After testing hundreds of different Twitter outreach approaches, we've distilled the most effective strategies into this actionable guide. These are the exact tactics that helped us book 15+ qualified sales calls in just 30 days.
Strategy #1: Target Active Engaged Accounts (Not Just Followers)
The biggest mistake in Twitter outreach is targeting accounts based solely on follower count or bio keywords. Instead, focus on engagement signals:
What to Look For:
- Accounts that tweet 3-5 times per week (active users)
- Recent engagement with relevant topics
- Replies to other accounts in your industry
- Questions or pain points mentioned in tweets
Pro Tip: Use Scrapely's AI filtering to automatically identify prospects based on recent tweet content and engagement patterns.
Strategy #2: The "Value-First" Opening Message
Forget about "just reaching out" or "quick question" openers. Lead with immediate value:
Winning Template Structure:
Line 1: Specific observation about their content/business
Line 2: One sentence of value (insight, resource, or compliment)
Line 3: Soft question or conversation starter
Example:
"Saw your thread on B2B lead gen—your point about cold email deliverability being dead is spot on. We've been seeing 8-12% reply rates using Twitter DMs instead. Have you tested DM outreach for your agency?"
Strategy #3: Multi-Threading Decision Makers
Don't just message one person at a company. Identify and reach out to multiple stakeholders:
- Founder/CEO: Vision and strategy angle
- Head of Sales: Pipeline and quota angle
- Marketing Lead: Channel diversification angle
This increases your chances of getting a response by 3-4x and creates internal conversation about your solution.
Strategy #4: The 48-Hour Follow-Up Sequence
Most people don't respond to the first message. Our winning follow-up sequence:
Message 1: Initial Value
Your opening message with specific observation and value.
Message 2 (48 hours later): Case Study/Proof
"Hey [Name], following up on my last message. Just helped [Similar Company] book 23 sales calls in their first month using Twitter outreach. Happy to share what we did if you're curious."
Message 3 (72 hours later): Breakup Message
"Totally understand if this isn't a priority right now. If you ever want to explore Twitter as an outbound channel, feel free to reach out. Best of luck with [their current project]!"
Why This Works: The "breakup" message often gets the highest response rate because it removes pressure and shows genuine respect for their time.
Strategy #5: Leverage Social Proof in Your Profile
Before you even send a message, your Twitter profile needs to establish credibility:
- Bio: Clear value proposition + social proof number
- Pinned Tweet: Case study or impressive result
- Recent Tweets: Valuable insights (not just promotional content)
- Verified Badge: Increases trust significantly
Example Bio:
"Helping B2B companies book sales calls through Twitter outreach | 500+ calls booked for clients | Ex-SaaS Head of Growth"
Strategy #6: Time Your Messages Strategically
When you send messages matters almost as much as what you say:
Best Times to Send Twitter DMs:
- Tuesday-Thursday, 9-11 AM EST: Highest response rates for B2B
- Monday, 1-3 PM EST: People clearing notifications after weekend
- Avoid Fridays after 2 PM: People mentally checked out
- Weekend messages: Can work for solopreneurs and founders
Pro Tip: Scrapely automatically schedules your messages for optimal send times based on your target audience's timezone and industry.
Strategy #7: Filter Out Low-Intent Signals
Not everyone who accepts your message request is worth pursuing. Save time by filtering:
Skip These Profiles:
- Accounts that haven't tweeted in 30+ days (inactive)
- Personal accounts with no business affiliation
- Accounts with bio keywords like "DMs closed" or "no solicitations"
- Obvious bot accounts or spam profiles
Prioritize These:
- Blue verified badge (shows they're invested in platform)
- 300-10,000 followers (engaged audience, still accessible)
- Regular engagement on industry topics
- Links to active business website/LinkedIn
Measuring Success: Key Metrics to Track
Here's what matters (and what doesn't):
| Metric | Good Benchmark |
|---|---|
| Message Acceptance Rate | 30-50% |
| Reply Rate | 5-12% |
| Positive Reply Rate | 3-8% |
| Call Booking Rate | 1-3% |
If your numbers are below these benchmarks, focus on improving your targeting and message personalization.
Putting It All Together
These 7 strategies work best when combined into a systematic approach:
- Build a targeted list of active, engaged prospects
- Craft value-first opening messages with personalization
- Multi-thread to multiple decision makers at target companies
- Follow up consistently with the 48-hour sequence
- Optimize your profile for social proof
- Time your messages strategically
- Filter aggressively for quality over quantity
Ready to Scale Your Twitter Outreach?
Implementing these strategies manually is time-consuming. That's exactly why we built Scrapely—to automate the execution while maintaining the personalization that drives results.
Book a demo to see how we can help you replicate these results (or better) for your business.