Threads Makes My Creative World Go 'Round
The community you want is where you choose to build it
The most annoying trend on the internet for easily the last five years is the battle of the platforms. And I’m saying this as someone old enough to be an adult when Facebook was the new MySpace. (Let’s not even bring up message boards and a/s/l.)
I know, I know, it’s just a new, fancy clique thing — they still have those, right? — and I know the controversial headlines are intentionally click/rage bait. And while I may bite every single time — online version of people watching is my AuDHD thing — I rarely leave comments anymore, because at the end of the day, what you like is what you like.
But.
But…
I think the idea that you have to tear down other places to amplify your favorite is, well, dumb. Especially since the only reason it’s considered the ‘dumb’ place is because you didn’t invest the time to find, create and maintain the community.
Before you start typing, here me out.
I started late on most platforms. I’ve always had to play catch-up, and that included building my audience from scratch versus funneling them from another place.
Threads was the first place I joined at the drop. While I wasn’t alone (obvi) in that transition from Twitter and/or the Metaverse, I watched as we built the art and book communities up as one of the most positive places in social media. Especially for the little creators.
Do we have issues? Duh. We can tell when every wave of the dead bird app happens, and while we’ve not been immune from the trolls, bots and worst of every facet of society, for the most part, we’ve remained the better side of the internet.
I have grown my audience organically — fuck the follow-for-follow and all hail the you’re-my-kind-of-person-let’s-be-friends — larger and faster with continued engagement than any other platform I’ve been on.
I’ve sold more art and books through threads than anywhere else. I’ve had more people follow my substacks without needing a giveaway. More shares. More appreciation for my community empowerment. More, well, just more.
All without being a slave to the app.
Seriously, I am on there maybe a total of 3–4 hours a day spread out over the 12–14 hours I’m awake. This includes catching up with my mutuals with likes or replies, sharing their memes, good news, releases, sales, etc., and of course, creating my own content. Especially now that we have the options to make drafts and schedule posts.
Does that mean threads is for you? Uh, probably, but I cannot guarantee the same experience I had. Because threads is about the people. Not just your brand or products. To be successful there, you have to actively and energetically engage with your community.
All I ask is that you give it a solid try.
And if it’s not for you, no harm no foul. Just don’t, you know, bash it.
Or do. That’s all you.