It’s easy to see that Instagram Reels and TikTok videos are pretty much the same. That being said, there’s surely controversy as to which is better. But as social media experts, we don’t see the controversy at all! Promoting your brand through video will almost always be beneficial, no matter what platform you’re using. Having the visual factor of videos can help you introduce what you have to offer in a direct way. Reels and TikToks are a good way to show off your creative skills to develop your brand personality and image. Choosing which platform to use depends on your personal preferences, your social media strategy, and what kind of content you want to create.
It can be difficult to decide which platform to prioritize in your social media strategy since they seem so similar. Here are five key differences to keep in mind!
Video Length
One of the bigger, more obvious differences is video length. Reels allow us to upload videos with a limit of one minute. Though a lot of content you usually see is fairly shorter than this, TikToks can actually be up to 3 minutes long! That 3-minute window is a great option to have if you’d ever want to upload content that really goes into depth (while keeping your viewers interested and engaged of course!)
Engagement Rate
Both Reels and TikTok videos generally get the same amount of views and are great for increasing reach. However, TikTok’s engagement rate is much higher, with likes averaging at 231,935. This compares to an average of 110,675 likes on Reels videos.
Audience Age
You can probably tell that TikTok has really become the hot spot for Gen Z. Even the stats are showing that this is accurate. Reels are generally reaching an older audience. (The age of your target audience should play a big role in which app you focus on!)
Caption Length
If you’re familiar with TikTok, you know you have to keep those captions short and sweet, which may sometimes be difficult. On Reels, however, your captions can be up to 2000 characters, making it easier to explain what you’re promoting and give you more creative freedom in your writing!
Audio Options
Users are constantly creating new sounds on TikTok, whereas this process is more difficult on Instagram due to copyright restrictions. Overall, this gives you more options for what sounds to use on TikTok.
Besides these few differences, both have easy-to-navigate editing features for you to use in the app. Though the features are not all the same, Reels and TikTok provide so many ways to help you get creative! Both apps also help you reach new potential customers through the “For You” or “Reels” page. Since your content will likely appear on the feed of people who aren’t your customers, investing time in Reels or TikTok (or both) is a great way to increase brand awareness and make your best impression on the world.
What we’re trying to say here is that- both platforms are great for your business! So whichever platform your social media strategy may lead you to, make the most of it!