Embracing a Superior Short-Form Video Platform for Advertiser

Instagram Reels is a new feature launched by Instagram to compete with TikTok. Both TikTok and TikTok focus on creating vertical short video content, but which one is better? Which one is more in line with the brand’s marketing needs? Determining which platform works best ultimately depends on where the brand’s target market is.
Instagram and TikTok each have their own characteristics, and which platform you choose should consider your audience, brand, and marketing goals. If you want to reach a Gen Z audience, the more popular TikTok may be more suitable for you. And if you want to enhance your Instagram strategy and increase your follower count, Instagram Reels is a great place to start.

Although TikTok occupies a leading position in terms of growth rate and popular trends

it may also face difficulties on TikTok

• Fierce competition: TikTok is a competitive platform, with various types of content emerging, making it more difficult to attract users’ attention.
• Content production challenges: Producing distinctive and engaging content requires creativity and effort, as well as constant trial and error.
• Algorithm changes: TikTok’s algorithm is frequently updated, which may affect the exposure and influence of content, making it difficult for content creators to predict.
• Rising advertising costs: As the number of TikTok users increases, advertising costs may rise, which may be a challenge for small businesses.

For advertisers, most Millennials with more spending power prefer to surf Instagram. At the same time, the marketing market covered by Instagram Reels is less saturated and has good opportunities for growth. With more than 140 billion views on Instagram and Facebook every day, Reels are the future of video storytelling on Instagram—in fact, they already account for 20% of time on the platform.

Reels advertising helps you achieve your business goals

As an online photo and video sharing social application owned by Facebook, Instagram provides a wealth of advertising business options to meet advertisers' personal and business goals. Whether you want to increase brand awareness, drive traffic to your website, sell products, or reach a new audience, Instagram is the place to go. For novices, they may feel at a loss when they first start advertising on Instagram Reels and don’t know how to achieve the desired advertising effect. Here are some guides on how to advertise on Instagram Reels?

How to create effective Instagram Reels ads?

Consider Reels when designing

Take advantage of mobile screens and use immersive video to tell your brand story. Data analyzing ads designed specifically for Reels shows that the average cost of action for vertical ads is 48% lower than for non-vertical ads. Also, be aware of the safe areas of Reels UI as they can impact your click-through rate. On average, click-through rates for ads identified as violating Reels UI safe zones were 28% lower than ads that were not in violation.

Make full use of subtitles

According to a statistical report by Verizon Media, a third-party organization, 69% of video content is watched with the sound muted or at a low volume. Therefore, adding appropriate subtitles to your videos can be very helpful in increasing your content’s appeal and viewership. If you are worried that subtitles will affect the original video content, you can choose to set invisible subtitles, which is easy to do in the Instagram Reels app.

Stimulate emotional responses

In an analysis of two million Reels ads, we found that ads with a human presence in the creative (such as a face, character, or child) had a 25% higher click-through rate than ads without people. Interesting ads tend to elicit emotions such as happiness, interest and curiosity. Drive discovery for your brand through engaging storytelling. Engage your audience at the intersection of entertainment and personal connection. At the same time, you can work with authentic and credible creators to promote cultural relevance. Teach your audience something new or help them learn more about something they already love. Make it digestible. Closer to people's hearts.

Catch the eye

Capture attention in the first five seconds and set the mood by teasing your video content (e.g., three ways to showcase your product). You can create some urgency or FOMO elements in the first few seconds of Instagram Reels (FOMO is the Fear of Missing Out, which refers to the fear of missing out on more interesting or better people and things), limited time offers or seasons Sex sells. Quick ads are only 15 seconds long, so you'll need to use GIFs and creative words to grab attention. Keep the audience engaged with gradual transitions and utilize audio and tempo changes to keep the creative moving at an engaging pace.

Keep up with hot topics

No matter which social media platform you are on, hot spots are always an important source of traffic. But hot spots come and go quickly, and blind pursuit of them will only be counterproductive. To make full use of hot spots, you need to check the Instagram Reels tab regularly to learn about recent popular special effects, music, and other content. Additionally, browse content from competitor accounts or industry leaders to see what content they are creating. You can also use third-party tools to view Instagram’s hot content in real time, which is similar to the domestic hot list.

Guide users to click on the Bio link

Unlike domestic social media platforms, Instagram allows users to add their own web links and display these links on the homepage. This is Link in bio. This is very important for professional bloggers and brands because it provides users with the shortest path to the brand’s official website. Therefore, when creating Reels content, you can guide users to swipe left to the homepage and click on links. However, it is worth noting that there is a certain threshold for opening a Bio link. The account needs to reach 1,000 fans and be opened as a commercial account.

In the highly competitive landscape of social media, selecting the right platform that aligns with the marketing needs of a brand is crucial. Both Instagram Reels and TikTok boast their own strengths and characteristics, and brands should choose the platform that best fits their target audience, brand image, and marketing objectives. While TikTok holds a leading position in terms of growth rate and trends, it also faces challenges such as content production, fierce competition, algorithm changes, and rising advertising costs. On the other hand, Instagram Reels presents lower saturation in the marketing arena and offers promising growth opportunities, particularly for brands looking to enhance their Instagram strategy and expand their follower base. By leveraging the advertising features of Instagram Reels, brands can achieve various business objectives, including boosting brand awareness, driving website traffic, increasing product sales, and reaching new audiences.