Writing a Twitter (X) API Script to Post Tweets with Python

Social media automation can save time and improve engagement, whether you're managing a personal brand, running marketing campaigns, or sharing product updates.

Using Python, we can leverage Twitter's API to post tweets programmatically. I’ll break down a script that reads product information from an Excel file and posts customized tweets for each entry.

If you want to skip the article and just get the source, it is here on GitHub.

Tools and Libraries

Before we dive into the code, you’ll need to install the following libraries:

1. tweepy: A Python wrapper for the Twitter API.

2. pandas: A library for handling Excel files and data manipulation.

Install these libraries using pip:

pip install tweepy pandas

Prerequisites

To use this script, you’ll need:

1. A Twitter Developer Account: Sign up at developer.twitter.com to create a project and app.

2. API credentials:

   • API Key

   • API Secret Key

   • Access Token

   • Access Token Secret

3. An Excel file (x_post_list.xlsx) containing the following columns:

   • ProductName: The name of the product.

   • Price: The product's price.

   • URL: The link to the product.

---

Breaking Down the Script

1. Importing Libraries

import pandas as pd
import tweepy

• pandas: Used to read and manipulate the Excel file containing the tweet data.

• tweepy: Provides a simple interface for interacting with Twitter’s API.

2. Setting Up Twitter API Credentials

TWITTER_API_KEY = 'API_KEY'
TWITTER_API_SECRET = 'API_SECRET'
TWITTER_ACCESS_TOKEN = 'ACCESS_TOKEN'
TWITTER_ACCESS_SECRET = 'ACCESS_SECRET'

Replace these placeholder values with your actual Twitter API credentials. These credentials authenticate your app with Twitter.

3. Authenticating with Twitter's API

client = tweepy.Client(
    consumer_key=TWITTER_API_KEY,
    consumer_secret=TWITTER_API_SECRET,
    access_token=TWITTER_ACCESS_TOKEN,
    access_token_secret=TWITTER_ACCESS_SECRET
)

• tweepy.Client: Used to authenticate with the v2 Twitter API. This object allows you to perform actions like posting tweets.

4. Reading the Excel File

df = pd.read_excel('x_post_list.xlsx')

• pd.read_excel: Reads the Excel file into a Data Frame. Each row in the Data Frame represents a tweet.

---

5. Constructing and Posting Tweets

The script iterates through each row in the data frame to create and post a tweet.

a. Iterating Through Rows

for index, row in df.iterrows():
    product_name = str(row['ProductName'])
    price = str(row['Price'])
    url = str(row['URL'])

• df.iterrows: Loops through each row in the data frame.

• Extracts product details (ProductName, Price, and URL) for the tweet.

b. Constructing the Tweet Text

tweet_template = "Check out {ProductName} that is currently ${Price} Click here for more details {URL}"
tweet_text = tweet_template.format(ProductName=product_name, Price=price, URL=url)

• tweet_template: Defines the format of the tweet.

• format(): Dynamically replaces placeholders with product details.

c. Handling Twitter’s Character Limit

if len(tweet_text) > 280:
    extra_chars = len(tweet_text) - len(product_name)
    allowed_length = 280 - extra_chars - 3  # Subtract 3 for '...'

    allowed_length = max(allowed_length, 0)
    product_name_short = product_name[:allowed_length] + '...'
    tweet_text = tweet_template.format(ProductName=product_name_short, Price=price, URL=url)

• Checks if the tweet exceeds Twitter’s 280-character limit.

• If the tweet is too long:

  • Shortens ProductName to fit within the limit.

  • Adds ... to indicate truncation.

d. Posting the Tweet

try:
    tweet_response = client.create_tweet(text=tweet_text)
    print(f"Tweet posted successfully. Tweet ID: {tweet_response.data['id']}")
except tweepy.TweepyException as e:
    print(f"An error occurred with Tweepy: {e}")

• client.create_tweet: Posts the tweet using the v2 Twitter API.

• If successful, prints the Tweet ID.

• Catches and handles any exceptions raised by Tweepy (e.g., invalid credentials or API limits).

How the Script Works

1. Authenticate with Twitter: Ensures you have the necessary permissions to post tweets.

2. Read Data from Excel: Extracts product details like name, price, and URL.

3. Construct and Validate Tweets:

   • Ensures tweets adhere to Twitter’s 280-character limit.

   • Dynamically formats tweets with product details.

4. Post Tweets: Publishes each tweet to your Twitter account.

Example Workflow

Given the following Excel file (x_post_list.xlsx):

The script will post tweets like:

1. Tweet 1:

   "Check out Gaming Laptop that is currently $999 Click here for more details https://example.com/laptop"

2. Tweet 2:

   "Check out Wireless Headphones that is currently $199 Click here for more details https://example.com/headphones"

Error Handling

The script includes basic error handling:

• API Errors: Catches exceptions from Tweepy and prints the error message.

• Tweet Length: Ensures tweets stay within the character limit by truncating ProductName.

Next Steps and Customization Ideas

1. Schedule Tweets: Use the time or schedule library to automate posting at specific times.

2. Dynamic Hashtags: Add trending or category-specific hashtags to each tweet.

3. Image Attachments: Modify the script to include product images using Twitter’s media upload API.

This script is a powerful starting point for automating your Twitter activity. Whether you’re promoting products, sharing content, or simply learning how to use APIs, this script highlights the value of Python in social media automation.