Should Your Brand Be Using TikTok + IG Reels?

Nov 2

With TikTok and Instagram ranking as some of the most downloaded apps in the app store, it’s no question why brands are considering jumping on the bandwagon. Wondering if TikTok and IG Reels would be right for you and your audience? Read on to discover a few things you should consider before starting out!

WHAT ARE THEY?

While this probably goes without explaining, TikTok is a social media platform featuring short-form mobile videos. As of August 2020, TikTok revealed that the app has been downloaded 2 billion times globally and has about 50 million daily active users in the United States alone. The platform continues to grow in popularity and is perfect for brands looking to showcase their creative side and reach a large audience.

Reels is one of Instagram’s latest features that essentially looks and works just like TikTok. With over 500 million daily active users, your IG Reels are sure to be discovered. Reels have kind of been our jam lately and we’ve gained over 3,000 followers in the past month due to their exposure and reach! Although Reels aren’t *quite* as user-friendly as TikTok yet, we love that this is a feature within the Instagram app. When people discover and like your video, they can easily tap on your profile to see other quality content from your brand!

CONSIDER YOUR AUDIENCE

We want to create content that resonates and converts, right? Accomplishing this requires getting your content in the hands of the right people. When considering if your brand should be on TikTok or not, consider the demographics of your audience. While TikTok continues to expand, it is primarily utilized by 10-29 year olds. Keep this range in mind when determining if your target audience can be found on the app.

If you’re already on Instagram, we’re going to assume it’s because you know that your target audience can be reached there. The great thing about Reels is that there’s no separate account or application you need to register with, meaning your target audience is already on the app ready to see your content! Thanks to the Explore page, IG Reels provide a great opportunity to be discovered and reach new accounts. Plus, all of your creative videos will be stored right on your profile, which current and new followers can check out for more content from you after viewing your Reels.

CONSIDER THE TIME COMMITMENT

If you’ve confirmed that your target audience can be reached through either TikTok or IG Reels, the next component to consider is time. Posting quality videos (AND on a consistent basis) can be a huge time commitment! Posts that typically perform the best are a spin-off of current and popular:

Trends
Audios
Challenges

Time not only needs to be dedicated to filming and editing the videos, but also to browsing through the app to stay on top of trends. Once trends are identified, there is still a period of brainstorming and strategizing that needs to take place. Needless to say, these short-frame videos are not as effortless as they look! While the end result is fun, ensure prior to jumping on the bandwagon that your team has the time available to produce quality content.

IS THERE A FACE TO YOUR BRAND?

As a social media marketing agency, TikTok and IG Reels is a challenging service to offer our clients as we are not in-house experiencing their day-to-day routines. These videos are a chance for brands to be personal, sharing the faces and behind the scenes of the company! We recommend designating a person or two on your team to be the “face” of your brand to help make your business easily recognizable and consistent.

Pro Tip: Have these “faces” record multiple videos in one day in the same location and wearing the same outfit. It will help with added brand recognition!

CONSIDER INCORPORATING TIKTOK INTO YOUR INFLUENCER MARKETING STRATEGY

If your business does not have the time or resources to post TikToks or IG Reels themselves, consider incorporating them into your influencer marketing strategy! We have already seen a rise in influencers on TikTok, especially. Consider reaching out to them and inquiring about sending them product to feature in an upcoming video. This can be a great way to introduce your brand to the app without having to create all of the content yourself.

Need any tripods or fancy lights to help you record your new videos? We’ve linked our faves in our Amazon shop!

We hope this blog post was helpful for you in knowing what to consider about both applications. With all of this in mind, your brand might find it beneficial to show up on both TikTok AND IG Reels. For some, one platform may be a better fit than the other.

Ready to get started and look for some inspo? Check out our ReelTok Course and Instagram Reels + TikTok Bundle.

xx- The Homies