Getting to Know Explore Widgets: Authors Tab

Learn how the Authors Tab uncovers the demographics, top professions, and interests of your audience.

Cheyenne V. avatar
Written by Cheyenne V.
Updated this week

The Authors Tab uncovers the 'who' behind the conversation. In addition to the list of influencers that the legacy Authors Tab surfaces, this experience uncovers the demographics, top professions, and interests of the people tweeting about the topics and companies most relevant to you.


Discovering Authors

The Authors Tab captures the key opinion leaders engaging in the conversation. Each Author profile card found on the left-hand side will include:

  • Total Follower Count

  • Number of people they are following

  • Total number of Posts

  • Authority Score: An equation that factors follower count compared to the number of people following them. The score can be impacted by another point based on the total number of posts and the frequency of keywords in search results.


Adding Authors to an Author List

To add an author to an Author List, follow these steps:

  1. Check the box in the top left corner to select all. Or check the boxes of a specific author or authors.

  2. Select Add to list

  3. Select an existing list

  4. Click OK

  5. To create a new list

    1. Select Create list

    2. Add a list name

    3. Select a list type

    4. Click Save

In a similar fashion, you can export the list of Authors as a CSV file. You’ll notice the export option by hovering over the down arrow option.


Widget Breakdown

Now let's break down each widget:

Unique X Authors

The Unique X Authors widget represents the total number of authors who have posted at least once about the term found in your search.

If, for example, one author posts five separate times while incorporating your search term(s), that author will be counted just once against the total number of unique authors.

X Verification

X Verification represents a percentage breakdown of the authors posting about your search term who are verified versus not verified. Verified users tend to represent authors with a large following and strong influence. In effect, this figure shows you how much of the conversation is dominated by key opinion leaders versus everyday, normal X users.

Gender Breakdown

The gender breakdown estimates the split between male and female authors. Our ML-based models infer author genders by examining data such as name, screen name, and profile description.

Meltwater 2021-12-07 at 12.28.35 PM

Age Breakdown

The age breakdown segments authors by age categories: 13 to 17, 18 to 24, 25 to 34, 35 to 44, 45 to 54, 55-64, and 65+. Our ML models also determine an author's age, using a combination of declarative data and inferred data from the user's profile.

Top Author Location

Top Author Location shows you where the authors are physically located or where they post when they discuss your search terms.

Top Occupations

The top professions represent the most common occupations of the authors posting about your search term. Meltwater generates this information by analyzing and finding any professional terms found within the X user's profile. If your audience includes researchers or academics, you'll know to heighten the sophistication and seriousness of your language. If, when running a search on 'cats', you find a contingent of authors identify as 'rescuers', you'll know to channel this passion and empathy in your messaging.

Top Bio Keywords

Using the public information declared by each user across their profiles, we can run a keyword cloud visualization to show the relative frequency of terms. This will help you find patterns in how your audience thinks, describes, or identifies themselves to the rest of the world. Again, you can use this information and mirror it across your copy, CTAs, and ad-creative.

Meltwater 2021-12-07 at 12.42.13 PM

Top Interests

Of course, audiences don't think of themselves just in terms of their age, race, and jobs. Especially today's digital consumers, they like to think of themselves in terms of affinities, hobbies, and interests.

When looking at their historical Posts and Reposts, Meltwater can surface your audience's top interests. Interests can include Sports, Travel, Science, Movies and TV, and more.

We generate these interests by looking at each author's timeline of posts and reposts. Knowing this information can help you identify the unique and shared attributes of a particular audience and, again, help you activate and engage in a more meaningful and familiar way. Knowing what you know about their interests, how can you better entertain, educate, and inspire your audience?

Top Languages

Lastly, Meltwater will show you the top languages of the authors posting about the topic found in your search terms. We generate the language breakdown by determining the predominant language used by the author across their posts.


Learn more about other Explore Widgets:


💡 Tip

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