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How to Save Your Twitter Profile from the Algorithm

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On February 5, Buzzfeed reported that Twitter was doing away with their chronological timeline in favor of an algorithmic one. Users would no longer see tweets as they were posted in real time, but rather in an order the algorithm thought users wanted to see them. Buzzfeed theorized that this would help manage spam links and adjust Twitter’s signal to noise ratio, but users remained skeptical.

Many users feared, myself included, that Twitter was downgrading everyone in order to sell priority placement tweets to power users, just as Facebook had done with status updates on its Fan Pages. Social media services were shifting stanchions onto their free dance floors, relabeling the spaces as their VIP sections. Twitter appeared to be doing the same; gutting the democracy of the service to benefit a monopoly held by power users, celebrities, and advertisers.

We feared that the algorithm would put an end to Hashtag Revolutions like the Arab Spring or Ferguson Protests, and that breaking news would get buried by Kardashian selfies. Twitter has been championed as the voice of the people. An algorithm would elevate posts based on predictions. It wouldn’t know the value of movements without a point a reference.

There was fear in the writing community that authors would no longer be able to build a following by making connections, not if our potential followers couldn’t see what we were doing. Authors would have to pay to play the game. Great content wouldn’t be enough to gain a following. Now authors would need a great budget to back it up.

These fears gave rise to the hashtag #RIPTwitter. The live newsfeed was Twitter’s defining feature. Users feared the platform was about to go the way of MySpace.

On February 6, Twitter’s CEO Jack Dorsey addressed the backlash.

NBC new’s Josh Sternberg added:

On March 15 Twitter opted its users into the algorithmic timeline by default.

At the same time this happened Twitter started offering Tweet Engagement and Website clicks or conversations campaigns. These campaigns work just like Facebook’s Boost Post button. Users can pay to show up higher in followers timelines, leapfrogging real-time posts. Twitter charges these users for each retweet, like, or click-through until their budget is spent. They also label these tweets with a “Promoted by” label so everyone can know how authentic they are.

So is Twitter Dead?

First off, I’m happy to report Twitter has not limited the reach of my linked tweets to the extent that Facebook has for my Fan Page (which has decreased by 90% since Facebook launched its algorithm in 2014). Although, I have noticed a decline in pages views.

Content creators still have a home on Twitter, so I’d like to focus on what we can do to about this new situation. Tell your followers how to toggle the live timeline on and off to stay up to date with your latest posts.

With a tweet like:

https://twitter.com/DrewChial/status/723709164959109120

This should be no more tacky than asking for the occasional retweet.

Start Using Twitter’s List Feature

Now is the perfect time for writers to start using Twitter’s lists. The Twitter algorithm is going to fill your home screen with the most popular tweets in your feed. If you follow a high profile author (who rarely responds to @replies) you could see a lot more of them than someone you know if you chose to leave Twitter’s algorithm on.

Click on your profile image. Scroll down to Lists and click the Create a new list button on the right. Make a list of people in your community you interact with the most. Make another for new people you’d like to interact with more. Make lists across all of your interests. This way you can still see the most popular Tweets but you’ll increase your odds of interactivity. I have a special list for big bibliography authors like Neil Gaiman, Stephen King, and Chuck Wendig, and I have another list for up and comers like myself.

If you’re following a lot of users try to limit your lists to 150 people each. Why this magic number? University of Oxford anthropologist and psychologist Robin Dunbar suggests that 150 stable social relationships is the cognitive limit most people can manage at once. Most of the relationships we develop on Twitter won’t be as intense as those we forge in real life, but I find the limitation helps me keep track.

How Twitter can Fix Itself

Twitter should take a page from Apple’s playbook. Just look at what happens when a third party app developer brings amazing new features to the iPhone. Apple integrates those features into their next iOS update and renders the third party app irrelevant.

Twitter has a series of third party dashboard applications that charge subscription fees for features Twitter should be offering. Sites like Hootsuite allow users to schedule tweets in advance. They charge $9.99 a month for pro accounts. That’s money Twitter should be making by integrating scheduling features into their platform.

That’s how you monetize social media. You roll out new features to entice power users, you don’t fence off something you once gave away for free. Those bait and switch tactics betray your users’ trust. If Twitter keeps doing this users will flock to the first service that gives away what they now charge to promote.

