Consider you're at a party. You've got a good vibe going, but then the music stops. Awkward silence settles in, and the energy drops. This is similar to what can happen to your Twitter account when you stop posting or engaging with others. When you get back to it, even if you start up again, it can take time to get the momentum to where it was before. The more followers you have, the easier it is to get back on track. That's because your followers will immediately see any new content you post; some will likely have missed your previous posts.
They may even be itching to know what you have been up to. If you want to avoid this scenario altogether, having a solid plan for gaining followers on Twitter, now known as X, is the way to go. The more you have, the better. If you want to go viral, gaining followers on X will help you achieve your goal. This guide will cover practical tips on how to go viral on Twitter to help boost your social media engagement and performance.
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One of the most effective ways to gain attention and followers on X is by staying on top of trending topics. Monitor your industry's or niche's latest news, events, and discussions. Find keywords and hashtags that resonate with your target audience and incorporate them into your tweets. Participating in ongoing conversations makes your content more discoverable, increasing the likelihood of engagement and new followers. Stay authentic while jumping on trends. Craft tweets that genuinely contribute to the discourse and showcase your expertise.
This will attract followers who share your interests and position you as a knowledgeable voice in your field. You can find popular trends right on the app or desktop site. Head to your X profile and select the Explore Page. Here, you’ll be shown popular events around you and trending hashtags.
3. Get Your X Account Verified
First things first is to get your account verified. This will show your followers that you are the legitimate page of a certain brand or creator so they’ll know to come to you. First, you need to check the eligibility of your account before you can be verified and then head to the X website for details. Once this is done you’ll have your checkmark and users will be much more likely to follow you.
4. Establish A Unique Brand Voice
Establishing a unique brand voice is critical to captivating audiences and is another effective way to learn how to get more followers on X. By understanding your target audience and crafting your tone of voice to match them, you can carve out a niche that resonates with them, attracting them to your profile and in turn increasing your followers.
5. Create Valuable Content
In the digital branch, content is king. People follow accounts that provide them with valuable insights, entertainment, or inspiration. To attract and retain followers, your tweets should offer something meaningful. Craft unique, original content that resonates with your target audience’s needs and preferences. Incorporate a variety of content formats to keep your feed engaging. Alongside text-based tweets, share visuals, images, and videos that capture attention and convey your message effectively.
Visual content is more shareable, widening your reach and exposing your profile to potential followers who may not have encountered it. Based on a 2022 worldwide online survey, it was found that 55% of individuals who use X/Twitter every week expressed a preference for informative content on the platform. In contrast, nearly 40% of users desired relevant posts, and approximately one-third favored humorous content. Despite most users showing a preference for informative content, 35% mentioned an inclination toward trending posts.
6. Engage With Other Similar X Accounts
Another effective way to gain X followers is to interact with similar accounts. By finding your niche, you can show your support and promote yourself to their followers and communities, increasing visibility. This also opens collaboration opportunities. Teaming up and creating lighthearted content with like-minded creators conveys a personal and relatable tone to your audience and theirs, swaying new onlookers to your side.
7. Tweet Consistently
Consistency is vital to getting followers on X. Develop a content calendar that outlines your posting schedule. Whether daily, several times a week, or weekly, having a predictable cadence helps your audience know when to expect new content from you. This fosters a sense of anticipation and keeps your followers engaged.
8. Publish Content At Optimal Times
If you want more followers on X, you must publish content at the appropriate times for your audience. If you publish your content when as many potential followers are online, you increase your chances of coercing them into joining your community. At this point, we encourage you to research your target audience’s behavior and habits to better understand the best posting times for you.
9. Use The Right Hashtags
Knowing how to increase followers on X is knowing that hashtags are highly effective. Using the correct hashtags makes your posts searchable and accessible to users beyond your followers. X currently suggests using 1-2 hashtags per post while ensuring they are relevant to your content. Leveraging trending hashtags into your posts is another way to increase reach and tap into current conversations.
10. Weigh In On Global Events
Perhaps more than any other social media platform, X is where folks turn for up-to-the-minute, real-time news and commentary. Sharing your opinion with your Twitter followers is an excellent idea if something is making waves in your world. This doesn’t necessarily mean getting political if that’s not for you. Fun, global events that unite the world, like special holidays, Hollywood awards shows, and the Olympics, are worth paying attention to. Many users have seen their content go viral on Twitter with a well-timed meme or witty comment — like the one below, after Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet’s canoodling at the 2024 Golden Globes.
11. Post Visual Content
Even the microblogging platform has yet to be immune to the ever-growing potential of short-form video on social media. After analyzing over 1 million tweets sent through Buffer in 2023, we explored which type of content was most likely to generate engagement on Twitter — and the video came out tops. Text-only posts came in a strong second, with retweets, links, and images least likely to garner engagement on the platform, in that order. The X team also recommends leaning into media posts for maximum engagement and reach. According to the platform, 97 percent of people focus on visuals on X.
