What They Are & How to Become One

Twitter has more than 192 million daily active users — a number that is projected to continue growing over the coming years. However, that the platform has millions of users doesn’t guarantee that you’ll become a Twitter power user or that you’ll get thousands of followers, even if you tweet regularly.

Gaining followers and engagement on Twitter is easier said than done. Despite your best efforts, it can seem like you’re screaming into a void. Nevertheless, the good news is that it’s possible to grow a following and become a power user on Twitter.

In this article, we’ll consider what differentiates Twitter power users from the rest and how you can become a power user too.

The term also refers to people who spend plenty of time using a system, app, or tool. And their near-obsession with the device, app, or system gives them a higher mastery over it than casual users.

According to research by the Pew Research Center, 10% of Twitter users are Power users, and this small number of users are responsible for about 80% of tweets on Twitter.

They are also known as SuperTweeters. Power users aren’t limited to just a few tweets. Instead, their Tweet count runs into tens of thousands or even more.

This number isn’t astounding, considering that most of them have accounts that date back to the early days of Twitter. Since they’ve been around for a long time and have been super-active, it only makes sense that they have loads of tweets.

For example, Twitter power user Naval has more than 200,000 tweets.

While they might appear similar, most celebrities aren’t power users.

For instance, although popstar Taylor Swift has over 90 million followers, she has made around 700 tweets since 2008. So she certainly doesn’t count as a power user account.

On the other hand, power users might not be famous people or brands right from the go, but their power usage of Twitter has grown their accounts to incredible numbers over the years.

What are the Characteristics of a Twitter Power User?

So, what makes Twitter power users different from casual users? Here are five characteristics that set them apart from other users.

1. They tweet multiple times a day.

The power user isn’t a casual observer on Twitter. Instead of sitting back to read tweets from others, they are active users of the app, which is reflected in the number of tweets they post every day and over time. In addition, most of their tweets see impressive engagement numbers, such as numerous retweets and replies.

2. They have a high follower count.

Another characteristic of power users is that they have many followers. We’re talking about accounts with hundreds of thousands of followers, and some of them even have followings that run into millions.

3. They have a niche.

Rarely do you find Twitter power users talking about various subjects. In most cases, they only talk about a niche topic, such as marketing, politics, tech, or business.

4. They are likely to have a blog or website.

Power users are often quite popular because they exist in other spheres. Several of them usually have a blog or website where they expand on their thoughts and tweets.

5. They have access to unique features.

Since the release of Twitter Blue, one of the characteristics of many power users is that they have access to unique features like folders for bookmarks, customized icons, and more.

Twitter Power Users Examples

Here are some popular Twitter power users:

1. Elon Musk (@elonmusk)

Is there a more powerful business person on the planet than Elon Musk at the moment? We don’t think so. While some people can like him and others can dislike him, his tweets move markets and spark conversation. For that reason, he’s undoubtedly a power user.

2. SlimJim (@SlimJim)

The official Twitter handle of the American snack brand is a power user.

Although a brand account, it has a personal touch and is self-branded as “the ceo of follow backs.” You don’t have to look far to find a Slim Jim tweet turned into a meme — such as this one.

3. Robert Scoble (@scobleizer)

This is one of the most recognized power users on the app. He often tweets about technology, and his account uses some of the latest and premium Twitter features.

4. Guy Kawaski (@GuyKawaski)

Guy Kawaski is another power user. He’s the author of several best-selling books and shares valuable content on topics related to economics, technology, and business.

5. Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano)

Fabrizio is one of the most popular football journalists on the planet and certainly qualifies as a Twitter power user. He tweets multiple times in one hour and earns thousands of likes and retweets within minutes of posting.

6. Chris Brogan (@chrisbrogan)

Chris shares plenty of insights on social media daily and is one of the most popular social media experts. Like other Twitter power users on this list, he tweets multiple times a day, sharing information that either amuses or informs his followers.

