Month: May 2023

In the last decade or so, social media has become a key platform for influencers to showcase themselves, build their brand, and engage with their audience. Two of the most popular social media platforms for influencers are; TikTok and Instagram. While Instagram has been an influencer favourite for several years, the recent explosion of TikTok has transformed it to one of the leading social media platforms globally which now competes with Instagram.

While both platforms offer unique benefits for influencers, choosing between them can be a difficult decision. Let’s compare both platforms and help you decide which one is best for you.

One of the most prominent differences between TikTok and Instagram is their user bases. Instagram has a more diverse user base, with over two billion active monthly users, and appeals to a much broader audience. On the other hand, TikTok is a newer platform with 800 million active monthly users and rising. TikTok’s audience is mostly younger and comprises mainly Gen Z users. Hence if your target audience is younger, then TikTok might be the better choice for you. However, if you are looking to target a more diverse audience, then Instagram might be a better option.

In the case of Pakistan however, TikTok has emerged as the second most popular platform after Facebook with an approximate 30M user base and rising compared to Instagram which is somewhere closer to 16M users approximately, as of May 2023. While initially, TikTok emerged as a platform more favored in rural, semi-urban areas, with a tilt towards mass reach and popularity in the lower SECs, however with time it has gained momentum across social segments and is now as popular in the affluent urban sector. Instagram, on the other hand, has always been more celebrated in the upper SECs while gaining major traction with celebrities, lifestyle influencers and travel coaches, fashion, and self-care category creators.

Another major difference between TikTok and Instagram is the type of content that is posted on the platform and what kind of content performs well on each. TikTok is solely a video-based platform that allows users to create vertical short-form videos with background music/audio and an array of filters. On the other hand, Instagram allows users to post images, carousels, stories, short-form videos (Reels), long-form videos (IGTV), streaming (Live), and listicles (Guides). Instagram’s algorithm also favors visually appealing ‘aesthetically pleasing’ content, making it a great platform for photographers, designers, and artists.

Both TikTok and Instagram use unique algorithms that decide what content to show their users. Both platforms focus on analyzing user behavior and in turn generating specific content according to the preferences of the user. TikTok’s algorithm makes use of machine learning to generate a curated feed of videos based on user preferences and past interactions i.e., videos that users engage with more regularlyand on repeat; those that receive more likes, comments, and shares have a higher chance of appearing on the ‘For You’ page. Instagram’s algorithm also focuses on personalized content based on relevance and user interactions; however, it targets both static and video content while Tiktok prioritizes short-form videos and promotes content from a wider range of creators, hence making it easier to go ‘viral’ on TikTok.

For influencers, monetization and how much revenue they are able to generate are critical factors to consider when choosing a platform. On Instagram, influencers can earn through sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, and selling their products. On the other hand, TikTok has its ‘Creator Fund’, where users can earn money based on the views and engagement their videos get. While both platforms offer monetization opportunities, Instagram has more lucrative options for influencers and has more established influencer marketing practices.

Hence, in conclusion, choosing between TikTok and Instagram can be a rather difficult decision for influencers. Both platforms offer unique features and benefits that can help influencers develop their careers and establish themselves in the content creator space. However, the decision ultimately depends on what your target audience is, what type of content you post, your engagement goals, and monetization objectives. We recommend experimenting with both platforms to find the one that works best for you!

Check out Walee’s Creator Academy to learn more tips and tricks on which platform works best for you. Keep creating!

What gets you excited when you think about how to secure your dream campaign? Is it the content, technology, futuristic approach, influencer or the brand you imagine yourself working with?

Let’s admit it, even content creators are all consumers and every consumer has their favorite brands in almost every category. On top of it, there are brands that make us excited just thinking about them. Chances are that if you love buying it, you most likely would love to talk about it. How about getting a chance to work with and promote the brand that makes you feel good? Tell the world why you feel that way.

Just imagining scoring your dream influencer marketing campaign feels so exciting. Think about how fulfilling it would be when you turn your imagination into reality. Want to learn how to make it possible? Keep reading to find out!

