The ins & outs of Snapchat, TikTok & Instagram Reels for your business
Before Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram Reels became popular there was a social media app called Vine. Vine was an app that featured six-second looping videos where Gen-Z and millennials spent most of their time. While the Vine app was discontinued in 2016, it helped pave the way for the short-form video platforms Snapchat, TikTok, and IG Reels we know and love today!
What are these apps and what can they do?
Snapchat
Snapchat launched in 2011 which allows users to create video stories and send videos or images to share with their followers. The content created on Snapchat tends to be more light-hearted than on other platforms.
TikTok
TikTok launched in 2017, which allows users to create 10 seconds to 10-minute videos. The videos are then targeted based on a person’s interests and demographics to their page.
Recently, TikTok expanded videos up to 10 minutes to help content creators keep their content all in one video, so their followers won’t have to struggle by searching for part two.
Instagram Reels
Instagram Reels launched in 2020 to compete with TikTok. There are many similarities between Instagram Reels and TikTok such as allowing users to create short videos. The only major difference is TikTok videos can now go up to 10 minutes while an Instagram Reel is capped at 60 seconds.
As all three apps continue to grow, Instagram has reached 500 million daily users, Snapchat reached 306 million, and TikTok hit 1 billion daily users.
Marketing Opportunities
So, what are the marketing opportunities on each platform? Let’s break it down:
Snapchat
Snapchat has three main pages: your Friends page, the camera, and the Discover page. The Discover page shows story styled content from brands, publishers, and influencers and where your audience will most likely find your ads. The ads placed on the Discover page will also allow you to link your website, which can benefit traffic and online conversions.
Complete Guide: Getting Started in Snapchat
TikTok
In 2021, TikTok expanded and started bringing in advertising options allowing marketers to create and manage ad campaigns. TikTok wanted brands to have a chance to get creative with their marketing and reach their audience.
Complete Guide: Getting Started in TikTok
Instagram Reels
You can post videos for up to 60 seconds, add music and effects. Many businesses have already started using Instagram Reels to step up their game in reaching their target audience.
Complete Guide: Getting Started in Instagram Reels
In the last few years, short-form video has exploded in popularity. It is now one of the top methods for marketing to consumers in that 85% of internet users watch videos online. Jump in the trend and plan to use these three platforms in your marketing mix today!
