Facebook vs. Instagram - what is more effective?

61 replies
Hi warriors,

I'm constantly looking to expand the channels I advertise on. Even though they are under the same "roof" I find there are different benefits to both of the networks.

Especially when it comes to working with influencer I find it often times cheaper to work with IG personalities (as they don't really know the value of their brand more often than not).

What do you think? What's more effective to marketing your products / services and why?
#effective #facebook #instagram
  • Profile picture of the author mdallen
    I think Pinterest is better than both. Lasre targeted free traffic. Money can be made on FB but there are a lot of expensive ads between you and victory. Instagram rocks and if you build a following you can sell shout outs, but otherwise there are not a lot people on there buying non-Instagram stuff on there. If your niche has a lot of visible appeal, you may do well on Instagram and Pinterest.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10994937].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author iamthore
      Originally Posted by mdallen View Post

      I think Pinterest is better than both. Lasre targeted free traffic. Money can be made on FB but there are a lot of expensive ads between you and victory. Instagram rocks and if you build a following you can sell shout outs, but otherwise there are not a lot people on there buying non-Instagram stuff on there. If your niche has a lot of visible appeal, you may do well on Instagram and Pinterest.
      I heared people mentioning Pinterest as a way to drive leads multiple times now but I can't really grasp the concept behind it. Without going into too much detail, can you outline the concept of advertising on Pinterest. As far as I am aware you can online post pictures can't you?
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10995865].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author discrat
    It's really all subjective.

    I mean there is a certain segment of the population who think snail mail is still a better medium to advertise than the internet.

    And vice versa.
    Just depends on your goals, the product and niche, as well as your skill set and personality


    - Robert Andrew
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10994945].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author talfighel
    This is something you will have to test yourself and not take others advice. While one strategy works well for one marketer, it may not work for others. So test it to see what kinds of results you are getting.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10995004].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author dkate9
    Instagram is mainly a photo/short video sharing service. While On Facebook you can post photos, texts, videos, links, groups, events, pages and many other social activities.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10995025].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author vansy
    For me, Facebook and Instagram are both effective because these two are social medias and many people or let say your target market can easy notice your advertisement, but in terms of number of users, Facebook have it.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10995028].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Julio
    I know this post is about Instagram and facebook but I prefer twitter I find it more easier to follow and send messages to people. For me there's too much going on in facebook and I haven't really gotten into Instagram yet.
    Signature
    DominioNombres.com Marketplace!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10995052].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author avemfly619619
    Instagram is very good social media site for promotion. facebook is the also good one for promotion but facebook is better than instagram .
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10995161].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Ben Friedman
    Surely it depends what it is that you are promoting.

    If it is more visual then obviously Instagram would be better, but if it is more about information then Facebook may be better for getting a message across.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10995264].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author HalderLee
    Facebook is use for work, file sharing , promotion of your business , marketing whereas Instagram is use for only photosharing. So, i think facebook is more effective than instagram.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10995266].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author rudi
    Use both, ads are more effective on Facebook at the moment, but client interactive for me is much much better on instagram.

    Yes instagram is owned by Facebook but they are different animals. I think Instagram will be a much more of a force in the coming years but at the moment Facebook i think has the lead. But you need to be using all of the social networks not just focusing on 1 or the other
    Signature

    New Course - Master Level Funnels - Get Multiple High Paying Clients While Living Life On Your Own Terms

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10995307].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Forte Trader
    I think both are same because of both are social media sites and both contain millions of people. Some difference in both.like size of video, File sharing, promote your business.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10995322].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author EPoltrack77
    They are both social networks and it is really not buyer traffic so I would be building a list with it and you know that is a good question. Facebook is huge and there is a little more social interaction than say with Instagram so thats a tough one to say...
    Signature
    Working to achieve higher results...
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10995351].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author agmccall
    The one that you focus your efforts on will be the most effective

    al
    Signature

    "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." Thomas Edison

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10995358].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author dcristo
      Originally Posted by agmccall View Post

      The one that you focus your efforts on will be the most effective

      al
      That's true but it's also worth mentioning that some networks cater to certain industries.

