Social media marketing is growing in popularity each year. There are a variety of platforms that influencers and businesses use to market themselves.
TikTok and Instagram are two of the most popular social media platforms at the moment. TikTok is a platform based on short videos that range from 15 seconds to three minutes. Instagram is a platform based primarily on images, but Instagram Reels are a new addition to the site which has enhanced user performance. Both of these platforms provide marketers with opportunities to be successful online. Many people – especially brands and marketers – wonder if one platform is better than the other.
If this sounds like you, then not to worry. You’ll see in this guide how great both platforms are, and how one platform can outweigh the other. Here is the debate on TikTok vs Instagram.
How Quickly Can You Grow a Following?
Growing a following on social media is a difficult task.
TikTok is known for gifting users the opportunity to reach success overnight. This doesn't happen to all TikTok users, but many will reach fame after one viral video.
Whereas, on Instagram, you need to have a decent following in order to have posts become popular in most cases. Without a decent following, your posts will get buried by those made by more popular accounts.
The key difference between the two social media platforms is that your following on Instagram is more stable. TikTok users tend to get bored due to overexposure to the content they consume daily. If you are no longer able to impress and entertain your following, expect a drop in followers to ensue. While your TikTok following may be more vulnerable than your Instagram following, there is one advantage of using this platform to gain fame. There are about 1 billion users on TikTok, and multi-millions of users regularly use the platform.
“Most TikTok users come from Gen Z, the so-called generation who has grown up with consistent interaction with the Internet,” says Danny Knotts, social media writer at Subjecto and Ratedwriting. “If you can take advantage of this audience, you can grow a following at a faster pace instead of relying on Instagram to do so. It can take years to reach even a few thousand followers on Instagram. When it comes to growing a social media following, TikTok is your best bet.”
Which Platform Offers More Creative Functions?
Now, creativity is something that marketers need to be on the ball with. Fortunately, both TikTok and Instagram are great platforms when it comes to conjuring up creativity.
Both platforms have multiple different functions that users can use to curate their content. TikTok has recently released stories, picture posting, and has expanded video editing abilities. Instagram has similar functions like Reels which compete with TikTok videos, along with stories, pictures, and advertisements.
However, keep in mind that TikTok’s newer options haven’t been that effective, and videos are still the primary content published on the platform. It seems the creators of the app have taken inspiration from other sites. Instead of branching out, they should be focusing on the power of their short video snippets they have had in the last few years.
Instagram, on the other hand, has been around for over a decade. Most of the features on Instagram have been produced with good taste. From filters to stories, and posting niche photos, Instagram is established when it comes to its features.
To be fair, TikTok is noticeably trying to compete with the flexibility of Instagram, but its new features have been dismissed. When it comes to the overall function and the number of options available, Instagram is better equipped in this portion of social media marketing.
How Do the Algorithms of the Platforms Differ?
Nobody is a fan of the ever-changing algorithms on social media platforms. Algorithm changes make social media marketing frustrating and complex. Now, when it comes to both TikTok and Instagram, the two platforms have their own ups and downs with algorithms.
TikTok has one of the most troublesome algorithms. Accounts with millions of followers sometimes struggle to obtain views because of the TikTok algorithm. You may be doing well for a week, and then receive little reception to your content for the next couple of months.
On the other hand, the algorithm on Instagram isn’t the best either. However, if you have a presence on the site, you’ll often perform well.
“The TikTok algorithm is constantly changing and sabotaging successful creators,” says Candy Smith, a business writer at Revieweal and Assignment Services. “Instagram is less chaotic, and has a more solid algorithm than TikTok. So, if you’re looking for easier algorithmic studying, then Instagram is your best bet.”
Which Platform Can Help Increase Brand Awareness?
Brand awareness and visibility are especially important for companies. TikTok and Instagram tackle brand awareness in their own unique ways.
On TikTok, it measures brand awareness through organic impressions. Despite its complex algorithms, it rewards content above anything else.
On Instagram, brand awareness is measured through users using Feed, Explore, or Reels. Through the likes, shares, etc. Thanks to its algorithms, Instagram prioritizes things like brand awareness.
Which Platform Is Better?
Now that we’ve explored both platforms, which is great for marketing. TikTok and Instagram are both incredible platforms to utilize for social media marketing needs.
Each platform has its disadvantages and advantages.
For TikTok…
- It’s geared at a younger audience
- It’s well-known for virality and unique content
- It allows you to create or join fun challenges
For Instagram…
- It’s geared toward a more mature audience
- It’s more business-oriented
- It lets you create Stories (24-hour posts)
Now, for both apps, they’re…
- Great for posting hashtags on topics, people, etc.
- Ideal for influencers, brands, and partnerships
- Offer the best analytics tools
The truth is that whichever platform you use depends on your brand and your audience. Plus, no matter which one you use, you’ll always have some sort of trial and error. While the first trial might not be successful, there’s always the second, the third, and so on.
In order to optimize your social media marketing approaches, it’s best to use both sites so you can enjoy the benefits of the two platforms.
Content marketer and writer, Madeline Miller works at Best essay writing services and Top Canadian Writers. She helps companies strengthen their marketing strategies. Madeline also contributes to other publications such as Via Writing.
