I tried my best to resist—I really did! The thought of joining yet another social media platform filled me with dread. Lately, I’ve grown weary of the constant algorithm changes on existing platforms. *cough* I’m sure many of you can relate. It often feels like I’m a little monkey in a costume, jumping through hoops just to get my followers to see my content! From only 10% of my followers actually seeing my posts to being bombarded with random content that I have no interest in, the struggle to get my own followers’ attention started to consume too much of my time.
I had absolutely no plans to join Threads. So why did I give in and decide to join? And how’s it going so far?
As Thursday progressed, I couldn’t help but notice the headlines and the growing number of people on Threads. It wasn’t so much a fear of missing out (FOMO) that swayed me, but rather all the things that were missing from Threads. Yes, you read that right.
Since Threads is an early stage product, lots of features are missing. There are no direct messages (you have to go to Instagram for that), and it essentially gives you a fresh start in building up your following (you don’t have to do this, but I chose to). The platform is a bit of a hot mess as we all stumble around trying to figure it out. Plus, there’s no API for scheduling messages—it requires you to be on the app to post. And you know what? That’s exactly what won me over in the end. It’s mostly humans here.
As someone creating content to support small artisan businesses, I need a well of ideas to write about and a regular source of inspiration. Writing can be a solitary pursuit, and a lot of time is spent trying to create content that truly engages the audience. But often, we’re left with likes on our posts and very little meaningful feedback. I don’t want to be a pontificator sitting atop an ivory tower, giving advice on running a business.
Trade shows have been part of my answer to ensure I don’t fall into that trap. They provide a great opportunity for in-depth conversations and discussions. However, my capacity to attend these shows is limited—I can’t be traveling all the time.
Here’s the interesting part: Handmade Seller has a global audience. Looking at the last two months of website traffic from Google Analytics, we’ve had readers from 155 countries. Approximately 80% of our visitors come from just five countries—US, UK, Canada, India, and Australia. That leaves the remaining 20% scattered across 150 countries. Since taking ownership of the publication last year, these percentages have remained fairly consistent. It’s made me reflect on how to strike a balance between being accessible for dialogue while acknowledging that I can’t possibly cater to everyone. Nevertheless, I’m eager to listen for the key themes that emerge from different regions, as they often inspire new content. Some themes even emerge worldwide.
While Instagram is great for announcing things like new content, I’ve found it more challenging to engage in the type of meaningful dialogue I desire. We do get some engagement, but it feels like something is missing.
The concept of Threads, designed to foster dialogue, intrigues me. We’re still in the early stages of this product, and most of the content being posted seems to be coming from individuals. Only time will tell if it remains this way. I’m also in the process of training the Threads algorithm to understand my preferences. I had to mute more celebrities and sports-related content than I would have liked, but sometimes we need to guide algorithms to help them learn. It feels a bit like potty training a puppy—exciting and all over the place initially, but it gets better with a little training and time.
And then there are those occasional moments of pure joy. I live for them! As a publication, there are things I’m working on behind the scenes that I’m not quite ready to announce. I’m exploring conversations, paying attention to the feedback I receive, and observing who follows me to see what emerges. It’s like I’m in the shallow end of a swimming pool, wearing water wings. And then, out of the blue, someone tosses me a new pool toy to consider! I receive something that inspires an article (or a future trip). Or I stumble upon exactly the type of artisan I’ve been seeking. It’s already happened several times in the last four days. These moments encourage me as a business owner.
I have numerous content experiments and dialogues I’m starting on Threads. Like many things in business, we have to run experiments to see what resonates. So stay tuned as we try new things. We’ll also keep you updated on our progress so you can decide for yourself if Threads makes sense for your business.
Is Threads the right fit for you or your business? Honestly, I have no idea. It all depends on what you’re trying to achieve. At this stage, I’m taking a thoughtful approach to the platform, embracing its potential.