      For example, Instagram is great for fashion brands.
      Signature

      Are you wanting to learn all the poker lingo?

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11044806].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ChrisBa
    Originally Posted by iamthore View Post

    Hi warriors,

    I'm constantly looking to expand the channels I advertise on. Even though they are under the same "roof" I find there are different benefits to both of the networks.

    Especially when it comes to working with influencer I find it often times cheaper to work with IG personalities (as they don't really know the value of their brand more often than not).

    What do you think? What's more effective to marketing your products / services and why?
    IMO it depends on the niche, demographics and product.

    But at the same time, why limit yourself? Why not do both?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10995508].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author socialluise
    If you are trying to sell your product with Influencer Marketing then Instagram is the way to go. More people are available for product placements on Instagram. If you are looking to build long term trust, you can use Facebook Groups or Pages.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10995509].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author iamthore
      Originally Posted by socialluise View Post

      If you are trying to sell your product with Influencer Marketing then Instagram is the way to go. More people are available for product placements on Instagram. If you are looking to build long term trust, you can use Facebook Groups or Pages.
      Hi socialluise,

      thanks for your reply. Have you ever worked with pages / groups on FB in order to promote products? What was the outcome? How do they normally price their offers?
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10995872].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Karl Karrlander
    Originally Posted by iamthore View Post

    Hi warriors,

    I'm constantly looking to expand the channels I advertise on. Even though they are under the same "roof" I find there are different benefits to both of the networks.

    Especially when it comes to working with influencer I find it often times cheaper to work with IG personalities (as they don't really know the value of their brand more often than not).

    What do you think? What's more effective to marketing your products / services and why?
    Like a few people have already said, it really depends on your business and what market you're in. Test, test, test, only way to know for sure what works and what doesn't.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10995515].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author aligouda
    Originally Posted by iamthore View Post

    Hi warriors,

    I'm constantly looking to expand the channels I advertise on. Even though they are under the same "roof" I find there are different benefits to both of the networks.

    Especially when it comes to working with influencer I find it often times cheaper to work with IG personalities (as they don't really know the value of their brand more often than not).

    What do you think? What's more effective to marketing your products / services and why?
    As anyone who uses Facebook and Instagram will tell you, the two platforms are quite different. That’s why so many users still maintain accounts on both of them.

    They share certain features in common, but they each have unique strengths and weaknesses from a marketing perspective. Strategies that work wonders on Facebook might fall flat on the photo-sharing platform, and the reverse is also true; Instagram successes might not translate well to Facebook’s mechanics.

    Both platforms can be used to connect with friends, family, celebrities and brands, but advertisers would do well to formulate separate yet complementary marketing strategies for each.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10995520].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author iamthore
      Originally Posted by aligouda View Post

      As anyone who uses Facebook and Instagram will tell you, the two platforms are quite different. Thats why so many users still maintain accounts on both of them.

      They share certain features in common, but they each have unique strengths and weaknesses from a marketing perspective. Strategies that work wonders on Facebook might fall flat on the photo-sharing platform, and the reverse is also true; Instagram successes might not translate well to Facebooks mechanics.

      Both platforms can be used to connect with friends, family, celebrities and brands, but advertisers would do well to formulate separate yet complementary marketing strategies for each.
      Thanks very much for your reply aligouda. Do you have examples as to what strategy / niche would work well on IG or FB?
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10995870].message }}
  • Besides facebook & instagram I find pinterest and twitter equally effective in terms of social reach.
    However, the business category defines which social platforms will be more effective. E.g. for photographers instagram and pinterest are extremely effective in terms or reach & likes.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11001325].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author fisherjames731
    According to me, Facebook is a more effective. Facebook is especially popular among online women, 77% of whom are users of the site. In addition, 82% of online adults between 18 to 29 use Facebook, along with 79% of those 30 to 49, 64% of those 50 to 64 and 48% of those 65 and older. While its user base is dominated by those over 25, Facebook still has over 50 million users under the age of 25. Facebook is more popular with middle-aged adults than other social networks. In the U.S., the average monthly active user of Facebook was 40 years old in 2014.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11004824].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author benjamenjuan
    Depends on your niche and a lot of other things, we would have to see what you're working with.

