There’s a new app in town. Meta’s new platform Threads touched down in the social media-verse just two weeks ago, causing a frenzy among creators, social media managers, and casual users alike.
Indeed, the early days of any new social media app are always fun and exciting. Creators know, however, that adding a new social platform to their rotation also means building a new following from the ground up. And that takes work! But, don’t worry, we’ve got you.
Looking to grow your Threads audience? Read on to learn all the ins and outs of the new app, including eight creative ways to boost your follower count.
What is Threads?
Threads is a new social media app launched by Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta, the tech conglomerate behind social media heavyweights Facebook and Instagram. Threads is a text-based platform and, according to its creators, was launched as a discussion forum where users can share their thoughts and join public conversations.
Here’s how it works: Threads allows users to create text posts (up to 500 characters long), with the option to add links, photos (up to seven per post), and videos (up to 5 minutes in length). Users are also able to:
- Reply to individual posts.
- Start “threads” of conversation.
- Repost other users’ posts to their profile.
- “Quote” other users’ posts, which means reposting and adding your own thoughts.
Your Threads home feed includes posts made by the people you follow and recommended content posted by other creators. But the best part? No pesky ads — at least, for now. Zuckerberg has said that Threads will hold off on advertising until the app reaches one billion users. But that update might actually come sooner than expected, as the app reportedly surpassed 100 million user sign-ups within its first days.
Threads is still in its early days and, right now, has pretty limited functionality. Currently, the app doesn’t have hashtags or an Explore page, and doesn’t have an in-app messaging feature. With that, however, the app’s creators have already rolled out their first round of updates — and more are on the way.
How is Threads connected to Instagram?
Threads was launched by the team behind Instagram, and so it makes sense that the new app is highly connected to its sister app.
Users log in to the Threads app through Instagram, and have the option of synching their Instagram following on Threads. For creators, this means you’ll likely already have a built-in following on the Threads app, and will have to spend less time and effort growing your audience from scratch.
That being said, the connectivity between Threads and Instagram does come with a small trade-off. Once you’ve created your Threads account, you’re not able to permanently delete it without also deleting your Instagram account. However, you are able to deactivate your Threads account, which will hide your profile and content, or make your Threads account private. Just something to think about if you’re still deciding whether to join the platform.
What’s the big deal about Threads?
Essentially, Threads is Meta’s answer to Twitter, and it’s the first app to seriously compete with the platform in the 17 years since its inception. Now, you might be wondering, “Why is Meta only just now launching a Twitter competitor after all that time?” Well, the answer to that question has a lot to do with Elon Musk.
As you likely know, the billionaire and business magnate acquired Twitter last October after a series of long-drawn-out negotiations. Since then, the app has undergone a series of major changes that have left many longtime users disgruntled and looking to jump ship.
Twitter users are growing frustrated
One of Musk’s biggest Twitter missteps to date has been the launch of Twitter Blue. The new verification feature, rolled out in a bid to make the app more profitable, offered verified badges to anyone willing to pay for them, while simultaneously stripping previously, legitimately verified accounts of their blue ticks. In a nutshell, Twitter Blue has made the app the wild, wild west, especially when it comes to the problem of misinformation.
Other major changes include the creation of a new For You page, changing the way Twitter users are recommended posts based on users they follow; the reinstatement of thousands of previously banned Twitter accounts, including some of the platform’s most notorious users like Donald Trump and Andrew Tate; and a ban on posting links to other social apps (a change which has since been reversed.)
And those are just the user-facing updates. Since the acquisition, Musk and company have also made significant backend server architecture changes to the app, leading to outages and technical issues for many users.
Enter Threads
With all the recent tumult at Twitter, it’s no wonder longtime users are looking to leave the app. And that’s where Threads comes in.
In many ways, the new app provides users with many of the same classic, user-friendly features of the old Twitter we know and love. Add to that the social power that Meta has accumulated with the success of apps like Facebook and Instagram, and we’re betting that Threads is going to be a social media smash hit. Whether the new app will totally replace Twitter, however, still remains to be seen.