They’ve grouped images here, too, though our data found that tweets with photos or pictures generally don’t perform as well as video or text-only posts. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean this is set in stone for your target audience. Experiment with different content types on X to see what gets the most traction for you. Infographics, GIFs, and memes, mainly trending or topical, are great for stopping the scroll. Fun visuals like these — all easy to create with templates and editing tools like Canva — can become a pillar of your Twitter marketing plan.
12. Join And Host Chats
Our final tip on how to get more followers on X is to have Chats. Unlike regular discussion threads, Chats are usually scheduled and pre-planned with a clear agenda. These live events are hosted weekly, and each talking point is turned into a dedicated thread, making it easy for users to follow along once the Chat is over. Hosting and joining others is a great way to interact with your followers while keeping your brand and account in the spotlight.
Chats can be used to share insights or even ask relatable questions to your audience, all of which help develop brand personality. By aligning the Chats you create and join to your target audience’s interests, they will be more willing to share the event with their followers, further improving your ‘how to get more followers on X’ journey.
10 Most-Followed Influencers On X To Take Inspiration From
1. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) – The Tech Tycoon
Elon Musk is the most-followed user on X, boasting over 160 million followers. As the CEO of both Tesla and SpaceX, Musk’s influence extends beyond personal interests. His tweets often drive conversations on technology, business, and even cryptocurrency. He’s also the owner of X (formerly Twitter), so his opinions matter even more to the platform’s users.
2. Barack Obama (@BarackObama) – The Influential Politician
Former U.S. President Barack Obama has 130 million followers on X. His tweets, which cover politics, social issues, and personal milestones, are widely known for being inspirational and impactful. Even after leaving office, Obama remains a significant voice in American politics and has used social media to connect with younger audiences.
3. Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) – The King of Soccer
Cristiano Ronaldo is among the greatest football players ever and has over 110 million followers on X. The sports star is famous for sharing motivational content, endorsements, and personal milestones. His tweets influence millions of sports fans globally.
4. Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) – The Musical Prodigy
With over 90 million followers on X, Taylor Swift is one of the most-followed musical influencers on the platform. Swift’s content spans music releases, personal updates, and fan interactions. She’s known for using social media to connect with fans and share her creative process.
5. Rihanna (@rihanna) – The Music and Fashion Mogul
Rihanna has over 108 million followers on X. Her influence extends beyond music into fashion and beauty with her Fenty brands. Rihanna mixes updates on her career with impactful social commentary, keeping fans engaged in her creative projects and the causes she supports.
6. Katy Perry (@katyperry) – The Philanthropist
Katy Perry is another massive musical influencer on X with over 100 million followers. Perry tweets about her music career, personal life, and philanthropic endeavors, offering a blend of entertainment and social good. Her content inspires fans while keeping them informed on her charitable efforts.
7. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) – The Indian Prime Minister
With over 90 million followers, Narendra Modi is the most influential politician on X. As the Prime Minister of India, Modi’s tweets focus on government updates, national celebrations, and personal messages that reach a massive audience in India and globally.
8. Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) – The Pop Star
Justin Bieber has over 110 million followers on X. The music star shares his latest music updates, personal insights, and collaborations with other artists. Bieber’s content engages millions of fans worldwide, keeping them in the loop on his career.
9. Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) – The Social Activist
Lady Gaga has over 85 million followers on X. Apart from music, she advocates for mental health and LGBTQ+ rights. Gaga balances her tweets between creative projects and social activism, using her platform to inspire fans and promote causes she believes in.
10. Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) – The Reality Star
Kim Kardashian is a social media mogul with over 75 million followers on X. The reality star shares updates on her business ventures like Skims, her personal life, and her advocacy for criminal justice reform. Kardashian’s content offers fans a glimpse into her life while highlighting critical social issues.
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Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Lifestyles rank first as an exciting niche for gaining followers on Twitter. This niche caters to an increasingly environmentally conscious audience passionate about climate change, sustainable living, and green technologies. With a global push towards sustainability, this niche taps into a broad yet dedicated audience. It’s a topic that’s trending and carries long-term relevance. Discussions around eco-friendly practices, sustainable products, and green initiatives are evergreen and continue to gain traction.
The sustainability niche thrives on engagement. Followers are not just passive content consumers; they’re advocates and activists. They engage deeply with content that inspires change, offers eco-friendly tips, or highlights sustainable brands. An excellent example of a Twitter account excelling in this niche is @EcoWarriorss. This niche Twitter account shares tips on reducing carbon footprint, reviews sustainable products and updates followers on environmental news. Their tweets often spark discussions and retweets, showcasing the high engagement potential of this niche.
