TikTok and Instagram have become massively popular social media platforms, especially among younger users. Many creators and brands now maintain a presence on both TikTok and Instagram to maximize their reach and engagement. While the platforms have some differences in features and formats, there are opportunities for integration and cross-promotion between TikTok and Instagram accounts. Linking and promoting your accounts on each platform can help expand your audience and increase views and follows. There are several techniques to connect with and find TikTok users on Instagram.
Why Find TikTok Users on Instagram?
Cross-promoting your content on multiple platforms like TikTok and Instagram can help you grow your followers and reach on both apps. According to Flock Social, cross-promotion is an effective marketing strategy for promoting your Instagram account through other social channels [1]. For example, sharing your TikTok videos to Instagram Stories or Reels can help attract new Instagram followers who are interested in your content. You can then promote your Instagram profile on TikTok to drive those new followers back to Instagram.
Ghost Retail notes cross-platform promotion provides improved brand visibility and expanded audience reach [2]. Finding your TikTok fans on Instagram allows you to engage existing followers while also discovering new audiences. Cross-promotion enables you to leverage the unique features of each platform for content while maximizing distribution.
Overall, cross-promoting across TikTok and Instagram can grow your follower count and engagement on both apps. Identifying TikTok users on Instagram helps unite your audiences and expand your content’s visibility through mutual promotion.
Search for Similar Usernames
One way to find a TikTok user on Instagram is to search for a similar or identical username. People often use the same handle across platforms to maintain their personal brand and make it easier for fans to find them.
Try searching Instagram for a username that matches or closely resembles their TikTok handle. For example, if their TikTok is @katie_videos, search Instagram for @katie_videos, @katievideos, @katievids, or other variants.
You can also try slight misspellings of their username or creative spins that retain the same words and letters. Instagram’s search is fairly flexible and can pick up on similar-sounding handles.
Keep in mind that adding extra numbers or characters like “official” to a handle is a common way users modify existing usernames. Don’t forget to also check for the username without these additions.
Searches on Instagram are case-insensitive, so you don’t need to worry about capitalization. Overall, a bit of creative thinking when searching can uncover the Instagram account for a TikTok user with a familiar name.
Use Shared Hashtags
One of the easiest ways to find TikTok users on Instagram is by looking for accounts that use the same popular hashtags on both platforms. Certain niches like travel, food, and fashion have hashtag communities that span TikTok and Instagram.
For example, if you come across an engaging TikTok video using the hashtag #TravelTikTok, you can search that same hashtag on Instagram to potentially find the creator’s account there. The key is to identify hashtags that are commonly used by creators in your niche on both apps.
Some broadly popular hashtags like #fyp and #FYPシ are used by TikTokers across niches, so searching those on Instagram may surface a wide range of potential accounts to follow. You can also look at which hashtags are currently trending on TikTok’s “Discover” page and search for those on Instagram.
According to this HootSuite article, some of the most widely used cross-platform hashtags include #tiktok, #dance, #music, and niche-specific ones like #BookTok, #FoodTikTok, and #TravelTikTok. Leveraging hashtags that work well on both apps is a simple but effective tactic for finding relevant Instagram accounts to follow.
Look for Links in Bios
One of the easiest ways to find a TikTok user’s Instagram account is to check their TikTok bio for an Instagram username or link. Similarly, you can look in an Instagram user’s bio to see if they have linked their TikTok account.
According to Statista (source), in January 2022 over 50% of the most engaging Instagram posts contained “link in bio” cues in the caption. This shows that linking to external profiles is a common practice on Instagram. The same is true on TikTok, where users frequently link their other social profiles like Instagram in their bios.
So when coming across an interesting TikTok or Instagram account, be sure to look in their bio for links to their other profiles. This cross-platform linking is an easy way to discover more content from that creator on different apps.
Use Third-Party Tools
There are many third-party apps and sites that can help connect TikTok and Instagram users. Some popular options include:
Canva – Canva allows users to easily design high-quality social media graphics and content that can be shared across platforms like TikTok and Instagram. By searching Canva for specific usernames or hashtags, you may find users active on both platforms.