How to set up your Threads account
Want to join Threads? Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set up your new account.
Step 1
First, download the Threads app (for iOS or Google).
Step 2
Then, open the app and log in using your Instagram account credentials.
Step 3
Next, it’s time to write your bio. Luckily, Threads gives you the option to import your Instagram bio automatically, with just one click. If you’d like to use a new bio, simply type it into the text field provided. Here, you can also add a link to your bio.
Step 4
Then, choose whether you’d like your Threads profile to be public or private. Note: your profile’s privacy settings on Threads can be different from your profile’s privacy settings on Instagram.
Step 5
Next, you can choose to follow the same accounts on Threads that you’re currently following on Instagram.
And that’s it! Your Threads account is all set up and you’re ready to start posting.
8 Ways to get more followers on Threads
Already signed up for Threads or looking to jump on the bandwagon? Joining Threads means you’ll need to build up your following from the ground up on a new app. Luckily, Threads’ connection to Instagram means you’ll be able to recoup at least a portion of your Instagram following as those users sign up for the new platform. But even with that, you’ll still need to put in some work to amass a robust Threads audience.
That being said, Threads presents creators with an exciting opportunity to reach and build a new audience, while offering their existing audience new forms of content and engagement. And since Threads is in its infancy, there’s really no better time than the present to start growing your Threads following as an early adopter. If you can corner a niche and carve out a unique space for yourself on the app in its early days, you’re well on your way to Threads success.
Looking for ways to get more followers on Threads? Here are some creative ways to increase your follower count on the new app.
1. Post memes
Everybody loves memes. And, more than that, everyone loves sharing memes. Because of their inherent shareability, memes are one of the best ways to go viral on social media, allowing you to reach new users and audiences. Memes also require fairly little effort to create, meaning they can bring you more bang (followers) for your buck (time) than other forms of content, like original photos and video.
Because Threads is a text-based app that integrates photo and video, it actually lends itself well to creating memes. Get creative and play around with ways you can use text, and photo or video in conjunction. Who knows, you might just create this week’s most viral meme format. Or, even better, one that leaves its mark in the meme hall of fame forever.
Need some inspiration? Take a look at how creators like Girls That Invest and Taylor Loren are doing it:
2. Share candid and unfiltered images
Whereas Instagram is the platform of polished visuals, Threads is shaping up to be much more, err, unpolished. Because it’s a text-based rather than visual-based platform, Threads alleviates much of the pressure creators (particularly those on Instagram) feel to create polished visual content all the time, allowing them to be much more off-the-cuff with the content they choose to share on the app.
We suggest taking advantage of the platform’s more casual approach to content by sharing candid and unfiltered images — the ones that didn’t make it to the Instagram grid or even through the photo editing app — on your Threads account. No doubt, your existing followers will love to see this raw, authentic content. But that’s not all. According to Forbes, “being real and creating more authentic content can forge a deeper connection with [your audience].” In other words, authenticity drives engagement. And, as far as social media algorithms go, we all know more engagement means more followers.
Take a page out of creators David Suh and Jade Lily‘s playbook, and have fun with it!
3. Post behind-the-scenes content
Another great way to take advantage of Threads’ more casual vibe is to use the app to share behind-the-scenes content with your following. Everyone loves a peek behind the proverbial curtain. No matter your niche, your audience will appreciate a look at how the content they love comes together.
Sharing behind-the-scenes content is also a convenient way to maximize your content creation process, enabling you to get twice the content for the same amount of time and effort. Consider it a two-for-one type of deal. And the types of BTS content you can create are endless. Are you a beauty blogger? Share some snaps of the products you’re using in your next makeup tutorial. Is video your preferred format? Post a few bloopers to your Threads page.
