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x-algorithm

X (Twitter) algorithm rules, viral strategies, and article

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X Algorithm Mastery

Everything you need to know about the X (Twitter) algorithm. Based on X's open-source code, viral post analysis, and real engagement data.

TL;DR - The Golden Rules

  1. First 2 hours are critical — replies/engagement in this window determine reach
  2. No external links in main post — X penalizes links that take users off-platform
  3. Media > Text — videos get 10x engagement, images get 2-3x
  4. Reply to EVERYTHING — replies are weighted higher than likes/retweets
  5. Post when audience is awake — 8 AM - 2 PM weekdays optimal
  6. Controversy drives engagement — but pick battles wisely
  7. Threads outperform single tweets — for long-form content

How the Algorithm Works

The 4-Step Process

  1. Candidate Sourcing: Pulls 1,500 tweets from accounts you follow (50%) and similar accounts
  2. Ranking: ML model scores likelihood you'll reply (highest), retweet, like, or report (negative)
  3. Filtering: Removes blocked/muted, balances in/out-network, limits single author
  4. Serving: Final mix with ads, 5B times/day, ~1.5 seconds

Engagement Weight Hierarchy

Action Weight
Replies Highest
Retweets High
Quote Tweets High (2x regular posts)
Likes Medium
Bookmarks Medium
Views Low
Reports Negative (kills reach)

Ranking Signals

1. Recency

  • Fresh content prioritized
  • Peak visibility: first 2-3 hours

2. Engagement Velocity

  • Speed matters more than total
  • 100 likes in 30 min > 500 likes over 24 hours

3. Account Credibility

  • Verified (Premium) gets boost
  • Follower-to-following ratio matters
  • History of bans/strikes hurts

4. Content Type

  • Video: 10x engagement
  • Images: 2-3x engagement
  • Polls: Drives replies
  • Threads: Higher total engagement

5. Link Presence

  • Links = REACH PENALTY
  • Put links in replies, not main post
  • Quote tweeting a link > direct link

What Kills Your Reach

Instant Death

  • ❌ External links in main post
  • ❌ Getting reported/blocked
  • ❌ Posting same content repeatedly
  • ❌ Too many hashtags (>2)

Slow Death

  • ❌ Posting inconsistently
  • ❌ Not replying to comments
  • ❌ Off-topic from your niche
  • ❌ Corporate/formal tone

Posting Best Practices

Frequency

Goal Posts/Day
Minimum 2-3
Growth 5-10
Maximum 15-30

Timing (audience timezone)

  • Best: 8 AM - 2 PM weekdays
  • Good: 4 PM - 6 PM weekdays
  • Worst: 11 PM - 7 AM

The No-Link Strategy

❌ Bad:  "Check out my article [link]"
✅ Good: "Here's what I learned (thread 🧵)"
         → Link in reply or final thread post

Getting Replies (Most Important)

  • Ask questions — open-ended or controversial
  • Hot takes — polarizing opinions get "actually..." replies
  • Fill in the blank — "The best movie ever is ___"
  • Predictions — people love to disagree
  • Personal stories — "This happened to me..."

X Article Best Practices

Hook Patterns That Work

Insecurity/FOMO:

"everyone's talking about X... and you're sitting there wondering if you missed the window"

Big Opportunity:

"this is the biggest opportunity of our lifetime"

RIP Pattern:

"RIP [profession]. This AI tool will [action] in seconds."

Article Structure

1. HOOK (insecurity or opportunity)
2. WHAT IT IS (with social proof)
3. WHY MOST WON'T DO IT (address objections)
4. THE [X]-MINUTE GUIDE (step-by-step)
5. YOUR FIRST [N] WINS (immediate value)
6. THE COST (value comparison)
7. THE WINDOW (urgency)
8. CTA

Style Tips

  • Clear H2 section headers
  • Bullet lists for scanability
  • Bold key phrases
  • Time estimates for each step
  • Copy-paste commands/prompts

Quick Checklist

Before posting:

  • Under 280 chars? (If not, thread it)
  • First line hooks attention?
  • Reason to reply? (Question, hot take)
  • Good time to post?
  • No external links? (Move to reply)
  • Fits your niche?
  • Available to reply for 2 hours?

Growth Hacks

Reply Guy Strategy

Turn on notifications for big accounts → be first with thoughtful reply → their audience discovers you

Thread Takeover

Find viral post in your area → quote tweet with "Let me explain why..." → add genuine value

Personality Posts

Every 5-10 posts, share something personal. Builds connection → higher engagement.

Sources

  • X Algorithm GitHub (open source)
  • Hootsuite, Sprout Social, SocialBee guides
  • Analysis of viral articles (Damian Player, Alex Finn, Dan Koe)

Installation

clawdhub install NextFrontierBuilds/x-algorithm

Built by @NextXFrontier