There was a time when hashtags were the magic trick for growing an online presence on X. By adding 10 or more hashtags, you could reach new fans and increase the reach of your Tweets. This is especially true when relevant hashtags are combined with a good understanding of the new X algorithm.

In the recent past, the power of hashtags as a discoverability tool has decreased. Some suggest that their necessity as a discoverability tool has reduced, and they are less visible than before. This has led to questions on whether hashtags are still relevant in 2026. Join us in this guide as we seek to answer this question.

What Are X Hashtags and How Have They Evolved?

X hashtags refer to keywords and phrases that begin with the # symbol to label, organize, and categorize content so that the platform understands what your tweet is about. However, they are not necessarily a growth hack, but their primary role is helping with content discovery.

Hashtags were first introduced by Twitter in 2007 and have been a powerful way to make your tweets stand out. Using relevant hashtags, such as a trending topic on Twitter, could result in your tweet appearing when someone searches for those hashtags. So, what has changed, and why do people say hashtags are dead in 2026?

With recent updates to X and changing audience behavior, several factors are driving discussion about the effectiveness of hashtags not only on Twitter but also on other social media platforms. These include:

• X banned hashtags on X, calling them an aesthetic nightmare. Elon Musk halted their use. This reflected the platform's effort to eliminate hashtag-heavy posts in ads.
• It's no longer possible to follow Twitter hashtags. In November 2024, Instagram removed the ability to follow specific hashtags in your feed, reducing your organic exposure.
• The Instagram CEO said the reach of content is no longer affected by hashtags. They are a good choice for categorization and storytelling, but they don't drive visibility.

This indicates that across platforms, algorithms are now paying attention to behavioral signals such as comments, watch time, shares, and saves.

So, Have Hashtags Become Obsolete?

The answer is no. What has changed is their effectiveness, how they work, and their influence. While they will not guarantee your content will go viral on TikTok, X, or other platforms, they are crucial for search placement and the discoverability of your content. 

Nowadays, hashtags work like SEO keywords, helping content determine where to place it to increase its discoverability in the recommended posts. While they won't make or break your posts, you shouldn't ignore them.

Benefits of Using Hashtags on X in 2026

With the decreasing effectiveness of hashtags on X, you might be wondering if it is still worth using hashtags on X. Here are some good reasons to use hashtags in 2026:

Content Categorization

Hashtags are a good choice for categorizing your tweets and informing the X algorithm what your posts are about. For instance, when you use a hashtag such as #smallbusinesstips, you are telling the algorithm that the post is for people interested in business tips.

SEO Boost

Hashtags are now a key part of SEO, acting in the same way as searchable keywords. When users search for a topic using a hashtag, the algorithm produces your content. When you use hashtags on X, it can signal to the search engines that you are creating relevant and valuable content.

While X prioritizes content based on engagement, hashtags can help search engines index your posts. This improves the discoverability of your posts on X and, therefore, your site's overall search engine ranking. Consequently, consider hashtags in the same way you think about your SEO keywords. Instead of relying on trends, you can focus more on what your audience is searching for.

Audience Targeting

When you schedule a tweet on X using the top AI tools, your goal is to ensure that the tweet reaches people interested in that topic. By using relevant hashtags, your tweets will reach the target audience rather than random strangers. When you reach the wrong audience, it results in low engagement, which can cause the algorithm to reduce your post's reach.

Long-term Results

By using relevant hashtags, you can make your posts searchable after republishing. When your posts are well optimized, they will continue to appear in search results for weeks or even months afterwards. This can increase the reach of the content and bring long-term SEO results for your brand.

How to Use X Hashtags

Hashtags on X will help you categorize your tweets and join real-time discussions, particularly for trending topics or events. According to X, the maximum number of hashtags per Twitter post is two. 

Here are some top strategies for using hashtags on X:

Adding Hashtags Naturally to Tweets 

As noted earlier, hashtags will help ensure that your tweets reach the right audience. You can add tweets by simply typing the # symbol followed by the target phrase or keyword in content like #Workouttips. When people follow a hashtag you use, the X algorithm will show them your content. 

When choosing hashtags, make sure they are popular and relevant to your audience, as this helps increase your visibility and engagement. You can read our guide on top tips for increasing engagement on Instagram.

