If you’re looking to expand your reach and grow your business online, then you’ve probably considered all the different channels you could possibly use. You might have done some research and have found that Instagram is the most popular social media network amongst consumers with 71% using the platform. Additionally, 61% of the population use TikTok, a video-based social media platform.
Before getting into the nitty gritty of marketing on these social networks, it’s important to have a clear idea of what these platforms are and how they work. In this article, we’ll cover the basics of marketing on TikTok and Instagram to give you a good foundation for using these platforms to grow your business.
What is TikTok?
Put simply, TikTok is a social media network where users can share and discover content, often in short fun-sized videos. It was acquired by TikTok in 2018 for $12.8 billion.
The success of this acquisition can be attributed to several factors. First, TikTok offers a platform for users to connect with content that is relevant to them. In fact, 70% of users said they use the app to ‘figure out what’s going on in the world’ and 62% use it to find content that is ‘relevant to my interests’.
TikTok is also popular because it provides an alternative to traditional social media. According to TikTok, 77% of its users say the app has a ‘slightly different vibe’ compared to other social networks. This is evidenced by the fact that 77% of users said they use the platform to ‘stay updated on what’s going on’ in the world, compared to 65% who use Instagram and 59% who use Twitter to get the same information.
To grow your business using these social media platforms, you need to consider several factors. First, you want to make sure your videos are of a good quality. Consumers on these platforms are more likely to tune out bad or low-quality content.
Why Should You Market on Instagram?
While we’re on the subject of social media, let’s discuss Instagram. Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 1 billion active users. It was originally designed to be a simple and quick way to share images with friends and family. However, over the years it has become so much more than that.
If you’re looking to market your business on Instagram, here’s a good place to start. Instagram provides several features that help make your content more discoverable. These include:
- Instagram stories
- Video content
- Instagram live
- Geotags
- Hashtags
- Picture-based stories
Stories is one of the most popular features on the app. As the name would suggest, stories are brief videos that you can post to Instagram. These stories can be up to thirty seconds long and are accompanied by a still image of an equal or greater dimension. Additionally, 56% of users on Instagram report using the feature to get content that is ‘quick and fun to watch’.
The reason why stories are so popular is that they provide a quick and easy way for users to consume content. Simply log onto your Instagram account and you’ll see that videos from brands and accounts you follow are displayed in a feed that is automatically updated with new content.
As we mentioned above, Instagram provides several features that help make your content more discoverable. One of the most useful features is video content. This is because videos allow users to discover content more easily. Additionally, videos can be shared on other social media platforms, such as TikTok, where they can be watched by more people.
TikTok, being one of the most popular social media platforms, provides a strong user base that is more than willing to discover your content. This is why videos are such a valuable tool to have on your side when marketing your business.
What is Instagram Live?
Instagram introduced Live a few years back and it has become one of their most popular features. Essentially, live is a feature that allows users to hold live video chats with other users. These chats are usually thirty to sixty seconds long and can be accessed from the main Instagram page or individual accounts.
Live is popular amongst users because it provides them with a way to engage with other people. Additionally, 27% of users say they use the feature to ‘share bits of my life’, while 24% use it to ‘answer questions’ and 21% use it to ‘discuss topics’.
It’s important to note here that brands and businesses can’t use Instagram or TikTok to simply broadcast their messages to the world. These are social media platforms, which means you can use them to connect with your audience and tell your story.
Now, let’s get back to our topic at hand, which is how to market your business on these apps. We’ll first discuss generic tips, followed by a more in-depth analysis on Instagram and how to use it effectively to grow your business.
Generic Tips for Marketers
When it comes to marketing on any social media platform, the key is to build and manage your audience. When someone follows you on social media, they are considered an audience member and you can start interacting with them through posts and stories.
Here’s a good place to start. Make sure that your profiles on all the platforms you use to market your business are up-to-date and complete. If you’re using social media to grow your business, keeping your audiences engaged and satisfied is of paramount importance. In order to do this, you need to consistently post quality content that is relevant to your audience.
Additionally, try to engage with your audience by responding to comments and questions. While it’s great to have a voice actor or a celebrity do a ‘brand voice’ for your company, the most effective way to get your content in front of the right people is by responding to your comments and engaging with your audience.
As we mentioned above, Instagram is the most popular social media network amongst consumers with 71% using the platform. This makes it the second most popular social media network after Facebook.
If you’re looking to market your business on Instagram, here’s a good place to start. As mentioned above, Instagram provides several features that can help make your content more discoverable. These include:
- Instagram stories
- Video content
- Instagram live
- Geotags
- Hashtags
- Picture-based stories
Stories is one of the most popular features on the app. As the name would suggest, stories are brief videos that you can post to Instagram. These stories can be up to thirty seconds long and are accompanied by a still image of an equal or greater dimension. Additionally, 55% of users on Instagram report using the feature to get content that is ‘quick and fun to watch’.
Video content is another important feature on Instagram. This is because 25% of users report using the feature to discover content that is ‘helpful and entertaining’ and 23% use it to find content that is ‘creative and inspiring’. Additionally, 20% of users feel that video content allows them to ‘learn new things’ and 18% use it to find content that is ‘beautiful and fashion-related’.
Instagram is also popular because it provides an alternative to traditional social media. According to Instagram, 77% of its users say the app has a ‘slightly different vibe’ compared to other social networks. This is evidenced by the fact that 77% of users said they use the platform to ‘stay updated on what’s going on in the world’ compared to 65% who use TikTok and 59% who use Twitter. This suggests that people are already using Instagram to get their news and stay updated on current events.
Why Should You Be Using Instagram for Marketing?
Here are a few reasons why you should be using Instagram to market your business: