Most case studies follow a familiar format: problem, solution, results.

Senior decision makers expect and appreciate it. They can jump in, understand the impact of your solution, and continue the buying process.

The downside? It neglects the buyers who initially sparked the search for a solution. They need stories (not just stats).

What B2B buyers really need from social proof

Potential customers want case studies that share how their peers solved the same problems they now face.

By making your customers the “hero” of the story, other buyers in similar positions immediately relate.

Gallup research shows that 70% of buying decisions are based on emotion and justified with logic.

Your case studies must help purchasers invest emotionally and build trust, setting you apart from competitors.

For example, Grizzle write introductions for Smart Panda Labs’ case studies that drop you straight into their client’s shoes:

Engaging openers for the technical marketing agency’s case studies include:

• “As Director of Marketing, Julie Harju carried the weight of every empty seat”
• “SVP of Marketing Andrea Kazanjian inherited a premium brand with almost no digital presence”
• “CEO Mary-Lynn Clark was building up to a career-defining moment”

Buyers feel the stakes, relate to the challenges, and imagine achieving similar success—carving the path to faster purchasing decisions.

What is a hero-led case study?

A hero-led case study tells a compelling customer story while giving busy buying committees the snapshot they need to select you as a vendor.

It adds a deeper narrative layer to the tried-and-tested “problem → solution → results” framework.

Think of it as a pyramid:

• Data-led narrative (base tier). Share the challenge, how you solved it, and the ROI. Think broad brushstrokes for time-starved leaders.
• Customer story (middle tier). Explain why the data matters, how it made someone’s life easier, and why others evaluating your product should care.‍
• Multimedia elements (top tier). Build credibility with testimonial videos, graphs, and visuals. Help buyers connect with the story and overcome scepticism.

Together, these elements engage champions and make it easier for B2B buyers to make confident decisions.

Follow this eight-step process to create hero-led case studies that convert:

1. Tell the story from a human’s perspective

While your solution benefits an organization, speaking to your potential customer like a human with stresses and ambitions makes your message resonate more deeply.

Explain how you’ve made the person in the story’s job easier and how.

“Driving revenue” is great for business. But “securing a promotion” because of it is even better for the hero.

A human challenge (e.g. “I had to increase profitability without extra spend”) that you solve instantly heightens your product or service’s value. 

For example, Grizzle put CMO Dr. Patel at the heart of this Sully.ai case study.

Instead of focusing on Sully’s agentic AI, we built the narrative around what their customer wanted most: to improve patient care.

In another example, AdRoll’s case studies let customers describe their own challenges and wins: 

This first-person narrative is more engaging, credible, and trustworthy.

People buy from people. A story that shares someone’s struggles and successes is more memorable than one brand talking about another.

2. Find the right hero for your story

Find someone who genuinely loves your product and can speak to its real impact to create an authentic, persuasive case study.

In B2B, that isn’t always the final buyer. Sometimes it’s the end user or internal champion. 

Here’s where to find them:

• Customer reviews. Search G2 or Capterra for glowing write-ups that could become interviews.‍
• Net Promoter Score (NPS) surveys. Reach out to customers who scored you a nine or 10.
• Social media. Use social listening to spot fans praising you on LinkedIn and X.
• Product usage data. Look for power users with high adoption or daily activity.

Once you’ve found your hero, make it easy for them to say yes.

• Ease concerns: Share sample stories and promise review rights before publishing.
• Respect time: Be clear on the process and minimize effort by handling the heavy lifting.
• Offer value: Highlight the exposure they’ll get or sweeten it with a simple incentive.

Counter objections upfront to speed up approvals. 

3. Specify the struggle so it’s relatable

Describe specific, human details that build tension and pull people into the story. Future buyers won’t care about your hero’s success unless they feel their pain first.

This is why it’s crucial to capture emotions in customer interviews. When frustration sounds genuine, it resonates more naturally.

Take Sully’s Hillside case study.

We could’ve written, “The staff were overworked and needed to boost productivity.” But that’s forgettable.

