Last week Wednesday was an epic day for everyone. Like you and everyone that uses the internet, I woke to see that the big boys were at it again – and dearest Uncle Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of the Meta had just launched a new competition to Twitter called Threads.
Intrigued by this development, I eagerly delved into the conversation surrounding it. It became clear that Threads was a technical support system for social media users who felt somewhat constrained on the sister app, Twitter.
Threads is a great app for Gen Z users who want to share their thoughts and experiences with a wider audience. The interface is easy to use, and the app allows you to post longer messages than you can on Twitter. You can also share photos, gifs and videos.
Although Threads shares some similarities with Twitter, it gives you the liberty to see as many posts and content as possible. This is the freedom of speech that everyone wanted on Twitter, but it has been somewhat curtailed by Elon Musk, giving everyone a life outside of social media. (We’ll talk about this someday.)
Threads is a direct competitor to Twitter. It gives the same features of reposting (what is known as retweeting) and also, has a limited number of characters (500 per post). The app allows its users to create posts with various forms of media formats such as images and GIFs; and also, it allows videos up to five minutes in length.
Zuckerberg stated that the purpose of Threads was to offer users a separate space for real-time updates and public conversations. However, it doesn’t provide the opportunity for direct messaging [maybe, it will someday]. This is a tackling challenge for businesses and business owners, especially in this H2 season of the year.
How Can Businesses Use Threads?
Businesses are not left out in the usage of Threads, especially vendors who rely on the internet to provide themselves with the necessary funding, profits and sales. As the old Nigerian saying goes, “Man must chop” so, it is important to understand the new social media technology and how to utilize it.
We, at Thrive Media Africa, curated a list of ways in which small and medium businesses and entrepreneurs can properly use Threads to their benefit:
- Download The Mobile App:
Threads are available on your Play stores. That is Google and iOS app stores. So, it is important to have the mobile app as your beginner step. It is somewhat linked to your Instagram page and so, offers you the dual opportunity to repost your content on your feeds. The mobile app requires you to sign up, using your username and password (just as done on your Instagram profile).
- Define Your Goals:
Clearly outline your marketing objectives. Do you want to increase brand awareness, generate leads, drive website traffic, or boost sales? Having a clear goal will help you create an effective marketing strategy on Threads.
- Know your Target Audience:
This shouldn’t be a problem for you as your Instagram username might have told you. However, if you are still unsure about this, it is important to understand your audience’s demographics, preferences, and behaviours. This knowledge will enable you to tailor your messages and content to resonate with them. So, you are getting double the revenue on both your Threads and other related Meta accounts.
- Create Compelling Content:
Mobile users have limited attention spans, so create visually appealing and engaging content. Utilize images, videos, and concise text to convey your message effectively.
- Leverage Storytelling:
Tell a story that captivates your audience and makes your brand memorable. Stories are more likely to be shared and can generate word-of-mouth marketing.
- Utilize Response Features:
Although Threads is still in its new form, it doesn’t have chat or messaging features. This means, no more “DM for pricing” as it has been traditionally done before. So, for businesses to grow on this platform, it is important to engage with your audience directly. Respond promptly to their queries, comments, and feedback to build relationships and establish trust.
- Collaborate with Influencers:
In less than 24 hours of the existence of Threads on the internet space, we’ve monitored the numbers. Foremost YouTube creator, Mr Beast has gained over a million followers on the application and also, and we’ve seen the increasing records from various fronts. This shows that collaborating with influencers relevant to your industry or niche and partnering with them to promote your brand is important. Influencer marketing can significantly increase your reach and credibility.
Conclusion
Threads like a new product in the market are fresh and explorable. We urge you to key into its resourcefulness as we’d be providing you with updated information as time goes by. Let Threads be your new pathway to business success.
