feed.

Don't make your first impression a CTA.

Instead, end your thread with a summarizing tweet that drives the value home.

Now when your thread ends up on someone's feed:

1. The first thing they'll see is an engaging killer first tweet
2. A ending tweet with value that supports the first tweet.

With this, you'll notice that your first tweet and last tweet will be the most liked tweet.

14. Use what works

I go into my threads and see which tweet people engaged with most. (excluding final tweet)

I take this and write an entire thread about it.

For example:

I write a thread about 8 content marketing strategies...

Out of the eight, the thread on email marketing gets the most engagement.

I'll then write a thread on email marketing.

Why?

Readers told me exactly what they found interesting and informative.

So, let's scale it.

15. RESEARCH

The more you understand a topic -- the better you'll write about it.

Both Hemingway and Ogilvy talk about this extensively.

Doing extensive research on a topic is like loading your brain with ammunition.

If not, you're content will read like all the others.

That's it for now...

But if you want more marketing content just like this then...

Follow me ( @alexgarcia_atx) to make sure a marketing thread shows up on your feed for the next 4 days :)

It's also a newsletter that I send to 5600+ marketers. (over 50% of them open it daily)

Join them

http://bit.ly/3flYp6b 

TL;DR

1. Form an identity
2. Use long-form content to do it
3. Master the first tweet
4. Start with a strong declaration
5. Use numbers to gain attn
6. Name drop the stars
7. Your last sentence is your CTA
8. Create original content to make an impression

9. Use visuals -- it's brain candy
10. Always add a cat. It's content marketing.
11. Add your handle to reduce friction
12. Optimize your CTA by telling ppl value to expect
13. End your thread with a summary
14. Re-purpose top tweets
15. Do your research to present a new angle