[FAQ]

Hope you’re having a good Friday evening.

I’m a creator based in Wellington, and I’ve been pretty consistent with posting on X, but I’m just not seeing much buzz. I get a decent number of likes, which is nice, but I really want to get more of a conversation going with replies and quote tweets. At the moment, it feels a bit like shouting into the void.

I’m wondering what the secret is to making tweets that people actually want to interact with. Are there specific ways to phrase things or certain types of content that get more of a reaction?

[Jeff Bullas]

A fundamental question. Engagement is the true currency of the platform, not just visibility.

Brief Answer: The most effective way to increase engagement on X is to shift from making statements to starting conversations. This means crafting your text to ask specific questions, posting provocative image or video content, and actively participating in the replies you receive.

You need to think of each tweet not as a broadcast, but as the potential beginning of a thread, and your goal is to give people a compelling reason to add their voice.

First, you must start asking better questions in your text. A tweet that ends with a vague “what are your thoughts?” is easy to ignore. A tweet that asks a specific, easy-to-answer question invites participation. Instead of just sharing an article, ask, “What was the single most surprising fact from this report?”. Instead of just posting a photo of your work, ask, “What’s the one detail you notice first?”. Give your audience a clear job to do.

Second, use visual content to spark a reaction. A tweet with a compelling image or a short video will always get more attention than plain text. Post a controversial chart or a simple meme related to your niche and ask people if they agree with it. A short video clip showing a surprising result or a “hot take” can be an incredibly powerful way to get people talking.

Third, don’t be afraid to be decisive in your text. Neutral, middle-of-the-road statements are forgettable. A tweet that presents a strong, debatable opinion is a magnet for replies and quote tweets. As long as it’s done in good faith and not purely for outrage, presenting a “hot take” is one of the fastest ways to get people to share their own point of view.

Finally, and most importantly, engagement is a two-way street. You cannot expect people to talk to you if you do not talk to them. Spend time replying to others in your field. And when people reply to your tweets, reply to them back. Fostering a conversation in your own replies is the strongest signal you can send that your account is a place where engagement is welcomed and valued.

Cheers,
Jeff

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