Instead, we focused on the human-led facts and struggles.

Dr. Patel’s team spent 3–4 hours a night catching up on work from home. The business was growing. Onboarding was becoming a burden. Staff were at breaking point.

Now, the story feels more personal. You can picture the exhaustion, pressure, and urgency to fix the problem.

If potential customers recognize themselves in your case studies, they’ll stick around to see how it gets solved.

4. Get the story before the stats

Start by uncovering what led to the “X hours saved” or “Y% increase”—what the customer was facing, feeling, and fighting for when they chose your product.

In hero-led case studies, numbers hit harder when you wrap them in a relatable narrative.

For example, we ask questions in our interviews like:

“What was happening in your day-to-day before things changed?”

This wording prompts the customer to reveal the frustration, pressure from leadership, and how finally finding a solution felt like relief.

It teases a commentary before the conclusive, “How much time did you save?”.

Here are some more examples of questions that draw that story out:

• What problem or pressure pushed you to find a solution?
• What wasn’t working before?
• What stood out about our product in your search?
• What’s changed for you or your team since adopting it?
• What moment made you realize it was working?

Send these questions in advance so customers have time to reflect.

You’ll get richer insights and a case study that connects on both emotional and business levels.

5. Bridge the problem and your solution

Always include the most persuasive point in your case study—the customer’s “aha!” moment of realization.

This turning point (when they knew something had to change) transforms pain into purpose, driving the story forward.

It also helps potential buyers connect the customer’s challenge to their own and see why your product or service makes sense.

For example, Dr. Patel needed a solution before care quality suffered and turnover increased:

AdRoll’s team hit a wall with Google display ads and knew they’d plateaued:

Holiday Inn Club Vacations trusted Smart Panda Labs from a past engagement, and leaned on that partnership when new goals emerged:

Each of these crossroad moments helps future buyers see themselves in the narrative.

Use them to reveal:

• What triggered the change
• Why your solution stood out
• The key factor that made a customer say “yes”

It’s subtle selling and differentiation, told through the hero’s perspective.

6. Explain exactly how your solution works

Walk through your solution step by step, so future buyers clearly see where the value lies.

Other SaaS brands merely summarize the outcome and results.

To stand out, show how your features, use cases, and solutions drive success. This keeps people engaged and builds trust in your approach.

For example, Semrush breaks down exactly how they increased BetterVet's traffic:

• Key focus area: “Fixing overall website health”
• Specific tactics: “Cleaning up errors and old redirects”

While Sully details how agentic AI eases Dr. Patel’s workflow:

• Action: “AI Scribe Agent creates real-time clinical documentation during appointments.”
• Outcome: “Dr. Patel’s practitioners no longer take work home. They’re more present and energized.”

The clearer your process, the easier it is for buyers to picture themselves experiencing it (and decision-makers to sign off on it).

7. Connect metrics to real impact

Pair every metric with the benefit it delivered to make results meaningful and finish the story you’ve got people invested in.

This small tweak turns raw data into evidence that your solution drives outcomes that future buyers care about.

Here are a couple of examples of how Grizzle ends Sully’s case studies:

Now, you should still include results and data in your headings to catch the buying committee’s eye.

For example, Pipedrive puts their most impressive numbers front and center:

But the sales software provider also ties data into the narrative to give it meaning:

‍“In the past five years, the business has grown at an average rate of 32% year-on-year, and revenue has tripled. Pipedrive has played a key role in this—not least by helping to develop a consistent number of leads and providing clear representation of each lead source.”

Finally, don’t overlook small wins.

For example, Airtable saving Taylor Guitars 4–5 hours weekly might seem modest. But for marketers, that time reclaimed is tangible and motivating.

8. Reinforce your story with testimonial videos

Testimonial videos make your case study more engaging, authentic, and trustworthy—letting future buyers see and hear your hero’s experience firsthand.

In fact, Wyzowl research suggests that 87% of people have been convinced to buy a product or service after watching all forms of video content.

