If you go online, you will find tons of Twitter tips all of which guarantee you phenomenal follower growth and countless likes and retweets. The catch is that when you actually start reading them, most of the hints turn out not to offer any sacred knowledge. “Post great content” or “use hashtags” is something that goes without saying and doesn’t really provide invaluable help. Let’s face it: figuring it out on Twitter isn’t easy — and we would know. Therefore, we’ve decided to share with you some tips that actually work.

1. Posting vs. Interacting

At first, it may seem that Twitter is about posting, which is true to some extent but not completely. You can skip tweeting for a day or two; it wouldn’t be the end of the world. What you cannot eschew, however, is interacting. Regularly engaging with other users is much more important for a steady growth of followers and impressions than publishing your own content on a daily basis. Comment on posts written by colleagues and experts (not influencers or celebrities because you’re much less likely to get their attention) and share your professional opinion with them. Not only will it produce an increase in your account metrics, but also it could be good networking.

2. Post regularly, but draw the line

The previous paragraph isn’t aimed at diminishing the importance of publishing regularly. At the end of the day, people won’t follow the account of a person who posts something once in a blue moon. On the other hand, there’s the risk of falling into another pitfall: tweeting too much. Many users publish something literally every other minute, which at first seems strange, and quickly gets annoying. The solution we’ve found to be effective is drawing up a schedule, and sticking to it. It will help you strike a balance between under-sharing and over-sharing content. Furthermore, your followers will know when to expect a new tweet from you.

3. Exercise wit and GIFs

Even if you’re on Twitter for professional reasons rather than personal, there’s still room for humor. Quick wit will never go out of vogue. So, writing something droll and enhancing its effect with a suitable GIF is a great way to create a positive public image and attract new followers. For instance, every day there are funny trending hashtags, such as #LostMySmartphoneSo or #ExcuseForBeingLateIn4Words. Why not join those mini flash mobs, since apart from being fun, they will also boost your profile visits and number of impressions?

4. On content

When it comes to content, there are two points we’d like to make. First of all, what you publish should be unique. Twitter is oversaturated with all kinds of articles, pictures, and videos. As a result, only exclusive content really stands out. For instance, it’s always better to publish your own infographic than find one that has been all over the Internet. Creative content is what will add value (and followers) to your profile.

Second of all, we disagree with the common wisdom that posting the same tweet twice is a mauvais ton. Doing so isn’t calamitous; you just need a good reason. For instance, if there’s a newsbreak concerning a topic you posted on earlier, you can always mention your former tweet as part of your comment on the new development.

5. The art of replying

Most articles about Twitter suggest that you reply to all comments. We’d like to specify: all, but those made by trolls. The issue is that there will always be people who criticize you on no reasonable grounds, especially if we’re talking about a corporate account (be it a company’s or its official representative’s). You can never outargue, persuade, or mollify such people, and you will rarely look good for trying. Therefore, there’s no need to engage with them. Other than that, interact with those who mention you in their tweets or write comments on your posts.

Final Thoughts

Twitter is a useful social media platform for creating both a personal and a corporate brand. The key to it isn’t constant and promiscuous posting, but unique high-quality content, active interaction, and, naturally, funny GIFs.