Writing better replies on X
A good reply reads like a person who noticed the question and knows the answer. Here's how to write one, drafted by you or by us.
Lead with something useful
Your first sentence should help them even if they never look at your product. Answer the question, or share the one thing you'd tell a friend. Then they have a reason to read the rest.
looking for an uptime monitor that isn't $40/mo. 3 side projects, just need a slack ping when one goes down
For 3 side projects you don't need anything paid. A 1-minute HTTP check plus a Slack alert covers it. I built Statuskit for exactly this, free for 5 monitors if you want one less thing to set up.
Mention your product only when it's relevant
If what you built doesn't solve what they asked about, don't mention it. Reply anyway if you have something useful to say, or move on. A forced mention is what people mean by spam.
sick of my status page breaking every time vercel has a hiccup. there has to be a better way
Host the status page somewhere other than the thing it reports on. If it shares Vercel with your app, it goes down with your app.
Keep it short
One to three sentences is plenty. You aren't writing a pitch, you're starting a conversation. If you need a paragraph to explain why your product fits, it probably doesn't fit this post.
Sound like a person
- →Use one concrete detail from their post, so it's clear you read it.
- →Cut the hype: game-changer, ultimate, all-in-one, 10x.
- →Say "I built". Founders get more patience than brands do.
- →Be honest when you're not the right fit. Point them to something better if you know it.
Hold the link until it helps
A link makes a reply look like an ad. If someone directly asked for a tool, sharing it is just answering. In most other threads, name the product and share the link when they ask.
what do you all use for invoicing? freelancing and my spreadsheet is falling apart
Check out Billfast, the ultimate all-in-one invoicing platform!! Sign up free at billfast.io and DM me for a discount
what do you all use for invoicing? freelancing and my spreadsheet is falling apart
What's breaking in the spreadsheet, the totals or chasing people to pay? I built Billfast for the chasing side, so I can tell you if it'd help or if you just need a better template.
Test your own reply
Paste a reply in below. Anything that reads as selling gets marked, with a fix for each one. Or start from a template with the free reply generator.
- ✓Fits in one post
- ✓More about them than you
- ✕Drop the link. Share it when they ask.
- ✕Cut the call to action. Help first.
- ✕Don't make them come to you. Answer in the reply.
- ✕Swap hype words for one concrete detail.
- ✕Calm down the punctuation.
Don't spam, and don't auto-post
- →Don't paste the same reply into many threads. People notice, and so does X.
- →Skip posts where you can't add anything. Not every lead deserves a reply.
- →Read every reply before it goes out. KittyLeads opens it on X with the text filled in, and you decide whether to press send.
- →Follow X's rules on automation and repeated replies. Your account is on the line, so don't use tools that post for you in bulk.
After they reply
Answer the actual question, and share your link if they ask for it. If it's not a fit, say so and leave it there. There's no need to follow up on someone who didn't respond.
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