I went viral 3 times in my first 30 days on Twitter.
Huge hack: Formatting your tweets.
Here's how I do it 👇
Most people overlook the visual component of writing.
Know what else people overlook? Large chunks of text.
Formatting...
• pulls the eye forward
• makes complex ideas feel simple
• stimulates the mind through variety
Here are 9 examples of awesome tweet formatting to copy:
(The) What you'll learn by reading this:
1. Visual formats for tweets and threads
2. That you can copy and use
3. Or just be inspired by
4. Mix and match to create your own
5. So that your content looks nice
6. And people read it
Let's dive in ↓
• Brief heading no period
Short sentences go here one at a time.
Never longer than a line.
If they're starting to get long,
find a comma and add a line break.
Try to keep the line lengths visually pleasing.
3. Do this not that
Short statement of advice to follow.
❌ "This is what not to do."
✅ "This is a far better example of what to do."
Explain why you're right. Assert the benefit of following your advice.
4/ Thing vs. Other Thing
One idea:
-> Identify a situation
-> Make an observation about it that is interesting
Another idea:
-> Similar situation but different
-> Insightful remark that brings clarity to the topic
Bring it all together with a line at the bottom.
Step 5: Use Templated Responses
You're going to write two, thick, meaty, action-packed mini-paragraphs that fill up a line and 2/3rds max.
Then accompany them with a visual that brings it all together. Bonus points if all visuals are consistent.
"How to" double bullet list:
Start with a quick explanation of how to start.
• Do this
• Three bullets
• Always three
Then how you level up.
• Write more bullets
• Only three
• Keep 'em short
Assert the benefit of following your advice here slightly longer.
Mini-thread within a thread
Explain the general idea of what you're talking about up here. Then get ready to give some...
Here's 3 tips to do the above line:
✅ Quick tips here
✅ 5 words or less per tip
✅ Again, always three
Wrap it up with something succinct.
🔸 Use subtle formatting to get attention
By looking different, your posts might stand out. Just don't overdo it.
• Large symbol for the heading
• Regular symbols for bullets
• Keeps things interesting
• Makes it skimmable
Example: @thatroblennon (Hey, I know that guy!)
twitter.com/thatroblennon/status/1531334180511969280
Take an action.
Because XYZ...
- is ideal for many examples
- fits in all sorts of sentences
- deserves to have a spotlight held to it
- likes when these lines are relatively similar in length
- looks good with 5 examples (not just 3)
To nail your own tweet formatting, make use of these factors:
• sub-headers to anchor the eye
• plenty of open space
• attention to line length relative to nearby lines
• use of bullets in 3s and 5s
• shorter sentences overall
Do this, and watch your engagement take off.