10 Tips To Build X/Twitter Followers Organically

X/Twitter is a platform that has seen an exponential amount of change in recent years. Because of this, brands may be left scratching their heads, wondering if they should even prioritize the channel, let alone put in the effort to try to grow their following. The truth is that X still reaches a certain type of niche audience that can’t be found elsewhere, and if this niche is aligned with your brand, you still need to do the work to show up on the platform and build your following and influence. 

Here’s how to do it.

The most effective and authentic way to build your followers on X/Twitter (or any platform, for that matter) is to do so organically. This means not relying on paid initiatives to bolster your follower growth, but instead creating sustainable workflows and introducing organic tactics that really move the needle. Below are ten effective ways to do so.

1. Define Your Audience and Niche 

Before you can make a real impact on your follower count, it’s important to take a step back and reassess who exactly your brand is speaking to on X. Who are you trying to reach? What problems do they have and how can you solve them? What voice or style will cut through the noise? These are all things to consider when you begin building out your follower growth strategy, because you want to ensure the growth you’re acquiring is relevant and the target demographic you want to reach.

2. Cross-Promote on Other Channels

One of the best things about social media, and specifically X, is the repurposability of the content. To this day, you will see screenshots of posts that were made on Twitter all over other social media apps, showcasing that there is no shame in reusing content from platform to platform. An even easier option is repurposing your X content for Threads and vice versa. The similarity between these platforms allows you to get double the lifespan out of a single piece of content.

3. Build Lists to Organize and Engage

Lists are an incredibly under-utilized feature on X that allow brands to start and join conversations in relation to topics that just make sense. Search and follow for Lists that relate to your brand, and if you see a gap or topic that isn’t covered, create and curate your own for users to follow along with.

4. Leverage X Spaces and Live Conversations

Spaces are live events that can be hosted by anyone in relation to any topic. Brands have the opportunity to either join related Spaces to connect with new users, or create their own Spaces to share expertise and connect directly with their audience. Spaces can be scheduled in advance or opened on the fly, whatever best fits the message you’re trying to share. 

5. Boost Engagement Through Replies and Conversations

No matter its name, X/Twitter has always been an app that revolves around being a part of the conversation. It is a must for brands to reply, participate, and even start conversations to really boost engagement and follower numbers. If you’re unsure what to say, remember to focus on adding value to conversations rather than self promotion, to show up as authentically as possible. 

6. Use Trends and Timely Topics Wisely

Hopping on trending content is a tried and true way to get in front of more potential followers, but on a platform like X, it’s especially important to ensure you’re only participating in trends that make sense with your brand. Use the Trending tab to see what people are talking about and organically insert yourself into the conversation where it makes sense.

7. Optimize Posting Cadence and Timing

Just posting at any time of day, any day of the week is no longer enough. You need to have an idea of when your audience is the most active so that your posts don’t fall on deaf ears. Tools like Dash Social’s Scheduler show brands exactly when their audience is the most engaged, allowing them to slot in content to those high engagement slots.

8. Avoid Shortcuts and Stay Authentic

As tempting as it may be to lean into the ‘tried and true’ follower growth shortcuts, it is never worth it. Things like buying followers or using mass following and unfollowing tactics just clutter your follower list with fake, non-authentic users. In order to build a healthy following, you must do so organically to maintain brand authenticity and build trust with your audience.

9. Experiment With Different Content Formats 

While X is primarily a text-based app, the platform has added in a bunch of different format types for brands to use to boost engagement and followers. Work to create a healthy content mix of short posts, polls, different visuals, and videos to see what resonates most with your audience and keep them on their toes.

10. Track Analytics and Adjust Strategy

Tracking your social analytics is the most surefire way to ensure all or any of the above tactics are working. Obviously you can just see your followers grow over time, but checking in on things like impressions and engagements can really inform which types of content are resonating and causing people to follow you.

How do you get rid of bot followers on Twitter/X? 

There are a couple of ways to get rid of bot followers on X. The first and most manual way is to go through and block them yourself. If you do not (understandably) have the time for this, there are several apps, such as X Bot Sweeper, that can help you identify and block suspicious followers in bulk.

Who has the most followers on X/Twitter?

Currently, Elon Musk has the most followers on X, with approximately 229 million followers. He is not so closely followed by Barack Obama (127 million followers) and Cristiano Ronaldo (112.5 million followers).

What metrics should I track on X to know what’s working?

Engagement metrics such as likes, reposts, and replies are great indicators of what’s working for your brand on X. More holistic insights, such as engagement rate, impressions, and follower growth, should also be a focus for your brand to understand what’s driving success.