X/Twitter Post Template

Platform Specifications

• Character Limit: 280 characters (including spaces)
• Media Support: Up to 4 images, 1 video (max 2:20 for regular accounts)
• Link Handling: Links auto-shortened to 23 characters (count as 23 chars regardless of length)
• Thread Support: Up to 25 tweets per thread
• Optimal Posting Times: 8-10 AM, 12-3 PM, 5-6 PM (weekdays)

Content Guidelines

Voice & Tone

• Concise: Every word counts. Get to the point quickly.
• Conversational: Write like you’re talking to a colleague, not broadcasting
• Authentic: Show personality, don’t sound like a corporate account
• Actionable: Include clear next steps or calls to action

Best Practices

1. Hook First: Lead with the most compelling information
2. Use Line Breaks: Make longer tweets scannable (but keep under 280 chars)
3. Strategic Hashtags: 1-2 relevant hashtags max (they count toward character limit)
4. Thread When Needed: Break complex topics into digestible chunks
5. Visual Appeal: Include images/GIFs when possible (4x more engagement)
6. Tag Sparingly: Only @mention when adding value (not for attention)

Hashtag Strategy

• Technical Content: #DevOps, #CloudNative, #OpenSource, #Python, #TypeScript
• Career/Learning: #TechCareers, #DevCommunity, #100DaysOfCode
• Industry: #SoftwareEngineering, #TechLeadership, #DevTools
• Engagement: Place hashtags at the end, not mid-sentence

Thread Structure

When creating a thread:

1. Thread Opener (Tweet 1)
   • Hook with a strong statement or question
   • Signal it’s a thread: “Thread 🧵” or “A quick breakdown:”
   • Set expectations: “5 things I learned about…”
2. Body Tweets (Tweets 2-N)
   • One clear idea per tweet
   • Number tweets if sequential (1/5, 2/5, etc.)
   • Use visual breaks (emojis, line breaks)
   • Maintain flow between tweets
3. Conclusion Tweet (Final)
   • Summarize key takeaway
   • Include call to action (follow, share, link)
   • Optional: “If you found this helpful, share with your network”

Example Templates

Standard Tweet

 

# #

Thread Tweet (Opener)

 🧵

Here's what I learned :

👇 A thread

Thread Tweet (Body)

/ 

Announcement Tweet

🚀 

What's new:
• 
• 
• 

 

Character Count Tips

• Remove filler words: “very”, “really”, “just”, “actually”
• Use abbreviations wisely: “w/” for “with”, “&” for “and” (sparingly)
• Consolidate ideas: Merge related points
• URL shortening: Remember URLs count as 23 chars after shortening
• Image alt text: 1000 char limit for accessibility (doesn’t count toward 280)

Engagement Tactics

High-Performing Content Types

1. How-to threads: Step-by-step guides
2. Lessons learned: Post-mortems, retrospectives
3. Hot takes: Controversial opinions (backed by data)
4. Quick tips: Actionable advice in < 100 chars
5. Behind-the-scenes: Development process, tool setups
6. Resource roundups: “5 tools for X”, “Best Y I’ve found”

Calls to Action

• “What’s your approach to ?”
• “Reply with your “
• “Share this if you found it useful”
• “Follow for more content”
• “Check out the full guide: “

Metadata Frontmatter

Include this at the top of your tweet file:

---
platform: twitter
scheduled_time: 2025-01-15T14:00:00Z
source_content: /content/blog/my-post.md
media:
  - /assets/images/tweet-image.png
is_thread: false
thread_length: 1
hashtags:
  - DevOps
  - CloudNative
campaign: product-launch
---

Character Counter Tool

Before posting, verify your tweet length:

# Count characters (macOS/Linux)
echo "Your tweet text" | wc -m

# Or use Twitter's composer for real-time count

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• ❌ Using all hashtags (looks spammy)
• ❌ @mentioning too many accounts (reduces reach)
• ❌ Breaking threads with replies (use thread composer)
• ❌ Posting identical content across platforms (optimize per platform)
• ❌ Ignoring replies (engagement signals matter)
• ✅ Tailor content to Twitter’s fast-paced, conversational style
• ✅ Reply to comments within first hour for algorithm boost
• ✅ Use Twitter Analytics to find your best posting times

AI Prompt for Tweet Generation

When using this template with AI:

Generate a Twitter post about  that:
- Stays under 280 characters
- Includes 1-2 relevant hashtags from: 
- Uses a  tone (conversational/professional/provocative)
- Includes a call to action: 
- References this source content: 

Target audience: 
Key message: