Launched in July 2023, Threads is the latest social media platform to join the Meta apps family. Despite being a new app, Threads continues to grow in popularity - according to Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri, Threads recently reached 200 million active users. Many of those users are content creators, marketers, and influencers. If you're a social media manager yourself, or your business wants to engage with creators, you need to consider adding Threads to your social media strategy.
In this guide, we'll share tips and strategies for growing your following on the platform.
Source: Adam Mosseri. See it on Threads
Why Use Threads?
Wondering whether you should start posting on Threads? Here are some things to consider before adding this new platform to your social media calendar.
Reason #1: Threads is a New Platform and There's Growing Interest
Despite being a new platform, Threads garnered a huge 100 million user sign-ups the first week it launched. A year later, in July 2024, the number of users has doubled to 200 million. In comparison, Instagram has over 2 billion and the Twitter audience is 611 million. Still, both these social networks have been around for a much longer time.
This rapid growth in Threads users highlights the potential for reaching a large and untapped audience quickly (The Guardian, 2023).
Top Social Media Platforms by Number of Users in 2024
Source: Statista, 2024
Reason #2: Threads is Ideal for Real-Time Engagement
A major highlight of Threads is engaging with people in real-time. You can join conversations on the latest trending topics, or create your own live polls.
Here's an example of a poll posted by Metricool app on Threads:
Source: Metricoolapp. View it on Threads
Reason #3: Integration with Other Meta Apps
Threads integrates seamlessly with other Meta apps like Instagram and Facebook. This allows you to cross-post your Threads on Instagram Stories and maximize your reach.
Here's how Pallyy's Threads post is shown to their followers on Instagram:
Source: Pallyy. View it on Threads
Yes, Threads is growing and getting more attention. But there are other factors that you should also consider, like - is your target audience actively using Threads? If you're not able to find your ideal customers on Threads, you're better off directing your time and effort (not to mention social media budget) elsewhere.
How to Grow a Following on Threads
If you've decided to start posting on Threads, you can start thinking about strategies for growing your account following. You could go the long route of posting a bunch of different content types and see what sticks, but it's easier if you apply a few proven tips and marketing strategies.
That's why, I've compiled a list of some key strategies you may want to consider:
#1: Let your followers know you're on Threads
The first thing to do if you want to grow your following is to tell people you're using Threads. Share the news on other platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter to remind your followers that you're active on Threads, and ask them to follow you.
Here's how I announced to my Instagram followers that I'm using Threads:
#2: Thread consistently to maximise visibility
Now that you've decided (and announced) that you're using Threads, it's important to get active by posting consistently. When people see that you're active, they're more likely to follow you - which is a key part to getting followers on Threads. In the beginning, I would aim to post at least once a day, to keep your followers engaged and attract new ones.
PS: I recommend using a scheduling tool like Pallyy to plan your Threads posts in advance and schedule them at consistent times throughout the week.
#3: Cross-promote on other platforms
Share and promote your Threads profile on your other social media accounts, website, and email newsletters. When you let your audience know that you are active on Threads, they're more likely to follow you there.
Tip: Add a link to your Threads profile to your email newsletter signature or in your Instagram link in bio. This is a simple way to drive traffic to your Threads profile and increase your follower count.
#4: Find a community and get connected
Once you connect your Instagram to Threads, you can search for new accounts in your industry and get connected. It can be as simple as following people and replying to their posts.
I ran a quick poll on Threads to see how other marketers are growing their following. The results? 100% of respondents said finding a community is clearly the top priority for growth on Threads:
And it makes sense. The more you interact with other accounts in your industry, the more visibility you get, the higher the chance for people to follow you on Threads.
Note: Currently, there's no option to go Live on Threads, but you can share interactive content like polls, and quizzes to boost engagement.
#5: Learn the types of content to post on Threads
Once you've connected with a community on Threads, it's time to start creating a content strategy. Think of topics of conversation, hashtags and your goals. Audiences on Threads are looking for content that is easy to understand and engage with.
Here are a few types of content that I would recommend:
- Funny content - some brands don't take themselves too seriously on Threads. So it's okay to make fun of yourself, your team or miss-spell words like Calm does in the example below.
- Storytelling posts - these posts in particular tend to perform well on Threads because they're more authentic
- Lists and tips - text-based lists and tips are easy to share and engage with on Threads
- Industry news - breaking news can get amplified by your followers commenting on them
- Answering questions - these make great conversation starters
Source: Calm. See it on Threads
PS: For more Threads post ideas, check out our previous post "What is Threads and Content Ideas."
#6: Tap into trending topics and hashtags
Using hashtags on Threads makes your posts discoverable to users interested in those topics. Research the most popular hashtags in your industry, look at what's currently trending, and include them in your Threads posts.
I love how Peet's Coffee did not miss the chance to hop on the Paris 2024 Olympics trend.
Source: Peetscoffee. View it on Threads
Note: Threads limits you to only 1 hashtag per post, so choose your hashtags wisely and make sure they're relevant to your post!
#7: Monitor your insights
There's always a lot to learn from your past posts' history. Regularly reviewing your posts, and studying which posts get more engagement and which get reshared on Threads will help you create content that resonates most with your audience.
Threads shows you a few insights, mainly:
- Views - How many people viewed your post
- Followers - Your total number of followers
- Likes & comments - How many people engaged with your post
These insights are more basic than what you will get on Instagram and Facebook, but they're a good indication of what types of posts resonate with your community more.
Tip: Check your post insights monthly and use them to improve your content strategy to reach more people.
Conclusion
Growing a following on Threads requires a combination of consistency, engagement, and strategic content sharing. By following these tips and leveraging the platform's features, you can effectively increase your visibility and build a strong presence on Threads.