Threads, a new text-based app by Instagram, is quickly gaining popularity among brands, influencers, and social media users. Similar to Twitter, Threads is designed to facilitate close connections and conversations with friends and followers. Here’s what brands and influencers need to know about Threads:
What is Threads?
Threads is an app created by Instagram to share text updates and participate in public conversations. It launched on July 6 and garnered 30 million users on its first day, including brands like Netflix and celebrities like Jennifer Lopez.
Mega-influencers like MrBeast also joined quickly.
Instagram’s goal with Threads is to provide a positive space for creators and casual users to share real-time updates, express ideas, and foster connections.
Threads vs. Twitter
According to Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, Twitter’s “volatility” and “unpredictability” under Elon Musk created an opportunity for Threads to compete. While the two apps have similarities in layout and features, Threads emphasizes personal and intimate connections. Threads launched without features like hashtags, search, a following feed, and direct messaging that Twitter offers, but Mosseri said those features are likely coming soon.
Key Features of Threads
Threads has a post limit of 500 characters that can include photos, links, and videos up to 5 minutes. Users can like, comment, share, and repost threads. Account name and verification carry over from Instagram. The main feed contains recommended content and posts from people you follow. Privacy controls allow you to filter certain words and restrict who can mention you or reply to your posts. Accessibility features include screen reader support and AI-generated image descriptions. Thread posts can be shared as Instagram Stories.
Benefits of Threads
Threads and Instagram are integrated, so you can easily transfer your account info and follower list from Instagram to Threads. Threads has privacy settings to control who can interact with you and the option to filter out certain words from your replies. Since the app is integrated with Instagram, Threads enforces Instagram’s Community Guidelines on content and interactions, reducing harassment and making brands and creators feel safer and more confident in their online presence. The lower volatility on Threads compared to Twitter can motivate brands to advertise on the app as an alternative.
How Brands and Influencers Can Use Threads
Brands and influencers can use Threads to connect with their followers on a more personal level by creating customized “Close Friends” lists to share exclusive content, sharing behind-the-scenes content, collaborating with other influencers, hosting Q&As, and showing the personality behind the brand or influencer.
How to Join Threads
To join Threads, log in using your Instagram account. Your Instagram username transfers to your Threads account, and you have the option to customize your profile specifically for Threads. If you’re under the age of 16 or 18 in certain countries, your account will automatically default to private. However, users above those age limits can choose between setting their accounts to public or private. Once your account is created, you can follow the same people from your Instagram account and find others with similar interests to follow as well. You can also start by sharing your own Thread posts and interacting with others on the app via likes, replies, reposts, and shares.
On the bottom panel of Threads, there are five sections including the home page, search bar, post button, activity window, and profile page. The home page displays posts from people you follow and recommended accounts. The search bar allows you to browse accounts and find new people to follow.
You can create your Threads post using the post button. The activity window shows notifications of replies and mentions. Lastly, the profile page is where you can edit your account information and view all your posts and replies.
In conclusion, Instagram Threads can be a helpful tool for brands and influencers who want to establish more personalized and genuine connections with their followers.
To learn more about how your brand can be successful on Threads setup a FREE consultation with MJPerkins.com