Threads, Meta's New Social Media App - What is it and How Can Social Media Marketers Dive In?

Jul 6

Alright, everyone, prepare to expand your social media playbook. Threads, Meta's newest app, is here, and it's pretty nifty. Born from Instagram, Threads is all about text-based conversations, with a dash of the visual elements we've come to love.

Here's what you need to know, and more importantly, how social media marketers can turn Threads into their new best friend.

Text-Based Creativity

Starting with the power of text-based creativity. Threads, Meta's shiny new app, has a unique focus on text updates, limiting posts to 500 characters. But don't let that limit deter you; it's all about short, punchy updates that make for more engaged scrolling. Plus, the app permits the addition of links, photos, and videos of up to 5 minutes. As a social media marketer, this means you've got the space to create a narrative, but with enough constraints to ensure it's a page-turner. Think cliffhangers, cheeky text updates, a glimpse into the 'behind-the-scenes'. A sprinkle of mystery here, a dash of intrigue there, and voila! You've got your audience coming back for more.

Easy Sign-Up Process

Now, moving onto the sign-up process. If you've got an Instagram account, you're good to go. Threads allows you to log in using your Instagram details, but here's where it gets interesting. It gives you the freedom to customise your Threads profile distinct from your Instagram profile. As a marketer, consider this an opportunity to wear a different hat, presenting an alternative yet authentic side of your brand specifically crafted for Threads' audience.

User Feed

On to the user feed. Unlike some platforms where your feed is limited to those you follow, Threads shakes things up by introducing you to content from new creators. This gives your brand the chance to stumble into the feed of potential followers who haven't discovered you yet, broadening your reach and visibility. So, get your charm offensive ready, because you're about to meet some new folks!

Safety and Control

Safety and control, are two essential features for any online space. Threads offer the ability to fine-tune who can mention or reply to your updates. Additionally, it includes a 'hidden words' feature to filter out responses containing specific words. For a marketer, these safety measures give you the reins, ensuring your brand's online space remains professional and respectful, and your narrative stays on course.

Interoperability

Diving into the world of interoperability, Threads has plans to be compatible with ActivityPub, an open social networking protocol. This compatibility would mean that Threads can interact with other platforms such as Mastodon and WordPress, opening up new, exciting avenues for cross-platform engagement. For a marketer, this increases your brand's visibility and allows you to build a more interconnected online presence.

User-base

Speaking of user-base, Threads is particularly mindful of its younger users. The app defaults users under 16 (or 18 in some countries) to a private profile. As a marketer, this age-based privacy feature is an important consideration, especially if your brand targets a younger demographic.

Shareability:

Sharability is the name of the game in today's social media landscape. Threads, keeping up with the times, enable easy sharing of its posts to your Instagram story or as a link on other platforms. This feature bridges the gap between your different social media platforms, making your content more shareable and accessible to a wider audience.

Future Plans:

Finally, let's discuss Threads' future plans. The platform plans to introduce new features like improved recommendations in the feed and a more robust search function. This could mean enhanced discoverability and real-time trend tracking for marketers. Hence, if you're a social media marketer, you can look forward to an enriched user experience that could help you identify potential followers and stay ahead of trends.

And there you have it, the ins and outs of Threads and how you, as a social media marketer, can navigate this new platform. Remember, it's about experimenting, learning, and adapting, but most importantly, it's about having fun and engaging with your audience in new ways.

Happy threading!

Threads in a Nutshell:

Text-Based Creativity: Threads allows posts of up to 500 characters, including links, photos, and videos up to 5 minutes in length.

Simple Sign-Up and Profile Customisation: Users can log in with their Instagram account and customise their Threads profile separately from Instagram.

Engaging User Feed: The feed includes updates from followed accounts and recommended content from new creators.

Safety and Control: Users can manage who can mention or reply to them and filter out replies containing specific words.

Interoperability with Other Networks: Threads has plans to be compatible with ActivityPub, an open social networking protocol, enabling interaction with other platforms that support the protocol.

User Age Considerations: Profiles of users under 16 (or 18 in some countries) are automatically set to private.

Sharability: Threads posts can be shared to Instagram stories or as a link on other platforms.

Future Plans: Threads has plans to introduce improved recommendations in feed and a robust search function.