Leverage Hashtag Generator Tools

One of the mistakes creators make is guessing which hashtags will resonate with the audience, ensuring they make connections and create visibility opportunities. A good idea would be to use a hashtag discovery tool to identify the best hashtags and learn how to use them.

After using the hashtags, make sure to understand real-time X analytics to determine which one performs best. This data can tweak your strategy, enabling your posts to gain the much-needed traction.

In Conclusion

If you want to increase the visibility of your tweet, you need to use the right hashtags. However, if you are wondering whether hashtags are dead in 2026, you are not alone, as this is on many people's minds. Fortunately, by following the steps outlined in this guide, you can use hashtags to increase your visibility on X.

Founded in 2006, X (formerly known as Twitter) is one of the oldest social media platforms. While it has faced some challenges in recent months, it still has between 586 and 650 million MAUs (monthly active users) and 240 to 300 DAUs (daily active users).

This makes it perfect for brands that want to get noticed on the platform in 2026, especially when they understand the new X algorithm. One of the factors that affects the visibility of brands on X is the engagement rate. In this guide, we show you how to increase your engagement on X.

What is Engagement on X?

X engagement is a measure of the number of people who are interacting with your tweets through clicks, replies, comments, mentions, shares, and retweets. This is a good metric because it shows how well your content resonates with your target audience. It can also expand your online community and social network.

Here are the top engagement metrics you need to keep tabs on:

• Favorites. A reflection of how many times people favor a tweet.
• Replies. How many times a tweet is replied to.
• Likes. How many people like a tweet?
• Retweets. How many times has a tweet been retweeted?

While some metrics are less well-known, they are also quite substantial and are as follows:

• Hashtag clicks. Shows how many clicks your tweet hashtag has received.
• Media views. How many times a video or photo in a tweet has been seen.
• Mention clicks. How many times has a tweet username been mentioned?
• URL clicks. How many clicks a URL in a tweet has received.

The good thing is that you can see the engagement rate on X Analytics. A rate between 0.5% and 1% is reasonable. If you understand Twitter analytics, you can better increase your engagement rate.

Tips on Increasing X Engagement

Here are tips to increase your engagement on X:

Become Relevant

Twitter leverages trending content, and, therefore, relevance is among the ways to increase your engagement on the platform. You can do that by tweeting on the trending topics that Twitter users are interested in. However, you don’t have to make each of your tweets very serious, as humorous posts are also quite popular and relevant to many users.

Engage with Other Users

According to one study, 77% of Twitter users report a positive impression of a brand that replies to their comments. Additionally, commenting on other people’s tweets can increase the likelihood that others will interact with the post, and it is a good strategy for gaining followers.

Another benefit of engaging with other Twitter users is that it helps you build stronger relationships and fosters a sense of community. This can be a good strategy for brands using niche communities to engage without intruding. When your audience feels they trust and understand you more, they are likely to pay attention to what you are saying.

When creating content, make sure you position it to make it interactive. For instance, you can create content that asks questions, requests feedback, or runs polls. By doing that, you will encourage your audience to interact with your content. For instance, a poll question like “tea or coffee?” will enable users to participate in the conversation immediately. Similarly, when you add a question such as which dress to wear for your event, you can make people feel they are part of your community.

When a Twitter user shares your post or asks a question, provide them with a thoughtful reply. When you engage with followers, it builds trust and encourages them to continue engaging.

Create Outstanding Tweets

The main reason why people engage with a tweet is that they find something valuable in it. A good tweet should grab the viewer's attention. This is why you should begin your tweets with a strong hook, such as a bold statement or an interesting fact.

When deciding which tweets to show viewers, Twitter usually skims the content rather than going in-depth. Therefore, it can help to create short, to-the-point posts, and make sure you add the relevant hashtags to increase the discoverability of your tweets. When you create tweets that are genuinely engaging and resonate better with your audience, you can increase the engagement rate and shareability. Other users will retweet and quote the tweet, which can increase your following.

Leverage Storytelling

Brand storytelling is an effective strategy for capturing your audience's attention. If you have a long story to share, you can do so using a threaded tweet (a series of single tweets linked together and in numbered order). For instance, you can create a tweet about a challenge you faced and how you solved it.

Ensure that your stories and tweets are relatable to increase the content of your posts and the likelihood that they will be read, retweeted, and shared. This is an effective strategy because it creates an emotional connection with your audience, another key factor in increasing engagement.

