Twitter Ads Tutorial

How to Run X (Twitter) Ads

X (formerly Twitter) might feel chaotic at times, but believe me—it’s still one of the most powerful platforms to spark conversations, grow a brand, and drive traffic. And when you pair that with X Ads, you’re unlocking targeted exposure to a real-time audience.

Let me walk you through everything I’ve learned from running X Ads for both personal projects and client brands.

What Are X Ads?

X Ads are paid promotions that show up across the X timeline, search results, user profiles, and even replies. You can promote:

• Tweets (text, image, video, polls)

• Accounts (for more followers)

• Trends

• Websites or apps

Whether you want to drive clicks, conversions, or engagement, X Ads gives you access to hundreds of millions of active users across different interests and industries.

How to Run X Ads (Step-by-Step)

1. Create an X Ads Account

Start by visiting 👉 https://ads.twitter.com
Log in with your regular account and set up your Ads profile.

2. Set Up Payment Method

Before launching any campaigns, go to “Billing” in your Ads dashboard and add your card or payment option.
👉 Payment setup help

3. Choose a Campaign Objective

Pick your goal based on what you want to achieve:

• Reach: Get as many impressions as possible

• Engagement: More likes, replies, and retweets

• Website Clicks: Drive traffic to your link

• Followers: Promote your profile

• App Installs

• Video Views

👉 See full list of campaign objectives

4. Define Your Target Audience

You can target based on:

• Location

• Gender, age

• Device

• Language

• Interests (e.g., tech, marketing, music)

• Follower Lookalikes (target people similar to your competitors’ audience)

• Keywords (reach users who tweet/search certain terms)

You can even upload custom audiences like emails or past visitors (via Twitter Pixel).

👉 Audience targeting explained

5. Set Budget and Schedule

You control how much you spend:

• Daily Budget (e.g., $10/day)

• Total Budget (e.g., $100 for the whole campaign)

• Choose between automatic or manual bidding based on your experience.

👉 Bidding & budgeting help

6. Choose or Create Your Ad Creative

You can promote an existing Tweet (organic post) or create a new one just for the ad.
Make sure it’s:

• Clear

• Short

• Attention-grabbing

• Has a link or CTA

Pro Tip: Videos perform really well on X—consider using short clips with captions and a call-to-action.

X Ads Payment Methods

X supports:

• Credit/Debit Cards (Visa, Mastercard, AmEx)

• Automatic Billing

• Manual Invoicing (for large accounts or agencies)

👉 Billing info

Why I Recommend X Ads

1. Real-Time Visibility

Great for product drops, launches, or announcements. You can ride on trends and go viral faster than on any other platform.

2. Keyword Targeting

This is gold—target users based on exact words they tweet or search. Perfect for offers, events, or trending topics.

3. Cost-Effective for Engagement

You can get engagements for as low as $0.02–$0.10 depending on your niche.

4. Access to Influencers

X Ads help you build visibility with thought leaders. If your tweet gets shared by the right person, you win.

5. Advanced Targeting

Follower lookalikes let you “borrow” audiences from other brands, influencers, or even competitors.

Final Thoughts

X Ads aren’t as “plug and play” as Facebook or Instagram, but when used smartly, they’re extremely effective—especially for tech, crypto, creators, SaaS, events, or thought leadership.

My advice? Start with a low-budget test ad, track performance daily, and double down on what works. Keep your copy sharp, visuals engaging, and targeting specific.