In the ever-evolving realm of social media, eCommerce brands constantly look for new ways to boost their online presence and connect with their audience. So, let’s dive into Threads, the new Instagram text-based app currently marketed as a competitor to Twitter. We’ll explore the differences between Threads and Twitter and see how they can be beneficial.
By examining their unique attributes, we’ll uncover the pros and cons and provide insights into how brands can leverage them to drive growth and foster meaningful connections with their customers. Let’s talk about Threads versus Twitter, so you can decide what platform will work for your Shopify brand.
Twitter VS Threads: What’s the Difference?
As many of you know, Threads and Twitter are social media platforms enabling all users to communicate through text-based messages. People from all over the world share their thoughts from the mundane to the highly intelligent. So what are the differences?
Threads:
Imagine a place where real-time, text-based conversations take centre stage—that’s Threads! One notable feature of Threads is its seamless integration with Instagram. By linking your Threads account with Instagram, you can automatically join the platform with all the followers you already have on Instagram. This integration allows for a smooth transition and ensures that your existing audience can easily engage with your content on Threads.
It offers a more streamlined experience for eCommerce brands who have built a strong presence on Instagram and want to extend their reach. Moreover, Threads places a significant emphasis on private, one-on-one conversations. It provides a dedicated space for personal and intimate interactions with your followers.
Twitter:
On the other hand, Twitter has its unique strengths. Unlike Threads, Twitter is a widely-used social media platform known for its public conversations. It provides a vast audience for eCommerce brands to tap into and engage with. By participating in public discussions, sharing valuable content, and utilising trending topics, brands can enhance their visibility and attract new customers.
Twitter’s retweet and share features make it easy for content to go viral, potentially leading to a significant increase in brand exposure. It offers a more extensive reach and allows eCommerce brands to connect with a broader demographic. Furthermore, Twitter has a well-established system of hashtags, which facilitates content discoverability and community engagement.
Threads and Twitter are text-based platforms, but their differences lie in their integration capabilities, audience reach, and emphasis on private versus public conversations. By understanding these distinctions, eCommerce brands can determine which platform aligns better with their specific goals and tailor their strategies accordingly.
Can Utilising Threads or Twitter Benefit Your Shopify Brand?
Now, let’s get down to business. Do either Threads or Twitter matter for eCommerce brands? Some argue that companies are already doing a great job of fostering communities and conversations. But there are some potential advantages these platforms offer.
Threads
While Threads might raise a few eyebrows, it can be a nifty tool for eCommerce brands. Focusing on personal conversations allows a deeper connection with a smaller, targeted audience. This aspect can be particularly advantageous for eCommerce brands prioritising building closer customer relationships. Having direct, real-time chats fosters a sense of exclusivity and enhances customer loyalty. It’s like having a heart-to-heart conversation with your customers.
With its massive user base and emphasis on public conversations, Twitter can help eCommerce brands reach a broader audience. By jumping into relevant discussions and sharing valuable content, brands can increase their visibility and attract new customers. And with the retweet and share features, your content could go viral, bringing traffic to your eCommerce website. As well as leveraging the relevant hashtags, eCommerce brands can target specific niches and connect with users interested in their products or services.
How to Use Platforms like Threads and Twitter for Ecommerce
Threads
You can use Threads by creating private groups for your loyal customers, offering exclusive perks like early product access or special discounts. Use it for personalised customer support, gather valuable feedback, and conduct surveys. Build a tight-knit community of like-minded individuals who love your brand. Collaborate with influencers for added star power and share behind-the-scenes content to build authenticity. Host flash sales, promotions, and user-generated content contests to create excitement and drive engagement. With Threads, you can weave a stronger connection with your customers.
You can use Twitter to maintain a compelling profile, engage with customers promptly, use visuals to showcase products, run Twitter Ads, leverage hashtags, hosting contests, collaborate with influencers, tweet regularly, analyse performance with Twitter Analytics, offer limited-time deals, share customer testimonials, announcing product launches, participating in Twitter chats, and finding the right balance between promotional content and valuable information to build brand awareness, drive traffic, and increase sales.
4 Strategies You Can Use with Threads & Twitter
To make the most of Threads and Twitter, eCommerce brands should consider these strategies:
- Engaging Storytelling: Craft compelling narratives in your threads to captivate your audience and foster personal connections. Share brand stories, product journeys, or behind-the-scenes insights to create engaging content that resonates with your followers on both Threads and Twitter.
- Tailor Content: Adapt your messaging to fit the platform. Threads are great for personal conversations, while Twitter demands concise and engaging messages.
- Engage Proactively: Dive into conversations, reply to comments, and connect with your followers. On Twitter, join relevant discussions and ride the wave of trending topics to boost your brand’s visibility.
- Hashtags and Discoverability: While Threads doesn’t have hashtags, you can still use mentions and tags to increase discoverability. On Twitter, leverage hashtags to amplify your reach and connect with communities interested in your niche.
Are There Cons to Using Threads & Twitter?
Considerations for Threads
- Time and Energy Investment: Engaging in personal connections on Threads can be time-consuming and divert attention from other essential tasks. Make sure it aligns with your business objectives.
- Mental Health and Real-Time Nature: Threads’ real-time nature can demand constant attention, which might not be great for your mental health. Set boundaries and find a balance to maintain a healthy presence.
- Drawing Comparisons to Clubhouse: Some worry that Threads could suffer the same fate as Clubhouse, with a surge in popularity followed by a decline. Consider the long-term gains against the short-term effort before going all-in on Threads.
Considerations for Twitter
- Information Overload: Twitter’s fast-paced nature means that tweets can quickly get lost in the sea of content. It may require consistent and strategic posting to maintain visibility and engagement.
- Negative Feedback and Trolls: Twitter is not immune to negativity and trolling as a public platform. Ecommerce brands should prepare to handle criticism and respond professionally.
- Time Management: Managing a Twitter account effectively requires dedicating time to curate and schedule content, engage with followers, and participate in conversations. It’s essential to allocate resources wisely.
Should You Use Threads or Twitter for Your Ecommerce Brand?
While Threads is a newer and rapidly growing app, it’s seen as a potential rival to Twitter, which has experienced a decline in popularity. Many people are tempted to embrace Threads, but there are concerns that it could face a fate similar to Clubhouse, as Blend‘s CEO, Adam, stated: “I’m getting Clubhouse vibes.” Thus, some may hesitate to view it as a beneficial channel for eCommerce brands. On the other hand, Twitter, despite its decreasing popularity, still holds a significant user base and offers established features that might suit your brand’s needs better.
The efficacy of Threads and Twitter for eCommerce brands remains to be determined. However, businesses should carefully assess their specific goals, consider each platform’s limitations and potential drawbacks, and tailor their strategies accordingly. While text-based media can offer value, eCommerce brands must evaluate their relevance and determine whether they align with their marketing objectives.
Brands can find better engagement opportunities on alternative platforms like TikTok, which allows for visually-driven content and connections with a younger demographic. Diversifying your platform usage ensures a comprehensive and effective marketing strategy.
If you want to diversify your customer engagement and seek expert insights on what would work best for your brand, reach out to Blend. We’re here to provide the guidance you need to optimise your marketing efforts and achieve your desired outcomes. Let’s blend creativity with strategy and elevate your eCommerce brand!