Facebook vs. Instagram 2018 Marketing Test Results! Which Social Media Gets The Most Engagement?

TL;DR

Instagram outperforms Facebook in engagement despite fewer followers.

Transcript

hey miles here miles Becca calm and this video is all about which platform is best for organic reach and engagement in mid 2018 is it Facebook or is it Instagram now I'm recording this video at the end of March in 2018 because I noticed a very very interesting pattern in two separate places on both my wife's platform and my personal platform so I r... Read More

Key Insights

• Instagram consistently achieved higher engagement than Facebook, despite having significantly fewer followers on both personal and professional accounts.
• The tests conducted involved posting identical content simultaneously on both platforms to ensure fair comparison of engagement metrics.
• My wife's Facebook fan page has over 900,000 fans, while her Instagram has 41,000 followers, yet Instagram posts received more likes.
• Comments on Facebook were slightly higher for some posts, but not proportionate to the larger audience size compared to Instagram.
• For my personal accounts, Instagram posts received twice as many likes and four times as many comments as Facebook posts.
• The demographic difference between my wife's older audience and my younger audience did not affect Instagram's superior engagement.
• Despite Instagram's dominance, Facebook should not be completely ignored; it can still serve as a secondary platform for sharing content.
• Pinterest is currently driving more social media traffic than both Instagram and Facebook combined, highlighting its growing importance.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why did Instagram outperform Facebook in engagement?

Instagram outperformed Facebook in engagement due to its ability to generate more likes and comments despite having a smaller follower base. This suggests that Instagram's algorithm and user behavior are more conducive to engagement, making it a more effective platform for organic reach in 2018.

Q: What was the methodology used in the test?

The methodology involved posting identical content simultaneously on both Facebook and Instagram to ensure a fair comparison. This approach aimed to measure engagement metrics such as likes and comments in a semi-scientific manner, allowing for an accurate analysis of which platform generated more interaction.

Q: How did the demographic differences affect the results?

The demographic differences did not significantly affect the results, as both my wife's older audience and my younger audience showed higher engagement on Instagram. This indicates that Instagram's appeal and effectiveness in generating engagement transcend age and demographic boundaries.

Q: What were the engagement metrics for my wife's accounts?

For my wife's accounts, her Facebook fan page with over 900,000 fans received fewer likes than her Instagram account with 41,000 followers. This disparity highlights Instagram's superior engagement, as it consistently outperformed Facebook in terms of likes despite the significant difference in audience size.

Q: How did my personal account's engagement compare on both platforms?

On my personal accounts, Instagram posts received twice as many likes and four times as many comments as Facebook posts. This trend was consistent across multiple posts, demonstrating Instagram's superior engagement capabilities, even with a smaller follower base compared to Facebook.

Q: Should Facebook be completely ignored based on these results?

Facebook should not be completely ignored, despite Instagram's superior engagement. It can still serve as a secondary platform for sharing content. While Instagram should be the primary focus, Facebook can complement it by reaching a segment of the audience that may still engage with shared content.

Q: What role does Pinterest play in social media traffic?

Pinterest is currently driving more social media traffic than both Instagram and Facebook combined. This highlights its growing importance as a platform for organic reach and engagement, suggesting that marketers should consider incorporating Pinterest into their social media strategies to maximize traffic and engagement.

Q: What is the overall recommendation for social media strategy in 2018?

The overall recommendation for social media strategy in 2018 is to focus primarily on Instagram for initiating content, due to its superior engagement metrics. Facebook can be used as a secondary platform for sharing content, while Pinterest should also be considered for its potential to drive significant social media traffic.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• In a 2018 test comparing Facebook and Instagram, Instagram consistently outperformed Facebook in terms of engagement, despite having fewer followers. The test involved posting identical content on both platforms to compare likes and comments. The results showed a clear preference for Instagram across different demographics.

• My wife's Facebook fan page has over 900,000 fans, while her Instagram has 41,000 followers. Despite this disparity, Instagram posts received more likes. Comments were slightly higher on Facebook, but not proportionate to its larger audience. This suggests Instagram's engagement is more effective.

• For my personal accounts, Instagram posts received twice as many likes and four times as many comments as Facebook posts. This trend was consistent across different demographics, showing Instagram's superior engagement. However, Facebook should not be completely ignored, as it still has value for sharing content.