TikTok and Instagram Battle for Customer Loyalty With New Incentives

For months, Meta – Instagram’s parent company – has been contacting TikTok creators, offering generous cash bonuses of between $10,000 to $50,000 per month to post on Instagram Reels exclusively.

This works alongside Instagram’s overt incentive programs. While some are invite-only, its Breakthrough Bonus Program allows new creators to instantly start earning on their content, plus the potential to earn up to $5,000 extra in the first 90 days.

➡️Learn more ways to make money on Instagram here.

Instagram has also been dropping a number of updates that make it a close TikTok alternative, such as:

• Improving native search tools – as told by head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri
• An Instagram app for iPad
• Continual improvements to Instagram Reels

In response, TikTok has revealed a new Specialized Rewards Program (SRP) that “rewards contributors for contributing stand-out, high-quality content on some of the platform’s most valued content areas, including Film and TV, Auto, Learning, and Sports.”

The program is invite-only, and works in conjunction with its preexisting Creator Rewards Program.

TikTok’s core Creator Rewards Program was also recently updated. On March 18th, an “optimized rewards formula” was announced, which focuses on four areas:

1. Originality
2. Play duration
3. Search value
4. Audience engagement

For businesses filming educational content, or content relating to film, cars, and sports, TikTok’s latest reward program could pan out extremely lucrative. For the best chance at being invited to the SRP, be sure to post regularly, engage with your audience, and enroll in the existing Creator Rewards Program.

This time is daunting for businesses with an online presence, but social media platforms are also feeling the pressure. While they battle for top spot, their increased creator benefits open more opportunities to make money on social media.

Instagram’s rewards programs tend to offer higher payouts for businesses, and don’t dictate as strict entry requirements in terms of follower count, unlike TikTok’s 10,000 minimum follower rule. That said, Meta’s child company can’t yet compete with TikTok’s algorithm, which is the key pull for businesses looking for a highly engaged community and wide reach. But with the uncertainty of TikTok’s fate, Instagram’s promise of added security may be enough to turn heads.