Tweet Crafter Skill

Algorithm Signals (January 2026)

Signal	Weight	Notes
First 30 min engagement	Critical	Make or break for distribution
Replies	Very High	2x value of retweets
Reposts	High	Network expansion
Quotes	High	Conversation starter, shown to both audiences
Likes	Medium	Weakest engagement signal
Premium status	Modifier	4x in-network, 2x out-of-network
Video	Very High	5x engagement vs text (0.42% vs 0.08%)
Dwell time	High	Time spent reading > quick interactions
External links	Penalty	Zero median engagement for non-Premium (March 2026)

Key insight: Focus on prompting replies and conversations, not likes. The algorithm heavily rewards content that generates discussion.

2026 Platform Changes

• Video content dominates X (~80% of user sessions)
• External links severely penalized for non-Premium accounts
• Unverified accounts need ~10x more engagement for same reach
• Threads now underperform long-form articles

Format Selection

Long-form (preferred): Tutorials, essays, deep analysis, "X cosas que aprendí", narratives
Thread: Only when content naturally breaks into discrete numbered points

Performance benchmark:
- Long-form articles: Higher engagement, better reach, preferred by algorithm
- Threads: Lower performance, use sparingly for variety

Default to long-form articles. Threads are no longer the go-to format for educational content. Long-form articles consistently outperform threads on reach and engagement.

Link Posts (NEW — October 2025)

Links are no longer penalized. New in-app browser keeps engagement buttons visible.

Requirements for link posts:

• Write a compelling standalone caption (not just "new post")
• Include interesting description or insight
• Add image when possible (150%+ engagement boost)

Per Elon: "posting a link with almost no description will get weak distribution"

Content Templates

Single Tweet (max 280 chars)

[Hook/insight/question]

[Optional: 1-2 supporting lines]

[Optional: 1 hashtag max]

Thread Format (Use Sparingly)

1/🧵 [Standalone hook that works even without thread]

2/ [First point — strongest insight]

3-N/ [Supporting points]

N/ [CTA: follow, RT first tweet, link to newsletter]

Thread rules:

• 5-15 tweets optimal
• Self-reply immediately after posting (signals thread to algorithm)
• Hook must work standalone — most people only see tweet 1
• Consider converting to long-form article instead — better performance

Long-Form Post (Premium)

[First 280 chars: Hook that appears in timeline — CRITICAL]

[Body: Up to 25,000 chars with bold/italic formatting]

[CTA at end]

Only first 280 characters show in timeline. Front-load the hook.

Media Guidelines

Type	Engagement Multiplier
Video (native, <2:20)	10x
Images	2-3x
Polls	High engagement
Plain text	Baseline

Video specs: Native upload, under 2:20, no external watermarks.

Hook Formulas

The first line determines everything. Use these proven patterns:

Curiosity:

• "I used to think [common belief]..."
• "Here's what nobody tells you about [topic]..."
• "Everyone's doing [X] wrong. Here's why:"

Value-Forward:

• "5 ways to [achieve result]:"
• "The framework I use for [task]:"
• "[Number] tools that changed how I [outcome]:"

Story:

• "Last week, something unexpected happened..."
• "3 years ago, I made a decision that..."
• "I almost quit [X]. Then I discovered..."

Data/Surprise:

• "[Surprising statistic] — here's why it matters."
• "I analyzed [X] and found something interesting:"

Spanish Hooks:

• "[Número] cosas que aprendí sobre [tema]:"
• "El error más común en [tema]:"
• "Nadie te dice esto sobre [tema]:"

Pre-Publish Checklist

Before posting, verify:

• Hook is in first 280 characters (critical for timeline preview)
• Content invites replies (questions, opinions, hot takes)
• 0-2 hashtags maximum
• Media attached if applicable (video = 5x engagement)
• No external links unless Premium (or put link in reply)
• Would I engage with this if I saw it?
• Posted during optimal hours (9-11 AM or 7-9 PM PST)

Spanish-Language Patterns

Thread Templates

Tutorial Thread:

1/🧵 Cómo [accomplish task] en [technology]:

Una guía paso a paso 👇

2/ Paso 1: [Action]
[Explanation]

...

N/ Eso es todo.

Guarda este hilo para cuando lo necesites.
Sígueme @tacosdedatos para más tutoriales en español.

Insights Thread:

1/🧵 [Number] cosas que aprendí sobre [topic] después de [experience]:

Un hilo corto 👇

2/ [Insight #1]
[Brief explanation]

...

N/ Si te fue útil:
• Sígueme para más contenido de [topic]
• RT el primer tweet para que llegue a más personas

Newsletter Promotion

[Insight or hook from the newsletter]

Esto y más en el nuevo tacosdedatos:
[Link]

[Optional: What else is in the issue]

Hashtag Strategy

• Maximum 1-2 hashtags (X algorithm doesn't favor heavy usage)
• Spanish hashtags for discoverability: #DataScience #Python #DatosAbiertos
• Skip hashtags entirely for conversational posts

Timing

• Best times: 9-11 AM, 7-9 PM (PST)
• Best days: Tuesday-Thursday
• Post when followers are online (check analytics)

Output Format

When crafting tweets, provide:

## Tweet/Thread: [Topic]

### Content
[Full post content]

### Format
- **Type**: Single tweet / Thread (X tweets) / Long-form
- **Character count**: X/280 (or full length for long-form)
- **Media needed**: [Image description / Video spec / None]

### Algorithm Notes
- Hook strength: [Strong/Medium/Weak]
- Suggested posting time: [Day, Time]

References

For deep algorithm research and source links, see references/REFERENCES.md.