TikTok and Instagram Reels are two of the most popular short-form video platforms. TikTok launched in 2016 and quickly became one of the most downloaded apps in the world, known for its fun music-based videos. Instagram launched Reels in 2020 as a competitor to TikTok after seeing its explosive growth. While both platforms allow users to create and share short, entertaining videos, there are some key differences in format, editing, content, distribution, analytics, and monetization.
This article provides an overview of using the same video for both Reels and TikTok, outlining the pros and cons and key factors to consider.[1]
Video Format Differences
When it comes to video format, there are some key differences between TikTok and Instagram Reels:
Aspect ratio:
– TikTok videos are vertical with an aspect ratio of 9:16.
– Instagram Reels also use a vertical orientation but have an aspect ratio of 4:5.
Length:
– TikTok allows videos up to 10 minutes long (https://sproutsocial.com/insights/instagram-reels-vs-tik-tok/).
– Instagram Reels caps videos at 30 seconds.
Dimensions:
– TikTok videos are 1080 x 1920 pixels (https://www.socialpilot.co/tiktok-marketing/reels-vs-tiktok-vs-shorts).
– Instagram Reels are 1080 x 1350 pixels.
So while both platforms focus on short, vertical videos, the exact formats differ between TikTok and Instagram Reels.
Editing Considerations
When creating videos for Reels and TikTok, it’s important to consider what editing software and capabilities you need. Some of the top video editing apps for Reels and TikTok include Movavi, Adobe Premiere Rush, and PowerDirector. These apps allow you to do things like trim and splice clips, add text, filters, effects, and more.
Movavi and PowerDirector are particularly good for basic editing like trimming, filters, and transitions. Adobe Premiere Rush provides more advanced capabilities like color correction, audio editing, and multi-layer editing. Many of these apps also have features to help optimize videos specifically for Reels or TikTok, such as aspect ratio templates, music libraries, and exporting options.
When editing Reels and TikToks, you’ll want to take advantage of trending visual effects, fonts, filters, and stickers/emojis. Apps like PicsArt make it easy to access tons of creative assets to make your videos stand out. You’ll also want to ensure your editing maintains a fast, engaging pace for the short-form video style.
Content Differences
While both platforms allow short-form video, the type of content that thrives on each platform tends to differ. On TikTok, trends, viral challenges, and reaction videos tend to gain more traction, given TikTok’s algorithms favor this entertaining style. TikTok also tends to feature more music, dances, comedy, and younger influencers. Instagram Reels cater more to influencer/lifestyle content and trends within industries like fashion, beauty, fitness, and travel.
Comedic and meme content also thrives on TikTok, where fast-paced visual humor resonates well. Instagram’s content skews more aspirational and glamorous. While Reels support humor too, niche topical humor around things like workplace culture or living situations gain more traction there.
Due to the different user demographics, content adjustments are required for each platform. TikTok’s core Gen Z audience enjoys edgier jokes, while Instagram draws a broader age range. Tailoring content style, messaging, and tone for each platform’s target audience is key for optimal engagement.
Copyright Issues
When repurposing a video between platforms like TikTok and Instagram, there are several copyright issues to consider:
Music – TikTok has licenses that allow use of many popular songs in videos. However, this license does not extend to other platforms. Reusing a TikTok video with copyrighted music on Instagram could lead to takedown notices or legal issues. It’s best to use original music or royalty free tracks when repurposing between apps. According to What are the rules about reposting people’s TikTok videos… (Quora), reposting videos with copyrighted music is illegal.
Visuals – Reposting someone else’s original visual content without permission is copyright infringement. The TikTok Copyright Policy allows posting copyrighted material for criticism, commentary, etc. However, straightforward reposting violates copyright.
Branding – TikTok videos often use branded content, audio or visuals for comedy or critique. Reposting this to other platforms devoid of context can appear as endorsement rather than commentary. It’s best to avoid repurposing content using other brands without careful consideration.
