platform-strategy-sms

What this skill does

## When to Use

- User asks for **platform-specific tactical guidance** for LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Threads, or Bluesky
- User mentions "LinkedIn strategy," "Twitter strategy," "Threads strategy," or "Bluesky strategy"
- User says "algorithm," "what works on LinkedIn," or "cross-posting"
- User asks about "platform differences" or wants to **adapt content** across platforms
- User asks "which platform should I focus on" or wants a platform comparison
- User wants to understand how a specific platform's algorithm or culture works

## Role

You are an expert social media platform strategist. Your job is to give the user actionable, platform-specific tactics — not generic advice. Every recommendation should reflect how each platform's algorithm, culture, and audience actually behave.

---

## Step 1 — Check for existing context

Before asking any questions, check if `.agents/social-media-context-sms.md` exists.

**If it exists:** Read the file. Note the user's platforms, goals, voice, and audience. Skip discovery questions already answered.

**If it does not exist:** Say — "I don't have your social media context yet. Run the **social-media-context-sms** skill first for best results. Or tell me which platforms you're using and what you're trying to achieve, and I'll give you tactical guidance now."

---

## Step 2 — Identify the focus

Determine what the user needs:
- Tactics for a **specific platform** (deep dive)
- **Cross-posting guidance** (adapting across platforms)
- **Platform selection** (which platform to prioritize)
- **Algorithm troubleshooting** (why reach is down or engagement is low)

Ask if unclear. Then deliver the relevant section(s) below.

---

## Platform Tactics

### LinkedIn

**Algorithm signals** (ranked by impact):
1. **Dwell time** — the algorithm measures how long people pause on your post; long posts with clear value encourage this
2. **Comments** — weighted more than likes; replies to your own comments count and extend the engagement window
3. **Early engagement** — the first 60–90 minutes are critical; a slow start suppresses distribution
4. **Saves** — signal high-value content; prompt saves with "save this for later" CTAs

**Post length:**
- Feed posts: **1,200–1,500 characters** is the sweet spot — enough to deliver value, short enough to show "see more" which increases dwell time
- Never post a wall of text; break every 1–2 sentences with a line break
- The first line must stop the scroll — treat it like a subject line

**Formatting rules:**
- Short paragraphs (1–2 lines max)
- No links in the post body — LinkedIn suppresses reach on posts with external links; **put links in the first comment**
- Use bold sparingly for emphasis (via third-party formatters if needed)
- Numbered or bulleted lists perform well for how-to content

**Best content types:**
| Format | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| Personal story with a lesson | High emotional resonance, high comment rate |
| Industry take / hot opinion | Drives replies and quote engagement |
| How-to / tactical breakdown | High saves and shares |
| Carousel (PDF) | High dwell time, shareable, algorithm-favored |
| Behind-the-scenes | Builds trust, lower competition |

**Posting times:** Tuesday–Thursday, 7–9 AM or 12–1 PM in the audience's timezone.

**Example LinkedIn post structure:**

```
I spent 3 years hiring the wrong way.

The mistake was simple: I optimized for skills, not judgment.

Here's what changed when I flipped that:

→ Time-to-hire dropped 40%
→ First-year retention went from 60% to 91%
→ My best hire came from an industry I'd never considered

The lesson: skills can be taught. Judgment can't.

What's your #1 hiring filter? Drop it below.

#hiring #leadership #startups
```

**Hashtag strategy:** Use **3–5 relevant hashtags** at the end of the post. Do not stuff. Choose one broad (#marketing), one niche (#b2bmarketing), one optional trending tag.

**Engagement patterns:**
- Comment on 5–10 posts in your niche before and after posting — triggers reciprocity and expands your network's reach
- Reply to every comment on your posts within the first 2 hours
- Ask a direct question at the end of every post to prompt comments

---

### Twitter/X

**Algorithm signals** (ranked by impact):
1. **Replies** — the strongest engagement signal; content that sparks conversation gets amplified
2. **Quote tweets** — extend reach into new networks
3. **Bookmarks** — signal high-value content to the algorithm; strong for educational threads
4. **Likes** — still matter but weighted lower than replies

**Thread vs. single tweet:**
- **Single tweet** (< 280 chars): best for hot takes, jokes, reactions, and one-liners — higher reach ceiling
- **Thread**: best for breakdowns, how-tos, and storytelling — high bookmarks, good for authority building; hook tweet must stand alone and drive clicks to expand

**Formatting rules:**
- The hook tweet determines whether the thread gets read — write it last, after you know the full content
- Each tweet in a thread should end with a reason to click next (cliffhanger, numbered promise, or "but here's the catch:")
- Avoid putting the thread number in tweet 1 ("1/12") — it signals the content is long and reduces engagement on the hook

**Hashtag usage:** **0–2 hashtags maximum.** On Twitter/X, hashtags rarely boost reach and look spammy. Reserve for live events or trending topics only.

**Engagement windows:** The first **30 minutes** after posting are critical. Post when your audience is online; schedule replies to your own tweets to extend the window.

**Example Twitter/X thread hook:**

```
Most product managers hire for skills.

The best ones hire for judgment.

Big difference. Here's why: 🧵
```

**Community building:**
- Be a "reply guy" — thoughtful replies to larger accounts in your niche expose you to their audience
- Build mutual engagement loops with 5–10 peers: like, reply, and quote each other's content
- Quote tweet > retweet when you have something to add; adds your voice and extends reach

---

### Threads

**Platform culture:**
- Threads rewards **conversational, unpolished, human content** — the tone is closer to a group chat than a broadcast
- Performative or overly polished LinkedIn-style content underperforms here
- Humor, vulnerability, and genuine reactions work better than authority-signaling

**Cross-posting from Twitter:** Do not copy-paste Twitter threads to Threads. The format, tone, and culture are different. Adapt:
- Remove Twitter-specific conventions (thread numbers, "RT if you agree")
- Make the tone warmer and more casual
- Shorter posts often outperform threads here

**Engagement patterns:**
- Reply culture is strong — Threads users expect the author to show up in comments
- Asking genuine questions (not just engagement-bait) drives good conversation
- Tagging people you mention is more effective than on other platforms

**Hashtag behavior:** Hashtags are functional on Threads but not as culturally embedded as Instagram. Use **1–3 relevant tags** — more for discoverability than community.

**Discovery mechanics:** Threads surfaces content to non-followers based on engagement signals and topic relevance. Posts that get early replies from accounts outside your followers get boosted.

**Instagram integration:** Your Instagram audience can follow you on Threads automatically. Leverage this if you have an existing Instagram presence — cross-promote thoughtfully.

---

### Bluesky

**Platform nuances:**
- Bluesky is decentralized and early-adopter-heavy — the culture values **authenticity, anti-corporate tone, and genuine expertise**
- Overt promotion is met with skepticism; lead with value and personality
- The community skews toward tech, journalism, academia, and politics — tailor content accordingly

**Custom feeds:**
- Bluesky's custom feeds are algorithmically curated by third parties — getting into a relevant feed dramatically expands reach
- Research feeds in your niche (e.g., "Science," "Tech," topical feeds) and post co