Which Platform Should You Choose? – TikTok vs. YouTube

TikTok vs. YouTube – Video Marketing

Video content has seen a rise in demand since the pandemic-induced lockdowns. The year-over-2018 (YOY), the increase in video consumption was 120%. One-quarter of American consumers signed up for at least one new streaming video service last year. Cisco predicts that online traffic would account for 82% this year.

A Wyzowl survey revealed that almost 90% of video marketers saw a positive return. It’s no surprise that 86% use video content to drive sales and engagement. TikTok, YouTube and YouTube are two of the most popular video streaming platforms today.

YouTube has been the most used social media platform in the world ever since 2005. YouTube has seen 43% more people spend time on it now than they did before the pandemic. TikTok does not shy away from the competition. Because of its concise layout and relatable content, TikTok is today one of the most successful social media apps.

TikTok, YouTube and Instagram are great platforms for video marketing. The choice of one platform over another can have a huge impact on your marketing campaign. How do you decide which one is best? These two video-sharing platforms were compared to help you choose. We looked at their features, and demographic, and compared their strengths and weaknesses. Next, we compared the two video-sharing platforms to determine which is the best option for you in 2022.

TikTok and YouTube: Which Platform Should you Choose in 2022:

 

• An Introduction to Both Platforms
• YouTube Vs. TikTok. How to Select the Right Platform for You
• Understanding TikTok’s Algorithm
• YouTube’s Algorithm
• YouTube Vs. TikTok Similarities
• TikTok Vs. YouTube Differences
• Commonly Asked Questions

 

An Introduction to Both Platforms

About TikTok

TikTok enables users to create and share short videos. Musical.ly was launched in 2017 by Chinese startup ByteDance. The original idea was to create funny videos and music with the app. The platform now offers a range of video-sharing features and a wide variety of content from various industries.

TikTok is known for its ease of use in creating content. It allows users to create content directly from their smartphones, and then they can add backgrounds, stickers, filters, and other emojis. It can be shared online for comments or reactions. TikTok has become a more popular tool for brands to engage younger audiences and increase brand awareness.

 

TikTok’s growth has been remarkable since its launch in 2018. The video-sharing app has seen a massive growth in the three years since its launch. It is now available in 150 countries, and has been downloaded more than 2.6 billion times worldwide. Each eight seconds, a new user joins TikTok. TikTok had reached one billion active monthly users by 2022 and generated $4.6 million in revenue.

TikTok offers many other features, including the ability to add popular music to videos, create content in duets, add visually appealing filters and effects, as well as live streaming.

 

• Who uses TikTok

TikTok is primarily for young people. Nearly half of TikTok users in the United States are below 30 years old. The platform’s popularity among Gen Z users was surpassed by Instagram last year. This group is not only a heavy user of smartphones but also keeps up with the latest trends. No surprise, TikTok is home to its own brand of teens creators and influencers.

Source: themefiles.us

However, the app is popular with older users. Over 40% of TikTok’s users in the US are between 30 and 50 years old, and 11% are over 50. This platform is somewhat more popular with female users.

 

 

• User spending

TikTok’s consumer spending grew by 77% to $2.3 billion in 2021. This made TikTok one of 16 apps that have generated more than $1 billion in gross revenues.

TikTok users also have an enormous spending power. Apart from the large Gen Z audience, 14% of TikTok users agree that they spend more when the platform is involved. Nearly half of TikTok users admit to buying an item after viewing an advertisement. This is why #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt was 2021’s most-popular hashtag.

Source: sensortower.com

 

• Most viewed videos

GlobalWebIndex’s 2022 survey found that TikTok users use it to find entertaining and funny content. Entertainment was the most-viewed content category on TikTok in 2020 with 535 billion hashtag visits. This is almost five times the number of dancers that entertainment has, which is next in popularity. TikTok users enjoy watching videos of pranks and sports, as well as home renovations or DIY (Do-It-Yourself) videos.

 

 

About YouTube

YouTube is the second most popular website in the world. YouTube was launched less than 20 years ago to allow users to share their videos. It attracted 30,000 users daily within a few months of its launch. Google, the search engine giant, purchased the platform and made it the YouTube we know today.

