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After the last newsletter, a few of you replied with the same question, phrased in different ways:
“So… should we reply less?”
“Are replies bad now?”
“Should I focus only on original posts?”
The short answer is: no extremes work.
Replies and original posts serve different roles - and knowing how to balance them is one of the most important skills for creators on X today.
What replies are actually good for
Replies are not the enemy.
Good replies:
put you in relevant conversations
introduce your name to new audiences
show your thinking in context
build relationships
When a reply adds insight, nuance, or clarity, it’s a positive signal - both for people and the system.
A thoughtful reply under the right post can do more for discovery than a random standalone tweet.
Where replies start working against you
The problem isn’t replying.
The problem is replying without intention.
When most of your activity becomes:
short reactions
emojis
generic agreement
replies that could be left by anyone
the system starts reading your account differently.
You slowly become reactive instead of original.
That’s when:
your own posts get less distribution
your voice becomes less distinct
your best ideas don’t travel as far
Not as a punishment - just as a consequence of weak signals.
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… back to the article 👇
What good replies look like (and what to avoid)
This is where things usually click.
Not all replies are equal. Some help your account. Others quietly weaken your signal.
❌ Low-value replies (what to avoid)
These replies don’t add context, insight, or perspective. They’re easy to write and easy to ignore.
“gm” / “🔥” / “this”
“Love this” (with no explanation)
Repeating what the post already said
Generic agreement that could be copied under any post
Example:
Original post: “Consistency beats talent over time.”
Reply: “So true!”
This type of reply:
doesn’t stop anyone from scrolling
doesn’t show your thinking
doesn’t give the system anything meaningful to evaluate
It reads like noise.
✅ High-value replies (what actually helps)
Good replies extend the conversation.
They add:
a nuance
an example
a counterpoint
a personal observation
Example:
Original post: “Consistency beats talent over time.”
Reply: “I’ve noticed this especially with creators who post imperfectly but consistently. Their audience learns to trust the rhythm, not the polish.”
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… the article continues below 👇
What original posts do that replies can’t
Original posts are where your point of view lives.
They:
define what you’re known for
give the algorithm a clear signal about your topic and audience
create compounding visibility over time
Replies borrow attention.
Original posts build equity.
If replies are how people discover you, original posts are why they stay.
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…Back to topic 👇
A simple way to think about balance
Here’s a practical framework that works for most creators:
Original posts are the foundation
They should be the core of your activity.
Replies are support
They amplify, contextualize, and extend your ideas.
The goal: recognizable presence
The system favors accounts that feel distinct.
That doesn’t come from:
replying everywhere
chasing visibility
filling space
It comes from:
sharing ideas clearly
contributing when it matters
letting your original work breathe
Being selective isn’t disengagement.
It’s focus.
One thing is for sure
Replies can open doors.
Original posts build rooms.
If you want long-term growth, you need both — but never at the same intensity.
Create first.
Reply with intention.
Let clarity do the rest.
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See you on the next one
Karata♡