For the social media savvy, Threads is not news, but if you’re just catching up: it’s the newest social media platform, most comparable to Twitter. If you have an Instagram account, it’s currently the only way to opt into the platform. When Threads launched on July 5, it spread like wildfire, claiming over 100 million users in just 5 days.
For business owners — and for our purposes, real estate agents — the question becomes, should I be marketing my business on Threads, and if so, how? We’re here to discuss some successful strategies for real estate agents on Threads, and whether it’s the right marketing tool for you.
What Is Threads And How Do I Use It?
Threads is essentially a competitor for Twitter. Think of it as a place for micro-blogging, where you can share thoughts and ideas, pictures, video, and links, with a limit of 500 characters in the text (as compared to Twitter’s 280-character limit.) It is tied directly to Instagram, so if you don’t have an Instagram account, you can’t sign up for Threads. When you sign up, you can automatically connect to any of the accounts you follow on Instagram that have opted into Threads.
Should I Use Threads To Market My Business?
Good question. It’s an opportunity to be an early adopter of a new platform, and thus businesses can show that they are savvy, while experimenting with the medium and using it to connect with other businesses and potentially get in front of new clients and larger audiences. The ability to engage is far-reaching, and the cross-platform engagement is intriguing. For example: you can comment on and reshare a post from a business you follow, then share that post to your Instagram stories or straight to your feed.
Questions you should ask yourself: Do you have time to engage with another social media platform? Do you already use Instagram? Is Twitter a platform that you have found effective for business? The time and engagement question is really key because if you’re familiar with Twitter, you know that the key to success there is engaging in conversations. You can’t just post and go with any success.
How Do I Market My Real Estate Business on Threads?
As with other social media platforms, a multi-faceted strategy works best. Try different types of posts, and see what is most successful. You don’t want to be posting the same content over and over. Consulting all the usual social media strategists online, these are the types of strategies I’m seeing recommended for real estate agents on threads:
Networking: Find your people! Take the time to find and follow your colleagues and other people in your industry to build your following locally and in the other areas that matter to your business. Engage with their content — hopefully, they’ll engage with yours. Find your clients and your sphere. There’s no DM capability on Threads, but you can cross-post your Threads post to Instagram and Facebook so your followers there will know to find you.
Market Research: While you’re seeking out others in your field, check out what they’re doing on Threads. See what’s working and not working for others and make it your own.
Posting: Switch up the types of posts you do from market insights, to neighborhood spotlights, to info about your listings. Address questions you hear from your clients and ask for feedback. Share company updates and personal milestones. Take a poll. Share other people’s posts you find compelling with your own commentary. Share daltxrealestate.com articles (shameless self-promotion!). Remember the same TREC rules for social media apply on Threads as your other accounts, so make sure you’re compliant.
The idea is, as with any social media platform, to communicate your brand and to center yourself as an expert in your field in your specific niche. What makes you special among the 10,000 or so other Realtors in North Texas?
