The Complete Guide to Finding Champions on Threads

Finding the right champions to amplify your message on Threads can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. With millions of creators on the platform, how do you identify the ones who are authentic, relevant to your niche, and have the authority to move the needle?

The Champions discovery tool in Threads Creator solves this problem by using AI-powered analysis to surface the perfect creators for your specific topic, niche, or product category. This comprehensive guide will teach you everything you need to know about finding and evaluating champions effectively.

Understanding Champion Discovery

The Champions feature isn't just a simple search—it's an intelligent system that analyzes thousands of Threads profiles to find creators who match your criteria across three critical dimensions: authenticity, relevance, and authority.

When you enter a topic like "sustainable fashion" or "productivity SaaS," the system doesn't just return accounts with those keywords in their bio. Instead, it evaluates:

Content alignment: Do they actually post about this topic consistently?
Engagement quality: Are their followers genuinely interested, or are they buying followers?
Authority signals: Do other creators in the space engage with them?
Authenticity markers: Is their content original, or are they just reposting?

This multi-dimensional analysis ensures you're not wasting time reaching out to accounts that look good on paper but won't actually help you reach your goals.

How Champion Scores Work

Every champion you discover comes with a comprehensive scoring system that helps you understand why they're a good fit. Let's break down each component:

Authenticity Score (0-100)

The authenticity score measures how genuine and original a creator's content is. High authenticity scores indicate:

Original content creation (not just reposts or quotes)
Consistent personal voice and perspective
Real engagement from real followers
Transparent about partnerships and sponsorships

Creators with authenticity scores above 80 are typically the gold standard—they've built their audience through genuine value, not shortcuts. Scores between 60-80 are still strong, showing mostly authentic content with occasional promotional posts. Below 60, you might see more reposted content or less original thinking.

Why it matters: Authentic creators have more trust with their audience, which means their recommendations carry more weight. When an authentic creator mentions your product or idea, their followers are more likely to take action.

Relevance Score (0-100)

Relevance measures how closely aligned a champion's content is with your specific topic or niche. The system analyzes:

Post topics and themes over the last 30-90 days
Language and terminology they use
The types of problems they address
Their audience's interests and pain points

A relevance score of 90+ means this creator is deeply embedded in your exact niche. They're talking about the same problems, using the same language, and serving the same audience you want to reach. Scores of 70-89 indicate strong alignment with some overlap into adjacent topics. Below 70, there might be some relevance but also significant divergence from your core topic.

Why it matters: Highly relevant champions understand your audience's context and pain points. They can speak to your ideal customers in a way that resonates because they're already part of that conversation.

Authority Score (0-100)

Authority measures a creator's influence and credibility within their niche. This isn't just about follower count—it's about:

How often other creators engage with their content
Whether they're cited or referenced by peers
The quality of their network and connections
Their track record of successful collaborations

Creators with authority scores above 85 are often thought leaders or established voices in their space. They have the respect of their peers and can open doors that others can't. Scores of 65-84 indicate growing authority with solid foundations. Below 65, they might be newer to the space or still building their reputation.

Why it matters: Authority champions can amplify your message to a wider network. When they share your content or collaborate with you, it signals to their network (including other creators) that you're worth paying attention to.

Overall Champion Score

The overall champion score combines all three dimensions, but it's weighted to prioritize relevance and authenticity over raw authority. This means a creator with 10K followers who's highly relevant and authentic might score higher than someone with 100K followers who's less aligned with your niche.

Interpreting the scores:

90-100: Exceptional champions—prioritize these for outreach
75-89: Strong champions—excellent candidates for collaboration
60-74: Good champions—worth considering, especially if they have unique angles
Below 60: May not be the best fit—proceed with caution

Using the Champions Discovery Tool

Now that you understand the scoring system, let's walk through how to use the tool effectively.

Step 1: Define Your Topic Clearly

The quality of your results depends heavily on how well you define your topic. Be specific but not overly narrow.

Good examples:

"Sustainable fashion for working professionals"
"Productivity tools for remote teams"
"AI automation for small businesses"
"Fitness coaching for busy parents"

Less effective:

"Fashion" (too broad)
"Sustainable fashion brands that use organic cotton and are based in Portland" (too narrow)
"Stuff about productivity" (too vague)

The tool works best when you give it enough context to understand your niche while leaving room for the AI to find creative matches you might not have considered.

