Podcast Summary: “How I’d Build an Audience From Scratch on Threads in 2025”

Podcast: Social Media Decoded
Host: Michelle Thames
Date: October 1, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Michelle Thames dives into the underutilized potential of Threads, Meta’s text-based platform, and outlines a clear, actionable blueprint for entrepreneurs and creators who want to build an engaged audience from scratch on Threads in 2025. She emphasizes the unique “Wild West” stage of the platform, the opportunities it offers for visibility and connection, and how to position yourself as an early adopter before the masses catch on.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Why Threads? The Underestimated Opportunity

Threads is still relatively untapped compared to mature platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn.
Early adopters benefit from:
- Low competition: Greater likelihood your posts will actually be seen.
- High opportunity: Meta is heavily promoting Threads, even integrating it with Instagram for added visibility.
Quote:
- “Threads is still the Wild West. That means two things. The first, low competition. Your posts actually get seen. Number two, high opportunity.” (Michelle Thames, 01:38)

2. Building an Audience from Scratch: Step-by-Step Blueprint

a. Optimize Your Profile with Intention

Don’t just copy and paste your Instagram bio.
Your profile should answer:
1. Who you are
2. Who you help
3. Why to follow you specifically on Threads
Practical Example:
- Instead of “Marketing Coach, podcaster, speaker,” try “I help multi-passionate entrepreneurs build visibility and get booked daily. Marketing and visibility tips you won’t find on my Instagram.”
Quote:
- “You just gave people a reason to follow you here.” (Michelle Thames, 03:16)

b. Create Conversational Content

Threads is about real, unpolished conversation rather than curated, polished visuals.
Focus on:
- Hot takes
- Quick stories
- Behind-the-scenes insights
- Open-ended questions
Memorable Moment:
- Michelle’s event post (“Would any women entrepreneurs in Chicago or willing to travel…”), which resulted in direct ticket sales through conversation, not a formal funnel.
Quote:
- “People are scrolling for connection, not perfection. If you bring realness and start actual conversations, you’ll build an audience fast.” (Michelle Thames, 04:18)

c. Stay Consistent with ChatGPT

Michelle uses ChatGPT as her brainstorming partner for content ideas.
Example prompt: “Give me 10 polarizing hot takes about Instagram marketing entrepreneurs secretly agree but don’t want to say out loud.”
Listeners can DM “THREADS” on Instagram to get Michelle’s free prompt guide.
Quote:
- “Here’s the secret sauce—I don’t just wake up with endless ideas every day... I use ChatGPT as my assistant to help me brainstorm.” (Michelle Thames, 04:50)

d. Leverage Collaboration and Engagement

The fastest way to grow is not by going viral, but by collaborating and engaging thoughtfully:
- Reply meaningfully to others’ posts
- Initiate conversations with potential collaborators
- Focus on adding value
Direct connection is much more accessible on Threads than on crowded platforms.
Quote:
- “I’ve personally landed podcast swaps, collabs, and even speaking invitations just by showing up consistently and adding value in conversations.” (Michelle Thames, 05:53)

e. Sell Without Selling

Offers and promotions are best woven naturally into conversations.
Example: “Working on my marketing calendar makeover clients today. Anyone else doing visibility work this morning?” — selling by inviting naturally.
Quote:
- “You just casually position your offer without feeling salesy.” (Michelle Thames, 06:23)

3. Mindset Shift: Don’t Wait, Start Now

Early action on Threads gives you leverage before it becomes crowded.
Action Step: Post something today and tag Michelle so she can support you.

4. Free Resources

DM “THREADS” on Instagram (michellellthames) to receive the free Threads ChatGPT prompt guide.
Access Michelle's free seven-day Visibility audio series (link in show notes).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“Do you want to be the person joining once everybody’s already dominating? Or do you want to be the person who staked your flag early when nobody was paying attention?” (Michelle Thames, 02:21)
“People are scrolling for connection, not perfection.” (Michelle Thames, 04:18)
“The magic of Threads is that you don’t have to hard pitch. Instead you weave in your offers and events as part of the conversation.” (Michelle Thames, 06:06)
“Your voice deserves to be heard and Threads might just be the fastest way to get seen right now.” (Michelle Thames, 07:02)

Key Timestamps

[00:30] – Introduction, Threads as a unique opportunity
[01:38] – Why Threads is a “Wild West” gold mine
[03:15] – How to optimize your profile for Threads success
[04:18] – The importance of conversation-driven content
[04:50] – Using ChatGPT for endless content ideas
[05:53] – Growth through collaboration and adding value
[06:06] – Selling naturally via conversation on Threads
[07:02] – The core message: Visibility on Threads is within reach

Tone & Final Thoughts

Michelle's delivery is energetic, encouraging, and practical throughout. She stresses clarity, proactiveness, and authenticity. The episode’s central ethos: Be visible by being real and getting in early on Threads.