For example, Grizzle produced this video testimonial of Nile Women’s Healthcare founder Dr. Hughan Frederick:

Our expert-led editing and production turn simple Riverside interviews into high-end testimonials.

You don’t need to arrange travel or complex shoots—our team can coordinate your customer from anywhere.

Similarly, data platform Census create compelling user stories from video calls:

These remote recordings deliver the same human connection and emotional credibility as on-site productions (without the hassle).

Here are some quick tips for more impactful testimonial videos:

• Prep the customer. Share framing, background (e.g., plants or a bookcase), and lighting tips. Reassure that pausing or redoing answers is fine—you’ll fix when editing.
• Prioritize good video and audio quality. Send equipment to customers if needed.
• Prepare before recording. Test lighting, audio, and framing before you start.
• Keep it conversational. Use questions as prompts, not scripts.
• Edit for brevity. Aim for ~2 minutes and focus on key soundbites.
• Make it inclusive. Add captions and annotations for clarity and accessibility.
• Add motion design and contextual B-roll. Use simple graphics and supporting visuals to keep the story engaging and dynamic.
• Prioritize satisfaction. Let the interviewee review the final video before publishing.
• Reuse the content. Recycle pull quotes and soundbites in social posts, blogs, email campaigns, landing pages, and retargeting ads.

This visibility helps your hero’s story spread further, build trust, and create internal champions.

Make your hero shine to inspire future buyers

A hero-led narrative puts your customer’s achievements front and center—showing how they used your solution (and guidance) to solve problems and deliver results.

In making them look good, you position yourself as the trusted sidekick.

Future buyers see the path to success clearly, making internal sign-off and adoption simple.

Want help creating hero-led case studies? Book a demo today and let’s talk.

Today’s B2B buyers tune out the moment a page feels untrustworthy. Yet, weighing up options is still a key step in every buying cycle.

In this post, you’ll learn six key steps to create honest comparison pages that help best-fit customers choose your product or service.

The problem with traditional comparison pages

Most ineffective comparison pages focus too much on themselves or on discrediting competitors.

That mindset produces the same weak patterns:

• Long feature lists with no context
• Cheap shots at competitors (e.g. “X is too slow”)
• Claims with no proof (e.g. “The #1 alternative to…”)
• Tables engineered to make you look good and nothing else

None of this helps potential buyers.

People visit comparison pages to understand the real differences between options and make informed decisions.

Talking only about yourself doesn’t solve that. Tearing down competitors makes you look defensive and untrustworthy.

By being honest and objective, you’ll position your product as the best fit for the right audience while acknowledging where competitors might be a better fit for unqualified buyers.

Here are six steps to help you strike that balance.

1. Highlight unique value before any features

Lead with your product or service’s unique value. The model, process, or capabilities that make you worth choosing in the first place.

Instead of lining up every feature side by side, put your strengths right at the top to anchor your comparison in what actually matters to buyers.

For example, ActiveCampaign’s edge lies in powerful automation, which enhances every customer journey touchpoint:

It’s a clear advantage over competitors like Mailchimp. So, the comparison page starts there.

The tone is factual, not boastful, and reads like something a neutral reviewer could write.

ActiveCampaign’s positioning does the heavy lifting while recommending Mailchimp as a simpler tool for beginners:

“Because the builder is so straightforward to use, Mailchimp is a good option if you're just starting or aren’t trying to automate very much.”

The brand then positions itself as the better choice for advanced automation:

When you’re clear on what sets you apart, you don’t need hype or competitor bashing.

You just explain the value that only you provide.

Before writing any comparison page, define your specific differentiators against that competitor.

Then, build the entire narrative around those.

April Dunford’s product positioning exercise is a solid framework for this:

• Understand where you stand today and your core value
• List your unique attributes
• Link each attribute to a real customer pain point you solve
• Identify who cares most about those strengths (i.e. your ideal buyers)
• Pick a market frame that makes your value obvious to those buyers

When you anchor comparison pages to your differentiators, you give buyers clear, useful context while staying honest.

