15 Ways to Use Threads to Become a Thought Leader

At Power Your Research, I teach that thought leadership in the academic world isn’t just about the work you do, it’s about how you share your work and engage with your audience. Recently launched by Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, Threads is a new and rapidly growing social media platform. This revolutionary platform is ripe with opportunities for thought leaders, professors, and academics to not only share the work they do, but engage with their audiences.

To help you capitalize on this can’t-miss opportunity, I’ve curated a list of practical strategies to help you build your brand on Threads. In this guide, I’ll help you navigate and master the new platform, harness its features effectively, and expand your influence. Let’s get started!

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15 Ways to Utilize Threads to Become a Thought Leader

At its core, Threads is akin to Twitter. Both platforms feature similar functions, are text-based, and encourage users to share small nuggets of information. With that in mind, here are 15 ways you can use Threads to bolster your status as a thought leader.?

1. Establish Your Presence

Like the other social media platforms you know and love, your profile on Threads should reflect who you are and what you represent. Spend time curating an engaging bio that succinctly defines your professional identity and highlights your expertise. Follow common practices from other platforms like Twitter and Instagram as you do this.?

Ideally, as the Threads algorithm develops, your profile will already be established, and the platform will be eager to share your profile with those looking to engage with the content you’ve been sharing.

2. Create High-Quality Content

As with all marketing, quality is king, and Threads is no different. Aim to post insightful, thought-provoking content that stimulates intellectual discourse and engagement. With Thread’s longer character limit, you can dive deeper into topics, helping you add even more value to each post. As you begin posting, don’t shy away from utilizing the platform’s multimedia capabilities. Like Twitter, you’ll also be able to share images and videos. Doing so will help you deliver a variety of high-quality content that’s visually appealing and keeps your audience engaged.?

3. Engage with the Community

Threads thrives on interaction. Respond to comments on your Threads. The more you engage with your community, the more exposure you’ll receive on the platform. And as a bonus, the platform will better understand who you are, what you like to see, and who to serve your content to, helping you develop a larger audience over time and further your impact as a thought leader.?

4. Build a Following

Consistency is key when it comes to building a following on Threads. Regularly post content and engage with others. Over time, this consistency helps attract a dedicated follower base who trusts your consistency, respects your expertise, and values your insights. The other tips I’m sharing in this post will also help you build a following, like engaging with your community and creating valuable content.

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5. Make the Most of Hashtags

While Hashtags aren’t currently a working feature on the Threads platform, the Head of Instagram posted that the feature is currently in the works. That’s great news because hashtags can significantly broaden your post’s reach. Hashtags connect your content with broader conversations, helping you reach interested users beyond your current follower base.?

It’s unclear when this feature will become available, but it’s never too early to keep it in mind and build them into your content strategy as you lay the groundwork for your new profile.?

6. Collaborate with Other Thought Leaders

One critical component in becoming a thought leader is networking. LinkedIn is the go-to platform for professional networking, but millions of professionals have also turned to alternative platforms, like Twitter, as an additional channel in their brand-building strategy. Threads can be yet another, well, thread in the tapestry of your strategy. Connect with other thought leaders in your space by engaging with and reposting their content. The goal is to develop and foster a relationship with other leaders, join existing conversations relevant to your expertise, and get your profile in front of other users who follow and engage with similar content.

7. Promote Your Own Work

Threads is another excellent place to self-promote your books, published articles, media features, or other projects. However, aim for balanced promotion. Over-promoting your projects can be spammy and disingenuous, especially if they’re gated or behind a paywall.?

Plenty of rules address self-promotion, but an easy one to remember is the 80/20 rule. This rule states that 80% of your content should be aimed at helping your audience, and the remaining 20% can promote your offerings. This enables you to build a brand known for its value, support, and insight rather than constant self-promotion.?

8. Share Your Expertise

Demonstrate your authority in your field by sharing unique insights or research findings. Whether it’s a hot take on a recent development or an analytical thread on a complex subject, showing your expertise can greatly enhance your thought leadership on Threads. If you have your finger on the pulse in your field, chances are you’ll also be sharing content that some of your audience hasn’t been exposed to yet, which is exactly what you want as a thought leader.?