Use Visual Content

Visual content can help you capture your X audience's attention, so make sure you create tweets with videos, images, or GIFs, as these tend to have higher engagement than text-only posts. When you add engaging visuals, you increase the likelihood that people will click on them, like, and retweet them.

When finding visuals to share, ensure they align with your message or brand. You can also add sketches or images that support the stories and information you are sharing in tweets.

For instance, when promoting a product, you can add a video demo or an image to showcase its value. Similarly, if you are creating travel stories, you can add visually captivating images to make the stories more colorful and richer.

Add Relevant Hashtags

Hashtags play an essential role in your tweets' discoverability as they categorize content and help users to find it. You can use tools such as Hashtagify to find niche or trending hashtags. For instance, if you are creating workout tweets, you can use hashtags such as #Workout101 or #Homeworkouttips. This can be a good strategy for attracting a larger audience.

However, you shouldn’t add so many hashtags. Around two or three can help increase the searchability of your content without making it look spammy.

Other Creator Collaboration

Another great way to increase the reach of your content and engagement is through collaboration with other creators. The people who follow influencers often trust their recommendations, which can help you reach a new audience.

You can collaborate with other creators on a Twitter Thread, appear in the same video or photo, or co-host a Twitter Space. You can also share and retweet each other’s tweets to amplify their reach, but be careful to collaborate with influencers whose values align with your brand. Doing that will ensure an authentic relationship that aligns with your target audience.

Leverage User-Generated Content

You can also ask your audience to create content on your behalf for an ongoing engagement. If a customer leaves a testimonial, you can retweet it while quoting your brand. You can then add your take, such as @username. We are excited to hear you loved our product. This can be a good way to foster a strong relationship with your audience and encourage them to interact more with your brand.

In Conclusion

Increasing engagement on X is essential to improving the discoverability of your content. It shows the Twitter algorithm that your content is adding value to your prospective audience. Additionally, it creates a sense of community, even further driving engagement. If you are looking for ways to increase engagement, the tips above will be helpful. We also recommend reading our guide to increasing engagement on Instagram.

Since their introduction, GIFs have become a vital means of communication. What is even better is that they have enabled an untapped way for brands to market themselves. This is especially true when using branded GIFs.

If you are a brand looking to use GIFs for social media marketing, branded GIFs are the best way of doing that. In this article, we take you through the steps of using them to market your brand and make it stand out from the competition.

What are Branded GIFs?

Branded GIFs are lossless image file formats that support static and animated images featuring the elements of a brand, such as its colors, logo, and personality. They are a good choice for increasing engagement and promoting brand awareness. The GIFs are designed to be used and shared on social media platforms, providing an engaging and fun way for brands to connect with their target audience without appearing overly intrusive.

Branded GIFs can be a good way to showcase your brand, engage with your target audience, and increase brand awareness. However, they aren't just about your branding and logo elements. They can also reflect your personality and brand vibe. If you have to add a logo, do so subtly.

Benefits of Using Branded GIFs

GIFs aren't fun and eye-catching. These twirling, flashing, and color-changing stickers can help you gain followers and increase your social media engagement. These features can help entice your followers to click the next slide in your story, click a feed post, and act on your call to action, whether it's buying a product, visiting your feed post, or following you.

While Instagram offers a variety of GIF stickers, some may be unsuitable for your brand. That is why you need to create a bespoke branded GIF. You can then include your brand keywords in the GIF to make them searchable.

How to Use Branded GIFs

After making your branded GIFs, you may be left wondering how to use them to market your brand. Here are some top ways of using them:

Branded GIFs in X (Twitter) Replies 

One of the features that sets X apart from other social media platforms is the conversational style, making it an excellent platform for using Branded GIFs. By adding them to your X replies, you can draw attention to your brand. Since not many brands do this, you can make it stand out from the competition. Additionally, this will save you time that you would have spent replying to tweets.

Add Branded GIFs on Facebook

Facebook is another brand that offers a range of ways for creating branded GIFs, such as:

• In comments or replies.
• As short videos on the Facebook page. However, you will need to start by converting it to a video file.
• Adding GIFs to posts in your Facebook group to increase engagement.

While you can combine the two, you can begin with the basics: use the GIFs in the comments. When your target audience comments on your post, you can reply with a GIF of it, helping to showcase your personality. Just as on Twitter, this can be a great way to use GIFs to respond to your audience’s comments and provide feedback on a Facebook page.