YouTube’s huge, free-to-use video library is what makes it so appealing. It’s actually the main video source for 78% of internet users. YouTube is a great channel for brands to market their products. Anyone can find YouTube content about almost any topic they are interested in. The platform has seen a huge increase in content creators and influencers, which allows for self-promotion.

YouTube’s user base continues to grow over the years. YouTube now has more than two billion users and 1.7 million unique monthly visitors. YouTube is seeing 43% more people using it because of the pandemic. The company’s global advertising revenues grew by 25% last year to $8.6 billion, which was $28.8 million for the year.

YouTube has many notable features, including suggested and trending videos as well as comments and shares.

 

• Who uses YouTube for their videos?

In the US, 81% adults use YouTube. Nearly all internet users aged between 18 and 49 are on YouTube. They make up three generations of internet users and have a lot of purchasing power. These people are almost always online and use two to three devices at once. YouTube’s largest audience is Millennials, with 37% of them saying that they watch YouTube every day.

YouTube is slightly more popular with male users worldwide than it is among female users. India is home to the largest number of YouTube users, with the US second. The Netherlands and South Korea are the top two countries in terms of platform penetration.

YouTube Vs. TikTok. How to Select the Right Platform for You

HubSpot research has shown that 65 percent of millennials would like to see more video content by brands. YouTube and TikTok have attracted many content creators from different industries, with each generating millions of dollars per year. Here’s how TikTok is helping businesses excel in video marketing.

YouTube For Business

YouTube continues to be the market leader despite several other video platforms’ rapid growth. YouTube’s revenue-sharing program remains unmatched. It channel 55% to creators. That means it paid more than $15 Billion to its creators last year. This is a fantastic reward for brands who go above and beyond with their video marketing efforts.

This is one reason why YouTube content creators are making more videos than ever. In 2021, more than 40% of YouTube channels earned at least 10,000 in revenue. Other than that, content creators also leverage the platform’s nonad products such as Super Chat and Channel memberships.

YouTube also recently released Shorts to counter TikTok’s growing popularity. Sundar Pichai (Alphabet CEO) stated that this alternative effort has received 15,000,000 views every day around the world. The $100 million Shorts Fund has made it more popular. This initiative is available in over 100 countries and aims at rewarding original and creative Shorts within YouTube.

YouTube is currently looking into a source of revenue that TikTok is already using to their advantage: product placements. A product feed can be added to a brand’s video campaign. Live commerce is also an option. This is a huge opportunity to advertise on YouTube. 90% search YouTube for new products. YouTube videos are also linked to Google.

YouTube is used by some of the most prominent brands such as Google, Red Bull and Evian.

The Benefits of Advertising Your Business on YouTube

• Large reach and engagement

YouTube’s huge audience reach is undisputed. YouTube is appealing to virtually every segment of the population. In fact, 95% worldwide watch videos on this platform. YouTube accounts for 25% of all mobile web traffic.

Two billion people use social media sites daily, and they have five billion videos viewed each day. Video ads allow you to reach your target audience, connect with them and make connections. It takes just seconds.

• Advertising Cheap and efficient

YouTube is affordable for small businesses despite its billion-dollar value. The average cost of advertising on YouTube is $0.010. Reaching 100,000 viewers is an average cost of $2,000. YouTube doesn’t charge extra for views that are less than five seconds.

You can set how much you want to pay per click on the platform, which follows a pay/per-click model. You can also track your progress and get quick results. Click on the Analytics tab and you can see how your campaign is performing.

• A format variety

YouTube offers several ad formats. These can be used to your advantage depending on your business goals and objectives. Skippable instream ads are a good option if you want to increase leads or sales. Bump ads are a great way to increase brand awareness. The way you present your ads will impact the way you connect with your target audience.

• Targeted audience

YouTube users search for content that interests them. This means you can target specific audiences. This allows you to target specific audiences, customers, or life events. This increases your chances of converting views to sales.

TikTok for Business

TikTok is a popular platform that nearly 25% of marketers use to achieve their business goals. It is a treasure trove of opportunities. You will find a wide range of community members on the platform, as well as a new advertising medium. Additionally, traditional advertising is no longer effective, so brands are forced to produce new, interesting, and entertaining content that TikTok’s young audience would love to click on.

TikTok also proved that it isn’t just an app for entertainment. Finance TikTok increased by 255% in the last year. And the #crypto hashtag saw almost two million views. This proves that there are many niches and industries that can get a foothold on the video-sharing platform.

