# X/Twitter Algorithm Signals (2025-2026)

## Ranking Factors by Weight

### Tier 1 — Strongest Signals
| Signal | Impact | How to Optimize |
|--------|--------|----------------|
| Replies received | Very high | Ask questions, make controversial/insightful points |
| Dwell time (time reading) | Very high | Threads, longer tweets with line breaks |
| Profile clicks from tweet | High | Create curiosity gaps, tease expertise |
| Bookmarks | High | Tactical content (lists, frameworks, templates) |

### Tier 2 — Moderate Signals
| Signal | Impact | How to Optimize |
|--------|--------|----------------|
| Retweets/Quotes | Medium | Shareable insights, bold takes, data |
| Likes | Medium-low | Easy agreement, relatable content |
| Follows from tweet | Medium | Thread CTAs, high-value niche content |

### Tier 3 — Negative Signals
| Signal | Impact | How to Avoid |
|--------|--------|-------------|
| Link in tweet body | Reach penalty | Put links in first reply |
| Edit within 30 min | Suppresses | Don't edit — delete and repost if needed |
| Low early engagement | Decay | Stay online 30 min after posting, engage with replies |
| Hashtag spam (3+) | Spam signal | Max 1-2 hashtags, or zero |
| Tagging non-engagers | Negative | Only tag people likely to engage |

## Content Format Performance (ranked)

1. **Threads** — Highest reach potential, best for follower conversion
2. **Image tweets** — 2-3x engagement vs text-only
3. **Quote tweets** — Network effect (appear in two audiences)
4. **Text tweets** — Baseline, best for hot takes and questions
5. **Polls** — High engagement but low follower conversion
6. **Link tweets** — Lowest reach (algorithm penalizes external links)

## Optimal Timing

| Time Slot (UTC) | Why |
|----------------|-----|
| 12:00-14:00 | US East Coast morning, EU afternoon |
| 16:00-18:00 | US afternoon peak |
| 21:00-23:00 | US evening, high scroll time |
| 07:00-08:00 | EU morning, commute scrolling |

Best days: Tuesday-Thursday for B2B. Saturday-Sunday for consumer/lifestyle.

## Thread-Specific Mechanics

- Tweet 1 gets 10-50x the impressions of tweet 5+
- Hook quality determines 90% of thread performance
- "Numbered" threads (1/, 2/, etc.) signal commitment — algorithm boosts
- Self-reply threads perform better than tweetstorm threads
- Last tweet should have CTA + restate hook for people who scroll fast

## Premium/Blue Subscriber Advantages

- Longer tweets (up to 4,000 chars for Premium+)
- Edit button (use sparingly — edits can suppress reach)
- Higher reply ranking
- Revenue sharing eligibility
- Analytics access

## Sources

- X Engineering Blog (algorithm open-source release, 2023)
- Community testing and experimentation (ongoing)
- Creator program documentation
- Third-party analytics platforms (Typefully, Hypefury, Shield)
