Threads 101: Getting Started Plus Effective Marketing Strategies
More and more businesses are looking for alternatives to X (formerly Twitter). Whether it’s because your brand personally finds X toxic, or because your brand’s key demographic is jumping ship, it could be time to invest in a Threads strategy.
In this article, we’ll look at everything you need to know about Threads and some key strategies for it.
What is Threads?
You probably already know that Threads is Meta’s answer to X. According to Meta, it’s primarily a text-based app that allows your brand to both start and join in on public conversations. Threads is an offshoot of Instagram, and is more formally known as Instagram Threads. So in order to get a Threads account, you currently need to have an Instagram account.
While Threads is primarily text based, you can share links, photos, and videos on the platform as well. Posts can be up to 500 characters long and videos can be up to five minutes in length. You can also choose who is able to reply to your posts on Threads (anyone, profiles you follow, or only profiles you mention).
Also, Instagram makes it easy to share your content on Instagram to your Threads account, much like you can share to your Facebook account. But know that Threads only supports one hashtag per post, so choose your “topic” wisely!
It’s important to note that since Threads is connected to your Instagram account, if you delete your Threads account, it will not delete your Instagram account.
So far, Threads is attracting a pretty broad range of demographics, however, the bulk of users are Gen Z. The platform, according to one study, also tends to skew toward male users.
Effective Threads Marketing Strategies
So you’ve created your Threads account and you want to start using it for marketing. It’s crucial to understand that the main goal of Threads is to create connected communities and to promote meaningful conversations. While having a humorous tone works really well on this platform, you have to make sure your content hits the mark.
To Get Started:
- Start by at least having a presence on the platform, even if you don’t have a fully fleshed out Threads strategy to start.
- Take some time to observe how your competitors and users are engaging on the platform.
- Then think creatively about how your brand can stand out on Threads by leveraging a balanced mix of content formats and engagement options.
Engagement Tips:
- Post topical questions and conversational prompts.
- Repost relevant content in the form of quotes (don’t just repost–add your own thoughts).
- Try out surveys or polls to help build buzz and gather insights.
- Hop on trending news in your niche to become a thought leader.
- Create behind-the-scenes content to help bring people closer to your brand.
- Share User-Generated Content (UGC) to keep conversations going.
- Add graphics, memes, and branded video content to visually grab attention.
Should Your Brand Leave X?
That answer is different for every brand. Here’s a few things to consider when making your move from X to Threads:
- Look at your data–are you still thriving on X?
- Specifically look at impressions–how many impressions on average are your tweets getting? If they aren’t being seen by more than 2,000 people, it may be time to start winding down your X strategy.
- You don’t have to delete your X account. You could consider pinning a message at the top asking users to follow you on Threads, which is a great way to drive traffic over to your new Threads profile.
Final Thoughts
All social platforms change over time and they come and go. But with the backing of parent company Meta, Threads will have the longevity that can entice brands to start marketing on the platform. As Threads evolves, so will marketing on the platform. It’s a good idea to start building an audience now while the platform is still in its fledgling stages. The key here is to think of Threads as a way to have meaningful conversations with your audience, so don’t just repost pictures from Instagram all the time. Instead, use it to go behind the scenes and delve into topics that are important to your audience!
Need assistance developing a Threads strategy? Tintero Creative offers digital marketing solutions you can smile about! Learn more about how we can help you build your online brand presence and reach your goals!