23 Game-Changing Twitter Hacks (or X Hacks) You Need To Know

In the fast-paced Twittersphere (or is it the X-sphere now?), knowing the right Twitter hacks can be a huge advantage.

Only 43% of marketers promote their business on Twitter, meaning there’s market share to grab. Having a few tricks up your sleeve can help you save time and maximize every opportunity. It doesn’t hurt that they make you look like a wizard around the office, too.

Check out these 23 X (formerly known as Twitter) tricks and tips you should know about.

10 Twitter hacks for better tweets

Add emojis from your desktop

Using emoji in your tweets is a proven way to increase engagement, but they’re not easy to find on desktop. Try this workaround to summon the emoji menu on Macs.

How to do it:

1. Place your cursor in any text field
2. Hold Control + Command + Space bar keys
3. Choose your emoji from the pop-up

And while you’re at it, consider adding emoji to your Twitter bio, too

Beat the 280-character limit with an image

If you can’t fit your message into Twitter’s 280-character limit and don’t want to subscribe to Twitter Blue, you can use an image instead. This is, of course, where the saying, “a picture’s worth a thousand words” comes from. But we wouldn’t recommend tweeting a novella.

You could take a screenshot of a note on your phone, but this can look pretty budget if your company releases an important statement. Take the time to create a graphic, and use the opportunity to add branding.

This way, if the image is shared separately from the tweet, it will still have attribution.

I wanted to share some of my thoughts on today's Supreme Court decision on affirmative action: pic.twitter.com/Wa6TGafzHV

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) June 29, 2023

Or make your message more dynamic with a custom GIF:

oh and ken is there too pic.twitter.com/7mvu9AGvKp

— tumblr dot com the website and app (@tumblr) July 18, 2023

If you use the Twitter image hack, make sure to include an image description (aka alt text). Doing this makes the image text accessible for people with visual impairments and those using assistive technology. The alt text limit on Twitter is 1,000 characters.

How to do it:

1. Click tweet.
2. Upload an image.
3. Click Add description.
4. Fill out the description field.
5. Click Save.

For pointers on writing alt text, read our guide to inclusive design for social media.

String tweets together with a thread

Another way to share a message that exceeds 280 characters is with a thread. And no, we’re not talking about Zuckerberg’s new Threads app.

Twitter threads are a series of tweets linked together so they don’t get lost or taken out of context.

How to do it:

1. Draft a new tweet.
   
2. Click the blue plus icon. (The icon will highlight once you have entered in text).
   
3. When you have finished adding all the tweets you’d like included in your thread, click the Post all button to post.
   

The finished result will look something like this:

men carrying george:

a short but necessary thread pic.twitter.com/bISQti3Yuk

— danny ☻︎ SAPNAP ART (@gnfsmanager) July 25, 2023

Edit your tweet

With Twitter Blue, you can now edit your tweets. Once you hit Post, you have up to 1 hour to slap the undo button and re-write your tweet.

Just remember, your edited tweets and revision histories are still visible. If you’re making a substantial change (or doing a total 180 on an opinion), you may want to just delete and repost.

now that Edit is rolling out in Twitter Blue Labs, here’s what you can expect

see that little icon? it’s there to let you know that the Tweet has been edited pic.twitter.com/Av6vZYuVeO

— Blue Subscription (@XBlue) October 3, 2022

Schedule tweets to save time

The best social media strategies rely on well-planned content calendars. And if you’ve already got your content lined up, scheduling your tweets can save time and keep you organized.

When it comes to social media scheduling tools, we’re a little biased. Here are some instructions for how to do it with Hootsuite:

How to do it:

1. In your Hootsuite dashboard, click Compose Message.
2. Type your message and include relevant links and photos if you have them.
3. Click to select a profile from the profile picker.
4. Click the calendar icon.
5. From the calendar, select the date for the message to be sent.
6. Select the time for the message to be sent.
7. Click Schedule.

Pin a tweet to your profile

Pinning a tweet to your profile is the grown-up equivalent of putting stickers on your locker. The pinned tweet lives at the top of your profile, giving everyone a look at the 280 characters you’ve placed on a pedestal.

How to do it:

1. From your profile, find the tweet you’d like to pin
2. Hit the More icon (three dots) located at the top left corner
3. Select Pin to your profile
4. Confirm

Source: cchristisonn on Twitter

Highlight a tweet on your profile (Twitter Blue exclusive)

Instead of pinning tweets to the top of your profile, you can add them to your Highlights. This is exclusive to Twitter Blue, so you’ll have to grab a Twitter Blue subscription to use it.

The highlights tab sits on the top of your profile and can be a place to keep your best tweets. It’s a little like Instagram Story highlights.