I’d sign up for a premium Twitter account today if they gave me:

– More WordPress integration options like multiple preview images that cycle every time I share a link.

– The ability to set up a book sale within a Tweet so the customer never has to leave their timeline.

– Spam filters in DMs.

–  The ability to schedule profile pic and banner changes to match seasons, holidays, and release dates

– Link buttons in my profile banner.

– Multiple pinned items, especially formatted to fit my profile

– An event calendar.

– Hashtag metrics so pro users can track which ones are getting the most engagement

– The ability to hide Sponsored Content

– And finally an EDIT Button to fix all my auto-correct embarrassment.

Closing Thoughts

I want Twitter to turn a profit but there’s a more elegant way to do that than selling sponsored spam or forcing users to gamble on a tweet going viral. Baiting users to embrace a free format and then switching it to a paid one is a terrible business model. If there is a social media bubble this practice will burst it.

It’s great if Twitter becomes profitable selling Tweet Engagement, but I think they’d stand to make more money selling subscriptions for services they haven’t offered before.

•••

This is my first collection of musical spoken word recordings. Each recording puts a satirical slant on self improvement, self medicating heartbreak with humor, and dropping the mic on depression. The recordings are scored with synth melodies, backing beats, and radio drama sound FX.

26 thoughts on “How to Save Your Twitter Profile from the Algorithm”

  1. Jaye Marie and Anita Dawes – united kingdom – we are 'silver surfers' and writers of fiction, proving every day that you are never too old to have fun!
    jenanita01 says:

    I will never understand the mentality of meddling with things that aren’t broken. They never think to ask us what we want, do they?

    Reply
    1. drewchial – When Drew Chial was very young, he found an attic hidden in his bedroom closet. He discovered it investigating an indentation in the ceiling, nudging it with a broom, until it fell inward. There was no stepladder for him to climb, so he scaled the shelves. Shining his flashlight, he found a long triangular hall, twice the length of his bedroom. Every surface was coated in pink insulation that made his skin itch. Creeping into the basement, Drew stole a sleeping bag that he unrolled on the attic floor. He set a tiny aluminum lock box on top of it. This is where he hid the things he wrote. Now Drew hides them in plain sight.
      drewchial says:

      I think they’re trying to turn a profit with a business model that’s been tried in other places but not yet proven to work. I hope Twitter innovates more in the future and sells new services rather than wall off the free ones.

      Reply
      1. Jaye Marie and Anita Dawes – united kingdom – we are 'silver surfers' and writers of fiction, proving every day that you are never too old to have fun!
        jenanita01 says:

        That would be a start!

  2. Chris The Story Reading Ape – Hereford, UK – I am what my name states, an ape of the primate species called Homo Sapiens Sapiens. My blog is intended to present New (to me) Authors, whose stories or books I have read and enjoyed, so that anyone who happens to stumble onto this blog, while searching for a book to read, or, a new (to them) author to try, may find what they seek, or, at least, inspiration. I have also made the blog an Author Promotions Enterprise to be a platform for authors to introduce themselves to potential readers and to provide advice and tips resources information they can use to improve and enhance their story telling efforts. Please be advised that I reserve the right to remove, or decline to publish, any comments that I deem inappropriate.
    The Story Reading Ape says:

    Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog and commented:
    AUTHORS – BLOGGERS using WP PUBLICISE – Please read…

    Reply
    1. drewchial – When Drew Chial was very young, he found an attic hidden in his bedroom closet. He discovered it investigating an indentation in the ceiling, nudging it with a broom, until it fell inward. There was no stepladder for him to climb, so he scaled the shelves. Shining his flashlight, he found a long triangular hall, twice the length of his bedroom. Every surface was coated in pink insulation that made his skin itch. Creeping into the basement, Drew stole a sleeping bag that he unrolled on the attic floor. He set a tiny aluminum lock box on top of it. This is where he hid the things he wrote. Now Drew hides them in plain sight.
      drewchial says:

      Thanks for sharing this one

      Reply
      1. Chris The Story Reading Ape – Hereford, UK – I am what my name states, an ape of the primate species called Homo Sapiens Sapiens. My blog is intended to present New (to me) Authors, whose stories or books I have read and enjoyed, so that anyone who happens to stumble onto this blog, while searching for a book to read, or, a new (to them) author to try, may find what they seek, or, at least, inspiration. I have also made the blog an Author Promotions Enterprise to be a platform for authors to introduce themselves to potential readers and to provide advice and tips resources information they can use to improve and enhance their story telling efforts. Please be advised that I reserve the right to remove, or decline to publish, any comments that I deem inappropriate.
        The Story Reading Ape says:

        My pleasure Drew 😃

  3. dernhelm6 – Val completed a B.Sc. in Parapsychic Science through the American Institute of Holistic Theology, and does crystal therapy as well. She is currently working on a masters degree, and published her first novel, The Experiencers, in March 2014. Bob is a certified second level IET practitioner. They own Serenity Now Gifts & Services, a company created to help clients improve their lives on every level.
    dernhelm6 says:

    Reblogged this on Indie Lifer and commented:
    Good Twitter tips.

    Reply
    1. drewchial – When Drew Chial was very young, he found an attic hidden in his bedroom closet. He discovered it investigating an indentation in the ceiling, nudging it with a broom, until it fell inward. There was no stepladder for him to climb, so he scaled the shelves. Shining his flashlight, he found a long triangular hall, twice the length of his bedroom. Every surface was coated in pink insulation that made his skin itch. Creeping into the basement, Drew stole a sleeping bag that he unrolled on the attic floor. He set a tiny aluminum lock box on top of it. This is where he hid the things he wrote. Now Drew hides them in plain sight.
      drewchial says:

      Thank you kindly for sharing!

      Reply
  4. Illuminite Caliginosus – USA – (Former) Marine with a love of all four major sports as well as books, movies and music. Finally getting off my ass to write the next great Fantasy series. ;) I'm also a Top 1000 Reviewer on Amazon and a member of Amazon Vine; if anyone's interested in me giving a honest review, give a shout: illuminitecal@gmail.com
    Illuminite Caliginosus says:

    Reblogged on Illuminite Caliginosus

    Reply
    1. drewchial – When Drew Chial was very young, he found an attic hidden in his bedroom closet. He discovered it investigating an indentation in the ceiling, nudging it with a broom, until it fell inward. There was no stepladder for him to climb, so he scaled the shelves. Shining his flashlight, he found a long triangular hall, twice the length of his bedroom. Every surface was coated in pink insulation that made his skin itch. Creeping into the basement, Drew stole a sleeping bag that he unrolled on the attic floor. He set a tiny aluminum lock box on top of it. This is where he hid the things he wrote. Now Drew hides them in plain sight.
      drewchial says:

      Thanks so much for sharing!

      Reply
  5. Pingback: How to Save Your Twitter Profile from the Algorithm — Chris The Story Reading Ape’s Blog | Illuminite Caliginosus
  6. Janice Wald – Santa Clarita, CA – By night, I am a happy blogger, wife, mother of three daughters, and a dog owner. By day, I am a teacher. Ancient and medieval world history are my passions, and I have taught both at the middle school level. It's my dream to one day teach education at the college level so I can empower other teachers. Toward that pursuit I recently completed my Masters Degree in Education, Curriculum and Instruction. My Email is Broadwaymusicalfan which speaks volumes about my other passion, musical theater. I have acted in community plays three times and would relish the chance to do more acting, even on a professional level. I might even have the chance to act in my own movie since I am currently collaborating on a screenplay! After Tweeting for years and collecting thousands of followers, I look forward to a more in-depth analytical exchange of ideas about a wide variety of blogging-related topics.
    Janice Wald says:

    But Twitter denied what you say is going on. They say nothing will change, according to the article you wrote. Sorry I’m confused. Which is it? Are tweets still in real-time or not?
    Janice

    Reply
    1. drewchial – When Drew Chial was very young, he found an attic hidden in his bedroom closet. He discovered it investigating an indentation in the ceiling, nudging it with a broom, until it fell inward. There was no stepladder for him to climb, so he scaled the shelves. Shining his flashlight, he found a long triangular hall, twice the length of his bedroom. Every surface was coated in pink insulation that made his skin itch. Creeping into the basement, Drew stole a sleeping bag that he unrolled on the attic floor. He set a tiny aluminum lock box on top of it. This is where he hid the things he wrote. Now Drew hides them in plain sight.
      drewchial says:

      They said nothing would change and then it changed anyway.