2. Health and Wellness
Another thriving niche on Twitter is Health and Wellness. This area focuses on physical and mental well-being, nutrition, fitness, and healthy lifestyles. Health and wellness remain a top priority for many, especially after the global health crisis. People are more invested than ever in understanding and improving their health, making this niche relevant and enduring. This niche attracts a wide range of audiences, from fitness enthusiasts to those seeking mental health advice.
The content here often sparks deep discussions, personal stories, and community support, creating a highly engaged and supportive environment. Consider Athletic Foodie @athleticfoodie, a Twitter handle known for its daily wellness tips, workout ideas, and motivational quotes. They regularly engage with their audience by hosting Q&A sessions and wellness challenges and sharing user-generated success stories. Their approach demonstrates the potential for intense engagement in this niche by offering value, inspiration, and community support.
3. Personal Finance and Investing
Diving into a different branch, the Personal Finance and Investing niche stands out as a powerhouse on Twitter. This niche covers budgeting, saving, investing in stocks, cryptocurrencies, and financial planning. In an era where financial literacy is gaining importance, this niche is a hub for those eager to navigate their financial journey. It’s more than just sharing tips; it’s about allowing followers with knowledge to make informed financial decisions. What sets this niche apart is its interactive nature.
It’s not just about broadcasting information; it involves real-time updates on market trends, interactive discussions on investment strategies, and sharing personal finance success stories. Look at The Economist @TheEconomist, known for its practical advice on personal finance and real-time market insights. This niche account frequently hosts Twitter Spaces, where they discuss market trends and answer followers’ questions live. This level of interaction and real-time engagement is a unique aspect of this niche, offering a dynamic platform for beginners and seasoned investors.
4. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Shifting focus to a more specialized sector within technology, the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) niche stands as a beacon of cutting-edge discussion on Twitter. This niche dives deep into the branches of AI and ML, exploring advancements, ethical considerations, and real-world applications.
It’s a space for those passionate about how these technologies shape our future, from automated systems to data analysis. Followers in this niche are typically well-informed and tech-savvy, looking for in-depth discussions and expert insights. This audience appreciates complex topics being broken down and explored, leading to rich, meaningful interactions.
A prime example is @kaifulee, a niche Twitter account renowned for its detailed threads on the latest AI research and ML trends. They frequently host discussions with AI experts and share case studies, bringing a blend of academic and practical perspectives to their followers. Combining high-level information with accessible insights makes this niche uniquely engaging.
5. Gourmet Food and Culinary Experiences
Diving into the delicious world of gastronomy, the Gourmet Food and Culinary Experiences niche tantalizes Twitter users' taste buds with its focus on exquisite dining and intricate cooking techniques. This niche is a canvas for culinary artistry, embracing everything from exotic ingredients to the secrets of world-renowned chefs. It’s a haven for those who relish the sophistication and creativity of high-end cooking and dining experiences. What sets this niche apart is the storytelling aspect.
It’s not just about presenting dishes but weaving a narrative around them – the origins of a rare spice, the journey of vintage wine, or the inspiration behind a groundbreaking recipe. Consider the approach of @seriouseats; a Twitter profile celebrated for vividly portraying culinary adventures. They don’t just post recipes; they take their followers through each dish's cultural and historical significance.
6. Digital Marketing
Stepping into the branch of online branding and communication, the Digital Marketing niche is a dynamic and ever-relevant space on Twitter. This niche is all about the evolving landscape of digital marketing and other social media platforms. It covers various topics, from SEO and content marketing strategies to the latest social media advertising and influencer marketing trends. The audience here seeks more than generic tips; they crave innovative ideas, case studies, and in-depth analyses of successful campaigns.
This niche thrives on sharing the latest tools, algorithm updates, and marketing tactics that can give businesses and individuals an edge in the digital world. Look at @mattdiggityseo, a Twitter handle known for its insightful analysis of marketing trends and tips on leveraging social media platforms for brand growth. He regularly shares digital marketing, especially SEO tips, offers events and sessions on digital marketing, and provides breakdowns of the latest social media features.
7. Crypto Currencies
Venturing into the world of digital finance, the Crypto Currencies niche is a rapidly growing and highly engaging sector on Twitter. This niche is at the cutting edge of financial technology, encompassing everything from Bitcoin and Ethereum to emerging altcoins and blockchain technology. It’s a space for those intrigued by the potential of digital currencies to transform traditional financial systems.
While a significant part of this niche focuses on investment strategies and market trends, it’s also about understanding the technology behind cryptocurrencies and their broader implications. Discussions often revolve around blockchain innovations, market regulations, and the future of decentralized finance. An exemplary account in this space is @VitalikButerin. He provides real-time updates on cryptocurrency prices and market trends and explores educational content about blockchain technology.
