So, you’ve decided to up your social media game for your business but can’t decide between Instagram and TikTok. Both are popular platforms, but which one is the right choice for you? As a small business owner, you want to make sure you’re investing your time and money into the platform that will give you the biggest bang for your buck. Before you dive in and start posting content, take a step back and think about your business goals and who your ideal customers are. Ask yourself what kind of content and experience will resonate most with them. Once you have a clear vision, the choice between Instagram and TikTok should become a lot more obvious. Keep reading to determine which features of each platform match what you’re looking to accomplish. The answer may surprise you!

Instagram vs. TikTok: Key Differences in Content & Audiences

When it comes to choosing a social platform for your business, Instagram and TikTok are two of the hottest options. But their content, audiences, and strategies differ quite a bit.

Instagram is all about high-quality photos and short video clips. Content revolves around beautiful images, inspirational quotes, “grammable” moments, and aspirational lifestyles. The audience tends to be Millennial and Gen Z. To succeed, focus on building a cohesive feed and brand esthetic. Use hashtags to increase discovery.

TikTok is the place for short, fun videos, memes, and viral challenges. Content is usually lighthearted, comedic, and centered around current cultural moments or music. The audience skews very young, mostly Gen Z. On TikTok, trendy and shareable content is key. Hashtag challenges, duets, reactions, and collaborations with influencers are popular ways to engage users.

While there is some overlap, the differences in content, style, and audiences mean that what works well on Instagram may flop on TikTok, and vice versa. Some brands find success by tailoring their strategy and message to each platform individually. Others focus their efforts on the one that aligns best with their brand identity and target market.

Building Your Brand on Instagram: What You Need to Know

Building your brand on Instagram is all about creating an experience for your followers and showcasing what makes your business unique. You can start by buying enough followers and views to get you started with your brand journey on Instagram. Go to Mixx today to buy Instagram views and followers at great prices. After that, you can then proceed with building your brand – to get started:

• Choose a memorable username and profile photo: Your username should be simple and related to your business name or product. Your profile photo should feature your logo or product. These make you instantly recognizable to new followers.
• Share high-quality photos and short video clips: Post a mix of content featuring your products or services, behind-the-scenes shots, lifestyle images, and reposts of happy customers. Keep things interesting by posting 3 to 5 times per week. Videos are a great way to showcase how your product works or capture authentic customer reactions.
• Develop your brand’s voice and style: Decide on the overall tone you want to convey – playful, educational, inspirational? Then make sure all your content, from captions to comments, reflects that voice. Using the same filters and editing style for your posts will also give your content a cohesive look.
• Engage with your followers: Like and reply to their comments, answer any questions, and show your appreciation for their follows and shares. Host contests and giveaways to increase engagement. Engaging with followers is key to building a loyal customer base.
• Optimize your profile: Choose 3 to 5 relevant hashtags to include in your posts, have a link to your website in your bio, and fill out your profile with details about your business to give followers a sense of your mission and values.
• Consider promoted posts: Once you’ve built up an engaged following, you can boost your best posts to reach new potential followers. Promoted posts are a great way to gain more exposure for your brand on Instagram.

With time and consistency, you’ll build an Instagram following that loves to interact with your brand. And that can lead to new customers and increased sales. The possibilities are endless!

TikTok for Business: How to Market Your Brand

Build Your Audience

The key to success on TikTok is building an engaged following. Start by buying following other businesses, influencers, and users in your industry or target audience. Like and comment on their videos, and some may follow you back. You can also participate in TikTok challenges, duets, and reactions to increase visibility. Run a contest or giveaway to gain new followers.

Create Short, Fun Content

TikTok videos are brief, usually 15 seconds to 1 minute. Showcase your product or service in a fun, creative way. You might do an unboxing video, a “day in the life” clip, or a behind-the-scenes look at your company. Use TikTok’s special effects, filters, transitions, and music to make high-quality but low-budget video. Post 2-3 videos per week to stay active in the community.

Use Popular Music and Hashtags

TikTok’s algorithm favors videos using trending songs, sounds, and hashtags. Check the current top music and hashtags in your niche and incorporate them into your clips. This makes your content more discoverable and helps it go viral. You can also create your own branded hashtag to build a community and encourage user-generated content.

Partner With Influencers

Collaborate with TikTok influencers who appeal to your target customers. Have them promote your product or service to their followers, often in exchange for free products or payment. Influencer marketing is an authentic way to reach new potential customers, especially younger generations. Look for influencers with 5,000 to 500,000 followers who share content relevant to your industry. Pitch them on why a partnership would be mutually beneficial.

Run Ads on TikTok

Once you’ve built a following, consider advertising on TikTok to increase brand awareness and drive sales. TikTok ads are short, full-screen video ads that appear in between user content. You can target ads to specific audiences based on factors like age, location, interests, and behaviors. TikTok ads are relatively affordable compared to other social platforms. Start with a small test budget to see how your ads perform before scaling up.

TikTok is a platform primed for creative marketing and partnerships. With some time and effort building your profile, creating engaging content, and collaborating with others, TikTok can become an important tool for reaching new audiences and growing your business.

Conclusion

So there you have it – the pros and cons of Instagram and TikTok for your business. At the end of the day, you need to determine what will work best based on your business goals and target audience. Maybe one platform is better suited for sales and promotions while the other is better for brand awareness. Don’t feel like you have to choose just one – you can absolutely use both to maximize your social media marketing strategy. The most important thing is to just get started. Pick a platform, set up your account, start creating content and engaging with your followers.