If you have much to say about any topic, staying within Twitter, now X’s character limits is difficult. Without X Premium, condensing your ideas, concepts, and opinions to such a degree seems downright impossible. However, users and third-party developers figured out a simple workaround over a decade ago. The solution? Create the best Twitter threads, which sidestep the character threshold and keep readers engaged until the end.
Today’s story starts with the origin of this yet another crowd-sourced idea, which X didn’t officially implement until 2017. Along the way, you’ll learn how to write them and save your favorite ones. If you’re looking for inspiration, there’s a list of the best threads.
Table of Contents
What Is a Twitter Thread?: A Creative Way To Bypass Platform’s Character Limits
If you’re new to X, you’ll want to know what a Twitter thread is. An X thread consists of multiple posts published by a single user, generally with a common theme. While this feature is synonymous with X, this wasn’t the case until 2017.
Earlier, users referred to the series of posts as tweetstorms. People used the reply feature because there wasn’t the ability to link multiple tweets. However, there was a downside to this practice. When other users replied to the original post, it made it harder for people to follow the conversation.
In 2014, tweetstorms started becoming popular, as Twitter, now X, linked comments to the original post.
There were attempts from third-party developers to solve the problem of following conversations. In 2008, users of apps like Tweader and Quotably could thread conversations. However, these implementations weren’t perfect, as you wouldn’t see the entire thread.
This changed in November 2017 after reports of X-testing threads emerged. In December 2017, the platform officially launched threads as a fully-fledged feature. You could link multiple posts together while typing your content on any device.
The character limit still applies to each post but not the thread as a whole. In other words, each tweet must still be within the 280-character limit if you don’t have X Premium.
There are no limits to how many posts you can link in a thread. However, you must know X doesn’t allow you to publish more than 25 tweets simultaneously.
You can include photos, videos, GIFs, and polls in your series of tweets. However, the platform doesn’t offer the ability to schedule threads.
How To Create Twitter Threads on Any Device
How do you create threads on Twitter? There are two ways to do this on any device, as highlighted below:
Method 1:
Use this technique to give your followers the entire picture in one go. For instance, when deep-diving into a niche, you must create and publish multiple posts simultaneously.
- On the web version of X, left-click the Post button in the quick navigation panel. In the app, tap the plus button in the bottom right corner and select Post.
- Start crafting your tweet, and you’ll notice a plus (+) button becomes visible. Left-click this button to link a new post to your original tweet.
- Keep adding multiple tweets and left-click Post All when you want to publish them simultaneously.
Method 2:
Use the second method to post about an event or story in real time. It allows you to build hype with every new tweet you add to the conversation.
- Select Post from the quick navigation menu on a desktop browser. Otherwise, tap the plus sign in the mobile app and choose Post.
- Create a single tweet and left-click Post to publish it.
- When you want to add more tweets and convert them into a thread, visit the original post. You can see it on your profile page.
- Reply to the original post, and X makes this discussion a thread.
- The Add Another Post button becomes visible whenever you open the first tweet. Left-click this button to add updates to your thread.
How To Write a Twitter Thread: Ensure Your Audience Reads Till the End
How do you make an awesome thread on X? Crafting your first series of tweets can feel overwhelming. That’s perfectly fine, as you’re still figuring out your style, tone, and pretty much everything else. If you want to get the hang of this quickly, follow this guide on how to write a Twitter thread.
1. Pick a Topic You Find Exciting or Have Knowledge About
Doing a deep dive into any topic isn’t easy. Focus on subjects you find exciting or have sufficient knowledge about. This makes it easier to research the content when writing threads.
While you’re at it, you need to establish what you want to achieve with these posts. Do you want your followers to discuss the topic in the reply section? Are you looking to educate your target audience? This helps evaluate the success of your thread.
2. List Out All the Key Points To Cover
An outline for your posts is an excellent starting point, giving you a basic content structure. It also simplifies the research process, reducing the time it takes to craft and publish multiple tweets.
3. Make Sure Your Initial Posts Capture Your Target Audience’s Attention
X will display your thread’s first two or three tweets in other people’s timelines. The platform also uses a line to indicate they belong to a thread. People need to click the Show More Replies to all the posts.