Source: Elon Musk on Twitter

Unroll a thread

Here’s a tip for those who find it difficult to read a Twitter thread, use a screen reader, or would just like to extract the text of a thread.

Simply reply to a thread with “@threadreaderapp unroll”, and a bot will respond with a link to the unrolled text.

I'm @ThreadReaderApp a Twitter bot here to help you read threads more easily. To trigger me, you just have to reply to (or quote) any tweet of the thread you want to unroll and mention me with the "unroll" keyword and I'll send you a link back on Twitter

— Thread Reader App (@threadreaderapp) November 25, 2017

Embed a tweet

Embedding tweets on your website or blog is often a better alternative to screen captures, which aren’t as responsive and can’t be read by screen readers. Plus, they just look slicker.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Click the More icon (the three dots) in the top right of the tweet.
2. Select Embed tweet.
3. You’ll be automatically taken to Twitter Publish, where you can customize how the tweet appears.
   Source: Twitter Publish
4. Copy and paste the code provided into your blog or website and Ta Da! You now have a much slicker, mobile-friendly version of the tweet in question. (Like the one we’ve embedded below )

Our headquarters tonight pic.twitter.com/GO6yY8R7fO

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 24, 2023

Use Twitter keyboard shortcuts on desktop

Want to save time and impress your colleagues with Twitter shortcut wizardry?

Type any of the following while using Twitter on desktop and prepare to wow the crowds:

• New Message: M
• Scroll Home feed (previous tweet): J
• Scroll Home feed (next tweet): K
• Refresh Home feed to see new tweets: . (period!)
• Like a tweet: L
• Write a new tweet: N
• Post tweet: Control + Enter on PC / Command + Return on Mac
• Favorite current tweet: F
• Retweet selected tweet: T
• Open the topic page of the current tweet: Enter (Return on Mac)

You can also navigate Twitter by pressing the following keyboard shortcuts at the same time:

• Home Feed: G + H
• Mentions: G + R
• Notifications: G + N
• DMs: G + M
• Your profile: G + P
• Search for a profile in the search bar: G + U
• Likes: G + L
• Settings: G + S

For more time-saving keyboard wizardry, check out our complete guide to keyboard shortcuts for social media managers.

7 Twitter interaction and engagement hacks

Tweet at the best time

If you tweet and no one reads it, did it even happen?

To make sure your tweet reaches as many people as possible, aim to tweet when your audience is most likely to be online.

Hootsuite research shows that the best time to tweet is 7:00 AM PST on Mondays and 10:00 AM PST on Wednesdays. Try tweeting consistently around this time, and use Twitter Analytics to adjust your schedule accordingly.

One of the best hacks for Twitter can be found on Hootsuite. Please, hold your applause until the end, people.

When you schedule content, the platform automatically recommends the best time to post for your audience. It also uses AI to predict the right hashtags. We’re just doing our part to make the Twitterverse a better place.

Try Hootsuite for free. You can cancel anytime.

Retweets (both yours and others)

Extend the lifespan of your best tweets by retweeting them. But don’t abuse this tactic. Make sure the content you’re retweeting is evergreen, and do it long after everyone forgets your original tweet.

Retweeting other people’s content — especially from your followers — can also build audience loyalty. As long as they’re relevant to your brand, retweets are an easy way to publish content without the effort of writing it.

As the world reflects on Nelson Mandela and his inspiring legacy, this #MandelaDay we are also inspired by our #ObamaLeaders in Africa who are helping shape their communities and bring change home.

Learn more about our Leaders Africa cohort: https://t.co/aThEdJB2di pic.twitter.com/iVmXJIXAem

— The Obama Foundation (@ObamaFoundation) July 18, 2023

Save tweets for later with Bookmarks

Have you ever been doom-scrolling at 3 AM and come across a tweet you want to repost at a less ungodly hour? Only for it to disappear into the Twitterverse once your alarm clock goes off? Us, too.

It doesn’t have to be like this.

Just tap the bookmark icon at the bottom of the post and save it for later.

Source: Mike Tyson on Twitter

And don’t worry; bookmarks are private, so even if you save an embarrassing amount of Mike Tyson-musing tweets during the witching hour, no one will know.

Organize your feed with Lists

Whether you run a personal or business account on Twitter, you likely follow people for different reasons. Grouping followers into specific categories via Lists makes it easier to stay on top of trends, customer opinions, and more.

Just remember: Twitter notifies someone when you add them to a public List. So, unless you’re okay with that, make sure your List is set to private.

How to do it:

1. Head to the navigation bar on the left.
2. Select Lists.
3. Click the New List icon in the top right beside the search bar.
4. Create a name for the list and add a description. Make it private by clicking the box on the right, or leave this box unchecked if you prefer to have a public list.
5. Add Twitter users to your list.

