2024 Guide To Threads

Threads , although a newcomer to the social media landscape, has rapidly gained popularity. Meta's Threads app launched in July 2023 and surged to become the fastest-growing app in history. The highly awaited alternative to Twitter (X) debuted unexpectedly a day earlier than planned on July 5th, 2023, and quickly gained 30 million sign-ups within 24 hours. This user base skyrocketed to 70 million in less than two days. As of February 2024, the microblogging platform has earned over 160 million downloads.

Threads has enjoyed a remarkable launch. However, the question remains: will its momentum sustain beyond the initial craze surrounding this fresh social media platform? Can it establish itself as a compact yet impactful tool for social media marketing, delivering tangible returns on investment?

What Is Threads?

Created by Meta, Threads emerges as a short-form content-style social media platform heralded by many as the forward-thinking counterpart to Twitter (X).

Threads mirrors the atmosphere and utility of Twitter in several aspects. Yet, a pivotal departure lies in its decentralized nature. This decentralized structure empowers users to govern their privacy configurations and tailor their content consumption and interaction experiences without reliance on a singular governing body. Tailored for the era of the Metaverse, Threads gives creators and individual users unprecedented autonomy in content creation and consumption.

With Elon Musk's acquisition of X, the platform's long-term changes remain uncertain. Consequently, a wave of users have moved to Threads, viewing it as a superior alternative.

Threads Users

Threads seems to be drawing in users from a diverse range of demographics, although there's a notable gender skew. According to a recent study, about 68% of users identify as male, while 32% identify as female.

Interestingly, while Threads attracts users from all major demographics, the majority of its user base consists of Gen Zers.?

Not surprisingly, 96% of Threads users are also active on Meta-owned Instagram, with 80% showing high engagement on WhatsApp .

Threads has gained significant popularity in countries like India, Brazil, Mexico, Japan, and the UK. With the platform expanding to EU countries in December 2023, it tapped into a potential market of almost half a billion people, potentially adding around 40 million more users per month, according to The Wall Street Journal .

How To Sign Up For Threads

You can sign up for Threads and create an account using your existing Instagram profile. Here’s what to do:

1. Download the Threads app.
2. Login with your Instagram credentials.
3. Create your Threads profile.
4. Set your privacy preferences (You can choose whether you want your account to be public or private).
5. Start posting and interacting.

Threads Features

If you want to make the most out of Threads, it's important to familiarize yourself with its key features. Understanding these features will not only help you navigate the platform better but also empower you to create content that's more relevant, engaging, and consistent.?

500-character post limit: When creating text-based posts on Threads, keep in mind there's a 500-character limit. Similar to X, you can interact with other creators' content by responding to, quoting, or reposting it.

Privacy and status: You have the option to set your Threads account to either public or private, giving you control over your privacy and visibility. If you sign up via your Instagram account, your Threads account will automatically get verified, indicated by a blue tick.

Stories: While Threads doesn't have a dedicated Stories feature, you can still share your Threads content on your Instagram account to boost engagement and cross-promote your content. Maintaining a consistent and visually appealing brand theme will help you stand out and increase awareness.

Close friends circles: Take advantage of creating 'close friends circles' to curate groups of relevant users or accounts for more personalized conversations. Sharing targeted content within these groups can drive more meaningful engagement.

Advertising: Formal paid advertising isn't an option on Threads at the moment, but it's expected to roll out in 2024. In the meantime, leveraging influencer marketing is your best bet to expand your reach and showcase your offerings effectively on the platform.

Creating A Threads Strategy

To truly maximize the impact of your Threads content, it's all about strategic thinking. Developing a clear strategy that involves observation, experimentation, trial and error, and plenty of creativity is key to consistently engaging your audience and expanding your platform's reach.

Here are some pointers to help you shape a strong Threads strategy:

Dive in and give it a shot: Brands need to establish a presence on Threads, even if it's just to secure a username, especially considering the projected increase in user numbers for 2024. This is the perfect opportunity to explore the platform and see what works. Simply creating an account and engaging with others on the platform sets you on the right path. (For more insights on establishing a presence on Threads, check out our Trends webinar.)

Observe and learn: Take the time to observe not only your competitors but also other brands or sectors unrelated to yours. There's much to be learned from diverse sources of inspiration.

Embrace your creative side: Standing out and building an audience on Threads requires creativity. By tapping into the platform's various engagement features and experimenting with different content formats, you'll capture attention and generate buzz.

Threads Engagement Tips

To keep your Threads content engaging and dynamic, here are some options to explore:

1. Spice up your feed with insightful quotes: Instead of a simple repost, inject your own perspective to ignite discussions.
2. Start conversations with topical questions: Pose questions that get people talking and foster interaction.
3. Dive into surveys and polls: They're great for generating excitement and gathering valuable insights.
4. Stay current with trending news in your field: Position yourself as a thought leader and expand your platform's reach.
5. Share exclusive behind-the-scenes content: Offering a sneak peek into your brand's inner workings adds originality and fosters a closer connection with your audience.
6. Curate user-generated content: Tap into authentic material that captures attention and drives conversions.
7. Share personal anecdotes and reflections: Stand out from the crowd by adding a personal touch while keeping it relatable. Just steer clear of overly controversial topics.
8. Enhance your posts with eye-catching visuals: Incorporate motion graphics, memes, and branded videos to captivate your audience time and again.

#DigitalMarketing #SocialMediaMarketing #Marketing #SocialMedia #Threads