*For tools, real-world examples, and step-by-step implementation, check the show notes for Michelle’s resource links.

Transcript

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Welcome back to Social Media Decoded, the podcast that helps entrepreneurs and creators like you stand out, get visible, and actually make money online without burning yourself out. I'm your host Michelle Thames, marketing strategist, coach and your go to for all things visibility. Today we're diving into a platform that is wide open and massively undertapped. Threads. Yep, the Twitter style app meta rolled out that most people wrote off after the first few weeks. I I've actually been building momentum there. I've sold event tickets, landed collaborations, and positioned myself for speaking engagements all from threads. And the truth is, most people are sleeping on it. So in this episode, I'm going to share exactly how I'd build an audience from scratch on threads in 2025, step by step. And at the end, I've got a free guide of my favorite ChatGPT prompts. You can literally plug in and come up with unlimited ideas for your threads post you're going to want, so make sure you stay tuned. First, let's talk about this. Here's the deal. Most entrepreneurs only want to be where the masses are. Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn and yes, those platforms matter. But the reality is they can be crowded, saturated, everybody's shouting. Threads, on the other hand, is still the Wild West. That means two things. The first, low competition. Your posts actually get seen. Number two, high opportunity. Meta is pushing the platform, which means more reach for orderly adopters. I know when you're on Instagram, you see the little threads boxes pop up of people's threads because Instagram is even pushing threads because it's a part of their platform. Now let me ask you, do you want to be the person joining once everybody's already dominating? Or. Or do you want to be the person who staked your flag early when nobody was paying attention? The entrepreneurs who win, the ones who zig when everyone else zags threads, is that moment right now. And if you're serious about your visibility, you can't afford to ignore it. Now, let's start from scratch, setting up with intention. When you join Threads, don't just copy and paste your Instagram bio. Position yourself strategically. Your profile should answer three questions instantly. Who you are, who you help, why they should follow you here specifically Example Instead of marketing, coach, podcast or speaker, say I help multi passionate entrepreneurs build visibility and get booked daily. Marketing and visibility tips you won't find on my Instagram Boom. You just gave people a reason to follow you here. Step 2 Create Conversational Content Threads is not about polished reels or curated grids. It's about conversations. Think hot takes quick stories behind the scenes open ended questions. One of my best performing posts on Threads was simply me saying would any women entrepreneurs in Chicago or willing to travel want a no fluff space to connect and grow? I'm hosting an event on October 31st November 1st. Drop a heart if you want the details that post direct event ticket sales, no fancy funnel, just conversation. That's the power of threads. People are scrolling for connection, not perfection. If you bring realness and start actual conversations, you'll build an audience fast. Step 3 Use ChatGPT to stay consistent here's the secret sauce I don't just wake up with endless ideas every day. I wish, right? I use ChatGPT as my assistant to help me brainstorm post prompts, hooks and conversation starters. For example, I'll drop in. Give me 10 polarizing hot takes about Instagram marketing. Entrepreneurs secretly agree but don't want to say out loud within seconds. I've got content that sparks engagement. Here's where it gets fun for you. I put together a Threads prompt guide with my exact chatgpt inputs for visibility posts. If you DM me the word threads on Instagram, I'll send it over right now. That way you'll never run out of ideas. Step 4 Collaborate and leverage opportunities the fastest way to grow on Threads isn't to go viral. It's to collaborate. Reply to other leaders posts with thoughtful insights. Start conversations with people you want to partner with. Threads is so open right now that your responses can put you directly in front of hundreds of new eyes. I've personally landed podcast swaps, collabs and even speaking invitations just by showing up consistently and adding value in conversations. That doesn't happen on Instagram the same way anymore. Step 5 Sell without selling and finally, let's talk about selling. The magic of Threads is that you don't have to hard pitch. Instead you weave in your offers and events as part of the conversation. Remember that post I shared earlier? That was pure conversation and it converted so so if you're selling coaching events digital products. Threads is the place for you to drop casual invites. Think Working on my marketing calendar makeover clients today. Anyone else doing visibility work this morning? You just casually position your offer without feeling salesy. All right, let's recap. The first thing is we gotta shift our mindsets. Okay, Threads is an untapped visibility gold mine. We also need to make sure we optimize our profiles with intention. Post conversation driven content, not perfection. Use ChatGPT to keep the ideas flowing and go ahead and DM me the word Threads. T H R E D s over on Instagram ichellelthames for that free guide. Collaborate and jump into conversations to expand your reach through connection and not pressure. If I were starting over from scratch on threads in 2025, this is exactly how I build my audience and I do it on Threads. Now here's your action step. Open Threads. Post something today and tag me Ichelle Themes so I can cheer you on. And if you are ready to take your visibility game to the next level, go ahead and grab my free seven day Visibility audio series. Okay, the link's in the show notes because here's the truth. Your voice deserves to be heard and Threads might just be the fastest way to get seen right now. Until next time, keep shining online. I will talk to you in the next one. Peace.