When using GIFs in your Facebook replies, you don't have to add a comment unless you feel it will be necessary for providing context. Even in such an instance, you will need to keep the comment short and sweet. Start by considering the most common comments you make, such as "Thanks for sharing" or "Glad to hear your insights." You can then start by creating GIFs for these standard replies and even adding an element of humor.

Here are different ways to add your branded GIF to Facebook:

1. Include a GIF in the Facebook Pages status update. Remember that a GIF can't be dragged the same way a video or a photo can. That means you need to start by converting the GIF into a video/movie format before posting it on your Facebook page as a status update. From the options that appear, select Video/Photo editor, then upload the converted GIF as a video.
2. Posting GIFs as Facebook group status updates. Unlike pages, you can add your converted video GIF to posts in the form of pages. However, with GIPHY integrated on Facebook, you will have an option to choose from a myriad of images. All you need to do is click on the Status update, select a GIF from a drop-down menu, and enter the search term in your GIPHY to select your preferred GIF. You can choose the GIF, add some description or text to the post, and then add it to the group. You can then wait for replies to the GIF.
3. Adding branded GIFs in a comment. To add a GIF to a Facebook comment, you will need to do it in the same way you comment. Once you begin typing, check the GIF icon located on the right side. When you click on this icon, you will be given an option to search for your preferred GIF. You can search using a specific keyword, and once you find one, click on it to post. Facebook also allows you to add a link to the GIF sites, such as Giphy or Imgur. These GIFs will then appear in the comment section as an animation. You can also upload your branded GIF as a video in the comment section. 

Using Branded GIFs in Messaging Apps

Messaging apps such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Slack allow you to add branded GIFs. In fact, according to Facebook data, billions of GIFs were sent last year, and this number continues to rise. Branded GIFs can be a good way of adding a human touch to the interaction. With people having a soft spot for humor, this can be a good way of bringing the tone down when conversing with your audience.

When your customers see you add a unique, custom GIF to a conversation with them, they will definitely feel special. If you are a team working on a platform like Slack, you can create some custom GIFs to use for your team’s interactions. With GIPHY already integrated into Slack, the whole process is more straightforward.

Final Thoughts

Branded GIFs can be a good choice for increasing brand visibility and engagement because they make your brand more fun, human, and relatable. They can also help your brand stand out in a crowded digital space by injecting some personality. Because of their high shareability, they can help your brand reach more consumers. You can also read our guide on building a personal brand voice on Threads.

Therefore, they are an effective social media marketing tool due to their versatility and higher engagement level. Since they come in an easy-to-share format, you can use them to explain concepts, share stories, and add emotions to your social media engagement.

Since their introduction, Instagram Stories have become increasingly popular, with over 500 million users as of 2025. The feature, which resembles Snapchat, allows users to create a video and photo sequence that lasts 24 hours. This content format enables businesses to create engaging visual content.

According to one study, 20% of Instagram stories result in a direct message. This makes the stories a powerful way to connect with potential customers and bring in new leads. Instagram has added features to the Stories to keep them fresh and exciting. In this article, we explore how to utilize one of those features, GIFs, to make your Instagram stories more exciting.

Why Use Instagram Stories GIFs?

GIFs were introduced to Instagram stories in January 2018, allowing users to add the stickers to their Stories videos and photos. The social media platform collaborated with GIPHY to create a library of fun and animated stickers. Unlike what some think, GIFs aren't just looping video clips; they are a form of language that conveys different emotional cues.

One of the reasons for their popularity is that they enable users to express themselves more effectively. A Tenor Survey indicated that two-thirds of millennials considered GIFs to be more effective than words. The majority of people in the survey said that GIFs made them feel more connected.

Brands, too, are realizing the power of GIFs in social media marketing, with many now incorporating them into their social media brand image. This is because they allow brands to connect with their target audience. Instagram stories GIFs can enable users to:

• Connect emotionally with their target audience.
• Add personality to Instagram stories.
• Increase their loyal following.
• Remain relevant in an ever-changing digital world
• Increase social media engagement
• Save time that would otherwise be spent creating creatives.

