Fundamentals · 5 min read
Issue 2: 10 Tips to Grow on X
X has changed and most advice hasn't caught up. These are the 10 tips I actually stand by.
by Maya · @buildwithmaya
10 X Growth Tips That Actually Work
X has changed, and most advice has not caught up.
When I first started on X, I grew from 0-600 followers in a couple months. Then as many of you know, I got burned out. Then I tried the journey again, but wedding planning got in the way. When I restarted this journey a third (and final time), I have grown by 300+ followers in a couple of weeks. These are the tips I have stood by to help me grow on X.
1. Know Exactly What You Are Building
Before you post anything, answer this:
Who is this for, and why would they follow me?
A clear niche pulls the right people in without you having to try so hard.
Once you understand your niche and value add, update your bio and header to clearly show the value people will get by following you.
For me, I am focusing on the build in public niche, and I am to share all my learnings as I try to build and scale micro businesses. It might take a few tries if you are just getting started to figure out where you add the most value, but the key is you need to think through how your posts will help your ideal audience.
2. Format for Skimmers, Not Readers
Most people will never read your full post. They will scan the first line and move on.
Use:
- Short sentences
- White space (more thank you think you need)
- One idea per post
- Simple, clear formatting
Make it easy for someone to understand your point in two seconds. Videos and media posts also tend to perform better than text-only posts.
Below are some common tweet formats that have lead to some of my best performing posts.
Tweet #1 & #4: Before and After Format
Highlighting your progress from where you started to where you are now helps to garner community support for your success. Sharing small wins or accomplishments helps as well.
Tweet #2: Accomplishment List
This format is excellent for showing the results of an event. The tweet example I provided is what I posted after launching interviewjam.io on Product Hunt.
Tweet #3: Asking The Community a Question
Finally, I like to ask the community questions that I have. Usually, these are one line and allow the community to tell me their story or share a little bit about them. This format is really helpful as it helps brainstorm or even validate any ideas you have.
3. Your Profile Is Your Landing Page
Every reply, repost, and piece of engagement sends people to your profile.
If your profile does not convert visitors into followers, that engagement is being wasted.
Make sure you have:
- A clear bio
- A strong banner
- A pinned post that shows your best work
- A clear explanation of what value you will bring
Your profile should quickly answer:
Why should someone follow you?
4. Optimize for Dwell, Not Just Likes
The algorithm does not only measure likes.
It also measures how long people stop on your post.
Here is a simple breakdown of what the algorithm is looking for:
| Action | How Much It Helps | What It Means | | -------------------------------------------- | ----------------: | --------------------------- | | Reply, especially if the author replies back | Extremely high | Real conversation | | Bookmark / Save | Very high | “I want to keep this” | | Repost | High | “I want others to see this” | | Like | Medium | Quick positive signal | | Scrolling past | Almost nothing | Not very valuable | | Block / Mute / Report | Very bad | Strong negative signal |
It is also important to note that X has moved away from a purely rule-based algorithm and is becoming more AI-driven.
This means AI and Grok may play a bigger role in determining which posts get pushed.
X pushes posts based on activity, if it gets high engagement and interaction with a small group of the audience, it will push it to a larger group.
5. Build Reply Gravity, Not Engagement Bait
The algorithm predicts whether your post will generate real replies.
Fake engagement bait is highly discouraged.
Instead, create posts that invite thoughtful responses.
Try:
- Comparing two options
- Sharing a useful framework that leaves room for debate
- Giving people a real reason to respond
The goal is not cheap engagement. The goal is real conversation.
6. Be Easy to Classify
X uses your posting history to figure out who should see your content.
If you post about startups today, dating tomorrow, and memes next week, the algorithm struggles to place you.
Pick two or three core themes and own them.
The accounts that grow fastest are usually the easiest to describe in one sentence. This is something I am trying to figure out myself since a lot has changed since I used to post early in my X journey.
7. Make Your Replies Worth Reading
Generic replies get you nothing.
I used to reply a lot, but most of my replies were generic. They did not help me grow.
Every reply is a chance to show your thinking in front of someone else’s audience.
Make your replies:
- Specific
- Insightful
- Useful
- Worth clicking through from
Add a new angle. Share a thoughtful point. Give people a reason to click your name.
Also, be early when replying to big accounts.
Follow 3–5 large accounts in your niche, turn on notifications, and try to reply with a valuable insight within the first 30 minutes.
8. Write for Strangers, Not Just Your Followers
Growth happens when your post reaches people who have never heard of you.
That only works if your post makes sense without context.
Avoid:
- Inside jokes
- Vague references
- Posts that only your current followers understand
Add enough background so a stranger in your niche immediately understands the value.
Your best posts should make someone think:
I do not follow this person yet, but this is exactly my kind of content.
9. Avoid Negative Signals
The algorithm does not only reward good engagement.
It also punishes bad engagement.
Negative signals include:
- Mutes
- Blocks
- Reports
- “Not interested” taps
Rage bait can spike your numbers in the short term, but quietly destroy your reach over time.
10. Adapt When the Platform Changes
What works today will not work forever.
The accounts that keep growing are not the ones that found the perfect strategy. They are the ones that keep adjusting when things stop working. A lot has changed from when I first started as well.
One core tip I would recommend is go to your setting in X and request a full data archive. Once you do that it might take 24 hours to day to download all your data. Once you get the data, ask you favorite AI platform to create a dashboard to show you what is working well for you and keep doing that.
The fundamentals stay the same.
The tactics do not.
Be willing to change.