YouTube vs Instagram: Which Platform Should I Upload To?
Almost a year ago, I tried uploading my short-form videos on Instagram.
What was originally a sound strategy to get full coverage across different platforms was not so.
What was I doing?
I've been uploading to YouTube for a good year up until that point.
"Why switch?"
That should have been my first question.
I'm here to tell myself, no matter how much I think I understand the content game, I will not conquer more than one platform without a team.
You might look at my strategy now.
I will upload the same videos I upload on YouTube shorts to Instagram reels.
When it comes to each platform, the format of the video will change.
How an Instagram reel feels is different to a YouTube short.
Rather than trying to adapt the same piece of content to the two platforms, I'm making YouTube the priority.
Stacking The Deck In Your Favour
Ali Abdaal mentions this idea of stacking the deck.
Look at your skills, life circumstances, personality, and lean into those opportunities.
I'm on YouTube 24/7.
Most of my video editing inspiration comes from YouTube shorts and movies clips. The obvious choice is to upload onto YouTube.
But, why the hell did I make Instagram a priority?
From how I understand, Instagram and YouTube differ in one massive way:
Status vs education.
I let my ego crave the status from the people I knew.
On YouTube, having a number of subscribers isn't too glamorous.
On Instagram though?
(I rethink this now, to a degree)
Really, I thought I could have my cake and eat it too. But, in order to get good at one platform, you must not take your focus away from it.
Truly, given enough time and money, I could become successful on Instagram.
Fuck the other platforms. Focus on ONE.
Know How The Game Is Played
Want to know how the YouTube game is played?
- Click Through Rate
- Retention
- Watch time
How many people clicked when showed the video?
How long did they stay, on average?
How many hours of watch time?
How does Instagram work?
I don't know.
Do you see how I were to fail?
(Something about likes, shares and saves? Perhaps authenticity as well?)
What About Your Website?
I'm not really betting on my blogs to gain the same pull as YouTube.
The point of the blogs is a platform to organise my thoughts and ideas. A place if you want to try and understand how I think.
I like to think some of my hidden gems are found within the website.
You could even call it a Knowledge Management System akin to the concept found in Project Management.
What About The Other Platforms?
If in doubt, say no!
The reality is that any of the platforms is the right choice.
What is the wrong choice is attempting to dilute the limited time and focus you have as a single individual.
That feeling? It's FOMO.
Believing if you switched to a different opportunity that things will work out differently.
Quite recently, I had a look of some shorts that started getting traction. I had a look that it was only after a YEAR did they start present themselves to audiences.
You can see some of them slowly taper, to then start getting consistent traction.
It makes me think that only time will tell if a video is good. And the video that only initially gets 500-600 views might still have potential.
But what are really my thoughts on other platforms?
I'll use for uploading photos when on trips. And any of my YouTube viewers can follow me there for life updates.
X.com.
I don't write short form stuff.
I mainly write on my website and YouTube scripts.
I don't want to suck up to fellow employees and employers about work. I'm not an industry leader.
Snapchat?
Ew, wtf.
(I intend to delete that shit well before I'm 25. I hope my friends get off as well)
Again, friends and family
I have to be fucking disciplined and go,
"YouTube longs and shorts. Give myself three more years. I'm only just getting started."
Dr Mike Israetel on his video creation,
"You think I was gunslinging? I'm a professor and have experience in public speaking."
Niches?
Recently, I wrote an article about Australian High School Academics.
I received multiple DMs about it. My word struck a chord with how relatable the situations I wrote.
Also, the fact I can recall number of interactions that help form my world view from peers and happenings.
I'm a personal brand that has nothing to sell.
Imagine the kind of brand I will build if I expect nothing in return.
How dangerous can I be? The risk I can take?
Something a friend discussed about relatability with content creators.
We only relate to them once we gain value from them.
Explanation: I won't listen to Alex Hormozi's advice about hitting protein targets until I got value from his advice to young men.
The same for my brand. I've hopped on multiple calls with young guys who watched my videos. I gave value, now they ask for guidance.
Long Term Plays
Marketing agencies will tell:
"Have a focus for SEO."
Let me tell you what I think, again I might be wrong.
Web pages and time.
Like investing, don't keep looking at your portfolio. The greatest gains happen when you're constantly investing, and look at your results after years.
I think of a Gary Vee clip what he said back in 2012.
"Get the bills paid. Invest everything back into your personal brand. Give value."
What we've done for other people is what's left in our legacy.
My videos will not be remembered.
The lessons people takeaway from them is.