What is TikTok?
TikTok is a video sharing app owned by the Chinese company ByteDance. It is known for short videos set to music/sound that showcase dancing, comedy skits, stunts, and more. TikTok features a variety of built-in filters, effects, and AR lenses that allow users to enhance and edit their videos.
According to Investopedia, “TikTok is a popular social media app that allows users to create, watch, and share 15-second videos shot on mobile devices or webcams” (Source). The app has become incredibly popular with Generation Z due to its fun, creative format.
As explained by Influencer Marketing Hub, “TikTok works like a social media platform, which allows users to create and share content as well as discover content posted by others” (Source). The app makes it easy for users to browse videos, follow creators, engage with content, and become creators themselves.
What are Instagram Stories?
Instagram Stories is a photo and video sharing feature on Instagram where posts expire after 24 hours (Source). Users can upload photos and videos to their Stories, which appear in a slideshow format for followers to view. Stories can be customized with filters, text, stickers, drawings, and more.
Some key features of Instagram Stories include:
- Posts disappear after 24 hours
- Ability to add creative tools like filters, text, and stickers
- See who has viewed your Story
- Link Stories together to create a narrative
- Add polls, questions, quizzes to Stories
Instagram Stories allows users to give followers a behind-the-scenes, authentic look into their daily lives. The ephemeral nature encourages more candid sharing than permanent Instagram posts.
Cross-Posting TikToks to Instagram Stories
You can directly share TikToks to your Instagram Stories. When you share a TikTok this way, the video will retain the original audio and effects from TikTok. It will also display the TikTok logo and username, so viewers know it originated on TikTok.
According to https://clipchamp.com/en/blog/how-to-post-tiktok-to-instagram/, sharing a TikTok to Instagram Stories is simple. Just create a new Instagram Story, click the sticker icon, select the link sticker, and paste the link to the TikTok. The TikTok will then appear as a preview that viewers can tap.
Direct cross-posting maintains the TikTok branding while leveraging Instagram’s large audience. It’s an easy way to expand the reach of a popular TikTok without having to download, edit and reupload the video.
Benefits of Cross-Posting
Cross-posting TikTok videos to Instagram Stories provides several key benefits for content creators and brands looking to expand their reach:
It expands reach to new audiences. By sharing TikTok videos on Instagram Stories, you can expose your content to new viewers who may not be on TikTok. This gives you a chance to reach Instagram’s over 1 billion monthly active users[1].
Cross-posting also drives more engagement. Instagram Stories have high levels of engagement, with an average view time of 15-25 seconds per Story[2]. Putting your popular TikTok videos on Stories gives fans another place to interact and share.
Additionally, cross-posting saves time creating new content. Rather than producing unique videos for each platform, you can repurpose TikTok videos for Instagram Stories. This lightens your content workload[3].
How to Share a TikTok to Instagram Story
Sharing a TikTok video to your Instagram Story is easy and only takes a few steps. Here is how to do it:
1. Open the TikTok app and find the video you want to share. Tap the “Share” icon below the video.
2. Select “Instagram Story” from the sharing options. This will open the Instagram app.
3. The video will be added to your Instagram Story as a sticker that you can move and resize. You can edit the video with Instagram creative tools like stickers, text, and drawings.
4. Once you finish any edits, post the Story or add more content before sharing. The original TikTok audio will be used in the video.
That’s all there is to it! TikTok makes it seamless to share videos to Instagram Stories. Just tap share, choose Story, and post away. You can easily boost your Instagram content using viral TikTok videos this way.
Source: https://clipchamp.com/en/blog/how-to-post-tiktok-to-instagram/
Optimizing Cross-Posted TikToks
When sharing a TikTok video to Instagram Stories, it’s important to optimize it for the Instagram audience. Here are some tips:
Customize the caption for Instagram – Don’t just copy and paste the same caption from TikTok. Tailor it specifically for Instagram users by highlighting different aspects or using different hashtags.
Use relevant Instagram hashtags – Include a mix of popular and niche hashtags that are relevant to your content. This helps Instagram’s algorithm recognize the content. Some hashtags commonly used include #fyp, #viral, and #foryou.
