The Short and Skinny: Instagram Reels vs YouTube Shorts

We all know the power of a viral video. Here at Bloom Creativ, we recently experienced a mini-explosion with a chiropractor-themed Reel on Instagram, generating a ton of views, likes, comments, and even new followers. But when we uploaded the same video to YouTube Shorts a week later, the results were...well, short of spectacular. This experience got us thinking: what's the real difference between these two short-form video giants?

The Breakdown: Our Chiropractor Reel Case Study

As of September 16, 2024 our data analytics state:

• Instagram Reel: 786,061 views, 31,081 likes, 293 comments, 1,813 new followers

• YouTube Short: 3,765 views, 110 likes (2 dislikes), 1 comment, 5 new subscribers

Key Learnings:

1. Audience Focus:

• Instagram Reels: Caters to a curated audience based on interests, leading to higher view rates and engagement (likes, comments) as shown by Planable.io.

• YouTube Shorts: Offers a wider reach due to YouTube's massive user base, but content discovery feels less targeted. You might reach a broader audience, but not necessarily the right one for your niche.

2. Algorithm Power:

• Instagram Reels: The algorithm actively pushes content it thinks users will like, leading to more organic discovery and viral potential.

• YouTube Shorts: While YouTube pushes Shorts somewhat, it appears to be a secondary focus compared to longer-form content. Your Shorts might get buried among a sea of music videos and gaming highlights.

3. Content Preferences:

• Instagram Reels: Users seem more actively engaged in browsing Reels, leading to higher view rates.

• YouTube Shorts: While Shorts are gaining traction, user scrolling behavior might prioritize traditional YouTube content.

4. Engagement Metrics:

• Instagram Reels: Encourages more interactive responses through comments, likes, and shares.

• YouTube Shorts: May get fewer comments or shares, but views might spike if your video gets featured on the Shorts shelf.

The Final Cut:

Both Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts offer exciting opportunities for short-form video content.

• Choose Instagram Reels for: Highly engaged, niche-specific audiences, maximizing engagement with likes, comments, and shares, and a higher chance of virality.

• Choose YouTube Shorts for: Potentially reaching a broader audience, promoting longer YouTube videos on your channel, and capitalizing on future growth of the platform.

Remember: It's not an either/or situation! Experiment with both platforms, analyze your results, and tailor your content strategy to fit each audience. While our chiropractor video didn't take off on YouTube, other types of content might! Consider the overall theme and target audience when deciding which platform is best for your next short-form masterpiece.