There’s a new social media platform on the block, and it's giving Twitter a run for its money. We’re talking about Meta’s Threads. Launched on July 5th, Threads is already the fastest-growing platform of all time.
So what does this mean for athletic departments?
Although the social media space is moving quickly, we’re breaking down the need-to-know strategies for athletic teams and programs interested in Threads.
Let’s Start with the Basics: The Role of Threads in Athletics
From event awareness to game highlights, Twitter has been an invaluable tool for athletic programs to connect with players, families, fans, and communities alike. Now, Threads presents a similar opportunity.
At its core, Threads looks eerily similar to Twitter. You can follow accounts. You can post and repost updates. You can see what’s trending… You get it!
One of the key differences, however, is how seamlessly Instagram links to Threads. In fact, an Instagram account is required to access Threads. Even still, this only streamlines the signup process. Sounds simple, right? That's because it is.
Threads is currently one of the simplest social platforms. For your athletic program’s social media strategy, however, things get a bit more complex. We’ll get there in a moment, but first…
Should Your Athletic Department Join Threads?
Here, the answer is a resounding yes. Although Threads is similar to Twitter, it has the potential to become the new front page of the internet. For athletic departments using Threads, this means getting more exposure than what’s possible on Twitter alone.
That's because of audience preferences. Ultimately, Threads will lead to less cumulative time on Twitter. To maintain your fan base’s attention, getting on Threads is key. At the same time, your schedule is already packed as is. Will adding Threads to your program’s strategy slow you down?
Threads Tips for Athletic Teams and Programs
If you're worried about Threads slowing down your social media workflow, fear not! Earlier, we mentioned that your social media strategy will get a bit more complex, but not by much. In fact, it may only add one minute or two to your daily social media efforts.
This is because you can essentially copy and paste the posts you’re already putting on Twitter into Threads. And so whether you have a team or an entire athletic program to manage, Threads won’t bog you down.
Our best tips?
• Add your Threads posts to your Instagram stories to tap into your existing audience
• Post on Threads first before copying to Twitter (to avoid truncation from character limits)
• Add graphics to spruce things up (we know a guy!)
• And as with every social media platform, stay consistent
Examples
Check out how these two SIDs are using Threads:
Closing Thoughts
As you explore Threads for your athletic department, just remember: quality is everything. Simply existing on the new platform is not enough. That’s where our team at Box Out can help. From all-star graphics to head-turning templates, we’ve got you covered.
Explore our free demo for a firsthand look. From there, you can get the most out of Threads for your athletic teams and your program as a whole.
