TikTok and Instagram: Your Next-Gen Search Engines

Welcome to the new age of social search! Who needs Google when you've got Instagram and TikTok? Millennials and Gen Zer’s are ditching the traditional search engine in favour of scrolling through their favourite social platforms for everything from product reviews to how-to’s and tutorials. So let's talk about it…

Why the shift? Well...

Instagram and TikTok offer an abundance of content waiting to be explored. Users can now easily search for specific topics, keywords, and hashtags across platforms, unveiling a rich array of media content—from images and videos to posts and articles—tailored to their interests.

The platform’s real-time updates with real-time updates on trending topics, breaking news, and live events. Having the ability to provide instantaneous coverage of what's happening around the globe.

Social media algorithms work tirelessly to deliver personalised recommendations to users. Whether it's your Instagram Discover page or TikTok's For You feed, expect to stumble upon content perfectly suited to your preferences. Your discovery section is curated just for you.

People now search on social media for local content such as restaurant reviews, upcoming events, community information, or nearby businesses - visual format makes this easy for users to make a decision based on their social presence as social media rely on photos and images to convey content (rather than a lot of text, like a typical search engine). This can be more engaging and help users find exactly what they’re looking for.

Both platforms have their unique strengths, underscoring the importance of your brand's presence on both Google and social media channels. While Google offers structured and comprehensive information retrieval, social media platforms thrive on real-time updates, user engagement, and community-driven content. As a brand, it's essential to leverage these distinct advantages to maximise visibility and reach your target audience effectively.

How to Maximise Discoverability on Social Media

To enhance your brand's search-ability on social media, consider implementing the following strategies:

Optimise Profiles: Ensure completeness and alignment with your brand identity. Use relevant keywords for better searchability.

Maintain Branding: Keep consistency across platforms for brand recognition.

Engage Audience: Foster interactions to boost visibility and loyalty.

Create Quality Content: Produce shareable content with trending topics and hashtags.

Use Hashtags Wisely: Research and apply relevant hashtags for wider reach.

Collaborate with Influencers: Partner for increased credibility and reach.

Utilise Paid Ads: Explore options to expand visibility and audience.

Monitor Performance: Regularly track metrics to refine strategy for better results.