[A must-read for newbies!] What are threads? A complete getting started guide to get you started quickly!

Have you downloaded Threads but don’t know how to use it? This social platform launched by Instagram's parent company Meta is tied to IG, but its operation method is slightly different. If you are used to the ecosystem of IG and Facebook, you may be a little confused when you first use Threads, and you may find the screen a mess after posting.

Don’t worry, in this article I will help you get started quickly, from basic functions to posting skills, and guide you to master Threads step by step, so that you can start posting and interacting easily without having to figure it out for a long time!

What are Threads? How is it different from IG and FB?

Threads was launched by Meta and linked with IG, allowing users to"text"Come share ideas. Although it belongs to the same company as IG and the accounts are interoperable, the way it is used is very different from IG and Facebook.

IG is mainly based on pictures and short videos, Facebook features long articles, groups and activities, and Threads is a "pure community discussion space" that does not emphasize visual content but encourages everyone to communicate through text.

Simply put, Threads is like a large chat room where everyone can express their thoughts at any time, not just limited to photos and videos.
It is more like the "forum version" of IG, and is more suitable for people who like to discuss and express their ideas.

Currently, Threads does not have a private message function, nor does it have an algorithm to recommend content, so your posts will mainly be seen by your followers, and the posting rhythm is more immediate than IG and FB. This is a great place for anyone who enjoys chatting with friends, discussing current events, or working on their personal brand.

The main differences between it and IG and FB:

• No private messaging feature, you cannot send private messages like IG, you will need to connect to IG to send private messages.
• The maximum length of a post is 500 words, and the editing time after posting is only 15 minutes (varies from person to person).
• Support multimedia content, you can upload 10 pictures or videos up to 5 minutes long.
• No "Multiple Hashtags" feature, only one hashtag can be used.

Threads User Interface

When you first open Threads, the screen looks simple, but it contains several important blocks. You need to understand their purposes first before you can use this platform more smoothly.

Home

This is where you see all the posts, including content posted by the people you follow, as well as some posts recommended to you by Threads. You can think of it as the dynamic wall of Facebook and Instagram.

You can decide whether to display the "Recommended for you" or "Following" page, depending on whether you want to see posts from unfamiliar accounts.

Search

The search function is currently very limited. You can search for user names and keywords, but the search function is not yet very complete, so you may not find what you are looking for. Currently, Threads does not have a function to find today's hot topics.

Post

Threads supports plain text, pictures, videos, audio, voting, etc.

To post, click "+" to enter text and attach pictures or videos. Threads allows a single post to be up to 500 words. If it exceeds this limit, you can use the "reply to yourself" method to string together a long post.

You need to adjust the paragraph layout here yourself, such as using "." or "_" to separate different paragraphs to make the article look more neat.

Notification (Activity)

The Notification Center displays interactions with your posts, including likes, comments, reposts, and new followers.

Profile

Personal profiles are similar to IG, and the names of Threads are linked to IG, so if you want to change the name of Threads, you need to go to IG to change it before it will be synchronized.

Here you can also view your past posts, number of followers and fans, and modify your personal profile and links.

Finally, if you want to develop a personal brand or direct traffic to other communities, remember to put your FB or website link here so that more people can find you.

If you are a user who is used to the IG style, you may find the Threads interface "very simple" at first, but this is actually its advantage - it allows you to focus on posting and interacting.

How to post in Threads? Quick Start Guide

If you are already used to posting on IG or Facebook, Threads is actually not too difficult to get started. However, more emphasis is placed on text content rather than pictures or videos, so the focus of the post should be on "how to attract people to read and interact."

Basic posting rules

• Text limit:500 words
• You can attach up to 10 pictures or 5 minutes of video
• Can @Annotation Other users
• Can be used # Tags, but currently only one
• No built-in article formatting capabilities, so if you want to split a paragraph, it is recommended to use "." or "_" to open a blank line

For example:

This is a piece of text.
.
This is the next paragraph.

This way, Threads will retain line breaks, making the content easier to read.

ThreadsAdvanced posting skills

1. How to post long text?
   • Currently, a post on Threads is limited to 500 words. If you cannot finish writing within 500 words, it is recommended to use the "reply to yourself" method to turn the long article into a structured thread.
2. How to make your posts more attractive?
   • Make good use of questions at the beginning to attract readers' interaction.
   • Add a sentence at the end that invites a response, such as "What do you think?" or "Have you had similar experience?"
   • If you are a brand or creator, you can add a call to action (CTA) at the end, such as "Want to see more? Welcome to follow!"

How to interact in Threads? 4 ways to interact

The interaction method of Threads is slightly different from Facebook and IG. You can try these 4 ways to interact on Threads.

1. Like : Like IG, expressed like this post.
2. Reply ：This is the main discussion method of Threads, but you should pay attention to the hierarchy when replying, otherwise you may accidentally reply to different content.
3. Repost : Share other people’s posts directly to your page, similar to the “Share” function on IG stories.
4. Quote : Adding your own comments or opinions when forwarding can increase the chance of interaction. Brands or creators can use this trick to increase their influence. This goes beyond simply forwarding, making it easier to attract others to participate in discussions and understand your views.

Is Threads worth running? Who is it suitable for?

Threads is still developing and currently has some traffic dividends. For people like me who hope to attract audiences through text, Threads is a platform worth operating.

Want to know if Threads is right for you? Let me give you an example.

If you’re used to posting short updates on Instagram or short stories on Facebook, Threads might be for you. The community atmosphere here is relatively relaxed, without too much advertising interference. For those who want to build a personal brand or increase community interaction, this is a platform worth trying.

If you want to use Threads more proficiently, not only the basic operations, but also:

• How to write more attractive posts?
• How to increase reach and let more people see your content?
• Understand what Threads algorithm focuses on?
• How to use Threads to drive traffic to IG, emails or other platforms?

Recently, I have also sorted out some of my own tips for running Threads, and compiled a series of e-newsletters called "Secretly Teach You How to Write Threads: 3-Day Beginner's Guide". If you are still stuck on the first article, I would like to send you these 3 letters, I hope you will like them. ​

📩 Click below to receive free e-newsletter

You can practice Threads with me

If you have read this far, you should have some new ideas about running Threads. I hope this article is helpful to you!
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