Social Media · 4 min read
The 60-Minute Twitter Audit: Fix Your X Account in an Hour
Short answer
A 60-minute X audit spends about ten minutes on your profile, twenty on your recent posts, fifteen on your network and replies, ten on security, and five on a single change to try over the next 30 days.
Key takeaways
- Timebox it. An audit that takes a day doesn't get repeated.
- The profile decides what a stranger thinks in ten seconds.
- Your last 20 posts tell you more than any dashboard.
- End with one change, not a list of ten.
Most X accounts drift. The bio describes a job from two years ago, the pinned post promotes an event that's over, and the posting habits slid somewhere nobody decided. An hour every few months fixes most of it.
How should you split the hour?
Five sections, in a fixed order, with a time limit on each.
| Section | Minutes | Question it answers |
|---|---|---|
| Profile | 10 | Does a stranger understand who this is? |
| Posts | 20 | Is what I post useful and balanced? |
| Network | 15 | Am I talking with people or at them? |
| Security | 10 | Could someone else take this account? |
| Plan | 5 | What's the one thing I'll change? |
The 60-Minute X Audit puts all of this into a checklist with a timer and a score you can print.
What do you check on the profile?
Name, bio, photo, header, link and pinned post, as a stranger would see them.
Open your profile while logged out, or in a private window. Does the name say who you are? Does the bio say what you post about and for whom? Is the photo clear at small size? Does the link work? Is the pinned post something you'd want a stranger to see first? Fix what you can on the spot.
What do you look for in your posts?
How often you post, the mix of post types, and which posts got replies.
Scroll back through your last 20 posts and note:
- Frequency. Did you post in each of the last four weeks?
- Mix. How many were curated links, your own ideas, and promotion? Mostly promotion is the most common problem.
- Comments on links. Did shared links carry your own line, or were they bare?
- Credit. Did you mention authors when sharing their work?
- Best three. What do your three best posts have in common? Topic, format, time, length?
- Alt text on images.
If the mix is off, set a target with the Content Mix Planner.
What about your network?
Replies, who you follow and how you filter your feed.
Did you reply to people who replied to you? Does your following list match what you want to read? Do you keep a List of your best sources? Have you muted words for topics you never want to see? Spend five minutes replying thoughtfully to people in your field you don't usually talk to.
What security checks matter most?
Two-factor authentication, connected apps, recovery email and who else has access.
These take ten minutes and prevent the worst outcome: losing the account. The full list is in how to lock down your X account.
Why end with only one change?
Because one change gets done, and ten get forgotten.
Pick the single thing that would make the most difference. Maybe a rewritten bio, a weekly curated thread, or replying to every reply for a month. Write it down with a date. Then book the next audit for three months from now.
What do people usually find in their first audit?
Typically an outdated bio or pinned post, a posting mix heavy on promotion, and security settings nobody had looked at in years.
The profile problems are quick to fix and often the most visible. The mix problem takes longer: it means planning a few curated links and original posts each week instead of announcements only. Security is the one with the highest stakes; connected apps from old campaigns and a recovery email nobody checks are both common.
Don't try to fix everything in one sitting. Note the problems, fix the two-minute ones on the spot, and choose the single most important larger change for the next month.
Questions
How often should I audit my X account?
Every three months is a good rhythm. Also after a job change, a rebrand or a long break.
Do I need analytics tools for an audit?
No. X's own analytics help, but scrolling your profile and reading your last 20 posts with their replies covers most of what you need.
Can I audit a brand account the same way?
Yes. Add a check on who has access, and whether the bio and pinned post reflect current products and campaigns.
What score should I aim for in the audit tool?
The score is a rough guide, not a target. Most accounts land somewhere in the middle on a first pass. Use it to compare yourself with your last audit.