Back in October 2013, Snapchat made a major update to its platform by adding Stories.
Because of Snapchat’s success, Facebook started buying the platform.But in the end, the $3 billion offer was Refuse Written by Snapchat founder and CEO Evan Spiegel.
for competition, Facebook In August 2016, it launched its own version of Stories via Instagram.
The Snapchat vs Instagram Stories debate has officially begun.
Brands and creators find themselves wondering which platform they should publish on — Snapchat Stories, Instagram Stories, or both?
Even now, many people still have the same problem.
What are Snapchat and Instagram Stories?
Overall, the premise and Instagram Stories it’s the same.
Stories on each platform consist of images and videos that expire after 24 hours.
Disappearing content creates fear of missing out (FOMO) and a sense of urgency, driving people to check out new content more often.
When it first launched, Instagram Stories was the most basic.
It took them a while to have a huge library of filters, stickers and GIFs to compete with Snapchat Have it already.
Fast-forward to 2021, and they’ll function largely the same, as every time one platform adds new content, the other seems to follow suit.
How to choose the right platform for you
So how do you decide which one to use when they are so similar? Well, there are two key questions to ask yourself before committing to one of these.
Here’s what you need to figure out.
1. Where does your audience spend their time?
The key to being successful on social media is to be and create content that your audience is hanging out with.
Otherwise, you’ll be creating content for all the wrong people.
What’s the point of that?
Determine if your audience is more likely to use Snapchat Stories or Instagram Stories.
Considering the demographics of each platform will help you figure this out. Another option is to simply ask them.
Send surveys to better understand your audience and ask which social media platforms they use the most.
Post a LinkedIn or Twitter poll.
This will tell you where you need to go!
2. Which platform can I use to my advantage?
One thing many people don’t consider when choosing which social media platforms will be part of their strategy is how they can play to their strengths.
Some platforms favor certain types of content and style is superior to others.
Since Snapchat and Instagram Stories are so similar, take a look at what each platform has to offer to determine which one is best for you.
Have fun, play and experiment.
If one clearly highlights your strengths, choose that one.
Now, let’s talk about each individual platform and some of the benefits each platform has to offer.
The Case for Snapchat Stories
Snapchat paved the way for a platform that now offers stories due within 24 hours.
After Snapchat led the way, Instagram, Facebook and even Twitter created their own versions in an effort to compete with the social networking giant.
While Snapchat is still doing well according to the numbers, it does seem to be faltering a bit compared to its competitors.
As of the end of 2020, Snapchat has 530 million monthly active users As of April 2021, the world is creating more than 210 million “snapshots” on the platform every day.
Snapchat users are 58% female and 40% male.The largest age group on the platform is 13-34, accounting for 75% of the Snapchat community.
While there doesn’t seem to be much discussion, Snapchat did see significant growth during 2020.
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Before you start recording new content with Snapchat, you can add lenses (or filters).
You can also set a timer to make shooting easier, or add music ahead of time to sync your content to a song of your choice.
On Instagram, you cannot add music before the editing stage. Snapchat gives you access to a variety of popular songs and access to your own custom sounds.
To brighten up and add to your story, there are lots of fun stickers to choose from.
here are some Benefits of Snapchat Stories:
It will help you connect with younger audiences.
If you’re trying to reach a younger demographic of your target demographic, they’re likely to be on Snapchat.
By being active there, you have many opportunities to show the human, fun side of your brand and make new connections.
There is less competition.
Many brands seem to have switched from Snapchat to Instagram Stories, but that doesn’t mean you should ditch it too.
It just means you have less competition and can use the app to stand out from others in your industry.
Geofilters help you reach local audiences.
Snapchat allows users to create custom geofilters that can be placed at the top of Story posts as decorations.
This is a great way to draw attention to local brick and mortar businesses and events in the area.
Plus, people can find you and watch your stories on the Snap Map, which again helps increase exposure.
The reality is that Snapchat is still thriving.
If your competitors are not active on the platform, this is your chance to join and start connecting with your target audience.
Sharing fun and creative content will help you engage people and build the most important “know, like and Believe factor.
The Case for Instagram Stories
Exceed 1 billion people use Instagram Every month, it becomes the sixth most popular network behind Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and WeChat.
Instagram has 140 million users in the United States.
In 2020, users spend an average of 30 minutes a day on Instagram.
Demographically, women make up 57% 43% of Instagram users are men. The largest age group to actively use Instagram is 25-34 year olds.
But what about the story? Well, 500 million people use Instagram Stories every day, and the completion rate of Brand Stories is 86%.
These stats make it an Instagram feature you’ll want to take advantage of, since regular users are watching branded stories and even making purchases from there.
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Screenshot of the author
In the screenshot above, you can see some of the features Instagram Stories has to offer when creating content.
Before you start shooting, you can choose from different modes such as Boomerang, Layout, Hands-Free and Photo Booth.
You can also have fun with your followers using pre-made templates (found under the Create option), such as the Quick Drawing Challenge.
While editing, you can add stickers, timestamps, temperatures, and even GIFs.
Here are some highlights from Instagram Stories:
They are part of a larger platform.
On Instagram, you can create permanent content in a number of ways. You can post photos or videos to your feed and upload videos to IGTV or Reels.
Instagram Stories complements everything else you share without all your hard work going away in 24 hours.
Story feeds promote recent posts.
You may have noticed that Instagram puts your most-watched stories at the top of the list.
However, you’ll also view them based on timeliness, such as how new a post is. When you are front and center, you can generate more views.
Stories are great for instant feedback.
Knowing your audience can shape your content strategy not only on social media, but also on your blog, YouTube, and podcast.
Adding polls, quizzes, question boxes or sliders can help you get feedback.
do not forget Check your analysis Also learn more about your followers. This is what Snapchat lacks.
Overall, most brands already have established audiences on Instagram. This means they don’t need to build an audience on another platform from scratch.
If you’ve made it part of your strategy, it’s worth sharing some stories throughout the day.
Which one deserves your attention?
Snapchat vs Instagram Stories really boils down to where your audience spends the most time.
Sharing content on social media won’t do you much good if you’re not reaching the audience you want.
So, where do they really spend their time? Where are they most likely to watch and engage with your content?
If you see value in using both platforms, the good news is that you can easily cross-post content.
For example, you can take a shot in Snapchat (taking advantage of their better video editing options), save it to your camera roll, and upload it to Instagram.
That way, you can use it on Snapchat and Instagram Stories without having to do twice the work.
Try these two story features and see how they work for you!
More resources:
Featured image: Eugenio Marongiu/Shutterstock
