In doubt whether to choose Instagram or TikTok?
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2025 10:19 am
2. Instagram Reels
Instagram Reels were introduced in August this year. They are short, snappy and often entertaining videos of maximum 15 seconds, which perfectly play into the short attention span of the current social media user. Reels often consist of multiple recordings, which are enriched with audio, effects and filters. This makes Instagram Reels a one-on-one translation of TikTok.
Instagram Reels in new Instagram layout – November 2020
Who are Reels interesting for? For everyone who has already built up a nice fan base on Instagram and wants to deepen this relationship (in a fun way). Instagram Reels are certainly not only for creators, it is also a way for brands to connect even more with their audience. But that's not all: Reels are also interesting for everyone who wants to increase their visibility and growth. In recent months, it has become apparent that Reels give you a very nice growth boost. So it's worth experimenting with!
Tip: Want to try your hand at Reels, but have no idea where to start or how it works? Instagram's own 'Creating Reels' how-to will help you out.
3. Instagram Guides
Have you always missed the possibility to create long -form content on Instagram? Instagram Guides are the answer! This new feature gives us the possibility to create mini-blogs on Instagram. With Instagram Guides, you as a user can easily bundle useful recommendations and tips and share them with your followers - or consume them of course.
New: Instagram Guides – November 2020
This makes Instagram Guides interesting for both brands and creators. To inspire you, here are just a few examples of how you can use Guides:
Webshop (for example Søstrene Grene or Sissy-Boy): 10x the most beautiful Christmas decorations
Magazine (for example vtwonen): 3x Christmas tree inspiration
Creator (e.g. photographer): portfolio
Creator (e.g. beauty influencer): the 3 most beautiful red lipsticks
Want to know how to make Guides yourself? Follow the Instagram Guides step-by-step plan by Frankwatching author Christeny Martis.
Instagram update: what's next?
There you go ! You now know what has changed, but also what you can do with it and for whom it is interesting. We have one last question left, namely: what's next ? Well, this, if you ask me:
Instagram Shopping
My expectation is that the new, recently integrated shopping menu will become more and more 'to the point' in the future. Now it still looks a bit like a magazine/catalogue and you have to leave Instagram to buy an item. But I foresee that Instagram will one day become a real 'webshop' where you can make your move in the app itself. That may sound scary, because: the time we spend on Instagram will only increase (exactly what the makers want of course).
But look on the bright side : that would also mean that we get a custom-made 'webshop', consisting of items from brands we follow and brands we might like. And all that in one app that we already use a lot.
Curious about the most important Instagram trends of 2020 and 2021? Read an article here in which I highlight 4 of them.
Instagram Reels
That video is the future and that Instagram Reels is therefore a smart move, that is clear. The big question is: will Instagram Reels ever beat TikTok? Well, I wouldn't say so. That it is a formidable opponent, yes. I am convinced that Reels and TikTok can (continue to) exist perfectly well alongside each other.
Make a choice based on your target group. Is your target special lead group relatively young? So: 25 years and younger? Then TikTok is the way to go . Is your target group 25 years or older and have you already built up a large Instagram following? Then explore the possibilities of Instagram Reels. But don't wait too long, because right now Instagram is giving users who use Reels a boost. You want that!
Instagram Guides
With Guides, Instagram adds yet another new form of content to Instagram. What I find striking is that this is a long-form form of content, in a world of snappy content. Will the blog make a comeback , but on Instagram? We'll see.
In any case, I experience Guides as an opportunity for brands to really explore themes and bundle content. For now, influencers are already making eager use of it. It is a matter of time to discover whether the general public is also a fan.
What do you think of the changes on Instagram? And especially of Instagram Reels and Instagram Guides? Do you see opportunities for your own brand or company? And are you going to get started with it?
Instagram Reels were introduced in August this year. They are short, snappy and often entertaining videos of maximum 15 seconds, which perfectly play into the short attention span of the current social media user. Reels often consist of multiple recordings, which are enriched with audio, effects and filters. This makes Instagram Reels a one-on-one translation of TikTok.
Instagram Reels in new Instagram layout – November 2020
Who are Reels interesting for? For everyone who has already built up a nice fan base on Instagram and wants to deepen this relationship (in a fun way). Instagram Reels are certainly not only for creators, it is also a way for brands to connect even more with their audience. But that's not all: Reels are also interesting for everyone who wants to increase their visibility and growth. In recent months, it has become apparent that Reels give you a very nice growth boost. So it's worth experimenting with!
Tip: Want to try your hand at Reels, but have no idea where to start or how it works? Instagram's own 'Creating Reels' how-to will help you out.
3. Instagram Guides
Have you always missed the possibility to create long -form content on Instagram? Instagram Guides are the answer! This new feature gives us the possibility to create mini-blogs on Instagram. With Instagram Guides, you as a user can easily bundle useful recommendations and tips and share them with your followers - or consume them of course.
New: Instagram Guides – November 2020
This makes Instagram Guides interesting for both brands and creators. To inspire you, here are just a few examples of how you can use Guides:
Webshop (for example Søstrene Grene or Sissy-Boy): 10x the most beautiful Christmas decorations
Magazine (for example vtwonen): 3x Christmas tree inspiration
Creator (e.g. photographer): portfolio
Creator (e.g. beauty influencer): the 3 most beautiful red lipsticks
Want to know how to make Guides yourself? Follow the Instagram Guides step-by-step plan by Frankwatching author Christeny Martis.
Instagram update: what's next?
There you go ! You now know what has changed, but also what you can do with it and for whom it is interesting. We have one last question left, namely: what's next ? Well, this, if you ask me:
Instagram Shopping
My expectation is that the new, recently integrated shopping menu will become more and more 'to the point' in the future. Now it still looks a bit like a magazine/catalogue and you have to leave Instagram to buy an item. But I foresee that Instagram will one day become a real 'webshop' where you can make your move in the app itself. That may sound scary, because: the time we spend on Instagram will only increase (exactly what the makers want of course).
But look on the bright side : that would also mean that we get a custom-made 'webshop', consisting of items from brands we follow and brands we might like. And all that in one app that we already use a lot.
Curious about the most important Instagram trends of 2020 and 2021? Read an article here in which I highlight 4 of them.
Instagram Reels
That video is the future and that Instagram Reels is therefore a smart move, that is clear. The big question is: will Instagram Reels ever beat TikTok? Well, I wouldn't say so. That it is a formidable opponent, yes. I am convinced that Reels and TikTok can (continue to) exist perfectly well alongside each other.
Make a choice based on your target group. Is your target special lead group relatively young? So: 25 years and younger? Then TikTok is the way to go . Is your target group 25 years or older and have you already built up a large Instagram following? Then explore the possibilities of Instagram Reels. But don't wait too long, because right now Instagram is giving users who use Reels a boost. You want that!
Instagram Guides
With Guides, Instagram adds yet another new form of content to Instagram. What I find striking is that this is a long-form form of content, in a world of snappy content. Will the blog make a comeback , but on Instagram? We'll see.
In any case, I experience Guides as an opportunity for brands to really explore themes and bundle content. For now, influencers are already making eager use of it. It is a matter of time to discover whether the general public is also a fan.
What do you think of the changes on Instagram? And especially of Instagram Reels and Instagram Guides? Do you see opportunities for your own brand or company? And are you going to get started with it?