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9. Participate in Relevant Threads

I touched on this a bit earlier, but let’s dig a little deeper. Your active participation in relevant Threads discussions is key to becoming a thought leader on any platform. Your unique insights can distinguish you from others in your space, showcasing your expertise while increasing your visibility.?

Select threads that align with your expertise, which will help ensure meaningful input and increase the likelihood that people see your content in your target audience. Aim to add value with each contribution. Ask questions, share your thoughts, and don’t be afraid to get a little personal (more on that next).?

10. Be Yourself

In the age of the influencer, being yourself can be a commodity. Social media users are skilled at gauging impersonators. Being genuine in your interactions and transparent in your intentions will help you to build trust and respect among your followers. To do this, share insights from your own journey, both the ups and the downs. Remember, not every anecdote or personal story has to tie back to your current offerings. Share some things with the sole intent to share a lesson you’ve learned. By doing this, you can make your brand more relatable and inspire others to connect with you on a deeper level.?

11. Keep Up with Trends

By reading this post, you’ve already demonstrated a careful awareness of current trends. Staying on top of trending discussions and contributing to them shows that you are in sync with the global conversation and allows you to reach a broader audience.?

Sharing your unique perspective on trending topics can introduce your thought leadership to new users and help build connections outside of your usual audience. This displays your awareness of the wider world, attracting a diverse audience who might appreciate your academic perspective on these trends. It’s a potent way to align your thought leadership with real-time global developments and?

12. Regularly Update Your Followers

When tasked with posting consistently on your multiple social channels, it can feel overwhelming to have to come up with content constantly. While much of your content should be valuable for your readers, don’t refrain from sharing updates too. Providing regular updates keeps your followers engaged.?

Updates might include sharing progress on a research project or a weekly roundup of interesting articles you’ve read. Consistent updates can transform passive followers into active participants, fostering community and shared learning around your content.

13. Celebrate Milestones

Don’t shy away from sharing your achievements and milestones. Whether it’s publishing a new research paper, reaching a certain number of followers, or even personal milestones like anniversaries or birthdays. Celebrating these moments helps you connect with your audience on a deeper level. It’s also an opportunity to inspire others with your journey and reinforce your position as a thought leader. Remember, your accomplishments are not just your own—they’re a testament to the community that supports you, and celebrating them brings your community closer.

14. Advocate for a Cause

One aspect that can help differentiate you as a thought leader is your ability to use your platform to bring attention to a larger cause, one that aligns with your expertise or values. This is another way to connect yourself with like-minded individuals, both within and beyond your niche. This will also highlight your commitment to making a positive impact. On Threads, this could involve discussing social, environmental, economic, or other issues that are important to you.?

For example, say you’re an Environmental Science professor. Your expertise could be instrumental in raising awareness and promoting understanding of global climate change. On Threads, you could use your platform to initiate conversations around the topic by starting threads explaining complex phenomena in simple terms, debunking common misconceptions, or sharing the latest findings.?

15. Continue to Learn and Adapt

As I shared earlier, Threads will continue to evolve, both as its parent company makes changes and as more and more users join the platform. This means your approach to using the platform should change too.?

Keep up with new features and adapt your content strategy. Embracing change shows your followers you’re committed to continuous learning and improvement. Adaptability is a critical characteristic in thought leaders, and it demonstrates your readiness to grow and innovate. It also ensures your content stays fresh and relevant, in tune with the ever-changing dynamics of the platform.??

Final Thoughts

The path to using Threads as a part of your strategy to become a thought leader or increase your visibility might be new, but it’s not uncharted territory. Drawing from tried-and-true strategies on platforms like Twitter and adapting them to this new channel can lead to incredible opportunities for growth and engagement. Remember, it’s not just about sharing your expertise—it’s about joining discourse, learning from others, and developing a community.?

So, go ahead. Connect with me, claim your space on Threads, and shape your academic narrative. Spark conversations, ask compelling questions, and share the passion that drives your day-to-day. With patience, commitment, and authenticity, you can cultivate a vibrant community on the platform. READY TO INCREASE YOUR VISIBILITY, AUTHORITY, AND INCOME WITHOUT THE EXPENSE OF A PUBLICIST? JUMP ON A CALL WITH ME HERE.