First, you will need to establish yourself in the influencer space. Create your own value as a content creator for any brand, including your favorite, to get noticed. Top brands often work with creators with a distinct following and above-average industry engagement rates. They should also possess a sizable reach among a specific niche audience, aiding their social media marketing and content creation efforts. But where and how do we get started on this journey of achieving our goal?

To succeed, create fantastic content ideas and execution formats, but it’s fruitful only if you have a loyal, resonating audience. The key that really helps is if the values of your content are the same as the brand you want to work with on a specific influencer marketing campaign. It doesn’t mean you need to change yourself or your content direction for the brand. However, your content must attract the same audience as the brand you want to tap into and make an impact.

These days brands have access to all the relevant information related to their influencer marketing campaigns. These include potential reach, audience insights, engagement rates, and relevant metrics about any influencer. Obtain these metrics through 3rd party tools like WALEE IM & WALEE IIR.

Smart, mature, and sophisticated brands have figured out that not selecting the right influencer can cost them a lot more than the content creators’ hiring price and worth. Hence, integrating your work around common topics, themes and clusters can help you achieve desired results quickly for brands to take notice.

For example, top beauty and fashion brands targeting women would likely select those content creators for their influencer marketing campaigns, whose content revolves around empowered women seeking beauty and fashion advice. However, if you are a blogger then the keywords need to depict the same if scanned through content audit. Besides this, collaborating with other creators with similar values will help you expand your reach and noticeability.

If you want to get noticed in the commercial market then one must also possess the skill-set needed to be able to execute the desired format of content and make it stand out. This can either be in the form of capturing  pictures, recording and editing videos or discovering unexplored places to eat or travel to. It doesn’t mean you need to become an expert at everything but at least have the basic command required to complete the task from ideation to presentation, whether you do it as a group of team members collaboratively or alone as a single social influencer, quality takes precedence over quantity.

Another important factor is that large leading brands like to give more freedom to influencers after communicating the key idea behind the campaign. Influencers know their audience and a script which helps retain the authenticity of their content and minimize angles in promotion that would give away a contrived, artificial picture. A good example of such a pitch of ideas is the work of Mahvish Ahmed.

Another way to score your dream campaign is through the feeling that the influencer’s account is giving e.g. Arsalan Ash’s page exudes a local game geek feel, while Daniyal Sheikh has an investigative approach to his videos. Your tonal aesthetics and style should coincide with the brand’s intent.  It might be through sensory branding, storytelling, empowerment or cause branding. Your account can give the same vibe as the brand and hence attract or persuade the brand to collaborate with the influencer for its content marketing.

To get the attention of the brand(s) one wants to work with, it’s encouraged as a creator (from your official creator account) to engage with them on social media i.e. by liking and following their page activity, while sharing and commenting on their posts. This in turn will help to build a relationship with the brand and get you on their noticeability radar.

Once you have established your niche and content that aligns with your dream brand, you can always reach out to them for collaboration. Just make sure to personalize your message and highlight your relevant experience and skills. Explain how you can help the brand achieve its marketing objectives, and provide examples of your previous work.

As building relationships with brands takes time, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t get an immediate response. Keep creating high-quality content and try not to miss any chances that can help you engage with the brand, as chances are that eventually, you’ll get noticed.

To summarize, the road to scoring your dream campaign with a desired brand can seem a little daunting for any creator. But if you have put in the hours to understand, study and know the brand, then the next step is working on your own strong persona as an influencer and infusing it to create high-quality content, while engaging and reaching out to target with your best foot forward. Last bit relates to consistency and most importantly being patient. Hence, with persistence and hard work, you can increase your chances of landing your dream campaign with your favorite brand. Let us know if you found these suggestions useful and feel free to share with us in the comments, if you would like to add any more to these.

Explore further tips and tricks on Walee’s Creator Academy to fuel your creativity! Do check it out and keep creating!