2. Create trust with your comparison tables

Strong comparison tables help potential customers make informed decisions by attracting best-fit buyers and filtering out those who aren’t a match.

While these visuals are one of the fastest ways to show how you stack up, they’re also easy to misuse.

For example, we’ve all seen tables like Asana vs. Monday:

Buyers don’t trust one product coming out on top in every category, and can tell when you’ve cherry-picked features.

Instead, focus on 6–8 core features that are directly tied to buyer needs and pain points. (Not just those you excel at.)

This keeps your brand honest and even improves usability.

NN Group eye-tracking studies suggest that people tend to read comparison tables in a lawnmower pattern.

If your table is too long or cluttered, readers struggle to keep track of information.

There will likely be products that share similar capabilities. So, the real value comes from how you frame differences.

Show strengths clearly, without pretending the competitor offers nothing.

App-building platform Nocoly simply presents facts when comparing itself to Outsystems:

The neutral tone makes the comparison feel more believable, while the differentiation on data, languages, and pricing stands out naturally (without attacking the competitor).

Don’t aim to “win” every buyer with your comparison tables. Instead, use them to clarify who you serve best.

3. Give competitors credit to strengthen your own positioning

Acknowledging where competitors shine makes your comparison page feel trustworthy and differentiators more believable.

Some competitors will outperform you in certain areas.

You know it. Buyers know it.

Being upfront about that sets your page apart from the majority and builds instant credibility.

For example, Claap recognizes Gong’s leadership in “Revenue Intelligence” instead of downplaying it:

Then, Claap explains why it’s a strong alternative to its respected competitor.

Vidyard uses a similar tactic, first acknowledging Loom as a powerful tool:

ActiveCampaign even takes this a step further, praising Mailchimp’s superior ease of use:

This kind of honesty stands out because it’s factual and confident.

It’s also the opposite of the “talk ourselves up while trashing everyone else” approach that most companies use (and buyers ignore).

It all ties back to positioning.

When you’re clear on your own strengths, giving competitors credit reinforces your authority.

Here are some tips on how to credit competitors effectively:

• Identify where others excel (e.g. features, usability, or reputation your audience respects)
• Acknowledge it clearly but briefly (one line is usually enough)
• Avoid an exaggerated tone or backhanded compliments, which can feel insincere and undermine trust
• Use visuals when possible—screenshots or data points make recognition feel factual, not promotional

This approach signals confidence. You communicate: “we know what others do well, and we still believe we’re the best fit for you.”

4. Address the real alternatives buyers are using

Buyers aren’t just comparing you to competitors. They’re also comparing you to existing processes and spreadsheets.

Highlighting and outpacing these solutions wins trust and conversions.

SaaS brands often define competitors too narrowly: “Who else makes software like ours?”

In reality, your competition includes everything buyers are currently using to solve the problem.

April Dunford calls these “status quo” solutions—the free, simple, or familiar tools people rely on before they even see your product.

For instance, many businesses manage projects in spreadsheets or via email.

Therefore, comparison content for project management platforms should address these solutions—especially in middle-of-funnel (MOFU) “alternatives” articles.

Take ClickUp, which acknowledges Excel’s value when comparing its platform to spreadsheets:

Then it subtly positions ClickUp as the more effective solution in a table:

By addressing the status quo, ClickUp earns trust before prospects even start comparing other project management tools.

Here are three ways to identify these alternative solutions:

• Ask, “How are our target customers solving this problem today?” and list the answers
• Review market research, customer interviews and sales conversations for recurring patterns
• Pinpoint the alternatives that actually influence buyer decisions to talk about

Dunford warns against “phantom competitors”—solutions your prospects don’t know or care about.

Trying to position against them dilutes your messaging and weakens your differentiation.

Focus on the alternatives that matter, show how you improve on them, and your comparison content will resonate with buyers where it counts.

5. Help buyers select the right solution for their specific needs

Comparison pages should help prospects make informed decisions about the right product for them. Don’t just pitch your product to everyone.

