𝕏 / Twitter Algorithm: how to make it work in your favor

Have you ever wondered how Twitter always seems to know what you want to see?

It could be a news article, a joke, or a post for your favorite creator.

How can X ensure that only the things I like and am interested in show up in my feed?

X / Twitter algorithm is responsible for keeping you engaged on the platform by showing you content that is likely to grab your attention each time you return. It shapes your experience on the site.

A lot is going on behind the scenes to make this happen.

The algorithm aims to show you the tweets that you are most interested in by considering your past interactions, followed accounts, and trending topics. 

However, the algorithm can be your best friend or worst enemy as it affects your content strategy, whether you’re a business or a content creator.

But once you understand how to use it, the algorithm can boost your engagement.

Keep reading to learn how to make Twitter / X algorithm work in your favor.

What is the 𝕏 / Twitter Algorithm?

X, previously known as Twitter, needs to show relevant content to its millions of users at the same time. 

The algorithm decides what you see and when.

For some, this algorithm can be a lifesaver, but for others, it can be a real obstacle and the one to blame when their Twitter content strategy fails. 

In reality, the algorithm’s core purpose is to be a recommendation engine using machine learning to decide what content appears in your feed. 

The algorithm considers relevance, popularity, and the types of content you engage with to choose which posts you will likely see. 

Most of the time, the algorithm is accurate. 

So, to become relevant, you need to play the same game as the algorithm. 

No, it’s not so simple, but we can make it work. 

Just like any other social media platform, the algorithm continuously evolves. 

Stay informed about the latest updates to keep track of the algorithm. 

For instance, Twitter has recently changed its algorithm to prioritize content from smaller accounts.

Where? On X, of course.

Decoding the X / Twitter Algorithm: how it Works

According to X, the recommendation process has three main stages: finding potential tweets, ranking them, and using rules and filters for tweets the user doesn’t engage with.

Twitter’s “For You” timeline is personalized for each user through a service called the ‘Home Mixer’, which is built on Twitter’s custom Scala framework known as Product Mixer. 

This framework links different content sources, scoring functions, rules, and filters to make a unified feed.

It gathers, evaluates, and handles posts to customize user feeds.

1. Candidates

It begins with the candidate search stage, where Twitter gathers the best tweets from different sources. 

This includes accounts you follow, known as In-Network sources, and accounts you don’t follow, known as Out-of-Network sources. 

The In-Network source shows recent tweets from the accounts you follow. The tweets are ranked based on a model that predicts how likely you are to engage with the tweet’s author.

The goal is to show a mix of these tweets on your for You timeline.

Finding tweets from people you don’t follow is more complex. 

Twitter uses two methods: the social graph and the embedding space approach.

The social graph organizes tweets based on the activity of accounts you follow and those with similar interests. 

It looks at the tweets that the people you follow have interacted with and who has liked the tweets you liked.

The embedding space approach helps find tweets and users that are similar to your interests on Twitter. 

SimClusters, a part of Twitter’s embedding space, groups users into communities or topic categories led by influential users. 

When a tweet becomes popular within a Twitter community, it has the chance to appear on the for you timeline of users within that community.

2. Ranking

Once the candidate pool is set, all tweets are equally ranked. 

To do that, Twitter ranks around 1500 tweets from both, inside and outside its network to determine their relevance and uses its machine learning model to rank all tweets, regardless of where they come from. 

The algorithm rates each tweet based on different factors such as relevance, recency, variety, engagement (likes, retweets, replies), and multimedia elements.

More relevant tweets will be shown more prominently in users’ feeds. 

3. Filters

After the ranking process, Twitter’s algorithm uses rules, filters, and product features to improve the selection of tweets. 

• It ensures you won’t see multiple tweets in a row from the same person.
• It filters tweets based on your preferences.
• It shows a good mix of tweets from people you follow and those you don’t.
• It won’t show tweets from people you don’t follow if they haven’t been engaged with by anyone you follow.
• It connects replies to original tweets to give context.
• X / Twitter is mindful of the topics you tweet about to avoid spamming. 

4. Mix tweets

Home Mixer handles the last step by combining tweets with other content, like ads and recommendations, before sending the finished feed to the user’s device.

This process completes the recommendation system, which manages billions of requests every day and usually takes under 1.5 seconds to finish.

Pretty impressive, right?

Despite its complicated technology, X is clear on being transparent.

It provides open-source access to its recommendation algorithm and is working on adding features to help users better understand and control their experience.

5 Key Factors in 𝕏 / Twitter’s Ranking Algorithm

Over the years, Twitter has changed its algorithm several times, always prioritizing user interaction and engagement with content.

However, many factors still significantly impact content creators and marketers on Twitter / X.

1. Relevance

Twitter / X’s algorithm prioritizes tweets based on their relevance to individual users, determined by factors such as topic alignment with user interests, engagement history, and content similarity.

When sorting tweets in your feed, the algorithm scans the accounts you follow and the tweets you engage with by replying, liking, or retweeting. 

Then, it values tweets that attract attention and initiate conversations.

The tweets that appear on your For You timeline are also influenced by your location. 