Encourage viewers to follow on both apps – Let Instagram viewers know they can find more of your content on TikTok as well. Drop your TikTok handle in the caption.
Trim the video for Instagram – TikTok videos can be up to 3 minutes long but Instagram Stories only allow 60 seconds. Trim longer TikTok videos to highlight the best parts.
Add text overlays – Use Instagram Stories stickers, gifs, and text formatting to enhance the video for Instagram audiences.
Check permissions and attribution – Be sure you have the right to share the TikTok video, and give proper credit to the original creator if it’s not your own.
Analyze performance – Check Instagram Insights to see how your cross-posted videos are performing, and iterate on your optimization strategy.
Best Practices
When sharing TikToks to Instagram Stories, it’s important to follow best practices to credit the original creator and provide a good experience for your audience. Some tips include:
- Always credit the original TikTok creator by tagging their handle and linking to their profile. This shows you respect their work and helps drive traffic back to them. You can add the tag and link when sharing the TikTok or in a comment on your Story.
- Choose TikToks that complement the rest of your Instagram content. Your audience follows you for a reason, so make sure any reshared content aligns with their expectations.
- Monitor engagement on your cross-posted Stories. Pay attention to views, interactions, and traffic to the original creator’s profile. Use this to refine your sharing strategy over time.
- Avoid over-saturation by limiting how many TikToks you share to your Instagram Stories in a given timeframe. Sharing 1-2 cross-posts per day or week is reasonable.
- Always share TikToks in their original format instead of downloading and reuploading. This preserves the TikTok watermark so viewers know where it came from.
By following best practices, you can effectively leverage TikTok content while respecting creators and providing value for your Instagram audience.
Potential Drawbacks
While sharing TikToks to Instagram Stories can have benefits, there are some potential drawbacks to consider as well:
Content can become repetitive and less engaging if you share too many TikToks to Instagram Stories. Since the content is identical, followers may lose interest in engaging with the same videos on both platforms. It’s best to be selective and strategic when cross-posting TikToks to Instagram Stories.
Having both an Instagram feed and TikTok account to maintain can split your audience’s attention and make it harder to build a loyal following on one platform. If you share all your TikTok videos to Instagram, your Instagram feed may become less distinct and original. Similarly, redirecting Instagram followers to TikTok may discourage them from engaging on Instagram. It requires finding the right balance between the two platforms.
According to this article, cross-posted TikTok videos are unlikely to be pushed by Instagram’s algorithm in Explore or hashtags. So relying too heavily on cross-posting rather than creating original Instagram content may limit your reach and growth.
Alternatives to Cross-Posting
While cross-posting TikToks to Instagram can be convenient, it’s not always the best strategy. Here are some alternatives to consider:
Use TikTok music/trends to create original Instagram content. TikTok’s sounds and popular challenges can inspire fresh Reels or Stories that feel current. Tailor the content to each platform’s audience while tapping into viral trends.
Repurpose TikTok videos into IGTV or Reels. Trim longer TikToks into multiple 15-60 second Reels or recut into a 1-10 minute IGTV video. Add captions or text overlays and adjust formatting to optimize for each platform. This takes more effort but prevents duplicate content.
According to an insightful Reddit thread, cross-posting to every platform can be “incredibly tedious” [1]. It’s often better to focus on creating custom, tailored content for each platform’s audience and style.
Tools like Planable [2] allow scheduling and posting to multiple networks, but cross-platform posting should be used judiciously. Unique content resonates best on each network.
Key Takeaways
When deciding if you want to share TikTok videos on Instagram Stories, there are a few key points to keep in mind:
You can directly share a TikTok to your Instagram Story with just a few taps. This allows you to repurpose content and increase your reach across platforms.
Potential benefits include reaching new audiences, driving traffic between apps, and saving time creating content. However, drawbacks can include diluting your brand and aesthetic, and complicating analytics.
To optimize cross-posting, follow best practices like maintaining visual consistency, adding captions, and using strategic formatting. Most importantly, ensure the content aligns with your overall social media strategy.
In summary, TikToks can easily be shared to Instagram Stories which can help expand your reach if done intentionally. Consider the pros and cons and implement best practices for the best results.