Your goal is to attract the right prospects and make them feel confident in their choice with genuinely helpful information.

Let’s circle back to ActiveCampaign’s Mailchimp comparison page.

It positions Mailchimp as a cheaper, simpler alternative.

Then highlights its own tool as having the “best deliverability” and “powerful (but easy to use) automation”:

Vidyard takes a similar approach vs. Loom.

Instead of answering “Which is better?” with biased sales copy, it presents an objective view and lets readers decide for themselves:

Grizzle helped XTM create an opening table to show that its website localization tool is for large enterprises.

Then, it highlights other solutions that are more suitable for small teams or solo business owners:

XTM’s ideal customer is naturally drawn to its product, while everyone else is pointed in a different direction.

Describe who your product is for (not just how it beats competitors) in comparison pages, so readers can see which solution fits their needs best.

Present features and differences clearly and transparently. Trust your positioning.

That’s how you create neutral, informative comparisons that still demonstrate superiority.

6. Use targeted customer stories to validate your claims 

Letting customers tell their own stories adds credibility and proves your product wins in the real world.

Generic reviews don’t move buyers at the comparison stage.

Hearing from people who switched from the same competitor to you does.

For example, FreshBooks nails this on its QuickBooks comparison page:

A testimonial from someone who moved from QuickBooks carries far more weight than a five-star rating with no context about why they switched.

It details the customer’s pain, the change, and the outcome achieved.

To capture this type of social proof, build it into your workflow:

• Note which product customers switched from during sales or onboarding
• Follow up a few weeks later and ask for a short interview
• Question what wasn’t working before, why they switched, and what changed after adopting your tool
• Pull the clearest quotes that map directly to the comparison you’re making

You can also borrow FreshBooks’ approach and pull switcher reviews from third-party sites like G2 or Capterra.

Brands like Nocoly take this further, inviting customers to contribute directly to comparison pages.

Founder Phil Ren explains this transparent, user-led approach:

“We regularly update this section with real, selective insights from customers. While the content is curated, it reflects genuine customer experiences and offers valuable context for potential buyers facing similar decisions.”

The more real customer experiences you highlight (especially from switchers), the more objective and persuasive your comparison pages become.

A comparison page is an extension of your positioning

When you anchor comparison pages in your unique strengths, you give best-fit buyers clear, compelling reasons to choose you.

Help potential customers evaluate fairly. Show what competitors do better. Support your claims with real-world testimonials.

Do this consistently, and comparisons will feel less like sales pitches and more like trust-builders.

Need help creating comparison pages that strengthen your credibility and drive conversions? Book a demo today and let’s chat.

Done right, you can build an engaged audience of loyal fans and customers. The trick is to: 

• Post valuable content consistently—both single tweets and threads 
• Interact with your audience in the comments, rather than scheduling posts and walking away

This strategy will help you build an audience and brand awareness at speed while attracting new leads and users who have problems you can solve.

Here’s why investing in your Twitter presence is effective for growth and lead generation, and how to write content that generates reach, engagement, and leads.

Why Twitter is an audience and revenue-generating machine

When you build a community around your brand (both business and personal), your credibility compounds and improves your brand equity because people see you as a human rather than a faceless entity.

This awareness helps you attract fans that are eager to pay attention to what you have to say because your content resonates with them. 

As you consistently provide helpful content, you’ll build authority and credibility—just like you would from any other content marketing channel. 

The key is to stop thinking of Twitter as a repurposing platform and start thinking about it as a  channel to create original content. It’s a content platform with its own ecosystem and search engine. It’s more than a digital billboard for your latest article, event, or announcement—a mindset that severely undermines its potential for attracting your audience.

You wouldn’t post a blog that says “We wrote a new thread on quality content so go check it out on Twitter” with a link. Yet, that’s exactly what some businesses use Twitter to do. This strategy doesn’t work because it’s outdated, cumbersome, and neglects how people want to digest information on the platform.

