To the surprise of many, Instagram/Meta launched Threads on 5 July, 2023. 

Another new Social Media Platform.  Here’s the rundown from my perspective as the CEO of New England Design and Construction (NEDC) in Boston: 

I believe many people’s first thoughts are…what is Instagram Threads? 

If Twitter and Instagram had a benevolent lovechild—it would be Threads.  Similar set up to Twitter, but a bit more visual, and it operates adjacent to one’s Instagram account.   

Instagram Threads is a text-based social media application launched by Instagram (Meta) as a “friendly rival” to Twitter.  And by “friendly” we mean Elon Musk’s lawyer has sent a cease and desist letter to Meta and apparently threatened to take the company to court for violation of intellectual property.    

Be that as it may, here are the broad strokes as regards Threads by Instagram:

• Posts are 500 characters and can incorporate both video as well as still images.  

• Threads is available for download in over 100 countries and is available on both Apple IOS and Android.  

• Threads is only available on mobile—it has no desktop interface.

• Over 70 million Threads users have jumped aboard immediately.  The buzz is spreading fast.

• Threads is not yet available in EU due to data protection issues.  

Threads is integrated with and operates adjacent to one’s Instagram account.  It is downloadable as a fully distinct App in the App store—meaning it’s a fully separate App on your phone rather than simply another component/feature of the Instagram platform (such as reels was when introduced). 

Instagram Threads is free. 

This is a great six-minute video showing the basics of Threads by Instagram and how to set up and begin using it.  If you are familiar with both Instagram and Twitter it is pretty simple. 

HOW WE USE THREADS BY INSTAGRAM FOR BUSINESS: 

We primarily use Twitter to promote our sustainable architectural design build work and to reach out to, contact and pitch pertinent journalists via Twitter DM.  Many journalists are easily found and contacted via their Twitter handles and Twitter DM.  It’s a first port of call.  

There is no DM function on Threads–so it’s not useful to directly pitch projects to the media. 

While Threads is still in its nascent stages, I see it more as a tool to broadly promote finished work and potentially draw traffic to our NEDC Instagram page @nedesignconstruction. 

There is however an automatic button on a threads profile leading directly to one’s Instagram profile so it could be useful platform to promote publicly with video, stills and well written copy under 500 characters.  Consumers of this content can then be interested, engage and be on your Instagram page with one click.  

Threads by Instagram is only a few days old, so we will have to see how this plays out. 

Larger brands are appearing on Threads as the day progresses.  Nike has activated its account.  Others such as Burberry, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and others are holding back and have yet to appear.  Architectural Digest India has appeared while Architectural Digest itself has not. 

This will be an interesting space to observe as we move forward. 

I invite you to follow NEDC on both Threads and Instagram @nedesignconstruction. 

NEDC INSTAGRAM: 

https://www.instagram.com/nedesignconstruction/

 

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Best, 

Dave Supple