How to Include GIFs in Your Instagram Stories

Creating GIFs for your Instagram Stories is easy. Here are the steps you need to follow:

1. Start by choosing the photo or video content you want to post on Stories. You will see a sticker at the top right, along with other options such as hashtags, polls, and location. 
2. When you click on the sticker, you will be presented with a library containing thousands of GIPHY stickers. You will also see a search bar, as well as the trending GIF stickers. If you need something more specific, use the search bar.
3. After choosing your perfect GIF, you can resize it by pinching and dragging the edges. You can also drag to adjust the placement. Tap the GIF and hold it to pin it to a location if you plan to use it inside a video. You will now have a whole library of blinking, swirling, and dancing animations to create engaging and attention-grabbing Instagram stories.

Creative Ways of Using Instagram Stories GIFs

Before creating your Instagram story GIF, consider your brand’s content strategy and whether to use a template. When creating your Instagram stories using a template, be sure to leave space for the GIF. Otherwise, failure to leave a space for the GIF can leave you with a chaotic story.

Remember that your Instagram Stories GIFs must align with your whole social media marketing goal. That means you should only use a GIF that aligns with your brand.

Pin the Instagram Stories GIF

One way to add an element of surprise to your IG story GIF is to pin it, ensuring it appears only at certain times. This can be a fun and engaging way to add it to your stories. You can tap the GIF, then hold it to pin it to your preferred location. Use the bar at the bottom to adjust its location. 

Once you are satisfied with the location, tap on the pin button and wait for the magic to happen. Once you have pinned the GIF to your Instagram story video, you can ensure it pops up at the right time to keep viewers hooked.

Use GIFs to Add Different Effects

If you are unsatisfied with Instagram's filter options, you can use story GIFs to create your own custom filters. You can add some creativity by simply resizing and adjusting the GIF's direction. You can then resize the GIF by pinching it with two fingers or expanding it, just like you can with text or stickers.

The GIPHY library contains lots of cool effects. You can select one, enlarge it, and move it to a particular place, and that is it. For instance, if you want to add a lively winter-like effort, you can search for snow. When you search for efforts, you will see several sparkly and animated confetti pieces you can use to add a magical effect.

If your GIF doesn't appear as you want it to, try flipping it or adjusting its placement. By changing the GIF direction, you can modify it to fit your screen.

Make Your Text Lively with an Instagram Story GIF

The introduction of Type mode in Instagram Stories made it easy for brands to add text-heavy content. However, this also comes with downsides, as many users don't read texts. Instead, they will skip your stories for the next one if it's full of text. One way to grab viewers' attention is by highlighting your stories with GIFs. This can be a great way to make your text stand out and improve readability.

You can also find an extensive collection of texty GIFs in the GIPHY library that you can use in your Instagram Stories. For instance, you can replace a word with a GIF.

Create Lively Photos

While you want to preserve the value of your photo, you can add a small GIF to bring it to life. Remember that even a slight movement can help attract the viewer's attention, making them want to look more closely at the image. Ensure that you use Instagram Stories GIFs sparingly to avoid distracting your viewers from the main image. Otherwise, a story filled with too many GIFs can leave viewers confused and make them skip the GIF.

Grabbing the Viewer's Attention

We already noted earlier that GIFs can help grab the viewers' attention. Ensure you add a GIF call-to-action to direct viewers to their next step. This could be a new post, a link in bio, sound on, etc., which will clearly instruct viewers on what you want them to do.

Use Reactions GIFs

One of the areas where GIFs excel is in capturing reactions. This is why people use GIFs to express themselves. To effectively connect with your target audience, it is essential to understand their behaviors better and ensure they align with your brand image.

You can use reaction GIFs to connect better with your audience on an emotional level and convey your message. Even though reaction GIFs in stories can be fun, avoid overdoing them. A good rule of thumb is to use one or two on each slide.

In Conclusion

Instagram Stories GIFs have proven to be a favorite way for people and brands to communicate their emotions without using words. This has made it one of the fun ways to express yourself, and if you are a brand, it's a great way to engage with your audience. If you are wondering how to use GIFs in Instagram stories, you can use the tips above. We also recommend reading our guide on adding music to Instagram stories.

Since its acquisition by Elon Musk, X (Formerly Twitter) has changed in many ways. From its rebranding from Twitter to X to its content moderation policies and the commercialization of the verification badge, many changes have occurred on X. The platform also changed its algorithm, with reports indicating that it now prioritizes content from verified accounts. 

