On July 5, 2023, Meta introduced Threads: a new platform primarily focused on text, unlike its sibling Instagram. The platform had a flying start: despite only being available in Europe recently, it reached 100 million users in no time (read: 4 days!). Impressive! For comparison, Instagram took 3 years to reach 110 million users.
The rocket start of Threads is easily explained: creating an account on Threads is a breeze if you already have an Instagram account. For many social media enthusiasts, this was a reason to take a look at this platform, but what makes Threads so special?
Time to test it ourselves! As Coosto, we didn't hesitate to do so: follow us on Threads!
Threads distinguishes itself from other social media channels for several reasons, but the main one is this: Threads is set to become an open social network in the (near) future. By making the app compatible with ActivityPub, Threads becomes an 'interoperable' network. Those are a lot of technical terms, but what does that mean? Simply put, social media platforms will be connected: in the future, you could post on Mastodon or receive notifications from that platform via Threads, without having an account on Mastodon. An interesting development that Threads is currently working on.
Threads is already being widely used, now also in Europe. This gives rise to various ideas, myths, and opinions about the platform. But do they hold? We investigated this for you.
Myths arounds Threads
1. Threads doesn't comply with European privacy laws
The reason Threads was not immediately available in Europe had to do with not complying with European privacy laws. The seemingly user-friendly and quick connection to your existing Instagram account was the main reason the platform clashed with our privacy standards.
Fortunately, we can also debunk this myth: Threads can be used without an account, allowing you to bypass the issue.
2. Define your timeline with Dear algorithm
If you've already created an account on Threads, you've probably seen posts starting with 'Dear algorithm,' followed by a list of topics. There's a rumor that you can influence the algorithm, telling it where your interests lie to personalize your timeline.
But unfortunately, this is a myth. Meta confirms that this rumor is not true. The Threads timeline is not influenced by such posts but by the user's behavior. Just like on Instagram, what a user sees is determined based on signals like interactions with posts and accounts. You can't influence it with a 'Dear algorithm' post to teach the algorithm a lesson.
3. Threads is a text-only platform
Although Threads is primarily focused on textual content, this doesn't exclude other forms of posts. The main approach of the platform is sharing opinions, ideas, and thoughts in a maximum of 500 characters. This can be done through voice messages, images, and short videos. Moreover, you can include links in Threads posts, unlike Instagram.
Threads also announces that they are actively working on new formats. In 2024, you'll be able to enhance your text messages with colored text and the ability to add the 'party popper' emoji (?) to your post for some digital confetti on your screen.
So, the third myth is also debunked!
4. Hashtags are a thing of the past
Let's be clear: hashtags are still very much a part of Threads. However, Threads introduces a new feature with a similar function: Topic Tags. You can add one Topic Tag per post to indicate the theme of your message. This improves the visibility of your post on Threads, a crucial feature as social media channels are increasingly used as search engines.
To prevent the misuse of Topic Tags, the maximum is set to one tag per post. A tag can consist of multiple words or even a short sentence to provide more specific information about the related topic.
Not adding a theme via a Topic Tag doesn't mean your post won't appear in search results if it's related to that topic. The search function displays all related posts, whether a Topic Tag is added or not.
Web developer Max Mykhalchuk examined the most used topic tags and hashtags so far to demonstrate the difference in usage. As you can see, there are quite a few similarities between the two:
Conclusion: hashtags are certainly not a thing of the past, but Threads also brings innovation in this way.
How to use Threads for your organization
A new social media platform means new opportunities for your organization. But how do you achieve your social media goals on Threads? Here are some possibilities:
1. Engage with your followers
Threads is the ideal platform to ask short questions to your followers to gauge opinions. This can be done, for example, with the poll feature, but Threads also sets a good example by approaching it differently. Useful and innovative!
2. Increase your reach
A new platform, new opportunities! This relatively new platform provides a clean slate and, therefore, a new chance to reach more followers.
Additionally, Threads offers an excellent opportunity to bring your existing content to the forefront and experiment with new social media content. A breath of fresh air through your social media and content strategy, so to speak!
Moreover, the strong connection with Instagram makes it easy to promote your content cross-platform. With just one click, your latest Threads post can become an Instagram story.
3. Generate more clicks and conversions
Finally, Threads is also a great platform for conversion-focused posts. The ability to include links in your post is the perfect opportunity to direct followers to your website.
Threads currently doesn't have advertising options, which means your posts with a clear call-to-action won't be overshadowed by ads. Take advantage of this! Importantly, respect this and ensure relevant and valuable posts for your followers.
Threads is not done developing yet
Since Threads is still a relatively new platform, new developments are being rolled out at a rapid pace. Meta is actively working to continually improve the platform and increase user-friendliness. They make adjustments and enhancements based on user feedback. This platform is far from being fully developed, and we are very curious about what awaits us.
Whereas social media has become a filter on reality over the past years, TikTok brings back a sense of authenticity to the social media landscape. TikTok is an endless source of catchy video content, bringing us one step closer to reality. The content on this platform can be described as raw, real and realistic. Spending hours editing to create the perfect video? Forget it, TikTok fans would much rather take a peek into your reality.
