By Therese “Tiki Tee” Sheridan
July 25, 2023
On July 5, 2023 Meta officially launched what they call their “text-based conversation app,” Threads. While it may seem overwhelming to add yet another social media platform to the already long content to-do list, the transition to Threads is surprisingly an easy one. If you have an Instagram, which you definitely should as a music artist, your username, bio, profile picture and even the accounts you follow can automatically transfer over. Not only does this make it easier for you to create your account, but if you already have an Instagram following, it makes it easier for your audience to stay connected as well.
Of course, every social media platform has its strengths and weaknesses. While Threads doesn’t yet have an inbox or functional hashtags, it does have other great features. So, why not make an account and take advantage of them? Here are the best ways to use Threads as a music artist:
1.) Ask Questions
Being that Threads has been coined a “conversation app”, it’s important to… you know… have conversations. A great way to do this is by asking questions. This will help further engage your audience and encourage interaction. Particularly, you want to ask your audience questions specific to your genre and your style. For example, to stay on the topic of your genre you can ask, “Who’s a better rapper: _ or _?” Doing so can create a conversation about the two rappers and can even provide some insights on your audience’s music preferences. Additionally, you can ask questions specifically for audience feedback such as “What kind of merch do you want to see?” or “What city should I perform in next?” This will create a direct dialogue between you and your audience, allowing you to build meaningful relationships with them.
2.) Provide Updates
While other social media platforms may involve a lot of planning to create a post, Threads is easy and immediate. Due to its immediacy and focus on text, it is a great platform to use to quickly share information with your audience. For example, you can share updates about an upcoming show. Maybe you need to inform your audience that tickets have been sold out or that the show needs to be moved to the rain date. Both can be easily communicated on Threads. You can even update your audience through teases. Provide your release date with no context to spark curiosity or drop a hint about your next collab. Doing so will show your audience that you’re hard at work.
3.) Share Behind the Scenes
Not only can you share text that is up to 500 characters on Threads, but you can also share photos and videos that are up to 5 minutes in length. Being that Threads is new and hasn’t yet been flooded with polished, commercialized content, it is a great time to share fun, unedited visuals. What better way to do this as a music artist than by sharing some behind the scenes content? Share a funny clip of your band practice, take a photo of yourself recording in the studio or show your audience how you start setting up for a show. Whichever you choose, make your visuals authentic by showing your personality.
4.) Share Links
While apps like Instagram and TikTok are great for sharing audio and visuals, they’re a little less effective in bringing traffic to your music. This is due to the dreaded “Link in Bio” text we have to share. How often do audiences really take the time to leave their feed, go to our profiles, read our bios and then tap the link? Luckily on Threads, you can share clickable links right within your posts. Take advantage of this feature by sharing the links to your music, your website and your video releases. It’s a much more straightforward and convenient way for your audience to access what you want to share the most.
5.) Interact
As mentioned previously, Threads is a “conversation app”, and unless it’s an imaginary argument with yourself while you’re taking a shower, conversations generally take place between two or more people. It is therefore important for you as a music artist to both speak and respond. In other words, not only should you create your own posts on Threads, but you should also respond to and share the posts of others. For example, you can show some love by commenting on the threads of other music artists or you could repost a thread that represents you and your brand. Whichever the case, take the time to both initiate and continue previous conversations.