Additionally, it is claimed that it now gives prominence to the sensational and right-leaning content. This indicates that what used to work in the Twitter algorithm may not work in 2026. In this article, we examine how the X algorithm works in 2026 and offer tips for gaining more visibility on the platform.

How the X algorithm Works

On the 1st of April 2023, the X algorithm was open-sourced and released on GitHub. This code showed how X ranks content on the user’s feed. Additionally, Twitter’s algorithm seems to suggest that it considers the following factors:

• Recency. As a platform that focuses more on trends and news sharing, X prioritizes content consistent with the latest tweets.
• New tweets. The platform is more likely to show you tweets you hadn’t seen earlier, since tweets quickly become outdated.
• RealGraph. Twitter also uses the RealGraph score to determine your chances of engaging with a Tweet. This is a logistic regression model that considers factors such as your frequency of previous interaction, engagement history, and more. If a creator has a high RealGraph score, the chances of their tweets appearing in your feed increase.

How Twitter Ranks Content From People You Don’t Follow

X will also show you tweets from accounts you don’t follow if they think it will be relevant to you. So, how does it decide what is relevant to you? It considers several factors such as:

• Social graph. Twitter analyzes the activity of the people you follow and those you share interests with. For instance, if you liked or replied to a tweet about home workout tips, Twitter assumes that these types of tweets will be relevant to you.
• Embedding space. X will also consider your preferred topics to determine the tweets you will likely enjoy. Twitter used SimClusters to classify issues on the platform into 145k clusters. All tweets are mapped in the communities, which may include categories such as soccer, news, NBA, and Bollywood. As a user, you can become part of several communities. X suggests that many of their out-of-network recommendations result from the embedding space, with the Social Graph accounting for about 15% of the recommendations.

How Twitter’s Ranks Determine Tweets’ Chronological Order?

The above sections show how X determines the Tweets you will likely see. But how does it decide which tweet you will see first, second, third, and so on? This can be tricky, but overall,  the platform’s machine learning determines the ranking order. It tries to determine the tweet you are more likely to like, retweet, reply to, or share.

However, some actions have more weight than others. For instance, a reply to an original tweet in a conversation gets the highest score, i.e., if someone replies to a tweet, and you also respond to them. Liking a tweet is given the lowest score, which is understandable, as it doesn’t take much effort to enjoy a tweet. The platform will, therefore, consider the Tweet you are more likely to engage with.

How Twitter Ranks Longform Content?

In the past, many brands used to leverage Twitter Threads to increase their reach and engagement. In recent times, X has approved posting long-form content up to 4000 characters, but this feature is only available for people who subscribe to X Premium. 

No algorithm code shows that these long-form posts perform better than single tweets or threads. Therefore, there is no need to stress yourself trying to understand long-form content, but it's essential to have a strategy for creating more long-form content. Rather than just adding words, you must ensure you hook your audience from the beginning to the end.

When you create long-form content on Twitter, you want to position yourself as an expert. You need to create a narrative that hooks your audience and keeps them engaged from start to finish. You can take a different approach with long-form X content, such as:

• Sharing a story.
• Providing in-depth insights.
• Explaining some complex ideas.
• Establishing yourself as an authority.

You should also note that long-form posts often result in higher engagement. People are more likely to comment, share, or reply to posts when they see them offering value. Ensure you add that aha element, providing your audience with something new or inspiring them to take action.

If you create complex long-form content, you can break it down into threads to make it more approachable and encourage users to follow easily. Doing so will increase your credibility and encourage your followers to remain connected for more insights.

Tips to Work with the Twitter Algorithm

We have already seen how Twitter ranks tweets. The good news is that you can work around the algorithm to increase your Tweet's visibility. Here are some top tips on doing that:

Post Consistently

As noted earlier, the X algorithm considers post recency when recommending posts. That means if you frequently have fresh content, you will show the algorithm that you have something valuable. Additionally, when your X followers see you have something valuable to offer, you will give them a reason to return to your account to interact more.

The algorithm will start prioritizing your posts by continuously creating fresh content your followers can engage with regularly. It will also show the content to other creators interested in it.

Drive Engagement

Another key factor that affects X's visibility is the engagement rate. If people engage with your posts through likes, replies, and shares, the algorithm has a higher chance of showing them to people. To increase your engagement on social media, you need to drive it.

