Seven replies that aren't "Great post!"

A field guide to replying on X (Twitter) like a person someone might want to follow. Plus three replies to retire today.

"Great post!" isn't wrong. It's just invisible. A reply gets you followed when a stranger reads it and thinks: I'd like more of that. Here are seven shapes that do it. None needs more than two sentences.

1. The missing piece

The post gives five reasons. You give the sixth. This is the most reliable reply there is, because it helps the author and shows you know the subject.

"The one I'd add: the refund email. Half of mine came from people who never opened the product."

2. The number

Someone states an opinion. You bring a figure from your own experience. Small numbers are fine. Small numbers are better, because they sound true.

"Tried this for a month. 11 signups, 2 paid. Still better than my ads."

3. The screenshot

When a post asks "what did you ship this week?", the replies with an image get looked at. A messy, real screenshot beats a polished mockup.

4. The polite counter-example

You don't have to disagree with the post. You offer the case where it didn't hold. One sentence of what happened, no verdict.

"Worked for our first product. For the second one, the exact same launch got 40 visits. Still don't know why."

5. The question that makes the author look smart

Ask the thing they obviously know and didn't have room for. Authors answer these, and an author's answer pulls your reply up the thread.

"How did you pick the price? Guess, or did you test two?"

6. The translation

The post is written for insiders. You restate it for everyone else in one line. Half the thread was thinking "what does that mean" and is now grateful to you.

7. The one-liner

Only if it's actually funny. Test: would you send it to one friend? If you'd have to explain it, it isn't a one-liner, it's a risk.

Three to retire

"This." You've agreed. Nobody knows who you are.
The pitch. "We built a tool for exactly this!" under someone else's post. People report these, and nothing sinks an account faster than reports.
The generated paragraph. Three tidy sentences ending in a question. Readers scroll past them, and X has made it clear it doesn't want them either.

The rule under all seven

Don't agree. Add. If your reply would still make sense under a different post, it isn't a reply yet.