With the advancement of social media, users have found it challenging to keep up with the algorithm changes in many platforms, especially Twitter. Owners who implemented Twitter for their business are questioning whether or not hashtags are still useful on this specific platform because they’re not sure how the algorithm works. They might be thinking…

“How can I be noticed on a user’s timeline?” or “How can I be at the top of the searches?”

In its early years, Twitter presented content to its users in reverse chronological order with the freshest and newest Tweets at the top of their newsfeed. As the platform gained popularity, it became almost impossible to keep up with Tweets as they were published. As a result, Twitter created the algorithm that many users know today.

How The Algorithm Works

Twitter’s algorithm, like most social media algorithms, is measured by personalization. Do you like to follow American politics? Your timeline was most likely filled with the latest news on the recent election. Are you heavily involved in the business world? Then, you’re most likely getting updates on Elon Musk’s move to Texas.

How does Twitter’s algorithm work? It takes a lot of learning and testing to understand the user’s preferences. Also, it’s essential to know that the algorithm is continuously changing as well as the users’ preferences. Every day, Twitter finds new ways to keep its users interested and up-to-date with the latest tweets that are relevant to them.

Here’s the key difference between Twitter’s algorithm and other platforms:

Twitter’s timeline combines real-time Tweets and personalized Tweets. As a result, the user can see the most recent tweets from the people they follow and see tweets that the algorithm will think they would be most interested in.

Twitter Timeline Ranking

It’s no surprise that there’s not a full explanation of how the algorithm works, but in 2017, Twitter released a blog explaining a breakdown of how the timeline works. Here’s a summary of how Twitter ranks its timelines:

• The Tweet Itself: how recent it is, the use of media (image, video, or GIF), and total interactions (Retweets and likes)
• The author: past interactions the user made with the author, the strength of connection to them (following, interactions, time)
• You: Tweets you’ve interacted with, how often you use Twitter.

The more a user uses Twitter, the more the algorithm can create an excellent experience for them.

Twitter Best Practices

If you’re a business, it’s essential to implement these best practices if you decide to use Twitter or already using Twitter.

Maintain a Presence

Twitter is fast-paced. Tweets usually disappear from a timeline after a day, and with the Explore page, trends tend to disappear after a few hours. According to its blog, Twitter mentions that “the more often you tweet, the more likely your audience will see and engage with your content.” Businesses like Wendy’s and Starbucks not only tweet regularly, but they also engage with customers and share tweets. 

Adding Hashtags and Tagging Accounts 

Hashtags and keywords are a great way to gain traffic to your page on Twitter. Doing your research to find what hashtags are trending is an excellent way to see what users want to see, but it’s essential to not overdo it. Twitter suggests using two hashtags per tweet. Also, if you have the opportunity to tag another account, do it! Tagging other accounts will allow your tweet to reach their audience as well.

Implementing Twitter Features

With Twitter, you have the option to interact with users by using polls, media, and their new tool, Fleets. With Fleets, you can immediately be at the top of a user’s timeline. 

What’s Next?

Twitter’s algorithm is simple to understand if you’re active on the platform. Just like any other relationship, being on Twitter takes commitment and a lot of patience. The more interactions you get from your tweets, the higher you rank on a user’s timeline.

Algorithms are here to stay, and knowing how they work is crucial when you’re digitally promoting your business. Read about the latest Twitter updates that were made in 2020. Need help managing your social media presence? We can help! Contact us today for more information.