It’s safe to assume that social media isn’t going away, and in fact, it’s becoming a more permanent part of our life. There has been a massive increase in the number of social media users worldwide since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. With more than 1.3 million new users joining social media every day in 2021, the worldwide total will reach over 4.2 billion by the beginning of 2022.

And, with so many social media channels and platforms to choose from, deciding which one is ideal for your company may be tough. It may be a minefield, with everything from Facebook and Twitter to Instagram, TikTok, and, more lately, Bebo and Clubhouse, and it all depends on your business goals and which influencer you’d like to connect with.

So, let’s compare TikTok vs Instagram to see which is better for your business.

Instagram

As Instagram is the most popular social media tool for influencer marketing, this does not guarantee it is the ideal option for you and your company. Because each company’s demands are so different, the platforms you need to use alter as well.

Instagram’s popularity stems from its adaptability. Instagram appeals to practically everyone, with the capacity to make and post professional-looking images as well as short and long-form videos, but this also relies on your target demographic.

The stuff we see on Instagram is well managed – at least on the main feeds. Instagram Stories are fantastic for displaying real-time, ‘off-the-cuff’ footage, while tools like Reels and IGTV allow influencers to exhibit their work.

The majority of Instagram users were between the ages of 25 and 34, therefore this should connect with your brand’s target demographic to get the most out of your influencer marketing strategy.

Instagram also offers its own set of analytics tools, making it quick and uncomplicated for companies and influencers to track campaign data and outcomes. This is useful when attempting to figure out how effective a campaign was and what may be done better next time.

Not only that, but Instagram is an excellent tool for developing community and relationships with viewers, making it ideal for influencer marketing. After all, customer loyalty and engagement are crucial.

TikTok

It is well-known for its capacity to distribute funny short-form video content.

TikTok, which began as a platform for users to post funny comedy skits, lip-syncs, and engage in viral dance trends, has now attracted a bevy of businesses. However, marketing your brand on TikTok might have serious consequences, as funny videos are one of the platform’s top trends. In this situation, some brands may jeopardise their image by attempting to be trendy. TikTok would not be the greatest platform for your business if you’re seeking to build trust. This is because videos that do not fit your brand voice may drive your viewers to become confused.

You will agree that TikTok permits users to like, comment, and share videos, but that’s where it ends. It’s difficult to bring visitors to your website as you can’t add the link to your content.

TikTok has grown in popularity and, in some ways, dominated the social media scene since the start of the Coronavirus epidemic in 2020. Even though when it comes to scheduling an upload, unlike many other social networking sites, you can’t schedule content on TikTok, you’ll have to manually upload new videos when you want them to.

There are several methods for a company to work with a TikTok influencer. This involves establishing challenges, which frequently go viral, ensuring that your brand, products, and services get discovered. But the major problem is that TikTok’s user base is younger, with 69 percent of the app’s users being between the ages of 13 and 24.

TikTok has analytics gears where marketers can go through data like video views and profile views, as well as relevant information about an account’s followers, which is useful for your business but only upto 28 days because TikTok only saves data for 28 days, you’ll have to manually keep track of everything.

The key differences to note

Options for music and video editing

TikTok’s Sound Library contains a large range of music that is easily accessible to all users. Instagram Reels, on the other hand, does not grant access to its music function to corporate profiles. Business accounts who want music in their Reels must record their audio, use someone else’s original audio, use royalty-free music, or pre-produce their Reels outside of the app.

Instagram Reels features fewer effects, themes, and filters than TikTok. The Instagram Effects library’s video effects are more limited, and users may only choose them before recording each video clip.

TikTok’s Duet, Stitch, and Reaction features are among the most notable variations between the platforms. None of these talents is present.

The Methodology

TikTok’s “For You” tab is comparable to Instagram’s “Discover” page, with the exception that TikTok’s algorithm is more complex and intriguing. It is far more personalised to the user’s choices, and the entire vertical screen experience promotes scrolling. On the other hand, Instagram’s “Discover” feature is a true melting pot of knowledge.

Paid Promotion

Because Instagram has been around for much longer, it has a stronger foothold in the paid advertising space than TikTok. TikTok’s sponsored advertising options include Branded Hashtag Challenges, Branded Effects, Brand Takeovers, In-Feed Ads, and TopView. In late 2020, Instagram added sponsored content tags to Reels. The platform has always made it simple to produce branded content for static postings.

However, the two apps still have fundamental differences. In the ever-evolving social media environment, TikTok’s unique video content provides it with a competitive advantage, but Instagram has the benefit of being owned by one of the world’s largest technological companies. It hasn’t seen the same kind of scrutiny or political resistance as TikTok has.

Wrapping Up:

There are a few key distinctions between Instagram and TikTok that should be considered when determining which platform to use for your influencer marketing strategy.

Targeting Options: For starters, whereas paid advertising spots on Instagram enable more precise targeting, TikTok presently only lets marketers target geographical regions. On the other hand, TikTok has a significantly bigger appeal among younger users, making it the ideal platform to start building a relationship with this group.

User Base: Instagram now has more users than Facebook and has demonstrated long-term appeal, with the potential for employing Instagram for marketing initiatives widely acknowledged. TikTok, on the other hand, is a brand-new frontier that has yet to reach its full potential. Its users are highly engaged and skilled at producing compelling material, and advertising alternatives such as hashtag challenges encourage people to connect with your product creatively while also giving it the potential to become viral.

Shared Content: The type of content submitted to both appears to be the biggest distinction right now. TikTok’s extensive editing capabilities and music collection enable producers to make more narrative-driven stories within the app, which is ideal for advertisers looking to recruit users to spread a more creative message about their brand.

When done correctly, this is critical for increasing brand recognition and has already shown to be a great success. However, because Instagram allows marketers to target more precise demographics and increase sales, brands looking to increase conversions should stay on Instagram for the time being.