TikTok, meanwhile, is a top-rated app for driving consumer spending. The user’s purchases increased by 77% in the last year. even more, than two-thirds of TikTok’s users said that the platform had inspired them to shop, even when they weren’t planning to. This is why it’s not surprising that brands are eager to advertise the platform, despite its novelty.

TikTok has other options to fund creator funding, as more content creators want a larger share of the pie. The main revenue source for TikTok is currently product ads that are tied to creator videos. The platform has not found a better revenue source so brands have looked for alternatives such as brand partnerships.

TikTok has featured some of the most popular brands ever to advertise on TikTok, such as Tinder and NYX Professional Makeup.

The Benefits of Advertising Your Business on TikTok

• Diverse, active demographic

Generation Zs represent 41% of the TikTok audience, which is only because millennials, Gen Xs and baby boomers account for more than half. Gen Zs still represent the ideal audience for advertising on the platform. However, there are still opportunities to reach all age groups and niches.

TikTok’s user interaction from all generations is at an unprecedented high. In also spend 52 minutes each day using the app. This is good news for brands as it means greater exposure and a more lucrative advertising budget.

• International audience

TikTok is accessible in over 100 countries, and in 75 languages. TikTok’s global reach makes it an excellent platform. Due to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, viewers around the world searched for light-hearted and humorous short-form video content.

Demand for video content will not slow down as the rest of the world rebuilds. This is particularly true in light of the shift to online spending by consumers. TikTok’s influence in shaping purchase decisions is evident right now. Advertising on the platform makes sense.

• Various marketing format

Source: themefiles.us

TikTok offers many resources to help you start an advertising campaign. You have a wide range of ad formats that you can choose from on TikTok. In-Feed, the only self-serve format available to advertisers, is one of these. You can also use other ad creatives for dynamic content creation. You can help your audience engage better by knowing which one to choose.

• Trend incubator

TikTok videos have a viral appeal due to their memorability. TikTok makes it easy for people to scroll endlessly and find entertaining clips.

It’s easier to increase views on the platform by incorporating trends into your content. Hashtags are powerful tools for spreading content. Branded #hashtags allow users to create content around your hashtag and participate in campaigns.

 

Understanding TikTok’s Algorithm

TikTok utilizes a recommendation system to deliver curated content to each user. The content is tailored to the interests of each user, so it’s unique for everyone. On their For You page, they can view a variety of carefully curated content. This allows audiences to easily find the content and creators they like.

TikTok’s algorithm suggests content based upon several elements like:

1. User interactions can include comments posted by users, videos they enjoy, and accounts they follow.
2. The Discover tab includes sounds, captions and hashtags. They can also search for video information signals or content.
3. Setting up your device and account, including language preferences and types of mobile devices. Also, the interest categories you selected when you signed up for the platform.

 

What Type of Video TikTok Favors

TikTok values light, funny, and unorthodox content more than serious. The platform offers a variety of niches. You’ll find more fun dance videos as well as lip sync and tutorial videos.

TikTok used to have a video length of 60 seconds. The company increased it to three minutes last year. TikTok increased the time to ten minutes one month ago. These longer videos have five hundred million views around the world. Brands can also take advantage of their popularity in countries like Vietnam, Thailand, or Japan to increase their global reach.

 

Interaction

TikTok’s algorithm requires engagement. Users will be able to suggest content that they might find interesting using the app. These users might have interacted in some way with your brand or similar content. Your content will be marked as trusted content by the algorithm as more people engage, interact and watch it.

 

YouTube’s Algorithm

YouTube uses artificial intelligence, similar to TikTok. It recommends content that is interesting to the user. But it wasn’t always like that. The platform’s first metrics for recommending videos were clicks and viewings. YouTube has seen a lot of clickbait videos so it changed its algorithm over time. YouTube now considers watch time, satisfaction, personalization and other factors before settling on the current measure.

YouTube now wants viewers to stay longer on its platform. YouTube uses personalized recommendations to help users stay longer on the platform.

1. Personalization, or user watch history and activities
2. Performance refers to satisfaction, which includes viewing duration and enjoyment
3. External factors such as seasonal relevancy, competition, or interests

What Kind of Videos YouTube Favors

YouTube has more video content than TikTok. This content is available in a variety of niches and industries, as well as the target audience or demographic. YouTube videos can have a variety of tone options, including casual, serious, light, or formal. There are many genres and formats available, including tutorials, commentaries and reaction videos.

