Read on Twitter
I started writing threads because I loved reading them, I never knew how powerful they could be.
In 3 months I got >360% new amazing followers by just writing 20 threads.
And if I can do it YOU most definitely can.
So here goes.
The MEGA thread on threads.
In 3 months I got >360% new amazing followers by just writing 20 threads.
And if I can do it YOU most definitely can.
So here goes.
The MEGA thread on threads.
0) Sections:
1. Why you should write threads
2. Finding inspiration
3. How to structure the work
4. Writing to maximise results
5. The effectiveness of threads
6. Threaders to learn from
7. Reading suggestions
+ Final comment
1. Why you should write threads
2. Finding inspiration
3. How to structure the work
4. Writing to maximise results
5. The effectiveness of threads
6. Threaders to learn from
7. Reading suggestions
+ Final comment
1. Why you should write threads
1a) Writing to learn and reflect
Reflecting on things you learn is a very good way to internalise knowledge.
Some ppl keep a journal, others write threads.
Moreover as @lennysan said writing is the best way to become more knowledgeable in an area you are interested in.
Reflecting on things you learn is a very good way to internalise knowledge.
Some ppl keep a journal, others write threads.
Moreover as @lennysan said writing is the best way to become more knowledgeable in an area you are interested in.
1b) Sharing is caring
I tend to write about things that I did not know myself that I wish someone told me.
I am sure you have things you learnt in life that you wish someone told you.
Remember sharing is caring!
@shreyas said it best: https://twitter.com/shreyas/status/1322226641293074432?s=20
I tend to write about things that I did not know myself that I wish someone told me.
I am sure you have things you learnt in life that you wish someone told you.
Remember sharing is caring!
@shreyas said it best: https://twitter.com/shreyas/status/1322226641293074432?s=20
1c) Find your own voice
Whether you are a founder looking to get funding, an aspiring VC looking to get into ventures, finding your own voice is a very powerful tool.
"I struggled finding my voice as the only woman in the room. Writing became that for me." - @sarahtavel
Whether you are a founder looking to get funding, an aspiring VC looking to get into ventures, finding your own voice is a very powerful tool.
"I struggled finding my voice as the only woman in the room. Writing became that for me." - @sarahtavel
2. Finding inspiration
2a) Day-to-day observation
I have a long note where I just write interesting stuff that I come across or discuss at work, at home, with friends.
Sometimes these materialise into threads, other times the become articles, and sometimes it just lives forever in that note.
I have a long note where I just write interesting stuff that I come across or discuss at work, at home, with friends.
Sometimes these materialise into threads, other times the become articles, and sometimes it just lives forever in that note.
2b) Read, read, read
The best writers are those that read, with the two-folded purpose of:
1) Finding inspiration
2) And your tone of voice
Read articles, newsletters, books. If you are don't know where to start:
Compiled by @blakeir https://blakeir.com/Reading-List-929850f030d04ff896ac9228feb442bc
The best writers are those that read, with the two-folded purpose of:
1) Finding inspiration
2) And your tone of voice
Read articles, newsletters, books. If you are don't know where to start:
Compiled by @blakeir https://blakeir.com/Reading-List-929850f030d04ff896ac9228feb442bc
2c) Curate information
Twitter is full of great content and to combine it all in one place can become a useful resource.
Making threads of others tweets or from crowdsourced information are two examples for curation.
This worked well for me: https://twitter.com/axeliaklein/status/1310902202500870144?s=20
Twitter is full of great content and to combine it all in one place can become a useful resource.
Making threads of others tweets or from crowdsourced information are two examples for curation.
This worked well for me: https://twitter.com/axeliaklein/status/1310902202500870144?s=20
3. How to structure the work
3a) Beef up your ideas
After saving your ideas in a note, start to read up on them and formulate extended ideas.
Threads often require that you move past the first spark of interest and some topics hold for that while you quickly realise that others don't.
After saving your ideas in a note, start to read up on them and formulate extended ideas.