After creating a post, remain around to reply to people’s comments. When a user likes your posts, also like theirs back. If they share a post, you can replicate it by sharing and commenting to assist or just thank them.

Use Trending Hashtags and Comments

As noted earlier, the conversations on X change very quickly. Since it’s a social media platform with a public forum style, people are always searching for the next big thing. This also means that one of the best ways to increase visibility is to use trending topics related to your business and to participate in conversations to improve your engagement.

It is easy to find trending content on Twitter. All you need to do is visit the Explore page and click the Trending tab. When you click on each tab, it will show you trending news, entertainment, and sports topics. If you are in a tiny niche that may not trend on X, you can follow relevant key industry players to understand what is happening, a key part of brand social listening.

When posting trending content, make sure you post it before it peaks. You can leverage social media tools to help you find trending topics when they arise instead of reacting to them later. Ensure you also use relevant viral hashtags to make it easier for people to find your content. 

Don't always use trending content for your Twitter posts. Instead, mix it with different kinds of content, such as case studies, thought leadership, and repurposed evergreen content.

Add More Videos and Images

Like other social media platforms, X loves visuals such as videos, images, and GIFs. According to users, an analysis of the X open-source code shows that tweets containing videos and photos receive a larger boost than posts without them. X also suggests that people prefer engaging with posts that include visuals. Videos, images, and GIFs will signal to the algorithm that you have something interesting to offer your audience.

You can experiment with different media to determine which are driving the highest engagement for your audience. You can then go ahead and replicate it in your posts.

You can use different tips to add more multimedia content, such as:

• Showing customer testimonials.
• Carousels for adding multi-image elements.
• Adding user-generated content.
• GIFs to drive engagement.

Remember that videos receive the highest engagement on different social media platforms, even though X is primarily a text-based platform. Instead of using images as standalone content, you can use them to enrich your social media plan. Also, make sure that the images fit in your overall social media strategy rather than forcing them into your content.

Understand Your Optimal Posting Time

Another key factor that can improve the engagement rate on X and, in return, higher visibility is the posting time. When considering when to post on X, choose a time when your audience is mostly online so that they will see your posts. 

You can leverage the X analytics feature to analyze the post traffic. As a premium subscriber, you will see post metrics such as impressions, reposts, and likes. However, if you need more granular analytics, you can use a third-party tool to see which post performed best.

If you are a beginner on Twitter without much historical data, consider posting between 9 A.M. and 12 P.M. on weekdays, as these times are the most effective. Of the weekdays, Wednesdays and Fridays have the highest engagement. This can be a good starting point as you refine your data to determine when your audience is most active. You can also pay attention to the competitor posting times to see which posts perform best.

Create a Variety of Content Formats

If you create a similar content structure in all your posts, it can be hard to keep your audience interested. This is why you must experiment with different content, such as videos, polls, creating engaging Twitter threads, text updates, and live streams. One of the benefits of dynamic content is that it helps you reach a diverse audience and keep them engaged. This can enable you to move up the X algorithm.

Here are several content formats to consider:

• Visual content stands out well in your feed, making it perfect for capturing the user’s attention. You can add videos, images, and GIFs to increase your engagement rate.
• Polls are a great, interactive way to drive audience engagement and gather opinions and feedback. They can help improve participation and spur more conversations. 
• Threads. If your message can't fit in a single tweet, you can use a thread. These are excellent choices for diving deeper into a topic and increasing your audience’s engagement with longer content formats.
• Retweeting other people’s content. You can add commentary to other people's tweets.`

Create Concise and Engaging Posts

While the tips above will help drive engagement, they must be backed by high-quality content, so check the data to see what content your users find interesting. Remember that you may not have much time to make your point clear, so you should focus on creating concise content. Remember that the first few words matter a lot; thus, you must start with a hook.

You can consider several tips to make your X content more engaging.

• Start with a hook. Ensure that the start of your Twitter posts can easily grab the viewer’s attention. You can use different kinds of hooks, such as a bold statement, a shocking statement, or a compelling question.
• Make your posts brief. Keep your post short and clear so that each word has an impact. If you create very long content, users may lose attention. If you are making a topic that needs to be discussed in depth, try threads, which consist of replies collected in a single post. This will enable your audience to explore the topic deeply.
• Consider your brand voice. Ensure that your tone matches your brand voice and reflects your personality. The X tone can range from conversational to casual. 
• Add a call to action. Use a call to action to encourage users to interact with your post. Ensure you add these naturally in your posts and ask users to provide answers, give their opinions, or share the tweet.

Track the Performance of Your Posts

After you have created outstanding tweets, you need to track their performance. You can track various metrics such as:

• Engagement metrics. Check various engagement metrics, such as likes, replies, quote posts, and shares. If your tweets have a high engagement rate, it indicates that they are resonating with your target audience.
• Reach and impressions are good metrics for tracking how many people can see your post. If your tweets receive high engagement but a low engagement rate, this could indicate that you need to add strong CTAs or hooks.
• Click-through rate. If your posts have links, you can track the number of people who click on them by paying attention to the click-through rate.
• Engagement rate. To calculate the engagement rate, divide the impressions by the engagements. A high engagement rate shows that your audience strongly interacts with your content.
• Engagement time. Pay attention to when your posts receive the most interactions. You can then use this data to optimize your posts better.
• Follower growth is a good metric for determining whether your content is gaining new followers. A spike in subscribers indicates that your content is performing well.
• Performance of different content formats. Pay attention to how the various content formats, such as videos, polls, and text posts, perform. This will enable you to identify the content that performs best with your audience.
• Top analysis. Pay attention to the topic that is bringing the most interest. You can then double down on some of your popular themes or try variations of your successful content.
• Audience insights. X analytics will show various metrics, such as your followers' demographics, interests, and locations.
• Sentiment analysis. Pay attention to how your audience replies to comments or replies. If you get positive interaction, it clearly indicates that the content aligns with your audience’s needs. On the other hand, negative feedback can indicate that you need to improve certain areas.

Ask Your Audience’s Thoughts

One of the best ways to get your audience talking is to ask for their thoughts. You can use polls to encourage people to respond to your question within an opinion. A poll can keep people engaged as they only need to click once to react without having to stick around. However, when creating a poll, ensure it is relevant to your target audience. 

Here are some ideas to encourage people to respond and engage in conversation:

• Ask open-ended queries. You can nudge your audience to respond by asking them open-ended questions such as “What is your favourite colour?” or “What mistake did you make that makes you ashamed today?” You can also keep the conversation going by adding your own thoughts.
• Leave your thoughts hanging. You want to spur your audience’s curiosity by leaving your thoughts hanging. For instance, “we are still trying to determine if investing in the stock market is worth it. What’s your thought?”
• Share something shocking, controversial, but professional. Sharing a bold opinion is another great way of sparking debate, but you must be careful not to alienate your users. This is why you need to understand your target audience deeply. You can use a statement like "Unpopular opinion" (followed by a controversial statement). Do you agree?
• Strategic polls/surveys. This should align with what your audience is already discussing.
• Create a challenge. It could be something like “Day 1 of a no-carb diet. Can you do it?”
• Acknowledge replies for the current tweet. When your audience replies to your tweet, create an acknowledgement tweet and use it to ask some follow-up questions.
• Host an “ask me anything” or Q&A session. This can be a good strategy for bonding with your audience. You can ask questions like, “What have you always wanted to ask about me?” I will respond to every comment.

Leverage Influencer Marketing

Influencer marketing can help you drive engagement and encourage conversation with communities in your industry or niche. It is a good strategy for bringing a broader community together by creating a focused space for meaningful interactions. This will add to your credibility and visibility on the X account.

When you work with an influencer in your niche, you can have meaningful interactions and conversations with new members. You don’t have to choose a mega influencer if you are a small brand. In fact, smaller influencers with smaller audiences are perfect for creating smaller and more tightly knit niche communities. They can enable you to create a dedicated group of people who believe in your mission.

Take Advantage of X Space

The X space enables Twitter creators to host live discussions, similar to radio or podcasts. It can allow you to connect effectively with your audience. You can use it to answer questions, invite guest speakers, or host conversations. You can also use it to interview users concerning your products and services. You can then post likes to your space or send direct messages to users who might be interested.

Final Thoughts 

To master X (Twitter algorithm), you must combine strategy and knowledge. While changes have been made to the Twitter algorithm, the algorithm aims to connect users with their desired content. By conducting your research and paying attention to analytics, you can improve your business and connect more effectively with your target audience. You can also read our guide on decoding the Instagram algorithm.