It has been observed that short-form videos receive higher engagement rates than long-form videos. Now, businesses are also using this tool (short-form videos) to market their businesses. But it is critical to know how short videos are contributing to brand marketing.
Short-form videos are preferred because they are highly engaging, and attention-grabbing, and allow your business to smartly show its products to a maximum audience.
Short-form videos are mostly shared on TikTok and Instagram reels. Both platforms are managing short-form videos so well that it confuses marketers in their decision to choose one of the platforms to post.
If you’re not sure which one to choose, this article will help you figure it out. Make it simpler for you to select the ideal platform for posting concise videos.
This article is perfect for knowing:
- What are Instagram Reels?
- What is TikTok?
- Comparison of Instagram reels and TikTok
- Which one is perfect for your business’s marketing?
What are Instagram Reels?
Instagram reels are currently a popular feature on Instagram, much like Instagram stories. The users of Instagram show vertical videos in Instagram reels. Instagram only allows you to create 90-second videos for Instagram reels.
Instagram reels are not only for audience entertainment; they also allow businesses to promote their products or services by using Instagram reels.
You can make short videos for Instagram reels by adding filters and music. Instagram reels are a fantastic tool for keeping viewers focused on your content.
Instagram users can also find Instagram reels on the explore page of the app.
The above-mentioned information is quite enough to understand what Instagram reels are.
Let us proceed to learn more about TikTok.
What is TikTok?
TikTok is the second-largest video-sharing platform after YouTube. It’s a social media platform that evolved from Musical.ly. The flourishing power of TikTok cannot be denied. TikTok is the most downloaded platform and has billions of users.
Trends are everything on TikTok because people love to follow the latest trend and try to show their creativity on TikTok.
TikTok allows you to show your creativity and talent by utilizing three minutes for a video. There are billions of people worldwide who are leveraging TikTok to share ASMR videos, life hacks, DIYs, and informational content.
TikTok was the first platform to allow users to share short-form videos and receive a massive response. After realizing the power of short videos, other social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube updated their features and introduced Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts afterward.
There is no doubt that the content type on TikTok is not professional and is very random, but the massive growth and popularity of TikTok entices several small and even big brands or businesses to join the platform.
TikTok businesses are now leveraging the platform and gaining recognition through it. Also, some new businesses are trying to make their place on TikTok and are employing different marketing strategies.
Takeaway: Any business, whether new or already established, that wants to grow its presence on TikTok can buy TikTok like PayPal to boost the reach of its brand or business.
Comparison of Instagram Reels vs. TikTok
There are some parameters by which we can compare TikTok and Instagram Reels. Here we are mentioning four major parameters that can help you better understand the difference between these two.
- Duration of the videos
- Competency to show ads
- Sounds and Music
- Analytics of the Videos
Duration of the videos
Instagram Reels: You can use up to 90 seconds to make a video for Instagram Reels. If you are trying to make a longer video for Instagram reels, wait. Think twice. Because longer videos are not recommended by the experts, especially if you are trying to market your business using videos on Instagram reels,
TikTok: TikTok is famous for sharing short-form videos. TikTok’s audience enjoys engaging with visually appealing videos.
TikTok is gradually updating the platform and increasing the length of videos. When TikTok was created, it allowed you to share a video for just a minute. But in July 2021, TikTok will extend the duration of the video to up to three minutes.
But recently, in February 2022, TikTok further extended the duration of the video; now you can share videos on TikTok up to 10 minutes long. It entices businesses to share long videos to market their products or services.
Competency to Show Ads
Instagram reels and TikTok, both of which allow a business to advertise their products and services to boost the reach of their business or brand,
TikTok: TikTok allows businesses to use paid ads to market their businesses on the platform. Other than this, TikTok also offers different formats for paid ads.
- TopView Ads
- In-feed Ads
- Branded Hashtag Challenge
- Branded Effects
Instagram Reels: Instagram reels allow you to run shoppable ads that must-have product tags. The viewers can directly buy the product by clicking the tag. The product tag not only helps a user buy the product from the ad, but they can also save and learn more about the product.
Sounds and Music
TikTok: TikTok has a large selection of music and sounds from which to choose. The user can add any kind of suitable music or sound to their videos to make them more attractive to other viewers.
Instagram Reels: Instagram allows its users to add music or sounds to their videos. However, when using sound or music in Instagram reels, there is still a copyright issue. Even this feature is not cleared for a business account.
Analytics for Videos
Video analytics is a must for knowing the status of your social media posts. As a marketer, it is obligatory to know your social media posts’ success. Analytical tools help you evaluate the status of your social media posts.
Both TikTok and Instagram reels have a built-in feature called “analytics.” It tells you whether or not your videos are reaching your intended audience. But there is a slight difference in the built-in analytics tools that Instagram and TikTok offer.
TikTok: TikTok’s built-in analytics tool shows you the total number of likes, views, and comments. It also displays the percentage of viewers who watched your entire content. Also, it tells you where the viewers found your video. You can also increase TikTok views by employing different strategies and buying TikTok view PayPal.
Instagram Reels: The built-in analytic tool of Instagram Reels gives insight into the total number of likes, views, comments, saves, and shares. It also displays the total number of times your videos have been viewed. Beneficially, it also tells you how many unique accounts have reached your videos.
Wrap Up (Which one is best for your business’s marketing?)
We’ve also talked about the similarities and differences between Instagram reels and TikTok. Now, saying one is far better for marketing your business is not justified. Both platforms offer similar features. There is only a minor difference.
For example, businesses that want to use long videos to market their business can choose TikTok over Instagram reels.
While Instagram reels is ideal for businesses that want to collaborate with other businesses.
Takeaway: Consider the following factors before deciding on a social media platform for your company’s marketing:
Investigate your target audience’s preferences. Find where most of your targeted audience is present, and then choose the most suitable social media platform for your business.