Threads often require that you move past the first spark of interest and some topics hold for that while you quickly realise that others don't.
3b) Set aside dedicated time
People ask me how I have time to write threads on weekdays, and the answer is I don't.
Weekdays is for coming up with ideas
Weekends is for putting them on paper
I usually set aside 1-2 hours on Saturdays to write 2 threads.
People ask me how I have time to write threads on weekdays, and the answer is I don't.
Weekdays is for coming up with ideas
Weekends is for putting them on paper
I usually set aside 1-2 hours on Saturdays to write 2 threads.
3c) Have a goal and post regularly
My goal is to post 1 thread per week.
Currently my average is ~1.5.
Set the goal on a level that is reasonable and stick to it.
With a recurring baseline it is easier to create a habit + stay top of mind.
My goal is to post 1 thread per week.
Currently my average is ~1.5.
Set the goal on a level that is reasonable and stick to it.
With a recurring baseline it is easier to create a habit + stay top of mind.
4. Writing to maximise results
4a) Write the headlines first Â
To create a good flow in your threads the easiest way to start writing them is to set the headlines first.
Then populate with content, by doing that you will also be able to easier follow the suggestion below.
To create a good flow in your threads the easiest way to start writing them is to set the headlines first.
Then populate with content, by doing that you will also be able to easier follow the suggestion below.
4b) Start and end with thunder
If your thread is regular length (around 5-10 tweets) you want point 1, 2 and the last to be the best.
Follow this framework by @tobydoyhowell:
First: establish credibility
Second: share your most valuable nugget
Final: go quasi-inspirational
If your thread is regular length (around 5-10 tweets) you want point 1, 2 and the last to be the best.
Follow this framework by @tobydoyhowell:
First: establish credibility
Second: share your most valuable nugget
Final: go quasi-inspirational
4c) Be up front on the length
Already in the intro establish an understanding of how long the thread will be.
Either by including numbering like: 1/5 or write e.g "5 do's below:"
Clarifying for the reader if this is something they can digest now or should save for later.
Already in the intro establish an understanding of how long the thread will be.
Either by including numbering like: 1/5 or write e.g "5 do's below:"
Clarifying for the reader if this is something they can digest now or should save for later.
4d) Avoid / limit use of emojis
Yes emojis can grab attention.
But they also increase the risk of moving attention away from the text.
I shy away from using
, 
as well - but some great threaders use it effectively.
It all comes down to your writing style.
Yes emojis can grab attention.
But they also increase the risk of moving attention away from the text.
I shy away from using
, as well - but some great threaders use it effectively.It all comes down to your writing style.
4e) Use a lot of space
A wall of text seldoms works well.
I usually divide after every new sentence.
And I am not afraid of starting a sentence with And or But...
(even if I know that my British friend @RiskyTund doesn't approve of such grammar ;P)
A wall of text seldoms works well.
I usually divide after every new sentence.
And I am not afraid of starting a sentence with And or But...
(even if I know that my British friend @RiskyTund doesn't approve of such grammar ;P)
4f) Do some tagging
If you find inspiration from someone else it is courtesy to tag them.
If you want to highlight a company, tag them instead of just writing the name.
This will also ensure that you maximise the potential to get your thread in front of relevant readers.
If you find inspiration from someone else it is courtesy to tag them.
If you want to highlight a company, tag them instead of just writing the name.
This will also ensure that you maximise the potential to get your thread in front of relevant readers.
4g) Tools?
I use the regular note-taking app on Mac, but @NotionHQ is not a bad choice either.
For creating the threads I rely heavily on @chirrapp.
I have tried creating threads in Twitter but I find that separating the two makes it easier to prepare and save the work.
I use the regular note-taking app on Mac, but @NotionHQ is not a bad choice either.
For creating the threads I rely heavily on @chirrapp.
I have tried creating threads in Twitter but I find that separating the two makes it easier to prepare and save the work.
5. The effectiveness of threads
5a) What doesn't work...
I wish I had the answer to this.
Sometimes I feel that I wrote something good that turns out ok but not stellar.
Like this post: https://twitter.com/axeliaklein/status/1318810541952061444?s=20
I wish I had the answer to this.
Sometimes I feel that I wrote something good that turns out ok but not stellar.
Like this post: https://twitter.com/axeliaklein/status/1318810541952061444?s=20
5b) ...and what does
And other times I write something fast that I am less sure about that turns out really well.
Like this one: https://twitter.com/axeliaklein/status/1293146266491400192?s=20
And other times I write something fast that I am less sure about that turns out really well.
Like this one: https://twitter.com/axeliaklein/status/1293146266491400192?s=20
5c) Some learnings though
* Dare to experiment
* Write about things you would like to read
* Spend time and do research, quality shows
* Great timing is everything
* Be inspired by others
* Dare to experiment
* Write about things you would like to read
* Spend time and do research, quality shows
* Great timing is everything
* Be inspired by others
5d) And for threads, followers > likes
Even your less liked threads will often give you more new followers than the same regular tweets.
For the "unsuccessful" thread above I at least got a dozen new followers.
More than I got from my most popular non-thread tweet.
Even your less liked threads will often give you more new followers than the same regular tweets.
For the "unsuccessful" thread above I at least got a dozen new followers.
More than I got from my most popular non-thread tweet.
5e) Threads are often evergreen
Contrary to the popular max 280 words tweets, that often become obsolete already the next day, great threads live much longer.
With content that people can learn from and bookmark for the future your tweets can stay in peoples' mind forever.
Contrary to the popular max 280 words tweets, that often become obsolete already the next day, great threads live much longer.
With content that people can learn from and bookmark for the future your tweets can stay in peoples' mind forever.
6. Threaders to learn from
6a) VC, Finance, Entrepreneurship
@fdestin, @ROIChristie, @mariodgabriele, @eriktorenberg, Â @dunkhippo33, @andrewchen, @robindchnt, @bwertz, @gaganbiyani, @amanda_robs, @pinverrr, @Maren_Bannon, @paigefinnn, @marianneoster
@fdestin, @ROIChristie, @mariodgabriele, @eriktorenberg, Â @dunkhippo33, @andrewchen, @robindchnt, @bwertz, @gaganbiyani, @amanda_robs, @pinverrr, @Maren_Bannon, @paigefinnn, @marianneoster
6b) Product, Design, Marketing, Leadership, Writing
@lennysan, @tobydoyhowell, @stephsmithio, @AmandaMGoet, @shreyas, @nbashaw, @mkobach, @david_perell, @jenistyping, @thisiskp_, @AndreyAzimov, @adamnash, @coreyhainesco
@lennysan, @tobydoyhowell, @stephsmithio, @AmandaMGoet, @shreyas, @nbashaw, @mkobach, @david_perell, @jenistyping, @thisiskp_, @AndreyAzimov, @adamnash, @coreyhainesco
7. Reading suggestions
7a) More on structure and writing:
If you have enjoyed reading about threads. I suggest you also bookmark @tobydoyhowell's excellent work https://twitter.com/tobydoyhowell/status/1288926876136857600?s=20
If you have enjoyed reading about threads. I suggest you also bookmark @tobydoyhowell's excellent work https://twitter.com/tobydoyhowell/status/1288926876136857600?s=20
7b) More on content:
As well as @mariodgabriele's honest insights on threading. https://twitter.com/mariodgabriele/status/1312052956536229894?s=20
As well as @mariodgabriele's honest insights on threading. https://twitter.com/mariodgabriele/status/1312052956536229894?s=20
+ Final comment
The most important thing of all:
Don't overthink.
It is natural to be afraid to put your work out there.
One suggestion is to think of Twitter as a journal for your own benefit.
If it is also useful for only one other person - an added bonus.
The most important thing of all:
Don't overthink.
It is natural to be afraid to put your work out there.
One suggestion is to think of Twitter as a journal for your own benefit.
If it is also useful for only one other person - an added bonus.