Users want content served to them directly on the platforms they’re logged into. Non-native content disrupts the intended user experience and breaks a pattern. Unless given a compelling reason to click away, they want platform-specific content.

Amanda Natividad, VP of Marketing at SparkToro, coined the term zero-click content to describe that, now more than ever, people crave in-platform content without needing to interrupt their consumption habits.

SparkToro’s data (as well as our own) show that platforms and algorithms favor in-platform content: 

It’s obvious why algorithms prefer it; they want to keep people on their platforms. 

But people also expressly favor high-quality native content because it allows them to:

• Engage with brands where they already are (clicking away can feel cumbersome)
• Experience non-intrusive messaging (CTAs and external links can feel out of place)
• Actually read what’s put in front of them (links are often overlooked or not read)

On that last point, the data is fascinating. A study from Columbia University found that 59% of social media links shared by news domains aren’t clicked on at all.

Furthermore, HubSpot looked at 2.7 million link-containing tweets and found that there is no correlation between retweets and clicks. This means that people will retweet something without even reading it, which aligns with the Columbia findings.

The data makes our jobs as marketers seem bleak, but that's only true if you treat Twitter like a place to simply distribute content. When you tack a link onto the tail end of platform-specific content it will only drive traffic if:

• You’ve spent time sharing native content without links and built an engaged audience on the platform
• You do it sparingly (the 80/20 rule is a good true north for articles)

Not all links are created equal, so the 80/20 rule doesn’t always apply. A link to a blog post is different from a link to a newsletter signup form, for example. The former requires a decent time commitment while the latter is a quick action. 

As such, newsletter CTAs or forms can be tacked onto most posts, preferably a few hours after you share them. This works to:

• Bring your post to the top of people’s feeds again (additional tweets in a thread can trigger the algorithm to ‘reshare’ it)
• Provide a key window of time for native-only content to be consumed 

For example, I created native content almost exclusively in my first four months on Twitter and grew my audience from ~500 to ~14k. 

Because of this, by the time I promoted an article, people were eager to not only click but spend time reading it. In 24 hours, we generated::

• 233 pageviews
• 214 unique pageviews
• 4:48 average time on page

My goal was to build my credibility to a point where people believed me when I said “read this: it's worth your time.” This experiment proved successful and my links now generate clicks, leads, and new clients.

Both threads and single tweets are critical to growth

Single tweets are important and should be incorporated into your content strategy. But love them or hate them, threads tend to have a bigger reach (and impact).

Use threads to expand organic reach

Check out the difference in impressions between a single tweet of mine vs. a thread with only 100 more likes (the higher the like count, the less impactful differences of hundreds become):

These were posted one day apart, which means I was reaching a similar audience. 

While the thread only got 100 more likes, it received ~65,000 more impressions, was shared ~2x more times, and got ~2x more engagement.

Threads generally perform better because they’re educational in nature and help people solve problems. Whether you’re teaching people how to do something or telling a story of success or failure, your audience is learning as they read and taking notes on how to apply the tips to their own circumstances. 

Because of this, your audience will likely be more engaged and keen to retweet and share with their network. Twitter rewards engagement (i.e. comments and retweets), meaning reach compounds.

Think of threads like long-form articles for Twitter, written with a blend of copywriting and content writing styles.

Let’s return to the thread I mentioned earlier that linked to our Quality Content Marketing Matters article at the end and break down why it was successful.

Here are the analytics:

Over 100k impressions and 2k+ engagements is a great result and led directly to that spike in pageviews and time on page referenced above.

I repromoted the same article a few days later in a single tweet with a link and it got 100+ likes but generated nearly 100K fewer impressions than the thread:

The thread drove more engagement, and more readers to my article, generated several leads, and expanded my personal (and subsequently Grizzle’s) brand awareness.

Use single tweets to bolster engagement and show your personality

As for single tweet formats, quick tips, pieces of expertise, or questions to your audience can drum up tons of engagement even if the reach isn’t always as impressive. 