How to Become a Twitter User

You can become a Twitter power user too. While you might not grow a following that runs into the millions, you can significantly improve your reach and engagement.

Here are some of the tips that can help you.

1. Tweet at the right time.

Tweeting at the right time is one of the cornerstones of becoming a Twitter power user. Nearly every post on improving your Twitter presence lists this tip — and for a good reason.

Therefore, you need to find the best time when your audience will be free enough to engage with your tweets. Each audience has different peak hours, so it’s up to you to determine the peak time for your audience.

Twitter analytics tools can help you find out what this time is by tracking when your followers engage with your posts.

2. Focus on mobile users.

When it comes to Twitter, mobile is king. Most people use the app on their mobile phones, so you must focus on appealing to this demographic. Twitter does an excellent job of optimizing your tweets for mobile, but if you want to become a power user, you must go beyond what Twitter provides to give the best experience to your audience.

One thing you could do is use images that are clear on mobile. Also, if you’re linking to your website or blog, ensure that the site is optimized for mobile users.

3. Ask for users to engage — don’t wait for it to happen.

Ask, and you shall receive, which proves true in Twitter’s case. So if you want people to like, retweet, or reply to your tweets, simply ask them to.

Adding a ‘please retweet,’ ‘like this,’ or ‘reply to this,’ is more likely to shoot up your engagement than tweets that lack the pleas.

However, you should be careful to offer something valuable in return. This doesn’t mean starting a like-for-like or retweet-for-retweet chain. Instead, it’s vital to offer valuable content or information that people will want to share and retweet.

4. Use action words.

People are more likely to do something if you ask them to do it, so it is recommended to use action words in your tweets.

Including subtle or even direct requests makes people notice your tweets and can encourage them to take the desired action. Remember that this method works best if you’re providing value to your followers.

Slim Jim is an excellent example of a power user that uses this technique. See how it asks followers to reply to this tweet? You can do so too.

Pros of Becoming a Twitter Power User

1. It helps build your brand.

If you’re running a business, the increased exposure that becoming a power user gives you can immensely help your Twitter marketing strategy.

2. It will drive traffic to your website.

Being a Twitter power user can direct referral traffic to your website. For example, you can include your website link in your bio or tweets. You can find more ways to direct traffic to your website from Twitter here.

3. You might get verified.

As a power user, you can apply for Twitter verification. If you use Twitter, you’ll know that getting verified confers a feeling of power and authority to your account. At the very least, it indicates that your handle is an authentic account.

4. It helps you stay on top of trends and news.

Twitter is a significant source of news and trends. By being a power user, you’ll always stay in the loop.

Cons of Becoming a Twitter Power User

1. You have to constantly publish tweets.

If you’re just starting, one of the most challenging things, and certainly a disadvantage of being a power user, is how often you’ll need to push out content. We’re talking multiple times a day and even multiple times an hour.

2. There’s a risk of addiction.

Being a Twitter power user means you’ll likely have to be online most of the time. As a result, there’s a risk of becoming addicted to Twitter, which can be harmful if not kept in check. Therefore, a balanced and conscious effort to prevent addiction is essential.

3. You have to work around the character limit.

Since Twitter has a 280-character limit, it can be challenging to express thoughts coherently, even if you create a thread.

4. Your Tweets can get lost in the noise.

Millions of tweets are sent out daily, and with new tweets published every second, your tweets can get buried quickly. You can mitigate this by offering highly valuable content and using Twitter hashtags.

Your Path to Becoming a Twitter Power User Starts Here

We hope this is an excellent starting point for anyone thinking of becoming a Twitter power user. Although there’s so much more to Twitter than these tips we’ve provided, adhering to these guidelines will help you increase engagement on your Twitter account. Remember, the goal isn’t to reach a million followers. The goal is to provide valuable content that other users can’t help but retweet, putting you on the path to becoming a power user.

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in March 2009 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.