A new social network has taken the internet by storm, and it’s known as Mastodon, Having amassed nearly two million active users as of this January, the platform has been described as an alternative to Twitter.
So what does this new name offer marketers? And can being on it benefit your brand? In this post, we’ll break down what Mastodon is and how to take advantage of it – according to an experienced and trusted marketing partner at HubSpot.
![Download Now: Status of Social Media Trends [Free Report]](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/53/3dc1dfd9-2cb4-4498-8c57-19dbb5671820.png)
What is mastodon?
Mastodon is an alternative approach to social media, run through an open-source network of independent servers rather than a single platform. Instead of one tech giant controlling the network, users onboard thousands of smaller networks, or ‘servers’, set the rules, and ensure the platform operates properly.
What can you do on Mastodon?
On Mastodon, users can explore different servers according to their favorite topics or industry sectors of interest. When you find a forum that interests you, you can join and engage with whoever you want — much like you do on Twitter. you can:
- follow users
- reply to other people’s posts
- Join or start your own conversation
You can create a feed tailored to what you want to watch and use features like the Explore tab to discover new and exciting content.
Tips for New Mastodon Users
we asked crystal king, one of HubSpot’s own Senior Marketing Managers and Principal Inbound Professor, if he had any helpful tips for those new to the platform. Here’s what he had to say.
-
Get yourself out there and join a wide variety of servers.
“Like any new social platform you might join, there is a learning curve with Mastodon. The hardest part is the idea that not everyone is on the same server, but you can still talk to them. Can
It doesn’t really matter which server you’re using, but if you want to find a topic-specific server to join, it might mean that your local feed is slightly skewed towards that topic. Is more curated, but doesn’t need to be.”
No one is an expert when they first start. When you join Mastodon, don’t feel like you only belong to one or two servers. Everyone has as much space to share their thoughts and ideas as the next person.
Mastodon has more freedom of choice regarding the content you provide. While it can recommend conversations and servers to you, it won’t populate your personalized feed with content you haven’t followed, such as Instagram or Twitter – where recommended, sponsoredOr related content can clutter your feed.
2. Search your favorite accounts from Twitter and discover where they live in Mastodon.
“One thing you can do to find your Twitter followers who are also on Mastodon is to go to Twitter and search for the word ‘Mastodon’.” Then, click on the three dots on the right side of the search bar and click on ‘Search Filters’. It narrows down the search to just the people you follow, and by doing so you can often see Tweets where they’ve shared their Mastodon profiles.”
If you’re at a loss for where to start, see who you already follow on Twitter. the probability that if they a full time influencer Or frequent posters, they may have already made their way to Mastodon – and can help you identify which server you’ll enjoy the most.
3. Don’t expect visuals, expect conversation.
“Mastodon is a text-heavy platform, and you won’t see a lot of moving .gifs, videos, or large images. Those things are there, but you usually have to click through to see them. Pay attention. Share interesting information. Ask good questions to get people talking. And connect with others. That’s where you’ll get the most value.”
King Recommends Focusing on the New User Contribute to insightful conversation To gain traction in the platform. While Twitter and Instagram prioritize visual-heavy content, Mastodon will display trending conversations and forums where additional details outweigh visual priority.
Why would any brand want to use Mastodon?
According to King, Mastodon allows marketers to get creative with their digital marketing.
“Brands may feel skeptical about using Mastodon. After all, there is no advertising. There are no rewards for having a certain number of followers. There are no algorithms to get content out to more people. In short It looks like Twitter without all the things that make Twitter great for marketers.
“And that’s kind of the point – people generally don’t like to be marketed to, and that’s what the platform’s creators had in mind when developing it. But that doesn’t mean brands can’t or shouldn’t use it. You shouldn’t. You simply can’t think of the platform as a replacement for Twitter. It’s something different. Mastodon is a place to share information and engage with an audience. And brands that can do that will find a place on the platform “
Marketers cannot rely on paid or promoted advertisements to reach target audiences. Instead, They Can Use Mastodon provide valueInsights, or content that engages prospects—instead of selling to them.
“The engagement rate on Mastodon is much higher than Twitter. Also, there is a huge presence of journalists on the platform, which is good for your brand visibility. If you are a brand that likes to chat with your audience, If so, this might be a great place for you. The best way to find out is to develop a three to six month trial and see how it works for you. Just don’t expect it to work like Twitter. looks or acts like it is not.”
You can’t contact Mastodon expecting the same results as you got from previous social media channels. If anything, King is saying brands can better position themselves brand visibility on stage if they focus thought leadership — Hiring designated content marketers or journalists to post about buzzing conversations and news.
Explore all the possibilities Mastodon has to offer
With the rise of new social media channels, marketers can use the new greenspace to attract prospects. While Mastodon itself is not directly optimized for paid advertising, there are many ways to follow and engage with your target audience.
