sundial-org X Algorithm Mastery
Everything you need to know about the X (Twitter) algorithm. Based on X's open-source code, viral post analysis, and real engagement data.
TL;DR - The Golden Rules
- First 2 hours are critical — replies/engagement in this window determine reach
- No external links in main post — X penalizes links that take users off-platform
- Media > Text — videos get 10x engagement, images get 2-3x
- Reply to EVERYTHING — replies are weighted higher than likes/retweets
- Post when audience is awake — 8 AM - 2 PM weekdays optimal
- Controversy drives engagement — but pick battles wisely
- Threads outperform single tweets — for long-form content
How the Algorithm Works
The 4-Step Process
- Candidate Sourcing: Pulls
1,500 tweets from accounts you follow (50%) and similar accounts - Ranking: ML model scores likelihood you'll reply (highest), retweet, like, or report (negative)
- Filtering: Removes blocked/muted, balances in/out-network, limits single author
- Serving: Final mix with ads, 5B times/day, ~1.5 seconds
Engagement Weight Hierarchy
| Action | Weight |
|---|---|
| Replies | Highest |
| Retweets | High |
| Quote Tweets | High (2x regular posts) |
| Likes | Medium |
| Bookmarks | Medium |
| Views | Low |
| Reports | Negative (kills reach) |
Ranking Signals
1. Recency
- Fresh content prioritized
- Peak visibility: first 2-3 hours
2. Engagement Velocity
- Speed matters more than total
- 100 likes in 30 min > 500 likes over 24 hours
3. Account Credibility
- Verified (Premium) gets boost
- Follower-to-following ratio matters
- History of bans/strikes hurts
4. Content Type
- Video: 10x engagement
- Images: 2-3x engagement
- Polls: Drives replies
- Threads: Higher total engagement
5. Link Presence
- Links = REACH PENALTY
- Put links in replies, not main post
- Quote tweeting a link > direct link
What Kills Your Reach
Instant Death
- ❌ External links in main post
- ❌ Getting reported/blocked
- ❌ Posting same content repeatedly
- ❌ Too many hashtags (>2)
Slow Death
- ❌ Posting inconsistently
- ❌ Not replying to comments
- ❌ Off-topic from your niche
- ❌ Corporate/formal tone
Posting Best Practices
Frequency
| Goal | Posts/Day |
|---|---|
| Minimum | 2-3 |
| Growth | 5-10 |
| Maximum | 15-30 |
Timing (audience timezone)
- Best: 8 AM - 2 PM weekdays
- Good: 4 PM - 6 PM weekdays
- Worst: 11 PM - 7 AM
The No-Link Strategy
❌ Bad: "Check out my article [link]"
✅ Good: "Here's what I learned (thread 🧵)"
→ Link in reply or final thread post
Getting Replies (Most Important)
- Ask questions — open-ended or controversial
- Hot takes — polarizing opinions get "actually..." replies
- Fill in the blank — "The best movie ever is ___"
- Predictions — people love to disagree
- Personal stories — "This happened to me..."
X Article Best Practices
Hook Patterns That Work
Insecurity/FOMO:
"everyone's talking about X... and you're sitting there wondering if you missed the window"
Big Opportunity:
"this is the biggest opportunity of our lifetime"
RIP Pattern:
"RIP [profession]. This AI tool will [action] in seconds."
Article Structure
1. HOOK (insecurity or opportunity)
2. WHAT IT IS (with social proof)
3. WHY MOST WON'T DO IT (address objections)
4. THE [X]-MINUTE GUIDE (step-by-step)
5. YOUR FIRST [N] WINS (immediate value)
6. THE COST (value comparison)
7. THE WINDOW (urgency)
8. CTA
Style Tips
- Clear H2 section headers
- Bullet lists for scanability
- Bold key phrases
- Time estimates for each step
- Copy-paste commands/prompts
Quick Checklist
Before posting:
- Under 280 chars? (If not, thread it)
- First line hooks attention?
- Reason to reply? (Question, hot take)
- Good time to post?
- No external links? (Move to reply)
- Fits your niche?
- Available to reply for 2 hours?
Growth Hacks
Reply Guy Strategy
Turn on notifications for big accounts → be first with thoughtful reply → their audience discovers you
Thread Takeover
Find viral post in your area → quote tweet with "Let me explain why..." → add genuine value
Personality Posts
Every 5-10 posts, share something personal. Builds connection → higher engagement.
Sources
- X Algorithm GitHub (open source)
- Hootsuite, Sprout Social, SocialBee guides
- Analysis of viral articles (Damian Player, Alex Finn, Dan Koe)
Installation
clawdhub install NextFrontierBuilds/x-algorithm
Built by @NextXFrontier