How to Post on Twitter

Learning how to post on Twitter is simple, but posting well is an entirely different skill that can transform your business or personal brand. This guide will walk you through everything from the absolute basics of composing a Tweet to advanced strategies for creating content that connects with an audience. We’ll cover using threads, polls, video, and more to build a genuine presence on the platform.

The Absolute Basics: How to Post a Tweet

First things first. Whether you're on a desktop or a phone, the process of sending a Tweet is straightforward. It’s the starting point for every conversation, announcement, and idea you share.

Posting from a Desktop Browser

When you log in to Twitter.com (or X.com), the composer is immediately visible at the top of your main timeline. You can’t miss it.

1. Look for the box that prompts you with "What's happening?".
2. Click inside the box and start typing your message. Remember, the standard character limit is 280 characters.
3. Below the text box, you'll see icons for adding media. You can add images, GIFs, videos, polls, or an emoji.
4. Once you’re happy with your message, click the blue "Post" button. That's it - your Tweet is live.

Posting from the Mobile App (iOS or Android)

The mobile experience is just as intuitive. It's designed for sharing thoughts on the go.

1. Open the app on your phone.
2. Tap the blue circle with a plus sign (+) located at the bottom right corner of your screen. This will open the composer.
3. Type your message and use the icons at the bottom of the composer to add photos, GIFs, or other media.
4. Tap the "Post" button at the top right to share it with your followers.

Beyond Plain Text: Creating Engaging Content That Stops the Scroll

Anyone can post an update, but the accounts that really grow are the ones that use Twitter’s full suite of creative tools. Plain text has its place, but mixing in different formats makes your profile far more dynamic and visually interesting.

Add Visuals: Using Images, GIFs, and Memes

Tweets with images consistently get more engagement - more likes, more replies, and more reposts - than those without. Your brain processes images thousands of times faster than text, so a good visual grabs attention instantly.

• How to Add an Image: Click the picture icon in the composer and select up to four images. Twitter automatically creates a grid for you.
• Best Practices: Use high-quality, relevant images. Screen captures to illustrate a point, behind-the-scenes photos, or well-designed graphics work wonders.
• Use GIFs and Memes: Don't underestimate the power of a perfectly timed GIF. They add personality and emotional context that text alone can't convey. Click the "GIF" button in the composer to search a massive library.

Example: Instead of just tweeting "Launched my new product today!", post a high-quality photo or a celebratory GIF of your team. It tells a much better story.

Leverage Native Video

Like images, video is incredibly powerful on Twitter. Native video - meaning video uploaded directly to the platform, not linked from YouTube - tends to perform much better because it autoplays in the feed.

• Keep it short: Engagement drops off hard after the first few seconds. Aim for videos under 60 seconds, and make sure the first 3 seconds are captivating.
• Add captions: Over 80% of video on social media is watched with the sound off. Burn captions directly into your video so your message gets across even without audio.
• What to post: Quick tutorials, product demos, personal messages, or short clips from longer-form content are all great uses for Twitter video.

Use Twitter Polls to Ask Questions

Polls are one of the best tools for driving direct engagement. People love to share their opinions, and polls make it incredibly easy by giving them a simple button to click.

• How to create a poll: In the Tweet composer, click the icon that looks like a bar chart. You can add up to four choices and set the duration of the poll from a few minutes to seven days.
• Poll ideas that work:
  • Ask for opinions: "Which blog post topic should I write next? A) How to grow on TikTok or B) The secrets of SEO."
  • Simple A/B choices: "Coffee or tea in the morning?"
  • Gather feedback: "What's the one feature our product is missing?"

Use Hashtags Strategically (Without Being Spammy)

Hashtags (like #SocialMediaMarketing) make your Tweets discoverable to people who don't already follow you. They categorize your content and help it appear in relevant searches. The key is to use them strategically, not just tacking on every hashtag you can think of.

• Be relevant: Only use hashtags directly related to the content of your Tweet.
• Don't overdo it: A Tweet littered with a dozen hashtags looks spammy and can be hard to read. Aim for one to three strong, relevant hashtags per Tweet. This is the sweet spot for maximum reach without hurting readability.
• Mix it up: Combine broad hashtags (like #marketing) with more niche ones (like #ContentStrategyTips) to reach different audiences. It's often easier to stand out in a niche conversation.

Advanced Twitter Features

Once you’ve mastered the core content types, you can start using some of Twitter's more advanced features to create deeper, more compelling content.

Tell a Story with Twitter Threads (Tweetstorms)

The 280-character limit can feel restrictive, but threads allow you to break past it. A thread is a series of connected Tweets from one person. They are perfect for telling stories, breaking down complex topics step-by-step, or sharing a list of valuable resources. A well-written thread can go viral and become a cornerstone piece of content for your brand.

How to Create a Thread

1. Write your first Tweet in the composer.
2. Click the plus (+) icon in the composer - this will add another Tweet box directly below the first one.
3. Keep adding Tweets until you've finished your entire thought.
4. Click the "Post all" button to publish the entire thread at once.

Tips for a Great Thread

• Start with a strong hook: The first Tweet is your headline. It needs to grab attention and make people want to click "Show this thread."
• Number your Tweets: Adding "(1/5)" or a simple "1/" at the beginning of each tweet helps people follow along.
• Provide real value: Break down a process, share a personal story of failure or success, or curate a list of insights. Each Tweet should deliver a piece of the puzzle.
• End with a summary or call-to-action (CTA): The last tweet is your chance to summarize the key takeaway or direct people to your newsletter, website, or latest YouTube video.

Control the Conversation

Sometimes you want to broadcast a message without inviting a pile-on of replies from anonymous accounts. Twitter gives you control over who can reply to your Tweets.

Before you hit "Post," you’ll see some text below the composer that says "Everyone can reply." Click it, and you'll get three options:

1. Everyone: The default. Anyone on Twitter can reply.
2. People you follow: Only accounts you follow can reply.
3. Only people you mention: A highly restrictive option - only accounts you tag (@) in the tweet itself can reply. This is great for an "announcement only" vibe.

Schedule Your Tweets for Consistency

Consistency is everything on social media. But you don't need to be glued to your phone 24/7 to maintain a steady stream of content. You can schedule tweets to go live at a later time, directly within Twitter.

• How to do it: After composing your Tweet, click the calendar icon at the bottom of the composer. You can select the date and time for it to be published.
• Why it matters: Scheduling allows you to batch your content creation into one or two sessions per week. This lets you plan ahead, maintain presence during weekends or vacations, and post at an optimal time for your audience's time zone, even if you’re asleep.

Final Thoughts

Mastering Twitter is about moving beyond simply sending updates. It's about using the platform's full range of tools - threads, videos, polls, and strategic hashtags - to provide value, start conversations, and build a community around your brand or ideas. Don’t just broadcast, engage.

Staying consistent with a multi-platform strategy becomes challenging when you're manually posting everywhere. We built Postbase to streamline exactly that. With our visual content calendar, we make it easy to schedule your Twitter content alongside your Reels and TikToks in one view. You get a clear picture of your entire content plan, helping you stay ahead and post consistently without the daily scramble.