Users may not see the button to see replies if you start the thread in the comments section. You must ensure your initial two to three posts are enticing.
You must grab their attention and give them a reason to click on your tweet to see the thread. Here are a few points to make it harder for readers to scroll past your post:
- If there’s an unbelievable fact or statistic about the subject you’re covering, start with it.
- A unique take on a popular topic can also work.
4. End With a Call to Action To Improve Engagement
Your last post must focus on the readers taking action. Ask a question in the comments section to get people talking. For instance, ask your target audience if they have any tips or hacks for the topic you’re covering. You can also find out if you missed something in your series of posts.
If you have a website, add it at the end of the tweet. However, it must be relevant to your thread. Another option is to provide readers with a useful takeaway.
Best Way To Save Twitter Threads: Keeping Your Favorites Safe Forever
As you go through your timeline, you’re bound to come across threads you’ll love. It can be from an industry expert or a content creator. What is the best way to save Twitter threads? The good news is that there are several simple solutions to preserve your favorite posts, as highlighted below.
X’s Bookmark Feature Can Save Threads for Free
If all you’re looking for is a one-click solution, X’s bookmark feature is the way to go. It saves the tweets in the Bookmarks folder, which you can access anytime and anywhere. If you’re an X Premium subscriber, you can create custom folders, making it simple to organize your favorite threads.
When you encounter a series of posts on X, look for a button resembling a ribbon. If you use Twitter on a desktop browser, you will see it beneath every tweet. In the mobile app, tap the share button and select Bookmark. You can also see the Bookmark icon if you expand one of the posts in the thread.
Remember to save the first tweet when using this feature on X.
Readwise Is a Good Alternative To Save Your Twitter Threads
Readwise is another way to save threads on X. You must connect your Twitter account with this tool before using it. After you make an account with Readwise, start looking for a series of posts.
“When you find something interesting, leave this reply in the comments section” — @readwise (save thread).
Or, send a direct message (DM) to Readwise’s X account. Share a link to the thread and add the letter ‘t’ as the message.
There’s also the option to import your bookmarks with this tool.
The only downside is you need to be a subscriber to continue using its services after the free trial.
Best Twitter Threads of All Time: 2 Excellent Sources of Inspiration
Going through the best Twitter threads of all time is an excellent source of knowledge. You can study how these tweets went viral and try to replicate them. Also, they can be a source of inspiration if you find yourself in a creative block. Below is a list of the best threads on Twitter.
1. Jeremy Moser’s Thread of Threads
If X allows you to save only one thread, you can never go wrong with Jeremy Moser’s (@jmoserr) threads collection. He made a list of all the best threads on X. It is an excellent starting point and covers several iconic threads.
Also, the tweets he shares in this list contain valuable information to help you improve your skills in various domains.
2. Naval Ravikant’s Guide on X To Getting Rich
Naval Ravikant (@naval), an American investor and entrepreneur, published a thread in 2018 explaining his secrets to becoming wealthy. It contains several tidbits which seem relatively simple and obvious at first glance.
However, when you start thinking about these posts, you’ll quickly realize how much information he provides for free. Save this piece of content, as you’ll learn something new every time you revisit it.
Delete Multiple Threads in a Few Minutes With TweetDelete
Follow all the instructions in this guide for your first five threads. You’ll get the hang of creating a series of posts and become a master in no time.
While X allows you to make multiple threads, there is no easy way to remove them. Imagine having to delete several hundreds of posts manually. You may have to do this if you presented the wrong information or made a few mistakes.
Fortunately, there is a simple tool to help you in situations like this. With TweetDelete, you can remove as many X threads as necessary. Use the custom filter to find a specific series of posts and click once to delete them. This saves you from online embarrassment and prevents your posts from going viral for the wrong reasons.
There’s the auto-delete utility to target older threads containing specific keywords, phrases, and hashtags. Alternatively, you can use the date range filter for this purpose.
Join TweetDelete today and ensure people follow your profile because your account has the best Twitter threads!