Distribution
When it comes to distribution, having a consistent posting schedule is key for cross-posting videos between platforms like Reels and TikTok. You’ll want to post at optimal times for each platform rather than just duplicating posts. The best practice is to analyze each platform’s analytics to identify when your audience is most engaged.
For example, TikTok’s peak hours are in the evenings while Reels tends to see more traffic midday. Stagger posts between the two platforms during these prime times for maximum visibility. You can also repeat popular videos but avoid posting the exact same content multiple times in one day. Consistency is important, but too much duplication will bore your followers.
Analytics
Both TikTok and Instagram Reels offer business accounts robust analytics. On TikTok, metrics include video views, likes, comments, shares, followers gained, profile visits, and more. You can view demographic data on your audience as well as geographic data. Instagram analytics focus on reach, impressions, followers gained, profile visits, etc. However, TikTok provides more granular analytics with detailed insight into which parts of your video resonate with viewers through their “heat maps” feature showing tap-through rates. This allows TikTok creators to optimize content. According to Social Insider, in-app analytics on TikTok are far more intuitive for analyzing performance.
In terms of third-party analytics, TikTok only integrates with a few partners for now like Sprinklr or HYPR Brands. On the other hand, Instagram has more integration capabilities with third-party social media tools like Sprout Social and Hootsuite. However, TikTok’s own analytics dashboards provide very robust data, so third-party integration may not be as necessary.
Monetization
There are several ways creators can monetize their content on TikTok and Instagram Reels:
In-app purchases: Both platforms allow creators to link out to products or services that fans can purchase. However, Instagram has more built-in shopping features like Shoppable Posts and Live Shopping that streamline the process. TikTok is still developing its ecommerce options.
Advertising: TikTok and Instagram both offer advertising programs for businesses and creators to monetize their content. Instagram provides more mature advertising options like branded content, while TikTok is still growing its ad products. The average CPM on TikTok is lower than Instagram currently.
Influencer marketing: Partnering with brands is an effective monetization method on both platforms. However, Instagram’s larger reach and diverse content types make it easier for brands to find the right influencer fit. The average Instagram post earns $0.10-$0.20, while TikTok is $0.01-$0.02 per post.
Overall, Instagram provides more mature and sustainable monetization avenues at this time. But TikTok’s monetization options are rapidly developing as well.
Pros and Cons
Some key pros and cons of using the same video for Instagram Reels and TikTok include:
Pros:
– Saves time and effort since you don’t have to create multiple videos for different platforms
– Maximizes your content by distributing it to two popular platforms for short-form video
– Builds your brand consistency by sharing the same content across platforms
– Potentially expands your reach and viewership by tapping into both Reels’ and TikTok’s audiences
Cons:
– Formatting limitations since Reels and TikTok have slightly different video specs
– Less customization opportunity to optimize for each platform’s algorithm
– Risk of poor video performance if not tailored to what engages each platform’s audience
– Potential copyright issues if re-posting without proper rights to the video content
Overall, reusing video across Reels and TikTok can be a time-saving strategy but may require compromises. The ideal approach is customizing videos to play to the strengths of each platform while maintaining brand consistency.
Conclusion
While there are some key differences between TikTok and Instagram Reels, such as aspect ratio, length limits, and certain editing features, it is possible to repurpose your video content between the platforms with proper preparation. The most important factors to consider are adjusting video formats, tailoring content for each platform’s audience, and being aware of copyright issues. With strategic editing and distributing, you can expand your reach and get more mileage out of high-quality video content.
In conclusion, repurposing TikTok videos as Instagram Reels can be an effective social media strategy if done properly and legally. Keep the formats, editing features, content expectations, target audiences, and platform guidelines in mind. Test which content resonates best on each platform and optimize accordingly. With smart repurposing and distribution, you can gain more viewership and engagement across both TikTok and Instagram Reels.