      Reply
    2. drewchial – When Drew Chial was very young, he found an attic hidden in his bedroom closet. He discovered it investigating an indentation in the ceiling, nudging it with a broom, until it fell inward. There was no stepladder for him to climb, so he scaled the shelves. Shining his flashlight, he found a long triangular hall, twice the length of his bedroom. Every surface was coated in pink insulation that made his skin itch. Creeping into the basement, Drew stole a sleeping bag that he unrolled on the attic floor. He set a tiny aluminum lock box on top of it. This is where he hid the things he wrote. Now Drew hides them in plain sight.
      drewchial says:

      For most people Tweets are no longer automatically in real time. You have to opt out of the new timeline by going to Settings > Content > Timeline and uncheck “Show me the best Tweets first”

      Reply
  7. Sarah Brentyn – Introvert with Hulk tendencies. Lover of chocolate, cheese, wine, and words. Mum. Geek. Writer. There are more books than dust motes in my house. Author of: Hinting at Shadows On the Edge of a Raindrop
    Sarah Brentyn says:

    This is awesome. I love that you flipped it around with some ideas how Twitter can stay alive (and make money). It’s brilliant, really. Also, yes, an edit feature. I’ve been grumbling about that for ages. Thanks for sharing the live timeline info.

    Reply
    1. drewchial – When Drew Chial was very young, he found an attic hidden in his bedroom closet. He discovered it investigating an indentation in the ceiling, nudging it with a broom, until it fell inward. There was no stepladder for him to climb, so he scaled the shelves. Shining his flashlight, he found a long triangular hall, twice the length of his bedroom. Every surface was coated in pink insulation that made his skin itch. Creeping into the basement, Drew stole a sleeping bag that he unrolled on the attic floor. He set a tiny aluminum lock box on top of it. This is where he hid the things he wrote. Now Drew hides them in plain sight.
      drewchial says:

      Thanks for reading. I genuine love social media platforms like Twitter and want to see one of them figure out how to make a profit without inundating users with advertisements (like Instagram right now). I think I’d pay to be a pro level user if there were some good options. I just hope someone at Twitter is listening.

      Reply

  8. Interesting. I hadn’t even noticed this had happened because I rarely sign in to the Twitter site; I always use Tweetdeck. And even on Tweetdeck, I rarely watch the live feed, instead preferring to check out the lists I’ve created. So, in case you were wondering, I still see your tweets under my “BLOGGERS I LIKE” list. 🙂

    Reply
    1. drewchial – When Drew Chial was very young, he found an attic hidden in his bedroom closet. He discovered it investigating an indentation in the ceiling, nudging it with a broom, until it fell inward. There was no stepladder for him to climb, so he scaled the shelves. Shining his flashlight, he found a long triangular hall, twice the length of his bedroom. Every surface was coated in pink insulation that made his skin itch. Creeping into the basement, Drew stole a sleeping bag that he unrolled on the attic floor. He set a tiny aluminum lock box on top of it. This is where he hid the things he wrote. Now Drew hides them in plain sight.
      drewchial says:

      Thank you! I use lists on Twitter and Hootsuite. I see you in my Confidantes in Writing list

      Reply
  9. Mysticalwriter – Colorado – I am an avid reader, I love novels & series in romance. I am just in the beginnings of writing my first book. The way this happened was very awesome for me. I was doing an oracle card reading for myself, from the Medicine cards, it had said that I was to write a book.I laughed at that, but in time I listen to what my guides were telling me. I didn't know what it was to be about, then it came to me that I could write a book a Chakras, Crystals & Animals. I became very excited & started to write, with a small bio on myself & how this came to be. I also found a publishing company that will work with me, I was also told that one of the best ways to promote my book was to start a blog & get involved with the social media, this would help with followers & sales of the book. I give thanks to the Divine, Creator, God for assisting me with this part of my life. As move forward as I just want to say welcome to my blog! As a reminder, while writing these blogs, I wish to state that these are not full-fledged remedies, nor are they prescriptions. Should you have a serious condition or think you need a professional, please consult your doctor. They are to help with learning how to use them in your understanding of Spiritual living, to help with meditation & use with your chakras.
    Mysticalwriter says:

    Reblogged this on Mysticalwriter.