Influencer marketing platforms like Upfluence and SocialBook allow you to search for influencers across social media platforms, including both TikTok and Instagram. You can find influencers in your niche and reach out to work with them.
Social listening tools like Brand24 let you track mentions of keywords, brands, usernames, or hashtags across social media, including TikTok and Instagram. This allows you to identify users active on both platforms.
Leverage Both Platforms’ Discover Features
Both Instagram and TikTok have discovery features that suggest accounts and content based on your interests and engagement. Instagram Discover showcases popular photos, videos, Stories, and live broadcasts while the TikTok For You page shows videos tailored to each user. The algorithms powering these features can help surface TikTok accounts that are active on Instagram as well.
Instagram’s Explore page uses information like accounts you follow and posts you like to recommend content and accounts you may be interested in. As explained on Instagram’s Help Center, machine learning models analyze this type of engagement data to personalize Explore. So interacting with TikTok content on Instagram can lead to more of those accounts being suggested.
Similarly, TikTok’s For You feed recommends videos based on your interests and interactions, according to TikTok’s Newsroom. Liking, sharing, and searching for videos associated with certain Instagram accounts on TikTok can prompt the app to showcase more crossover content from those users. Checking both platforms’ discovery pages regularly can reveal TikTok accounts active on Instagram that align with your interests and engagement.
Follow Share and Duet Chains
Another great way to find TikTok users on Instagram is by looking at who has shared, duetted, or collaborated with a TikToker you already follow. When someone shares or duets another user’s video on TikTok, it links back to the original poster’s profile.
You can use this to your advantage by looking through the shares and duets on videos from TikTokers you like. Check out the other users tagged or linked, and see if they have public Instagram profiles listed in their TikTok bios. Oftentimes, creators will share back and forth between TikTok and Instagram.
For example, if @catcreator makes a popular TikTok that gets shared by @dogcreator, you could visit @dogcreator’s TikTok profile. If they have an Instagram handle listed, you can follow them there for more content. This is an easy way to expand your network and find more creators making similar content across both platforms.
Analyze Comments
An effective strategy for finding engaged TikTok users on Instagram is to analyze comments on both platforms. Engaged commenters on one platform may very well follow and engage on the other.
Look for TikTok users who consistently leave thoughtful, funny, or viral comments. Check if they have an Instagram account linked. You can also search for their TikTok username on Instagram to see if they’re active. The same goes for engaged Instagram commenters – see if they’re on TikTok sharing the same username. As Nick from Social Media Examiner suggests, “replying to comments is one of the best ways to turn followers into customers” (source). Engagement leads to relationship building.
According to Janine from Learn with SBZ, having a consistent branded way of commenting using emojis or phrases helps build recognition and community. She also recommends engaging with complimentary accounts by commenting thoughtfully (source). Cross-platform commenting allows for exponential growth.
Join User Engagement Pods
One way to find TikTok users on Instagram is by joining user engagement pods. Engagement pods are groups of social media users, usually strangers, who have agreed to consistently like, comment on, and share each other’s content in order to boost engagement metrics (https://www.singlegrain.com/blog/ms/engagement-pods/). These pods often form across platforms, with Instagram users engaging with TikTok users and vice versa. By joining engagement pods that have both Instagram and TikTok members, you can discover TikTok creators on Instagram through their participation in pod activities.
To find cross-platform engagement pods, search relevant hashtags like #engagementpod or #engagementgroup on both Instagram and TikTok. You can also look for pods on Telegram or Facebook groups. When requesting to join a pod, be sure to share your Instagram and TikTok handles so the pod knows to engage across your accounts. While engagement pods can help increase visibility, it’s important to use them ethically and not rely on them solely to boost vanity metrics (https://influencity.com/blog/en/engagement-pods-how-to-identify-this-hack-and-its-impact-on-influencer-metrics). The most sustainable growth comes from creating high-quality content that resonates with your audience.
