TikTok has got more popular, but how does it stack up against the might Instagram?
There are more social media platforms in existence right now than you may expect, and the reason is that not all of them take off like Instagram and Facebook have. People are trying all the time to come up with the next big thing, but only a fraction of these types of start-ups actually get anywhere.
Instagram was one of those social media platforms that slipped through the cracks and seemed to be on top of the world for a decent period of time. However, it’s recently been usurped by something else and that something else is called TikTok.
TikTok is definitely the next big thing, which means that it’s one to watch out for.
Of course, there are also many people out there watching how TikTok compares to Instagram, and how quickly TikTok is growing vs. Instagram in the early days.
What is TikTok?
For those of you that don’t know what TikTok is, it’s a social media platform formally known as Musically, except that it’s completely different from everything we’ve seen so far. This is because it’s primarily a platform used for sharing and making videos over popular, mainstream songs.
TikTok says that in the middle of 2018, it had managed to gain 500 million active monthly users, which means that it did a pretty good job of going viral in a really small period of time.
Perhaps one of the best things about TikTok is that it suits all ages, and you can find videos on anything from animals and food to sport and comedy – as well as dance, of course. However, as you may have guessed, the majority of TikTok users are comprised of the youngest generation.
TikTok allows its users to record videos that are up to 15 seconds long, with filters to help the editing process, as well as stickers and several effects, too. TikTok is similar to Instagram because it also offers its users the option to add a caption, but unlike Instagram, you’ve only got 100 characters to work with.
It appears that influencers are quick to make the most of this brand new social media platform, as they invite their followers from Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to check out their new channel.
TikTok is Growing Quickly
It’s hard to believe exactly how quickly TikTok is growing, but it’s definitely surpassing most other social media platforms at an unprecedented rate. Automation is already available for their platform, and, In fact, they have now surpassed YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook. In fact, they were officially the most downloaded app in 2018.
We think that it’s fair to say that Zuckerberg isn’t doing so well right now, as he tries to work out how to keep Instagram relevant in the face of this new competitor.
One of the questions you may be asking at this point is: how important are hashtags on TikTok? It’s a fair enough question – hashtags have established themselves as pretty necessary on most other social media channels, so there’s every reason to believe that they’re just as vital on this brand new social media app.
Of course, hashtags can go a long way in helping you connect with your target audience. Sharing videos on TikTok without using the right hashtags can not only be a big mistake, but it could be the reason why you don’t gain any traction at all. Using trending and relevant hashtags can help your videos be seen by the right people, which is going to help you to increase your follower count as well gradually.
All you have to do to work out the best hashtags for your niche and industry on TikTok is search a keyword in the search bar, through your TikTok account. Once you press ‘enter,’ you will see a number of different hashtag suggestions come up under the ‘hashtag’ tab. Remember, make sure to come up with a nice combination of trending hashtags, and hashtags that haven’t gained too much traction yet, but directly link your target audience to your content.
It’s also important to remember that some hashtags will be popular for a little bit, before dropping off again. This will include hashtags that are associated with challenges that go viral. For example, the bottle cap challenge on Instagram went viral pretty quickly, as did the hashtags associated with it.
However, people don’t really use those hashtags anymore. This is why it’s a good idea always to be updating your hashtags, and checking them against others in your industry so that you know whether you’ve still got the best ones, or need to switch them out.
Apart from the instructions that we went over above, there are a number of other ways to find new hashtags for your account. Firstly, try learning from TikTok influencers that you look up to, or who are in your niche and industry.
Secondly, know your audience. Learn how to read them and figure out which hashtags they respond best to. You can always check your competitors as well, to see what hashtags are working for them, too.
When using your hashtags for TikTok, it’s important to remember not to hashtag every single word. We also don’t recommend using the same hashtags on every piece of content, either. Also, don’t overuse hashtags – try to switch them out from time to time, so that they stay fresh and relevant.
Can You Buy TikTok Followers Already?
In short – yes. You can buy TikTok followers and likes. There’s also a TikTok bot and other tools available, too.
Top Tools to Get More TikTok Followers
Want more TikTok followers?
Out of all the services we tested to grow TikTok profiles, these have shown to be the safest, with the best results.
| Rank | Tool | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seek Socially | Check Price |
| 2 | TokUpgrade | Check Price |
| 3 | Toksocial | Check Price |
Does TikTok Have a Revenue Model?
TikTok and Instagram are pretty different when it comes to their revenue models. Instagram, as you probably already know, gets income from paid ads. However, TikTok doesn’t have this kind of system for bringing in revenue – yet. TikTok gets most of its revenue from digital gifts and emojis that its users have to pay for.
Instagram
So, what are the biggest differences between TikTok and Instagram at this point? Well, Instagram is a video and photo-sharing platform, while TikTok is used for sharing and creating short videos. With IGTV on Instagram, you can upload videos that are a minute or longer, something that you can’t do on TikTok.
Additionally, on Instagram, you can upload stories that last for 24 hours. Of course, Instagram was first known for its feed and filters, but then it got more popular as it added features, like stories, direct messaging, and IGTV. Remember, TikTok is the newest app on the block, and with it comes a breath of fresh air in the world of social media.
It’s different enough from Instagram to be hugely popular among existing users, and the fact that it’s mostly based around making videos makes it a fun, relatable app that has taken the youngest generation by storm.
Final Thoughts
If TikTok continues to grow at the rate it is, then it won’t be long before it’s more popular than Instagram. This is why it’s worth watching TikTok, and seeing just how well it does over the next year or so.
What do you think of TikTok vs. Instagram? Are you excited to get the ball rolling with your account and make awesome TikTok content this year?