Here’s a hack for this hack (hack-ception, if you will): Just press G and I to open your Lists tabs.

Pro tip: Use the Discover new Lists box to search for lists relevant to your interests!

Track competitors without following them

A cool feature with Lists: you don’t need to follow an account to add them to your List. To track your competitors, simply create a private List and add as you see fit.

You can also use Brandwatch by Hootsuite to keep track of keywords, brand mentions, or competitor names mentioned on the vast internet.

Request a free demo of Brandwatch by Hootsuite

Subscribe to public Lists

No need to reinvent the List. If another account has curated a stellar lineup of Twitter users you’d like to track, all you have to do is hit subscribe.

To see someone’s Lists, simply go to their profile, hit the More icon in the upper right corner (three dots), and select View Lists.

Source: Justin Trudeau on Twitter

Find out whose Lists you’re on

Check what Lists you’re on so you can better understand how people perceive your brand. Obviously, you’ll only be able to see public Lists.

How to do it:

1. Head to your Lists (hold G and I simultaneously).
2. Hit the More icon (three dots) in the top right corner.
3. Click Lists you’re on.

6 Twitter data and settings hacks

Download your Twitter data

Create a backup of your account’s tweets by requesting your full archive from Twitter. Social media data archiving may be necessary for compliance reasons, especially if you’re a government organization or part of another heavily regulated industry.

How to do it:

1. Head to Account settings; this will be under the More icon (three dots) in the navigation bar.
2. Select Settings and support from the menu; under the dropdown, click Settings and privacy.
3. Click on Your Account.
4. Navigate to Download an archive of your data.
5. Enter your password and verify your account through TFA.
6. Under Twitter data, click Request archive.

Your Twitter data will automatically begin processing. It can take up to 24 hours to complete, so give yourself time if you know you’ll need the data. Once it’s ready to download, you’ll receive an in-app notification.

Give your eyes a rest with Twitter’s dark mode

Also known as “night mode,” Twitter’s dark mode setting is designed to be easier on the eyes in low-light environments.

How to use it:

1. Tap the More icon (three dots) on the left navigation bar.
2. Tap Settings and Support.
3. Tap Display.
4. Choose Dim or Lights out.
5. Click Done.

Change your Twitter colors

Feeling Barbiecore pink today? Let your Twitter color scheme reflect your mood.

How to do it:

1. Tap the More icon (three dots) on the left navigation bar.
2. Tap Settings and Support.
3. Tap Display.
4. Choose from one of the six color options.
5. Click Done.

Enable data saver mode

You know when your wifi goes out, but you’ve still got to get your tweets on? If you’re operating on a tight data budget, try data saver mode.

You can reduce Twitter’s data usage by following these steps. Note that when enabled, videos and photos will be presented as a preview until you load them. To load images in high quality, tap and hold the image.

How to do it on mobile:

1. Head to the navigation bar, then tap Settings and privacy.
2. Under General, tap Data usage. You can also search for Data usage within Settings.
3. Tap the toggle next to Data saver to turn on.

How to do it on desktop:

1. Head to the navigation bar.
2. Tap Settings and Support.
3. Tap Settings and privacy.
4. Tap Accessibility, display, and languages.
5. Tap Data saver and click the box.

Use advanced settings to refine your search

Take advantage of Twitter’s advanced search settings to narrow down your results.

How to do it:

1. Enter a search query.
2. On the right-hand side, under Search filters, click Advanced search.
3. Fill out your search parameters and click Search.

Try search operators to filter results

Twitter’s search capabilities are similar to those you’ll find on engines like Google. You can type in commands to search for specific keyword pairings.

Looking for more hacks and tricks? These tips will help you get more Twitter followers, this will help your overall Twitter marketing strategy, and these Hootsuite hacks will save you time and effort.

FAQs about the top Twitter hacks

How do you win the Twitter algorithm?

You can follow best practices for the Twitter algorithm to help your content rank. Make sure you’re posting at the right time for your audience, using hashtags to expand your reach, and keeping your Twitter account active.

How do you get 0 to 1000 followers on Twitter?

Black hat techniques like buying followers may show a quick rise in your follower count but are ultimately not a good idea. Keep creating consistent content for your audience, follow this Twitter guide, and watch your follower count rise from 0 to 1000.

How do I turn off DM limit on Twitter?

You can’t, sorry. DM limits on Twitter are put in place to alleviate pressure on the platform’s backend. You’re limited to 500 DMs per day.

The ultimate hack? Saving time by managing your X presence using Hootsuite. Share video, schedule posts, and monitor your efforts—all from a single dashboard. Try it free today.

Get Started

With files from Katie Sehl.

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