If you’re a content creator contemplating where to share your short form videos – Instagram, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, or all – you’re in good company. These platforms are buzzing with short video content, but how do we make the right choice?
Let’s get into the strengths and weaknesses of each short form video platforms to help you make an informed decision. By the end, you’ll have a clearer idea of which aligns best with your user generated content goals.
Stick around as we share our approach to video marketing, offering insights that might spark creative ideas to your short form videos. Additionally, we’ll introduce a nifty video editing service to help effortlessly transform your existing relevant content into short, engaging short form videos. Let’s dive in!
Instagram Reels

Starting with Instagram Reels – a top choice.
Do you have something fun to show off?
Reels are like Instagram’s mini movie maker. You can film short form videos (60 seconds or less) and spice them up with music, cool effects, and text. And unlike Stories, these videos remain on your profile, not just for 24 hours.
Do you want to make a short form video format or something even longer? Just film your masterpiece in parts and stitch it up to 90 seconds.
This short form video strategy isn’t just for celebrities and big brands anymore. Regular people can use it to connect with friends, fans, or even customers. Think of it as a modern way to chat and entertain people through short form video trends.
Ready to create short form video content on Instagram? Try Reels now!
Here’s how:
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Fire up Instagram. Head to your profile page.
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Tap the “+” button. It’s time to create something great!
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Choose “Reels.” It is your gateway to short form videos magic.
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Film your video. Is something cool happening? Capture it right then and there! Or dig through your phone for a hidden gem.
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Spice it up! Add fancy effects, catchy tunes, and tricks to make your short form videos shine.
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Publish videos! Let your followers and the world see your creation.
Tip: Instagram loves Reels, so they show them to more people. Want to get noticed and get those likes rolling in? Make your Reels fun, inspiring, or something new! Leverage short form video with text, camera tricks, and filters – get creative!
The Good:
One significant advantage is its integration with Instagram. If you’re already on Instagram, Reels is super handy. Known for its user-friendliness, Instagram provides a seamless experience. Even beginners can easily navigate it. Reels offers various editing tools – add music, text, and transitions to create captivating videos. A noteworthy feature is the ability to share your Reels on Instagram Stories, reaching an even larger audience.
The Not-So-Good:
Compared to TikTok, Instagram Reels has a simpler algorithm. TikTok’s For You page is hard to beat. While Instagram provides monetization options, they may not be as diverse and creator-friendly as TikTok. Moreover, Reels lacks collaboration tools like stitches and duets, limiting the types of videos you can create.
TikTok Short Form Videos

Now, onto TikTok.
TikTok videos are widely used app where you can make and share short videos with music. A Chinese company called ByteDance owns and operates the site.
On TikTok, you get a personalized feed of videos that match your interests. Through these quick and engaging videos, people can show their creativity, share knowledge, and display their talents.
Whether small businesses or big companies, TikTok users connect people and get their short form video content out there.
The Good:
TikTok boasts a super-smart AI-driven feed, especially with its For You page. This personalized feed boosts engagement and makes watching videos addictive. It offers numerous tools for creating engaging videos, including features like duets and stitches, encouraging interaction with its target audience, and content remixing. The extensive music library lets you add the latest trending sounds to your videos.
The Not-So-Good:
Privacy concerns have been raised, especially in the United States. Additionally, TikTok’s rapid trend changes make it challenging for creators to keep followers engaged. The popularity of TikTok also means it’s crowded, making it difficult for new creators to stand out.
YouTube Shorts Form Video

Moving on to YouTube Shorts, our favorite in this lineup.
YouTube Shorts is this thing on YouTube where you can make and share short clips up to 60 seconds long. It’s a quick way to share videos using just your phone and the YouTube Shorts tools.
You can find these Shorts by tapping on Shorts at the bottom of a YouTube channel app or stumbling upon them in search results, like on the homepage or in notifications.
Making a Short is simple – you can upload vertical videos from your computer or phone or record one straight from the YouTube app. And if you want to spice it up, the Shorts tools let you add music, text, and other creative stuff to your behind the scenes content.
YouTube Shorts has become a hit for creators to show off their creativity, create videos, and have fun with short and entertaining videos.
The Good:
As part of YouTube, this short form video platform provides access to an existing user base, making it easier to grab the attention of new viewers. It’s an excellent marketing strategy if you’re already producing videos from this social media platform. Trim down your longer videos into shorts. Creators love YouTube for its monetization options, which extend to Shorts.
The Not-So-Good:
While YouTube Shorts offers straightforward editing tools, they’re more fancy than TikTok’s. Being a newer option, it doesn’t provide the same in app editing tools and features as TikTok and Instagram Reels.
Discoverability on YouTube is hard because of the platform’s diverse content, where shorts compete not only with other short videos but also with long form videos. Unlike TikTok’s For You page, YouTube Shorts relies more on the traditional YouTube search and discovery system, which may not favor new creators.
Now that we’ve covered the good and not-so-good sides of Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts, which video marketing suits you best?
Start with the simple option you can find if you’re stuck. For instance, if you already have YouTube videos, kick off with shorts. Once you’ve got the hang of shorts, you can explore other short form video trends on channels like Instagram Reels and TikTok.
Here’s another easy way to repurpose your videos: try out Vidpros.
Vidpros
Vidpros is a convenient video editing service that you can use whenever needed. It makes it a breeze to turn longer form content into same short form video for Instagram, YouTube Shorts, or TikTok. If you want more info on how to work with Vidpros, book a call here.
Once you’ve started putting out a few short form video example, let’s say on YouTube, keep an eye on your stats like impressions and engagement. Stick with what works.
For example, we tried Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts. But with YouTube Shorts, we saw our 15-second videos getting tons of views, consistently growing our subscriber count.
So, we decided to drop Instagram Reels and TikTok because we don’t use them daily.
Instead, we focused on YouTube Shorts. That cut down the time we spent editing and publishing shorter videos. We concentrated on the short form video marketing efforts that bring results to our business and help us reach our goals.
Capping Off
Considering where to share your short form content, be it on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, or all three, is a decision many content creators face. Generally speaking, these different platforms are vibrant with short video content, presenting a challenge in selecting the most suitable one for your diverse audiences.
Whether it’s Instagram Reels, TikTok, or YouTube Shorts, each has pros and cons. Instagram Reels is user-friendly with various editing tools, while TikTok offers an AI-driven feed and engaging features but faces privacy concerns.
YouTube Shorts, on the other hand, is a simple way to make short videos, especially if you’re already on YouTube, but discoverability can be a challenge.
If you’re ready to create bite sized content, consider using Vidpros to simplify video editing. Book a call to explore how Vidpros can help you create engaging short videos tailored to your platform of choice. It’s all about finding what works for you and your audience, so happy creating short form content!