9 Twitter Best Practices For Better Tweet Copy, Images, and Videos (With Examples)
/Do you want to improve the performance of your tweets on Twitter?
Whether your focus is on tweet copy, images, or video, in this blog post I will share 15 simple Twitter-backed tips to fine-tune your output.
Tweet Copy Best Practices
Keep your tweet concise and to the point
Twitter moves fast and you don’t have much space to get your point across, so really think about the construct of your sentences. When you’ve written a tweet, look over it and ask yourself if you can re-write it in a simpler way, or with less waffle.
The smallest IKEA store ever has arrived. Download our new app now! https://t.co/bcaSDPH6Ob pic.twitter.com/J7Tactzw0m
— IKEA USA (@IKEAUSA) January 15, 2021
Hello, World!
In this example, IKEA shows you don’t have to use anywhere near the 240 characters available to get your point across.
Include a call-to-action (CTA)
Most brands on Twitter will be there as a way to get their customers to take action in some way - whether that be to visit a website, watch a video, syphon customer service queries to an appropriate channel, etc.
And so, if you want someone to do something… ask them with a call-to-action, an essential element of a tweet whose purpose is to drive action.
Sports supplements are your secret weapons when it comes to getting the most out of your workouts. 🏃♀️ Find out why here 👉 https://t.co/kRIdtb4gwI #healthexpert #sportsscience #fitness #nutrition
— Holland & Barrett (@holland_barrett) January 13, 2021
In this example from Holland & Barrett, “Find out why here” and a pointing emoji is used to coax readers into clicking through to its website, proving that sometimes that a CTA doesn’t always need to use words.
Use conversational text
Human interactions are at the core of the Twitter experience, so it can really benefit your business if your “voice” on Twitter is conversational, human, and reflects the interactions that your customers might have.
Use % discount instead of a dollar amount
This one is a psychological thing more than anything. Twitter research has found that people click more on discounts that express the offer as a percentage off, rather than a dollar amount. 25% off sounds more than $5 off for example, doesn’t it?
It’s giving “classy, but don’t play with me” 🖤
— JELANAH. (@JelanahOfficial) January 16, 2021
Take 25% off remaining Autumn Allure pieces today and tomorrow only! pic.twitter.com/eh2ovKTGgK
Create a sense of urgency with offers
This one is another old trick from the psychology of sales. When you’re using Twitter to promote an offer, you want to generate a sense of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) amongst your audience. If they see that the offer is only available for a limited time, they are more likely to click (and hopefully make a purchase).
You asked for it, and we listened! Oat Milk is available NOW for a limited time only. Ask for it along with our all-new Immunity Boost, the perfect way to support a healthy immune system this season. 💛 You're worth it. pic.twitter.com/XPbmV2U5OM
— Scooter's Coffee (@scooterscoffee) January 9, 2021
Limit your hashtags
Using hashtags in your tweets is essential for discovery on the site, but too many can muddle your message when seen by your followers, and hurt your tweet’s effectiveness overall. Keep the number of tweet you use to just one or two, and place them in a way that doesn’t upset the flow of your copy.
Planting broad beans 🌱🌞💦
— Mud & Bloom🌱 (@MudandBloom) January 15, 2021
Starting seedlings off on a window sill at this time of year is a great way for children to learn #gardening, even if it is mid January.
This lovely photo was shared by one of our subscribers @littleprestonpotager on Instagram, 🌱#mudandbloom #gyo pic.twitter.com/M4XUZm3gN7
Tweet Images Best Practices
Use minimal text
When you post images on Twitter for any purpose, let the picture do the talking. Some text is okay if it supports your message, but lots of text is harder to read on mobile screens. Use images that have a central focus, and save your text for the tweet copy to support it.
"Well don't you scrub up well?" - Us to us in the mirror after using Your Best Shot coffee & oat scrub ✨ pic.twitter.com/Zm0swejD8X
— Soap & Glory (@SoapandGlory) January 2, 2021
Catch the eye
WIth so much media in the feeds of Twitter users, your images have to work hard to be thumb-stopping. Some of the ways that you can do this include using bright colours, a human element (pictures of faces naturally tend to attract people more than inanimate objects), or adding in a sense of movement to catch the eye - GIFS can work well for this.
Bold and bright, the red Rubberised Top-Clip Backpack is a reason to be cheerful this January. Shop now. https://t.co/OKvfqYVfnk pic.twitter.com/ps3cGE0LRr
— Hunter (@HunterBoots) January 13, 2021
Twitter Video Best Practices
Short and Snappy
Don't forget to book a test ride in a city near you - last chance this week at our Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Bristol, Dublin, Brussels, Eindhoven and Essen pop-ups. 🚲 https://t.co/i9PsTt8oqq pic.twitter.com/ObUqbVXwuZ
— VanMoof (@VanMoof) October 14, 2020
Twitter recommends posting videos that are 15 seconds or less. Short-form video like this has exploded in recent years - just long enough to communicate a full message, but not too long that users won’t watch until the end.
Open with your product
If you’re using a video to sell a product or service on Twitter, you want to let the audience know straight away! Don’t assume that your fans will watch right until the end of the video to see what it’s all about, because a lot of them won’t.
Design, meet technology. Discover the calming sanctuary of Range Rover Velar.
— Land Rover UK (@LandRover_UK) January 15, 2021
Discover more: https://t.co/3OwtUxSN16 pic.twitter.com/wjz91GCEez
So yes, there’s no time or need to be clever with social media product advertising - show it front and centre, and include branding throughout (with a logo or recognisable brand colours).
Add captions
Twitter videos in the news feed automatically play with sound off (until the user taps to unmute), so always add captions to your videos to make communicating your message clear. Adding captions also ensures your message is “heard” loud and clear by people in environments where they can’t watch with the sound on, and also, of course, is the right thing to do for accessibility reasons.
Thinking of trying Veganuary but don’t know where to start? Try a simple swap from our plant based ranges and see how easy it is to make a change. Head to https://t.co/k49AlpTNvY to find out more. pic.twitter.com/hJOjFuD2Nz
— Tesco (@Tesco) January 1, 2021
Twitter Best Practices Conclusion
So there you have it! 9 quick and easy tips to vastly improve the chances of your tweets performing well, whether they be text, images, or videos. What is your best strategy for improving the engagement your tweets receive? Let me know in the comments below!
Andrew Macarthy is a social media consultant and the author of the #1 Amazon Web Marketing Bestseller, 500 Social Media Marketing Tips.
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