One of the questions we get here all the time at our agency, Hello Social Avenue, is, "okay David, be honest which platform is better for my business, Instagram Reels or TikTok?" In this article we'll look at the two different platforms and help you identify which is really worth the investment by covering Pros and Cons of both.
Let's Start With TikTok, What Is It?
TikTok is a video app for mobile and desktop, owned by Bytedance. The company was founded in 2016 and has quickly grown to become one of the most popular apps in the world. TikTok currently has over 1 billion users worldwide and is available in over 30 languages.
TikTok allows you to create short videos from 15 seconds up to 3mins with music and effects, add text or stickers, then share it on social media or send it privately via direct message (DM).
The Pros and Cons of TikTok for Businesses
TikTok has a huge number of users, so it's easy to see why it would be appealing for businesses looking to reach new customers or grow their existing audience.
Pros
TikTok is still a brand-new platform and continues to grow each week, over 300 million people use it every month! We are now seeing the average user age begin to creep up too. So for those of you reading this thinking ‘TikTok is only for youngsters’, you’re wrong. The data doesn’t lie. TikTok is all about visuals and high quality video content.
If your brand has a strong visual presence and your comfortable creating videos and showcasing your products in engaging ways, then it’s the perfect platform for you.
And finally, there's no doubt that TikTok can be fun and engaging--not just as an app but also as something that helps grow your business and generates leads.
Cons
It's difficult to find your audience.
There isn't as much brand awareness as Instagram.
It's hard to analyse your content, one video may reach thousands of people and another only a handful
There is no way to schedule posts (you have to post in real time).
And lastly, there's no way to add links into your videos
What Is Instagram Reels?
Instagram Reels are a relatively new feature that allows you to create a video that can be up to 4 minutes long. It is pretty much a complete carbon copy of TikTok and was Instagram’s way of competing with the rise in short-form video content.
Using Reels is an ideal way to promote your business, products and services on Instagram. You can add text or photos to your Instagram Reel, and right now it is the most popular form of content to be consumed.
The Pros and Cons of Instagram Reels for Businesses
Instagram Reels are more popular with users, easier to use and better for brands. Instagram as a whole is more recognisable by everyday folk in the digital space. The biggest incentive to use Reels at the moment for your business or brand is that Instagram has stated they are pushing this form of content. They’ve seen the rise in consumption and choose to reward it.
As marketers for your business, you have to decide, do I go where my audience is? The answer should be yes!
The Cons of Instagram Reels:
It takes time to create more video content
You have to be consistent and fully committed
It is oversaturated, everyone is already using it and probably already has the reward.
Both platforms have their strengths and weaknesses, but if you're just starting out on social media, TikTok may be a better platform for you.
Both platforms have their strengths and weaknesses, and in my honest opinion, if you want the best bang for your buck and to reach a NEW audience, then creating video content for TikTok may be a better platform for you. However, if you can I would use both!
TikTok is a younger, more active platform. Instagram Reels is a more mature platform with lots of features and options (like time-lapse videos).
Instagram Reels has more users and engagement than TikTok does right now - but that doesn't mean it won't catch up soon!
The difference between the two is likely due to the fact that they each cater to different audiences: while Instagram was designed as an all-in-one photo/video sharing app from its inception, TikTok was created specifically as an app meant solely for short videos
If you've got the capability to use both, then do it. Don't choose one or the other, use both, test and measure the results and focus on what works!
In Summary,
We hope that this article has helped you to understand the differences between TikTok and Instagram Reels, as well as their advantages and disadvantages.
If you're just starting out on social media and want a platform that's easy to use, then TikTok may be right for you. However, if you want more control over your content or have experience with other platforms such as YouTube or Facebook Ads Manager then Instagram Reels could be worth exploring too!
If you'd like to look at this in more detail, book yourself in for a Marketing Step Up Call so we can go to the next level.
コメント