    I agree with one poster in that they are all the same but really each platform is complex and there are several ways to leverage each platform in ways that you can't on others!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11004998].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author uitechsol
    I think both are good source of communication.Face book has large audience which includes all sort of people from almost every age group,on the other hand Instagram is mainly used by youth so it has limited users compared to face book but in any case both of them are capable to spread a word!!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11005732].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author rfharris
    Banned
    Both are effective, if your targeted audience is mainly on mobile then instagram would surely be the better option for you to targer. Otherwise you should work on both.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11005899].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author martindam33
    I think Instagram is more effective and unique platform.
    its Blog posting Feature is very effective.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11005901].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author automathings
    How do the demographics vary between the two? From Facebook I'm getting a lot of the 45-65+ female demographic. I would imagine that Instagram skews younger?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11008738].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author mandylopez
    Since Facebook is a lot older than Instagram, it’ll have some advantages in terms of user base and popularity. However, Instagram’s growth has been extremely strong and it’s headed in the right direction. Let’s look at the numbers.
    Facebook Statistics
    1.4 billion monthly active users
    655 million monthly active users that are mobile only
    65% of Facebook videos occur on mobile devices
    40 million small businesses have Facebook Pages
    Instagram Statistics
    300 million monthly active users
    75 million daily users
    20% of Internet users are on Instagram
    27% of the US population uses Instagram
    47% of Instagram users access the app on their phone and 53% on their tablet

    As you can see, Facebook might have larger vanity numbers but Instagram’s stats are very impressive—particularly in terms of engagement. Instagram has built itself up as a platform that thrives on users being able to engage with the visual content brands share.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11011642].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author whowhatwhere
    Definitely more people use Facebook, so if it's quantity you're after, then Facebook can't go wrong. IG is a very specific market, but if your product or service is quite millennial, then do it.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11011909].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Rickyarora
    My perspective, Facebook is more effective than Instagram because it increases your more website visitors when you share some posts in Facebook groups as compared to Instagram.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11012332].message }}
  • That would depend on your market, niche and content. Lifestyle niches are often better suited in Instagram or Pinterest. Marketing niches seem to perform better on Facebook and Twitter
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11012551].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author martindam33
    Both are effective media ,it totally depends on how you are optimizing and working on it.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11012811].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author DigitalDasher
    Originally Posted by iamthore View Post

    Hi warriors,

    I'm constantly looking to expand the channels I advertise on. Even though they are under the same "roof" I find there are different benefits to both of the networks.

    Especially when it comes to working with influencer I find it often times cheaper to work with IG personalities (as they don't really know the value of their brand more often than not).

    What do you think? What's more effective to marketing your products / services and why?
    I'd advice IG because a lot of people using IG don't really understand how to market efficiently on there so you can come as an authority figure and put a recognizable stamp on your target niche
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11012972].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author nirajan
    For me, Instagram works better if the products are fancier than regular products.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11013165].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author mdallen
    Digital products only sell well if they are fancy as you put it, as far as picture oriented sites like Instagram and Pinterest
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11013191].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author JohnAdam1
    Facebook is use for longer period of time as compared to Instagram and it has a large database of users as compared to Instagram. Most people prefer Facebook because it has more possibilities. Instagram is limited to video/photo, whereas Facebook's posts can just be text, photo, video, link, etc. Instagram is becoming popular as time is passing, but Facebook definitely has more users. All the users who are using Instagram are also using Facebook too.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11013435].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Susan Green
    Instagram is used mainly for providing one with the options for posting images, videos. But when it comes to Facebook, it not only provide you with the ways for posting your images, videos, but there are a lot more things that one can do in it. And as per my thinking it is best for people who are looking forward for promoting there business.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11015600].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author missmystery
    For me, 100% Instagram.