    Reply
    1. drewchial – When Drew Chial was very young, he found an attic hidden in his bedroom closet. He discovered it investigating an indentation in the ceiling, nudging it with a broom, until it fell inward. There was no stepladder for him to climb, so he scaled the shelves. Shining his flashlight, he found a long triangular hall, twice the length of his bedroom. Every surface was coated in pink insulation that made his skin itch. Creeping into the basement, Drew stole a sleeping bag that he unrolled on the attic floor. He set a tiny aluminum lock box on top of it. This is where he hid the things he wrote. Now Drew hides them in plain sight.
      drewchial says:

      Thanks so much for re-blogging!

      Reply
  10. Icy Sedgwick – Newcastle, UK – Icy Sedgwick is based in Newcastle, UK. When she's not writing, she teaches design and is working on a PhD in Film Studies. She writes westerns, dark fantasy, and supernatural mysteries. She's also a Ravenclaw.
    Icy Sedgwick says:

    The algorithm change at Pinterest has been even worse! It’s virtually unusable now unless you’re actively searching for a specific thing. The feed is ridiculous. I opted out of the new algorithm on Twitter so I haven’t noticed any real difference at my end, but it does seem to have impacted replies to questions I might ask. I’ve been utilising hashtag chats more to try and offset the difficulty. But that’s a good reminder about the lists. I still don’t have any!

    Reply
    1. drewchial – When Drew Chial was very young, he found an attic hidden in his bedroom closet. He discovered it investigating an indentation in the ceiling, nudging it with a broom, until it fell inward. There was no stepladder for him to climb, so he scaled the shelves. Shining his flashlight, he found a long triangular hall, twice the length of his bedroom. Every surface was coated in pink insulation that made his skin itch. Creeping into the basement, Drew stole a sleeping bag that he unrolled on the attic floor. He set a tiny aluminum lock box on top of it. This is where he hid the things he wrote. Now Drew hides them in plain sight.
      drewchial says:

      For me lists are essential, but I think I need to do another inventory of where the hashtag conversations are happening. I’m sorry to about Pintrest’s algorithm. A lot of my friends are saying they’re noticing the effect on Instagram too.

      Reply
  11. SBibb – Stephanie Flint (formerly Stephanie Bibb) graduated from the University of Central Missouri with a Bachelor of Science in photography and a minor in creative writing. She merged the two interests into book cover design and photographic illustration, but she particularly enjoys writing speculative fiction. She writes The Wishing Blade series, a young adult fantasy, and she co-authored Distant Horizon, a young adult dystopian thriller. Stephanie lives with her husband, Isaac. Together they plot stories in the form of tabletop role-play games, and they enjoy the occasional cosplay. Online, Stephanie often goes by the nickname of SBibb.
    SBibb says:

    Shoot, I didn’t even realize they had changed the algorithm, though I did wonder if something had changed in what I was seeing. I’ve switched the settings, and we’ll see if I start noticing a better variety of tweets in my feed now. Thanks for the heads-up.

    Reply
  12. SBibb – Stephanie Flint (formerly Stephanie Bibb) graduated from the University of Central Missouri with a Bachelor of Science in photography and a minor in creative writing. She merged the two interests into book cover design and photographic illustration, but she particularly enjoys writing speculative fiction. She writes The Wishing Blade series, a young adult fantasy, and she co-authored Distant Horizon, a young adult dystopian thriller. Stephanie lives with her husband, Isaac. Together they plot stories in the form of tabletop role-play games, and they enjoy the occasional cosplay. Online, Stephanie often goes by the nickname of SBibb.
    SBibb says:

    Reblogged this on Stephanie Flint – Author and Artist and commented:
    I don’t often reblog other blogger’s posts very often, but this one has some important information regarding a Twitter algorithm change that may affect how you see posts in your timeline.

    (In other words, they’re trying to emulate the Facebook timeline).

    It’s an easy fix, but I didn’t realize they had made the change.

    Reply
  13. Pingback: Social Media, Author Platforms, and Writing Tips – A Selection of Great Articles for Writers | Flynn Gray
  14. Erik – South Shore, MA – I'm an author, speaker, blogger, facilitator, people lover, creative force, conversationalist, problem solver, chance-taker, listener, noticer and lover of life. "It's more about writing lives than writing pages."
    Erik says:

    I’ll keep it short this time:

    1. *ugh*

    2. Thanks.

    Reply

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