4. Share a preview
We’ve talked about giving your followers a peek behind the curtain, but what about a sneak peek of upcoming work? Threads’ raw, off-the-cuff feel makes it a great platform for creators to give their followers a preview of their work or showcase works in progress.
Sharing a preview of future work — perhaps a clip of a new video essay, a glimpse at a digital product prototype, a verse from a new song, or a sketch of a new artwork — generates hype among your existing audience. The hype, in turn, generates engagement, and more engagement means better chances of your post getting displayed on other users’ home pages.
Sharing previews of your work exclusively on Threads is also a great incentive for your existing audience to follow you on the app. Post on your other social channels to let your audience know they can find a sneak peek of your upcoming content on Threads, and watch the followers add up.
Take artist Amanda Eve, for example, who takes to Threads to show her followers sneak peeks of her upcoming pieces.
5. Tag someone
In addition to allowing creators to post their own thoughts, the Threads app also lets you start conversations with other users by tagging them in your posts — and it’s a great way to gain new followers.
Post a thread tagging a well-known celebrity, content creator, or other public figure and ask them a question. Their response will expose you their fan base and earn you new followers — and even a brand new audience. Here’s a good example from influencer marketing expert, Lia Haberman:
You can also harness the power of Threads tagging feature to reach potential followers in your target audience. You can do this by starting conversations with content creators and public figures within your niche. In addition to forging new connections with like-minded creators, the conversation will help you reach a more targeted set of users — one that’s very likely to follow you and really engage with your content.
6. Ask your audience a question
Threads is engineered for engagement. Because of its conversational, thread-based format, the platform is the perfect place for creators to really engage with their audience.
In addition to replying to your followers’ comments, you can also engage with your audience by asking them questions. Your question could be about anything — current events, preferences, would-you-rather’s — but ask it with the intention of starting a conversation. Your followers’ replies will expose your profile to their audience. And if your post gets enough engagement, it could get boosted to other users’ home feeds, exposing you to more potential followers.
Here’s a great example from creator Miss Excel:
7. Reply to other users’ threads
We’ve already gone over how creators can start their own conversations on Threads, but another great way to earn new followers is to join in others’ conversations as well. Is a brand, celebrity, or content creator asking their audience a question? Chiming in with your opinion will expose you to their following.
Replying to posts on topics surrounding your niche is also a surefire way to reach new users in your target audience. While Threads’ search engine functionality is currently limited to searching for users (as of right now, there is no keyword or hashtag search), we suggest seeking out content creators and public figures within your niche, perusing their profiles, and replying to posts relevant to your specialty.
8. Share your Threads posts on Instagram
Want to convert more of your Instagram following to Threads? Lucky for you, Meta has made it fairly easy. The platform’s post-sharing feature allows you to share your Threads posts to your Instagram Feed or Stories in just one step.
And the best part? The shared post is clickable back to Threads. Showing your audience some of the content they’re missing out on on Threads is a great way to incentivize followers who haven’t yet joined the app — or followed you on the platform — to finally take that step.
Here’s a screenshot of what that looks like, courtesy of Lia Haberman:
Have fun on Threads!
Joining a new social media app in its early days is always fun and exciting. And Threads has proven that tenfold. As users continue to explore and navigate Threads, these early days are also the best time to grow your following on the app. So, get on the app and start rolling out those threads. Try out the tips above and watch the followers roll in.
FAQ
Who can access Threads?
For now, Threads is available only to Instagram users. That means in order to create a Threads account, you need an existing Instagram account or need to sign up to the platform first.
At the moment, the Threads app is available to users in all regions where Instagram is accessible, excluding Europe. Meta has cited privacy concerns as its reason for blocking the app in most European countries. However, the company has stated that they hope to make the app available to European users in the future.
Can you delete your Threads account?
Yes, you can permanently delete your Threads account. However, in order to delete your Threads account you must also delete your Instagram account. As an alternative to deleting your Threads account, you’re also able to deactivate your account, which hides your profile and content.
Image Credit: Meta
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