Step 2: Review the Results

When you run a discovery, you'll see a grid of champions ranked by their overall score. Each card shows:

Handle and bio: Quick context about who they are
Follower count: Their reach (formatted for readability)
Champion score: The overall score (0-100)
Score breakdown: Authenticity, Relevance, and Authority scores
Relevance reason: A brief explanation of why they're relevant
Example posts: 2-3 sample posts that demonstrate their content style

Take time to review these carefully. The relevance reason is particularly valuable—it explains the AI's thinking and can help you understand if the match is truly good or if there's something the system might have missed.

Step 3: Evaluate Example Posts

The example posts are crucial for understanding a champion's actual content style. Look for:

Tone and voice: Do they match your brand's communication style?
Content depth: Are they surface-level or do they go deep?
Engagement patterns: What types of posts get the most engagement?
Promotional frequency: How often do they promote products vs. share value?

These posts help you move beyond the numbers to understand whether this is someone you'd actually want to work with.

Step 4: Filter and Prioritize

While the tool ranks champions by score, you should also consider:

Follower count: Sometimes a smaller, highly engaged audience is better than a large, passive one
Posting frequency: Active creators are more likely to engage with outreach
Content recency: Are they still actively posting about your topic?

Use the scores as a starting point, but don't be afraid to prioritize champions who might have slightly lower scores but better fit your specific needs.

Advanced Strategies for Champion Discovery

Finding Champions for Different Goals

Goal: Product Launch

Prioritize relevance (90+) and authenticity (80+)
Look for champions who have engaged audiences (check example posts for comment quality)
Authority is nice but less critical for initial awareness

Goal: Thought Leadership

Prioritize authority (85+) and relevance (80+)
These champions can introduce you to their network of other creators
Authenticity still matters, but slightly less than for product launches

Goal: Community Building

Balance all three scores (aim for 70+ across the board)
Look for champions who actively engage with their audience
Check example posts for two-way conversations, not just broadcasting

Using Multiple Topic Searches

Don't limit yourself to one search. Try variations of your topic to discover different angles:

Main topic: "Sustainable fashion"
Adjacent topics: "Ethical manufacturing," "Circular economy," "Slow fashion movement"

Each search might surface different champions who approach your niche from unique angles. This diversity can be valuable for reaching different segments of your audience.

Tracking Champions Over Time

The Threads ecosystem evolves quickly. Champions who were perfect fits six months ago might have shifted their focus. Use the discovery tool periodically to:

Find new champions as they emerge
Re-evaluate existing relationships
Discover adjacent niches that are growing

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Chasing Follower Count

A creator with 500K followers but low authenticity and relevance scores won't help you as much as someone with 10K highly engaged, relevant followers. Focus on the scores, not the vanity metrics.

Mistake 2: Ignoring the Relevance Reason

The AI provides a relevance reason for each champion. Read it carefully. Sometimes a champion might have a high score but the reason reveals they're not actually a good fit for your specific goals.

Mistake 3: Not Reviewing Example Posts

The scores tell you what, but the example posts tell you how. A champion might be highly relevant and authentic, but if their communication style doesn't align with your brand, the collaboration might fall flat.

Mistake 4: One-and-Done Discovery

Finding champions isn't a one-time activity. The Threads landscape changes, new creators emerge, and your goals evolve. Make champion discovery a regular part of your strategy.

Next Steps After Discovery

Once you've identified champions, the next step is outreach. But before you start sending messages, take time to:

Follow them: Engage with their content authentically for a week or two
Study their content: Understand what they care about and how they communicate
Identify collaboration opportunities: Look for natural ways your goals align
Prepare personalized outreach: Use the message generator to craft compelling messages

The Champions discovery tool gives you the foundation—a list of high-quality creators who are likely to be good fits. But the real magic happens when you combine this data with genuine relationship building.

Measuring Success

As you work with champions, track:

Response rate: Are champions responding to your outreach?
Collaboration quality: Do partnerships feel authentic and valuable?
Audience growth: Are you seeing followers from champion collaborations?
Engagement lift: Do posts that mention champions perform better?

Use these metrics to refine your champion discovery strategy. If certain types of champions consistently perform better, adjust your topic searches and score thresholds accordingly.

Conclusion

The Champions discovery tool is powerful, but it's only as effective as your strategy for using it. By understanding how the scoring system works, using the tool thoughtfully, and combining data with genuine relationship building, you can build a network of champions who authentically amplify your message and help you grow on Threads.

Remember: the goal isn't to find the most followers—it's to find the right champions who can help you reach the right audience with the right message. The scores guide you, but your judgment and relationship-building skills make the difference.

Start your next champion discovery with a clear topic, review the results carefully, and prioritize champions who align with your specific goals. The perfect champions for your niche are out there—you just need the right tools to find them.