For example, this single tweet asking a question about writing and editing sitting vs. standing got ~14k impressions and generated 67 comments:

And this tweet listing my article writing process (that ended with a question to inspire engagement) drummed up over 1,000 likes and 60+ comments:

We recommend replying to most comments because it shows your audience that you’re a real person and not some unreachable entity. 

This is key for both personal and business brands: when you engage and respond, you personalize the experience and build deeper connections. The deeper your connections, the more loyal your audience will be. 

Critically, they’ll also feel more motivated to learn about the business you run or represent and consider becoming a customer. Meaningful connections through personal interactions build trust, and Twitter is a touchpoint along the customer journey (both before and after an initial purchase). 

The more valued people feel, the more likely they are to add you to the consideration set and feel motivated to explore a purchase. As long as you’re delivering value, consistently publishing tweets and threads will generate awareness, leads, and new business.

As for a posting cadence, we recommend the following: 

• 2x threads a week to teach and bolster engagement
• At least 2x single tweets a day to remain consistent and please the algorithm (which rewards daily activity)

Note that if you do miss a day or two you’ll be fine. Quality wins over quantity, and we’ve not seen notable drops in engagement because of it.

How to write valuable Twitter posts that build compounding credibility 

Twitter content isn’t the same as blog articles, emails, landing pages, or ebooks. It’s also not the same as other social platforms like LinkedIn or Instagram. 

You only have 280 characters to work with, so it’s uniquely concise and people scroll and skim at lightning paces.

Let’s look at how to craft engaging threads first.

The most valuable threads capture and hold attention

A great thread starts with a great hook. People want to know:

• Why they should bother reading
• How it will help them solve a problem
• What they will learn

If you don't answer these questions, they won't care or feel motivated to click into it and read.

A great way to capture attention is to poke at a pain point, add credibility via quantifiable proof (numbers perform well), get specific with outcomes, and end with a cliffhanger:

• Poking at the pain lights up emotions and gives readers something to relate to, e.g. “Most people get this wrong” or “I was struggling and wish I had a playbook to follow”. 
• Adding credibility acts as social proof and gives people a reason to care or trust what you’re saying, e.g. “I’ve edited 3M+ words” or “We’ve spent 7 years building systems that have netted $5,000,000 revenue”. 
• Getting specific with outcomes allows readers to picture what they can accomplish themselves by reading, e.g. “ensure your new employee stays at your organization” or “3x conversions in 90 days”.
• Leaving a cliffhanger encourages people to click to find out what’s next. This is especially key if your thread is a listicle. For example, if the crux is “8 ways to X”, don’t include what those are in the hook—make the reader click more to see more.

A bad hook makes it all about you and doesn’t leave anything up to the imagination. 

Here are a few examples of strong hook formats:

1. [Opinionated state of play]. [Data]. [Poke at pain]. What to do? [Opinionated solution]. Here's how:

2. As a/an [personalized descriptor] I [pain point] with [trend]. So, I did [descriptor of event] to learn [outcome]. Here are X takeaways:

3. Hot take. [Thought-provoking opinion on trend]. I've [take on future of trend]:

4. [State of play]. But [pain point]. Why (and what to do instead):

5. [Opinion]. Stance on [bad take]. I’ve spent [social proof + timeframe] to achieve [outcome]. The playbook:

These hooks are intriguing, specific, and open a loop that makes you curious about what’s inside.

Once you capture people’s attention, you need to keep it and make the juice worth the squeeze.

You want readers to:

• Easily understand your points
• Experience zero friction
• Stay interested throughout

To do that: 

• Share unique insights
• Add the "why" and "how"
• Get creative
• Pay attention to structure

Strong content marketing principles apply to thread writing. The best threads set context, add examples, include prescriptive tips, tell a great story, give the reader instructions on how to do something themselves, and leave them with an action item (e.g. click this link, follow me, and/or retweet to share).

On Twitter, white space is critical—especially when using a listicle format that has dedicated headers. Still, even bold, opinionated, and storytelling content benefits from white space on Twitter.

