6 simple tips for creating standout Twitter Ads

By Niamh Keenan
Best practices
Woman holding a phone with a dog beside her and laughing

Few brands advertise on just one channel, or even one medium. You almost always have a marketing mix that includes Twitter, other online platforms, and offline channels like print, TV, and collateral. 

So once you’ve written that perfect headline, finished up a pre-roll video, or found an effective PPC ad through A/B testing, it can be tempting to repurpose what you’ve created as a Twitter Ad.

It’s often worth the time to create an ad that will work great specifically on Twitter. Twitter is about brevity, moving fast, making an impact, and engaging in conversation. The same content you use to target keywords in a PPC campaign or as email subject lines won’t always work here.

Here are a few ideas to help you create Twitter Ads that capture attention and drive sales.

Keep it simple

Even the 280 character limit can often be too long for an effective ad. People will spend no more than a second or two looking at your ad as they scroll — the shorter you make it, the more likely you’ll be able to deliver your message. Write your ad the same way you would an outdoor billboard — it’s amazing how much you can say with just a few words.

Easy on the fluff

While hashtags and emojis can add fun to your copy, don’t go overboard. As with images, only use them if they make your copy stronger — if the copy works just as well without them, remove them.

Create eye-catching visuals

Twitter is a visual medium. This means you need to put as much thought (and budget) into your image as you do your content. Don’t just rely on stock shots or templates — use custom photography or illustrations to create eye-catching visuals people won’t find anywhere else.

A good rule of thumb is that if the ad copy works just as well without the image, then you have the wrong image — the image should work with the copy to make it even more powerful.

Check out our 'The dos and don'ts of Twitter images' article for more guidance.

Nail the CTA

Your copy and your image are the bait. Your CTA is the hook. This is the moment of truth where you need to tell people what you want them to do and what they can expect in return. Don’t hide it or soft sell it — use direct language that clearly explains what you want them to do and why it will benefit them. For example, 'buy now' or 'follow us'.

Make it timely

Twitter is all about what’s happening in the moment. Take advantage of this by creating ads that are also a part of the moment. Use event targeting to tie your ads to major events or holidays like Christmas. In addition, monitor what’s going on with the world and with your audience to discover opportunities to tie what’s going on right now into your brand.

Check out the Twitter marketing calendar for inspiraiton.

Experiment with your feed

In addition to the standard A/B testing, you can test out messaging, specific copy, images, video and offers in your organic posts. If your followers react well to a Tweet, then your prospective customers are likely to respond to it just as well when used in an ad.

To keep up-to-date with other brand tips, follow us @TwitterBusiness. You can also check out our ad best practices page for lots more practical tips and tricks.

Additional reading:

Ready to advertise on Twitter?