🧵 Is Threads the Twitter Replacement We've Been Waiting For?

Hi Reader

Glad to have you with us for another issue of vervology® soapbox. This is where I share my thoughts, parting some hard-won wisdom and, hopefully, making the technology world a little more digestible.

In this issue, we're stepping into the world of social media to talk about Instagram's new app: Threads (Instagram Announces New Text App | Instagram Blog).

We all know Twitter has been a bit chaotic recently, right? Ever since Elon Musk took over 🤦🏻‍♂️, the platform has undergone major transformations. His most recent move was capping free users at just 600 post views a day– a change that's had plenty of people up in arms.

In light of all the confusion with Twitter, many people are exploring other options. And that's where Threads comes in. This new app from Meta was officially released on July 5, and is already starting to make waves as a promising alternative to Twitter. It surpassed 100 million downloads within the first five days, making it the fastest-growing app in history. (source)

Threads offers a platform for sharing text updates and engaging in public conversations. You just log in with your Instagram credentials, and from there, the platform allows for posts of up to 500 characters, inclusive of links and photos or videos up to 5 minutes long. Sounds exciting, doesn't it?

But here's where it gets really interesting: Meta has plans for Threads to soon be compatible with the open, interoperable social networks (ActivityPub, more on that soon) that are reshaping the future of the internet and content publishing. This means it can communicate with other platforms using the same protocol, like Mastodon and WordPress, promising new types of content sharing and connections that aren't possible on most social apps today.

You may be wondering what sets Threads apart from other competitors like Mastodon or Hive Social. After all, this isn’t the first time we’ve heard rumors of Twitter's demise. But here's where Threads shines: its direct link to Instagram and Facebook makes it incredibly easy for existing users to start an account.

So, what does this mean for you? I suggest you secure your territory right away. Get on Threads and claim your handle – it's better to have an account and not need it, than need it and not have it.

When setting up your account, the most important rule is to BE CONSISTENT! This means you should try to maintain the same usernames across all channels. Your name is a significant part of your personal brand, as well as your business brand, so be mindful of its representation. For example, a username like @myname2345c8 is unlikely to convey the right brand image. Here’s how I usually approach this:

For personal branding accounts:

Start by trying to secure your {first name}. If it’s taken, try {firstlast name}, followed by {first.last name}, and then {first initial lastname}. If all those are unavailable, try adding a prefix or suffix such as {dr.first.last} or {first.last.jr}. And if these options still aren’t working, a nickname might be a good alternative.

For instance, my preferred naming conventions (in order) are:

• jono

• jchowdhury

• jonathan

• jonochowdhury

• jonathanchowdhury

• jschowdhury

• jono.chowdhury

• jonathan.chowdhury

For your business account:

Consistency is equally essential here. Begin with a {short brand/business name} like “vervology”. If you can’t get your brand name, try a short tagline or an associated keyword. Examples could be {toysrus} {physioSYR} or {soapboxNY}. Again, the key here is to be consistent and easy identifiable.

These are interesting times for social media, and we're eager to see how Threads evolves. In the meantime, why not take the plunge and explore the new platform? After all, staying adaptable is part of thriving in the digital world.

As we wrap up, I’ll leave you with this question: How will you adapt your social media strategy to include new platforms like Threads? Reply to this email and let me know.

Best

Jono