2. Recency

The recency signal ensures that recent tweets are shown first in the timeline. 

The trending section may include current events and popular topics.

This helps users stay updated with the latest content and conversations happening in real-time.

3. Media content

Twitter / X loves different formats. 

Posts with images and videos get more attention than text-only tweets. 

Why? Users engage with them more. 

However, make sure the media you use is not abusive or spammy, as the platform filters out such content.

4. Engagement

Tweets that get a lot of likes, retweets, and replies are shown more in the timeline to share content that is likely to connect with more people.

When the algorithm sees that your content is getting more and more engagement, the first thing it does is boost it.

5. Profile Trust

Having a trusted and respected profile within a community can lead to increased visibility. X considers this when users share posts and interact with trusted profiles. 

By signing up for Twitter Blue, you can enhance your visibility and establish yourself as a trusted user on the platform.

8 Tips to make the 𝕏 / Twitter algorithm work in your favor

X / Twitter algorithm can become your best buddy. 

But you need to put in the effort and write engaging tweets. 

To effectively work shoulder-by with the Twitter algorithm and increase your engagement, use these strategies:

1. Tweet consistently and at optimal times

Start tweeting every day, and keep doing it as a habit. 

If you have something to tweet, go for it and see how it does. 

Post once or twice a day to keep your followers engaged, but no more than four to five tweets. 

You can schedule tweets on Twitter or use a social media scheduling app to avoid missing a day. 

The best times to post on Twitter are in the morning from 8 am to 10 am, and in the evening from 6 pm to 9 pm on weekdays. 

On weekends, the early afternoon to the evening, from 11 am to 5 pm, is the best time.

But to find the best time to post, look at the performance data for all your posts. 

Try posting tweets at different times throughout the day for a month, a check-out the results you get. 

2. Use High-quality media

When ranking content, the Twitter algorithm gives extra points if you post with high-quality media such as videos, GIFs, and images. 

It’s not just the algorithm, it’s the users too. 

It really grabs the attention of people scrolling through their feeds!

3. Get verified

A verified account on X can make your account more credible and noticeable to the platform’s algorithm.

According to Twitter’s algorithm code, a verified account may receive a boost in visibility on the platform.

The blue checkmark, once a symbol of importance in a specific industry, can now be acquired by paying a monthly fee.

Twitter has added two new types of checkmarks: a gold checkmark for business accounts and a gray checkmark for government officials. 

4. Use hashtags without overuse

Hashtags help expand your reach to users who don’t know you yet but share your interests in the same topics.

However, using too many hashtags is not the best approach either.

Using well-chosen hashtags is enough to help more people see your brand and find your tweets in popular conversations.

We suggest that you research the key hashtags in your specific niche. 

5. Employ All Twitter Features (Spaces, Videos, Polls, Threads, etc.)

X has many functions designed to encourage conversations and increase visibility: 

• X polls are fun and great for getting your followers talking. 
• Spaces are perfect places to have real-time conversations with your audience.
• Videos are the most popular type of content on all social media platforms, including Twitter.
• Threads are perfect for sharing excellent content and going viral with your audience.

Make sure to take advantage of these features!

6. Join Relevant Trends and Topics

Stay on top of current trends and topics in your industry. 

You can increase your visibility and engagement by joining relevant conversations and using popular hashtags.

7. Encourage Followers to Engage

X is the right place to ask questions and get real-time answers. 

The algorithm boosts content that generates meaningful engagement. 

Encourage honest conversations with your audience by replying to comments, asking questions, and starting discussions. 

8. Use links, but in moderation

One of the most common hacks on Twitter / X is to grow an audience you can later take to your website or newsletter.

For that purpose, you can use links in your post that are relevant to the content or associated with your brand.

The Twitter algorithm is quite ok with this, even with OnlyFans content creators on Twitter.

But, like always, don’t over-post with links. 

𝕏 / Twitter algorithm importance

The Twitter algorithm is designed to help you reach the right audience at the right time.

When Twitter began, it was easy for your post to be ignored in the constant stream of new posts.

Now, the algorithm has been updated, and you can employ it as a tool along with all the recommendations we have already shared above.

On the other hand, the Twitter recommendation algorithm is great for marketers and advertisers. 

It helps them show ads to users who are most likely to be interested in them. This makes advertising campaigns work better on Twitter. 

Conclusion

Twitter algorithm isn’t an excuse most creators use when their account doesn’t grow.

It’s a sophisticated system that works incredibly fast to get you engaged with people who, just like you, share the same vision of this little rock in the middle of the universe. 

However, as a business or content creator, understanding this algorithm and staying updated with its changes is part of the job.

X / Twitter is a social media platform with great opportunities to grow a community that will be happy to follow you to other social media platforms or even subscribe to your own website.

To conquer the landscape of X, start by optimizing your profile, consistently posting high-quality content with the right hashtags, and encouraging your followers to engage in conversations with you.

The algorithm enjoys user interactions, so use features like threads, polls, spaces, and more to enhance engagement and remain on the algorithm’s radar as a top creator.

Social media tools like Owlead will make your journey easier.

Start tweeting!