    It really depends on what your niche is. If it's something like internet marketing then probably Facebook as people don't really want to look at pictures to do with that.
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11017302].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Uchiha Itachi
    Facebook because it is page with traffic ranked third in the world and can be purged to pick out potential customers, it's also completely free.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11017416].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author brookeharper08
    @iamthore: I recommend you test out the waters and see what fits the bill. Instagram may work better than FB for some while it works the other way around for others.

    What I do agree on is how Pinterest can help you grow your online presence and market your products/services. You can take Pinterest for a spin as you continue to use Facebook and IG and see what works best for you. It might be a combo of all of these social media platforms, a mix of both of these, or just one channel would work. Good luck!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11023178].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author katerinavaiou
    Although Facebook has more traffic compared to Instagram, in recent times it is noticed that reach of facebook has been reduced. So even if you post something useful, you are only reaching 5-10% of your total audience. You need to consider this reach factor also while comparing the two giant social media.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11023246].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author KiethJohnson
    There are more people on Facebook, but if you're looking to sell/advertise to the younger generation, Instagram is the safer way to go. And Instagram is also a good way to market if you have pretty photos. However, Facebook is easier to navigate in terms of posting content and has a wider reach.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11024634].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Bud B Elliott
    Facebook is more effective
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11028255].message }}
  • Both are very effective and helps to get more traffic to your sites
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11028267].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author innn
    Test both the system and compare the results.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11028468].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Son Phan
    i would recommend FB. due to more people use it and have lots of function that help you SEO-offpage. and fb service look cheaper than insta
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11029649].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author AnissamcGary
    I like facebook.. its more effective than Instagram
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11034454].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Tahreem Saeed
    Facebook shook up the social media marketing world with its data-driven approach, Instagram with its strict focus on mobile users and visuals.And the two are closely linked together since Facebook owns Instagram. Despite the close bond between them, they're two separate platforms that need to be approached differently.
    Signature

    Creative Designer and Developer !

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11037557].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Ryan Tran
      If you want to drive traffic to your web, Fb is better
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11073614].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Son Phan
    i think Facebook will take advantage since instagram only focus on picture stuff where fb u can share article and write post
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11039759].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author overtonis
      Originally Posted by Son Phan View Post

      i think Facebook will take advantage since instagram only focus on picture stuff where fb u can share article and write post

      That is so wrong. Instagram allows videos now and incorporates 'stories' similar to snap chat. Instagram is essentially pinterest (pictures), snap chat (stories), periscope (live video) and text. The only draw back for instagram is you can't link to urls outside of one they allow in bio.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11044961].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author mickyl
    I like Instagram, mainly because people there are very engaged, so even if there are less people - for me they are much more targeted and willing to participate, etc.
    It really depends on what you are trying to do, though, and I don't see a reason why not combine the two - and invest in both platforms, checking out what works best for you...
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11040227].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author HarryJ
    It depends on your brand, your offers and the purpose behind your ads.
    Instagram is primarily focused on images, if your brand requires more than just a pretty picture to really convey its value, then you might be better off creating deeper content and sharing it via Facebook.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11041100].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author NewEnglandah
    Facebook is more dynamic in that it can do all of the types of interfacing that the other social media outlets can do. If you study Facebook advertising and some of its fanpage interactions you can do more with Facebook.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11044327].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author overtonis
    Its not even close. Instagram is better because it is unfiltered by facebook. But that is coming soon. So enjoy it while it last.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11044960].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author jw22777
    They all are good platforms..Facebook is personally my favorite. But it all depends on your product and what crowd that product is targeted to.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11045327].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author mdallen
    I like Facebook better. Although Facebook owns Instagram so they get your money either way
    Facebook seems to have more options for interaction and I find conversation is my best tool for selling. A picture is worth a thousand words, but I don't feel the same interaction
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11053065].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author voltaireross
    As for me, it is purely subjective. It all depends on your target goals, the products/services you are promoting and most specially the reach of audiences you are targeting.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11053237].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Ryan Tran
    It depends on your brand, your offers and the purpose behind your ads.
    Instagram is primarily focused on images, if your brand requires more than just a pretty picture to really convey its value, then you might be better off creating deeper content and sharing it via Facebook.
    <Hary J>
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11073616].message }}

Trending Topics