[FAQ]

Building on some of the recent talk about X/Twitter strategy, I’ve been thinking about a feature that seems powerful but is often underutilised: Lists.

I use them in a basic way to follow my favourite accounts in a few categories, but I feel like I’m only scratching the surface of what they can do. What are some of the more strategic ways people are using Lists in 2025? I’m thinking about using them for things like market research, networking, or content curation.

Are there any best practices for organising them, or a difference in strategy between using public versus private lists? Would love to hear how you all leverage this feature.

[Jeff Bullas]

That’s a smart question. The Lists feature on X (formerly Twitter) is one of the most powerful yet consistently underutilised tools for managing information and building relationships on the platform.

Instead of letting the main algorithm dictate everything you see, Lists allow you to create your own curated, noise-free timelines for very specific purposes. Here are some of the most effective ways to use them strategically:

Competitor and Industry Monitoring: Create a private list of your key competitors, major industry publications, and top news sources. This gives you a dedicated, real-time feed to monitor market trends and competitor activity without having to publicly follow every account or search for them individually.

Customer and Client Listening: Another powerful use for a private list is to add your key customers or clients. This allows you to easily keep up with what they are talking about, understand their current challenges and successes, and find opportunities for genuine, non-salesy engagement.

Networking and Relationship Building: Identify the top 20-30 people in your industry that you want to build a professional relationship with and add them to a private list. This creates a focused feed where you can consistently and thoughtfully engage with their content, which makes you much more visible to them over time.

Curating Public Resources: Create a public list to position yourself as an expert and provide value to your audience. For example, you could create a list titled “Top Voices in AI” or “Must-Follow Marketing Experts.” This becomes a valuable resource that your followers can subscribe to. As a bonus, when you add influential people to a public list, they are notified, which can be a great, low-pressure way to get on their radar.

Event and Conference Tracking: If you are attending an industry event, either virtually or in person, create a list of the speakers, sponsors, and other key attendees. This makes it incredibly easy to follow the real-time conversation surrounding the event in one clean feed.

The bottom line is that Twitter Lists are a strategic tool for cutting through the chaos of the main feed. Use private lists for your internal research and focused networking efforts, and use public lists to provide value to your community and build your authority in your niche.

Cheers,

Jeff

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