This year, it’s going to be crucial for you to understand the best practices for using both Instagram, and TikTok.

Why? Well, as social media continues to grow and evolve, Instagram and TikTok continue to be two of the most popular platforms for building a community of brand advocates and potential customers.

To stay ahead, you must understand the best way to approach each platform if you don’t want to fall behind in the fast-paced world of social media.

In this newsletter, we’re going to break down these practices in detail so that you have the knowledge at your disposal to dominate these platforms!

Before we dive in, check out our brand new video creation training course, Converted, that you can access whenever, wherever you want!

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Check it out for yourself, and take the first step towards generating impressive results from your videos by signing up today! (Use code ‘GLITCHED20’ at Checkout for 20% off).

Noteworthy Mentions Of The Week ⤵

Our first Team Top Three video from our educational series was released this week and had a great response online. Check it out here if you missed it.

Our new website launch had an overwhelmingly positive response from so many of you, and we’re really proud of the work we’ve all put in to get it live. Check out some of our recently updated videos here.

Anna, our Video & Photo expert at V21, created over 4,500+ images and photos for a client of ours, Starrett. You can see a few examples of our Photography here.

Our team has traveled across three different countries over the last two weeks, and here’s a quick snap of them on set with our biggest-ever client ⤵

Let’s Talk Best Practices 🤳🏼

Instagram has come a long way, and by the looks of things, it’s not slowing down anytime soon. 1.3BN images are shared every day on Instagram, so the competition for grabbing and holding attention is increasingly tough.

Likewise, TikTok is booming right now. With the average user opening the app 19 times per day, and a user base of just over 1.5BN users, it’s a serious platform to consider for all businesses looking to reach an audience between the age of 10-45.

So, how do you actually use these platforms effectively?

Here’s a list of practices that we use in both our own content, and client projects, to help us get one step ahead of the competition:

They are the new celebrities of the social generation. In fact, four out of five people between the age of 13-24 believe that online celebrities have more influence than traditional celebrities.

The younger generation is drawn to authenticity, and these Micro-Influencers & Creators have a network size big enough to be credible, but small enough to be targeted and authentic.

Instagram has come a long way from being the ‘photo platform’ back in 2010. They’re always updating their algorithm to stay current and relevant, and Instagram has recently prioritised video in order to keep up with its competitors over at TikTok and YouTube.

You don’t need to reinvent the wheel here as if you’re already making portrait videos for other platforms, it’s as simple as resharing what you’ve already made.

Nearly 40% of Gen-Z users go straight to Instagram or TikTok to search for a problem they need a solution to. We’re in the middle of a blend between social and search, so it’s important to make sure your profile is properly optimised.

You can do this by including specific keywords in your display name, bio, captions, and hashtags. If you sell pizzas, include the word ‘Pizza’. That way, when people search for “How to make fresh pizza” your content has a higher chance of popping up. Now I want a pizza… 

As the saying goes, “If you can’t beat them, join them”. The same goes for trending content. The ‘edutainment’ trend, the ‘authenticity’ trend, and many more. Sometimes, having huge success on Instagram and TikTok is as simple as jumping on what’s already popular, and not trying to reinvent the wheel.

We’d recommend adding your own ‘flavour’ into these trends, however, as an exact replica of another brand’s content will only damage your brand reputation. Use what’s current to your advantage, yet make it your own.

Learn to use the data to your advantage. How old are your followers? Where are they based? Do they consume more Reels, Posts, or Stories? Learn how your followers interact and engage with your content, and tweak your content to become more tailed to what they want.

That way, your following will slowly become much more engaged with what you’re creating and will continue to support and interact with what you post.

Why Is This Important?🤔

If you’re not creating consistent, high-quality content on social media, you don’t exist. It sounds harsh, but it’s true.

To be a known brand in today's landscape, it’s important to be online whenever, and wherever possible. Here are a few reasons to be creating content in 2023:

• You have the potential to reach and engage billions of active users that could need your product or service.

• You can build a sense of community by actively engaging and communicating with your followers through Reels, Stories, Posts, and everything in between.

• Visual platforms like Instagram and TikTok allow you to showcase your product or service in creative ways, which helps to increase brand credibility, trust, and authority online.

• It’s cost-effective to create social media content. All you need is a phone and a few hours of time. Plus, advertising approaches through Micro-Influencers and small Creators are more affordable than you’d think, compared to traditional advertising.

Having a presence on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram is essential for businesses that want to remain competitive in the marketplace. By utilizing these platforms effectively, businesses can increase brand awareness, engage with their audience, and build a strong online presence.

The Rundown 📝

Building a brand on Instagram and TikTok requires a clear understanding of the platform and a commitment to creating engaging and entertaining content.

By focusing on creating a cohesive brand aesthetic, building a community, partnering with influencers, and optimising your searchability, you can build a strong online presence and reach a wider audience.

As social media continues to evolve, it is important for all businesses to stay up-to-date with current trends and best practices to remain competitive in the digital marketplace.

Until then, see you in next week’s newsletter!