Another thing that makes the social media platform so popular: the user is in control of which content returns to the FYP page more often. TikTok's algorithm determines based on the viewing time per video which content is liked and which is not. Based on that, TikTok then shows similar content. For hours, users scroll through the endless stream of videos they find interesting. And therein lies the secret behind TikTok's success: it is incredibly addictive. As an organisation, this is the perfect opportunity to reach a large audience.
X is the perfect social media platform for quick updates and news articles. This social media channel is the online spot to create a large reach: if you manage to create a domino effect with your content, then X is the opportunity to make world news. So, on this social media channel, the general advice is to post right away on X.
But not every post on X is as time-bound as just mentioned. Are you aiming for specific results, such as more engagement or conversions? Then you'll find the perfect moments here to achieve those goals. That's why we delved into the numbers and researched the ideal times for maximum results for each of those goals.
The best times for more reach on X
Best day to post on X Monday
Peak times for more reach on X
Monday at 16:00
Tuesday at 10:00
Saturday at 12:00 and 16:00
For X, we see a gradual decline in reach as the week progresses. Our tip: post at the beginning of the week if you want to create a large reach with your post.
Do you want to post on a different day? Peak times on X occur around lunchtime (1:00 PM) and at the end of the afternoon (5:00 PM).
When we zoom in further, we see that Monday at 4:00 PM is the best time to post. We also see more activity on Tuesday morning and Saturday afternoon.
The best times for more engagement on X
Best day to post on X Monday
Peak times for more engagement on X
Monday at 16:00 and 19:00
Tuesday at 10:00
Wednesday at 12:00
The same applies to more engagement on X: post at the beginning of the week. Monday stands out in particular. Additionally, noon is the absolute peak moment during the week, along with 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM.
The best times for more conversions on X
Best days to post on X Monday
Peak times for more conversions on X
Monday at 6:00 PM
Thursday at 9:00 PM
Friday at 10:00 AM
It's hardly a surprise anymore. Even if you want to maximize the number of conversions, a post on Monday yields the most results.
When we look at the number of clicks per hour, the distribution is fairly even throughout the day, with a slight peak at 9:00 PM.
The best times to post for every platform
Are you curious about the best times for other social media channels, such as Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn? You'll find them in this overview.
Do you always want to post directly at the best time? With Coosto's Prime Time, you can post with one click at the best moment for your account, your industry, or the platform in general. Based on previous posts, this handy feature calculates which times yield the most results.
The success of a social media post always depends on multiple factors. Of course, content plays a crucial role: does the content align with the interests, needs, and questions of your target audience? That is the ultimate key to optimal social media performance. In addition, we always remain dependent on the Instagram algorithm, which changes periodically and influences your content's performance.
But there's another important factor: the timing of Instagram posts. If you want to achieve results, choose the optimal times to reach your followers. These ideal times depend on when your target audience is online because that's when you'll achieve more results on social media. A detail that can truly make a difference.
To delve deeper into the behavior of Instagram users, we researched the best times for both increased reach and engagement. Additionally, we further examine the best times for Reels and carousel posts.
Best times to post on Instagram for reach
Best day to post for increased reach on Instagram: Monday and Wednesday
Peak times for reach on Instagram: Monday at 1 PM Wednesday at 9 AM Friday at 1 PM
With a slight edge over the other days, Monday and Wednesday stand out the most. Additionally, there are some general peak moments throughout the days: on Monday and Friday, in the early afternoon, and on Wednesday morning.
Despite the close figures, it pays off on Instagram to post on weekdays during office hours. However, don't hesitate to post at other times, as you can still achieve great results for your reach on Instagram.
Best times to post on Instagram for engagement
Best day to post for increased engagement on Instagram: Thursday
Peak times for engagement on Instagram: Sunday at 1 PM Wednesday at 8 PM Thursday at 4 PM
Thursday is the ideal day if you want to achieve as many likes, comments, and shares as possible with your Instagram posts. Additionally, Sunday and Wednesday are also good days for more engagement.
Regarding the time, 5 PM stands out significantly when looking at the general times. If you want to capture the real peak moments for more interaction with your followers, Sunday afternoon, Wednesday evening, and Thursday afternoon are the best moments.
Best times to post on Instagram for Reels
Best day for more reach with Instagram Reels Tuesday and Wednesday
Peak hours for more reach with Instagram Reels 6 and 8 pm
Best day for more engagement with Instagram Reels Monday and Tuesday
Peak hours for more reach with Instagram Reels 3, 6 and 8 pm
Best times to post on Instagram for carousel posts
Best day for more reach with Instagram carousels Wednesday
Peak times for more reach with Instagram carousels 9 AM and 5 PM
Best day for more engagement with Instagram carousels Thursday
Peak times for more engagement with Instagram carousels 5 PM
The best times for your Instagram account
The above-mentioned times are based on the overall performance of Instagram posts and thus provide a good guideline for your social media planning. To achieve even better results on Instagram through proper timing, it is valuable to zoom in further, for example, into your industry, or even better: the performance of your business account.
This can be done with Coosto's Prime Time. This handy feature delves deeper into these times and analyzes real-time all social media performances for the best suggestions. With just one click, you can then select the best time to post on your Instagram account.
Curious about the best times to post on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, YouTube, and Pinterest? Check them out here!
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