TikTok and Instagram are two of the most popular social media platforms today, especially among younger audiences. TikTok is a short-form video app that allows users to create and share 15 to 60 second videos. It has exploded in popularity in recent years, with over 1 billion monthly active users as of 2022 (TikTok and Instagram user statistics worldwide, 2022). TikTok is particularly beloved by Gen Z, with over 40% of its users between the ages of 16 and 24.
Instagram, owned by Meta, is a photo and video sharing app with over 2 billion monthly active users as of 2022 (TikTok vs Instagram statistics, 2022). Although Instagram started out focused solely on photos, video content has grown increasingly central on the platform. Instagram is popular across generations, especially among Millennials and Gen Z.
While TikTok is focused on short videos and entertainment, Instagram has wider functionality as a social networking site. However, as TikTok videos often spread widely, many creators are interested in expanding their audience by cross-posting TikTok videos on Instagram.
Cross-posting TikTok videos on Instagram
It is possible to download and repost TikTok videos on Instagram. The main methods are:
1. Download the TikTok video to your device and upload it directly to Instagram as a video post, Reel, or story (source: https://www.bustle.com/life/how-to-post-tiktok-videos-on-instagram).
2. Screen record your TikTok video, then upload the screen recording to Instagram. This avoids any TikTok watermarks (source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62qwNGbDmaM).
3. Use third-party apps like TikTokRip or Repost to download and repost TikTok videos to Instagram (source: https://www.flexclip.com/learn/how-to-share-tiktok-video-on-instagram.html). These make it easy to reformat vertical TikTok videos into horizontal formats for Instagram.
The key factor is reformatting the video from TikTok’s 9:16 aspect ratio to Instagram’s recommended formats like 1:1 or 4:5. Overall, cross-posting TikTok content expands your reach across platforms.
Copyright and permissions
Both TikTok and Instagram have policies in place to protect copyright and prevent unauthorized reposting of others’ content. According to TikTok’s Intellectual Property Policy, users own the copyright to the videos they create, and reposting TikTok videos without permission can infringe on the original creator’s copyright.
Instagram’s Terms of Use also prohibit posting content that violates someone else’s intellectual property rights. Reposting videos without permission opens users up to potential copyright infringement claims and account suspension or termination.
To avoid copyright issues when reposting TikTok videos on Instagram, it’s best practice to:
- Obtain express consent from the original TikTok creator
- Give proper credit by tagging the TikTok account in the caption and using hashtags like #repost
- Only repost small snippets rather than the full video
- Make transformative edits like remixes or reactions to qualify as fair use
Proper crediting ensures the original creator receives exposure from reposts while respecting their intellectual property rights. Being thoughtful about what and how much content is reposted can help avoid legal issues.
Pros of cross-posting
One of the biggest benefits of cross-posting TikTok videos to Instagram is the potential to reach a wider audience. According to source, cross-posting allows you to reach users who may not be active on both platforms. Posting your content across multiple channels exposes it to new people who may not have seen it otherwise.
Cross-posting also helps drive traffic between the different apps. As explained by source, by sharing your TikTok videos to Instagram, you can promote your TikTok profile and gain new followers there. Similarly, you can add your Instagram handle to your TikTok bio to redirect Instagram followers to check out your TikTok. This cross-promotion helps build your followers and engagement across both platforms.
Cons of cross-posting
While cross-posting content can help expand your reach, there are some potential drawbacks to consider as well:
Content fatigue if overdone – According to Buffer, consistently posting the exact same content across multiple platforms can lead to audience fatigue or boredom. Followers who see the same posts repeatedly may lose interest.
Need to tailor content to each platform’s style – As noted by JoomConnect, each social media platform has its own culture and norms. Copy-pasting the same post may not fit the usual style on every site. Tailoring posts to each platform creates a better user experience.
Analytics: Performance differences
There are key differences in how TikTok and Instagram measure performance and engagement. On TikTok, important metrics are views, likes, comments, shares, and followers gained. TikTok’s algorithm favors videos that retain viewer attention, drive engagement, and encourage sharing. In contrast, Instagram focuses more on followers, likes, comments, saves, reach, impressions, and engagement rate. Instagram’s algorithm tends to reward high-quality photos and videos that inspire engagement and sharing.
When cross-posting between the platforms, expect to see variations in reach and engagement. A video may go viral on TikTok but see mediocre engagement on Instagram. This is due to differences in each platform’s audience interests and algorithmic preferences. Best practices for tracking performance include:
- Use each platform’s built-in analytics to compare metrics.
