What is Threads, and is the Threads app worth your time as a marketing agency? Find out in the in's and out's of Threads from the marketing agency's perspective in this post!
Threads is the new social platform from Instagram that is designed for sharing text-based content with your closest friends.
It's a more intimate and focused way to connect with your audience, and it offers a number of features that can be valuable for marketing agencies looking to engage with audiences and expand their reach.
But before you switch strategies and start posting willy-nilly, check out the key features of Threads to determine if the platform is worth your time and effort.
Threads is a private platform. Only your approved followers can see your posts, which means you can share more personal and candid content without worrying about it being seen by the public. Users will see a mix of Threads posted by users they follow, as well as posts with recommended content.
The platform is focused on real-time updates. You can use Threads to share your thoughts and experiences as they happen, which can help you build a stronger connection with your audience.
Threads allows posts of up to 500 characters, surpassing Twitter's 280-character limit. Posts on Threads can contain multimedia elements such as links, photos, and videos up to five minutes in length.
However, Threads currently does not support direct messaging, hashtags, and advertising. Also missing is a dedicated desktop version. But, it is expected these features, along with a chronological feed, will be rolling out over the next half of the year.
According to Matt Navarra, the creator of the Geekout Newsletter focusing on social media, Threads doesn't resemble Twitter in terms of content. He described the content as having a vibe, tone, and style similar to a mix of TikTok and Instagram.
And if you’re worried about the negative political landscape that has become Facebook, Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, says Threads will not focus on politics or news content.
Adam believes that dealing with the associated scrutiny, negativity, and integrity risks is not worth the effort, but didn’t elaborate on measures to prevent this or things such as troll farms and bad actors from spreading misinformation or inflammatory content.
The Threads app touts itself as being about joining the public conversation. Marketers looking to sew some Threads would do well foster an engaged community of users by sharing authentic content like thoughts on pop culture, memes, news and updates, and short thought pieces/microblogs.
Threads can also help you build relationships with influencers. In its first two weeks, the platform has already reached 100 million users and is a great way to connect with influencers and build relationships with them - a dream for social-focused marketers.
For marketers just threading the needle, you can automatically add the accounts you follow on Instagram to Threads. This makes transferring over a little easier, but you still have to get your Instagram followers to follow you on Threads. A great way to boost your Threads followers early on is to cross-message them on Instagram to follow you on Threads.
Threads is also interesting for marketers right now in the sense that users are able to come into a nascent platform with substantial networks thanks to Instagram.
This presents an attractive opportunity for early adopters wanting to expand their influence. For example, you can use the app to share exclusive content with influencers, and you can even use Threads to collaborate on projects.
In addition to sharing Threads posts on other platforms, users can also share them on their Instagram stories and posts, making cross-promotion and messaging easy.
If Threads is about joining the public conversation, then the content you post should be engaging. Use Threads to share behind-the-scenes content, give your audience a glimpse into your day-to-day work, or show them what it's like to be a part of your team.
You can also use the platform to run polls, and surveys, and get feedback from your audience on your products, services, or marketing campaigns.
Threads is also perfect for sharing details about your upcoming events and encouraging your audience to RSVP.
If you’re courting influencers on social media, use Threads to reach out to influencers in your industry and invite them to join your community.
Threads is a new platform, so it's still evolving. However, it has the potential to be a powerful tool for marketing agencies and now might be the best time to lay your foundation!
Overall, Threads is a rapidly growing new social platform that can be a valuable tool for marketing agencies looking to stay on the leading edge of social media.
If you're looking for a way to connect with your audience on a more personal level, Threads is worth checking out. However, the lack of API access for developers means that automation through platforms like Cloud Campaign is down the road.
Click here to stay tuned for more updates, strategies, and news about Threads!