Should my Business Join Threads?
rbracha
Social media has become an essential part of the modern-day business landscape, providing SMEs with an avenue to reach a wider audience. With the emergence of new social media platforms, businesses are presented with new opportunities to engage with potential customers and expand their reach. One such platform that is making some serious waves in the social media space is Threads, a text-based conversation app built by the Instagram team, which has become the fastest-growing social media platform in history. Let’s explore what Threads is, how it can benefit businesses, and the current functions it has available.
What is Threads?
Threads is a new social media platform that enables users to share text updates and join public conversations. The app is built by the Instagram team and is meant to be an extension of the Instagram platform, allowing users to use their Instagram handles to log in and follow their existing contacts. The app allows users to follow and connect with people who love the same things, and to build a loyal following of their own to share their ideas, opinions, and creativity with the world.
There are also plans for Threads to be integrated into what’s known as the Fediverse, which is a network of social media servers that enable users to communicate with people on other social media platforms that aren’t owned or operated by Meta, such as another Twitter-alike platform known as Mastodon.
Threads shows users content from people they already follow on Instagram, as well as content from others. The app looks like Twitter, with features such liking, reposting, and deciding who can reply to a user's 'threads'. The app is currently available on iOS and Android devices and can be downloaded from the Apple Store or Google Play.
How can Threads benefit businesses?
Threads presents businesses with a unique opportunity to reach a wider audience and engage with potential customers. With over 100 million users in its first week, Threads has quickly become a popular alternative for those looking to leave other social media platforms, in particular Twitter which has become something of a controversial social space since it was purchased by the billionaire Elon Musk.
The app allows businesses to share text updates and visual content, including links, photos, and videos up to five minutes in length, providing businesses with a new voice to interact with potential clients and new audiences.
By building a following on Threads, businesses can engage with users who are interested in their products or services, and drive traffic to their website or social media pages. The app allows businesses to connect with users who are passionate about the same things they are, and to build a loyal following of their own to share their ideas, opinions, and creativity with the world.
What functions does Threads currently have available?
Threads is still in its early stages of development, and as such, it does not yet have the ability to send messages, use hashtags like they might already be accustomed to on platforms like Instagram, or offer paid advertising for brands. However, the platform is quickly gaining traction among users, and we are confident that these features will be added over time.
At present, Threads allows users to share text updates and visual content, including links, photos, and videos up to five minutes in length. Users can like and repost content, and decide who can reply to their threads. The core accessibility features available on Instagram today, such as screen reader support and AI-generated image descriptions, are also enabled on Threads.
Meta has announced that updates to the app are coming soon, including several new features to help users continue to discover threads and creators they're interested in, improved recommendations in the home feed, and a more robust search function that makes it easier to follow topics and trends in real-time. Meta's vision for Threads is that people using compatible apps will be able to follow and interact with people on Threads without having a Threads account, ushering in a new era of diverse and interconnected networks (the Fediverse).
Whilst it’s extremely popular already, the platform is still very much in its infancy, but Threads presents businesses with a new opportunity to reach a wider audience and engage with potential customers. After all, social media is the method that millions of people choose to engage with brands in the modern age, so businesses should look to stay ahead of the curve by building a following on Threads, as it is likely to become a more significant player in the social media space in the coming years.
While the app does not yet have the ability to send messages or offer paid advertising for brands, we are confident that these features will be added soon, providing businesses with even more opportunities to engage with potential customers and expand their reach.
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