Generally, this format works best:

• Header: Set the stage
• Subheader: Answer “the why”
• Body: Supplement your argument and answer “how”
• Takeaway: Empower them to follow your advice and give them a reason why it will help them help themselves.

Here’s how this format looks with white space separators:

Here’s a meta example of how you could use this format to explain why this advice will help people write stronger Tweets:

• Header: “Answer intent right away”
• Subheader: “This way, the reader understands why what they're about to read matters.”
• Body: “Include data points or personal anecdotes so the reader can picture themselves doing what you’re describing.”
• Takeaway: “Small tweaks like this make a big impact on flow and drive engagement.”

And here’s a simplified version of how we could format a tweet when giving the advice “break up long walls of text”:

• Header: “Break up long walls of text” 
• Subheader: “White space helps skimmers and makes content easier to digest & navigate.” 
• Body: “Try to limit paragraphs to 2-3 sentences max.”
• Takeaway: “The reading experience matters as much as the words on the page.” 

Add your CTA to the final tweet in the thread. Here’s what my thread CTA looked like when I promoted the Quality Content Marketing article referenced above:

This only worked because it was tacked onto original content, formatted for Twitter, and referenced themes discussed in the article.

Here’s the hook I used:

Nothing was copy/pasted. The best-performing repurposed content on Twitter doesn’t feel repurposed—it feels tailored to the unique Twitter experience.

Here’s an example of a body tweet from this thread where I explain what editorial goals are:

Here’s how we talk about editorial goals in the article itself:

Notice how the examples I picked are completely different. In the article, our target audience is marketers that would benefit from seeing what a relevant content goal looks like.

On Twitter, my audience is a mix of content marketers, writers, and editors looking to improve their written communication skills.

I tailored each example to the audience at hand and structured the content to the format at play. It’s not repurposed; it's reimagined.

Interestingly, I chose to include a second hook in this thread:

And it got 3x more likes than every other body tweet:

That’s because frontloading value, credibility, and getting ahead of objections works well on Twitter. 

In my first hook, I argue that quality content is important but I don’t explain why. To get ahead of objections and prove my point, I used the second tweet to prove:

• I know what I’m talking about
• Here are all the reasons why quality matters
• I’m about to back this up with specifics so keep reading

If the reader wasn’t entirely hooked after reading tweet 1, they certainly are after tweet 2.

This second hook is also a perfect single tweet. Here’s why.

How to write single tweets that drive engagement

The reason why the second hook above performed so well is because it teaches and is uniquely structured for the platform.

Notice how the sentence length cascades from long to short as you read from top to bottom. This is visually engrossing and works to capture attention.

But not every tweet needs to be so obviously structured for the platform. 

This quick tip performed well because it poked at a common pain point (everybody wants to make it big, fast), gave advice backed by years of experience, and spoke truth to unrealistic expectations:

Humorous responses to industry trends or new data are also a great way to start a conversation and let your personality shine through:

What B2B marketer hasn’t seen that infographic by now? It’s relatable and makes you want to run to leave a comment.

In general, single tweets give you a chance to demonstrate your personality. They also challenge you to share valuable advice in a short format—which is excellent practice for cutting fluff and redundancy from your writing.

There’s no “perfect” format for single tweets, nor should there be. As long as they’re tailored towards your target audience, you can get creative, share opinions, ask engaging questions, and have a little fun:

The more relatable and resonating, the bigger chance you’ll strengthen existing connections and attract new followers (that may turn into customers one day).

Ignore Twitter and leave relationships on the table

Since joining Twitter we’ve attracted and converted more leads at Grizzle in a shorter period of time than ever before.

All through organic posts and zero targeted outreach.

Posting daily and providing value has shown potential clients that we know how to create quality content. 

If you’re sleeping on Twitter or annoyed by how clickbaity and regurgitated content there can feel, you’re ignoring its massive potential. When you mute the noise and focus on your personal and business growth, you build strong relationships that lead to new business opportunities. 

Of course, if the idea of doing it yourself is too painful or you don’t have time, you can also work with experts to write social content for you.