- Track engagement rate (likes + comments / followers) for a standardized metric.
- Measure follower growth on each platform.
- Consider both quantitative metrics and qualitative engagement.
- Aim for an ideal balance of high visibility and meaningful engagement.
Overall, tailor content and strategy per platform strengths while tracking key metrics to optimize cross-posting performance.
Content optimization strategies
When cross-posting TikTok videos to Instagram, it’s important to optimize the content for each platform’s unique audience and algorithm. You may need to experiment with different captions, edits, lengths, and other creative adjustments to make the video resonate on Instagram compared to TikTok.
For example, Instagram’s algorithm seems to favor longer videos than TikTok, so you may want to post the full length version or combine multiple TikTok clips into one video on Instagram. Instagram also has a larger international audience, so translating captions into multiple languages could help expand your reach.
Tailoring the caption is key. On TikTok, you can use more casual language and emojis, while Instagram may require a more polished, descriptive caption to contextualize the video. Linking to your Instagram profile or website in the TikTok caption can drive traffic to your other channels when reposting.
Testing different aspect ratios is another optimization technique. TikTok videos are vertical, but landscapes and squares may fit Instagram’s layout better. You can also add borders, logos, or watermarks to help brand the video for each platform.
According to social media expert Ryan Shuler (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryaneshuler), “Edited lifestyle and documentary short form videos. Created full, condensed, and vertical versions of each episode, optimizing content for TikTok and Instagram.” So editing and repurposing existing videos can be an effective cross-posting strategy.
The key is analyzing the performance data to see what resonates best on each platform. Experiment, iterate quickly based on insights, and optimize for each audience.
Influencer collaborations
Influencer collaborations on TikTok can be a highly effective marketing strategy. By partnering with popular creators, brands can tap into their existing follower base and get content directly in front of a large, targeted audience.
Some best practices for successful influencer campaigns on TikTok include:
- Choosing creators relevant to your brand and audience. Look at follower demographics and engagement rates.
- Allowing creators freedom to stay on-brand. The content should feel authentic to the influencer.
- Mixing sponsored posts with organic content. Disclose paid partnerships transparently.
- Running hashtag challenges inviting creators to participate.
- Compensating influencers fairly for their work and reach.
- Analyzing campaign performance to determine which creators drive the most engagement.
Effective influencer collaborations on TikTok can increase brand awareness, expand your audience, drive traffic, and boost conversions. Partnering with the right creators and giving them creative freedom can lead to highly engaging, on-brand content.1
Potential Monetization
Cross-posting TikTok videos to Instagram opens up additional monetization opportunities beyond what each platform offers individually. Here are some of the key ways creators can make money by having content on both platforms:
- Instagram Reels bonuses – Instagram offers financial incentives for top-performing Reels through its Reels Play Bonus program. Creators can earn bonuses by cross-posting engaging TikTok videos as Reels. As of 2022, bonuses range from $100-$10,000 depending on views and engagement (Source).
- TikTok Creator Fund – Popular TikTok creators can earn money from the Creator Fund for high-quality videos. By cross-posting to Instagram, creators expand their audience and potentially earn more through this program (Source).
- Sponsored content – Brand sponsorships represent a major source of income for influencers. Cross-posting provides more opportunities to partner with brands and generate sponsored content across both platforms.
Optimizing videos for each platform, growing follower bases, and providing value to audiences are key strategies for successfully monetizing cross-posted content through these and other money-making avenues.
Conclusion
Sharing TikTok videos on Instagram can be a great way to increase reach and engagement, but does come with some considerations. Here’s a quick recap of the key points:
- Make sure you have the rights to repost the video and credit the original creator if necessary.
- Cross-posting provides an opportunity to reach new audiences, but don’t solely rely on recycled content.
- Optimize the video caption and hashtags for each platform.
- Collaborate with influencers who have an audience on both platforms.
- Consider monetizing popular cross-posted videos.
- Monitor analytics to compare performance and refine your strategy.
Tips for successfully sharing TikTok videos on Instagram:
- Edit or condense longer videos for the 15-second limit.
- Adjust aspect ratio and framing to maximize full-screen viewing.
- Add relevant Instagram handles and hashtags.
- Engage your Instagram followers around the cross-posted content.
- Link back to your TikTok in the Instagram caption.
With the right strategy, reposting TikTok videos can help grow your audience and visibility on both platforms.