YouTube Video Length

YouTube’s default video length is 15 minutes. YouTube allows verified accounts to change this length in their settings. The maximum length of a video that a social media platform can accept is 12 hours. The length of your video will depend on the purpose and audience. Social Media Examiner recommends that videos be between seven and fifteen minutes for an optimal user experience.

Interaction

YouTube uses different tools to recommend personalized content to its viewers, including trending videos, recent searches and subscriptions. YouTube displays your content to users based upon their interactions with similar content, just like TikTok. These interactions could include likes or shares, subscriptions or videos they have viewed in the past.

YouTube Vs. TikTok Similarities

YouTube and TikTok might be rivals, but there are still many similarities. One is that both platforms are video-sharing sites that cover a range of topics such as fashion, dance, art, and food. Both platforms can publish content from many industries, making them perfect for any niche. You can post content from individuals or large brands on both platforms.

YouTube and TikTok also value user-generated material. These popular social media apps have features that increase engagement like comments and shares. Additionally, both apps provide metrics and analytics that enable you to measure the performance of your video.

These two platforms have similar algorithms. Your content is displayed on users’ feeds based on how they interact with other content. This helps users find content that interests them and leads to the right audiences.

TikTok Vs. YouTube Differences

YouTube and TikTok have their differences.

Advertising Avenues

YouTube generates revenue via mid-stream ads while TikTok makes money from brand partnerships as well as product advertisements.

Maximum Video Length

TikTok videos typically only last 15 seconds. However, they can go up to 10 minutes long. YouTube allows for longer content. A user can upload content for up to 15 mins, while verified accounts can store content for up twelve hours.

User Basis

TikTok boasts more than a million users per month in the world, while YouTube has nearly two billion. India leads all countries on both platforms in terms highest number of users (for YouTube), and the largest app downloads(for TikTok).

Content-Type

TikTok videos, which are short form forms that include sound, are often fun. These videos include lip-sync and dance videos. Sometimes, you will also find prank videos or stand-up comedy.

YouTube has a larger market for content. It is also easier to find the right content. YouTube videos are usually edited and set up well, while TikTok only requires a smartphone.

Ad formats

These ad formats can be run on TikTok

• In-feed ads and auto-plays for your target user’s page For You
• You can see top-view ads at the top of your audience’s For You page
• Full-screen static and dynamic ads for brands or brand takeovers that users cannot like or comment
• Challenge: Branded hashtag
• Branded effect

YouTube offers a wide variety of ad formats.

• Image ads
• Video ads
• Carousel ads may display up to 10 images, or videos
• You can get an instant experience or full-screen experience when mobile users tap on your advertisement
• The collection opens up as an instant experience when someone engages it

Direct messaging

TikTok users can send direct messages via TikTok, while YouTube doesn’t have this option.

Demographics

In the US, 18-25 year-olds are 81% of YouTube viewers. 62% of YouTube viewers are men, while 38% of YouTube users are women. 16-24-year-olds make up 60% of TikTok’s users. In the US 60% TikTok user population is female. While 40% of TikTok users in the United States are male.

 

 

Content Monetization

YouTube offers a variety of options for making money by monetizing videos. AdSense is the preferred method of monetizing content. There are other options available such as Super Chat, affiliate marketing, influencer market, Super Chat and super sticker. TikTok however has fewer options for monetization. Affiliate marketing and brand promotions are the most used.

Ads Management

A third-party platform is required for tracking TikTok conversions. YouTube, however, has its own in-app tools that will help you monitor the effectiveness of your ads.

 

Final Words

TikTok vs. YouTube – Which platform is right for you? There is no single right answer. Your brand’s marketing goals are the key to finding the best video-sharing app.

TikTok works well if you want to appeal to a younger audience. YouTube, however, is more suitable for you if your target audience is older. When choosing between the two, there are many factors to consider, including monetization and tone.

YouTube is a great way to grow your audience and convert views into revenue. TikTok can be used to generate buzz about your product by using hashtags, stickers and filters.

It shouldn’t be difficult to choose between YouTube and TikTok now that we have provided an in-depth comparison. Whatever you decide to do, it should meet your goals and get you closer.