8. Home Improvement and DIY Projects
Home improvement projects niche is a treasure trove for those passionate about transforming their living spaces and undertaking creative projects. This niche thrives on sharing ideas for home renovation, interior design tips, and do-it-yourself crafts. It’s a space that combines practical advice with creative inspiration, appealing to a wide range of enthusiasts, from professional interior designers to hobbyists.
What makes this niche particularly engaging is its community aspect. Followers love sharing their projects, seeking advice, and getting inspired by others’ transformations. From step-by-step guides to before-and-after reveals, the content in this niche is highly visual and shareable. Consider @DIYInspired, known for her innovative DIY home decor ideas and budget-friendly renovation tips. She regularly shares how-to videos, engages with followers on her projects, and even hosts DIY challenges, creating a vibrant and interactive community of home improvement enthusiasts.
Importance of Followers on X
Amplifying Reach: How Follower Count Affects Your Visibility on X
A larger follower count means your tweets have the potential to reach a wider audience. Sharing content gets circulated among your followers and their networks, increasing visibility and exposure.
Building Credibility: Why X Followers Matter for Your Reputation
A significant number of followers can enhance your credibility on the platform because people often perceive accounts with a large following as more trustworthy and authoritative. Therefore, as your follower count grows, so does the perception of your expertise and influence within your niche or industry.
Boosting Engagement: Why X Followers Matter for Your Reputation
Followers interact with your tweets through retweets, likes, comments, replies, and mentions. High engagement levels can lead to better rankings and further follower count growth.
Community Building: The Benefits of Having a Large Follower Count on X
With a significant following, you have more active members interested in your content. This generates conversations and fosters a community around your brand or persona.
Networking Opportunities: How Having More Followers on X Can Benefit You
Having a sizable following opens doors to networking opportunities with other influential individuals, brands, and organizations. It enables you to connect with like-minded professionals, potential collaborators, and industry leaders who can help you make money.
The biggest problem is that fake followers don’t engage with your content. They won’t like, comment on, or retweet your posts. This means your content reach and engagement rates will be dismally low.
When we say engagement rates, we’re talking about a pretty straightforward formula. You tally up all the likes, comments, and retweets your posts gather, then divide that by your number of followers and multiply by 100 to get a percentage. This figure shows how much your followers interact with your content, which is a big deal on social media.
So, if a bunch of your followers are just inactive accounts or bots, they won’t interact with your posts. That means the number of interactions doesn’t match up even if you have many followers. So, your engagement rate tanks.
And here’s why that’s a problem: A low engagement rate is a red flag to anyone looking at your profile, especially if you’re trying to team up with brands or get noticed. It shows that your influence might not be as strong as your follower count makes it seem.
Buying Followers Damages Your Authenticity
Buying followers can damage your brand identity and loyalty because you lose credibility with real followers who notice the disconnect. Having an inflated follower count filled with fake or inactive accounts hurts your real influence. Authenticity is vital for building trust and establishing credibility on social media.
Real engagement and community come from followers who care about you and your content. They become loyal brand advocates who like, comment, retweet, and help spread your message. Fake followers contribute nothing to the conversation or your business goals.
Buying Followers Is Against Twitter’s Rules
Twitter’s rules prohibit artificially inflating follower counts through services selling followers. They may suspend or permanently ban your account if they detect that you have purchased fake followers. Any money spent buying those followers will be wasted if your account gets deleted.
Twitter’s platform manipulation policy states: “You may not use X’s services in a manner intended to artificially amplify or suppress information or engage in behavior that manipulates or disrupts people’s experience on X.” This includes buying followers or using services to inflate follower counts. Twitter actively works to detect and remove fake accounts from their platform. So, any followers you buy will likely be removed anyway.
Your Metrics Get Skewed
With fake followers padding your numbers, analyzing what content resonates with your audience becomes much more challenging. Engagement metrics like likes, comments, and retweets per follower will also become skewed.
Your engagement rate may look lower than it should be because you have inflated follower numbers from all the fake accounts you purchased. This makes it difficult to judge how well your content is performing.
It’s a Slippery Slope
Once you start buying fake followers, it can quickly become a slippery slope where you feel compelled to keep purchasing more and more. Here are some of the risks:
The Temptation To Keep Buying More Followers
After an initial purchase, you may be tempted to buy more followers to increase your numbers. This can become addictive, and you may spend more money than you intended.
We Need To Keep Buying To Offset Fake Accounts Being Deleted
Social platforms regularly delete fake and inactive accounts. This means the counterfeit followers you purchased will start disappearing. To keep your numbers up, you’ll have to keep buying more. It turns into an endless cycle.
Higher Risk Of Getting Caught/Banned
The more fake followers you buy, the higher the risk that social platforms will detect the inauthentic activity and penalize your account. In severe cases, they may even suspend your account.
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