Instagram Video or Vine?
Instagram, the popular photo editing and sharing app, launched its own video editing platform on June 20, 2013. Instagram is owned by Facebook and the videos can last 15 seconds or less. This is in direct competition with Vine, which is the popular video editing app that is owned by Twitter. Vine videos can last 6 seconds or less.
Now let’s breakdown how each works to help determine which one you should use for your restaurant.
Advantages of Instagram Video over Vine
With Instagram, there are 13 custom filters that will change the coloring and look of your video. This is beneficial if you don’t have proper lighting to shoot videos, as most casual users do not. It also allows you to correct the shakiness of the video, which is a common flaw in most videos taken with a phone (and no tripod).
If you have a more active presence on Facebook, Instagram is a great tool because their videos are integrated into Facebook, which means followers won’t have to click through to a link in order to see your video. Instead, they are embedded right into the platform.
Another great aspect of Instagram is that you can use it to take and edit both photos and video, whereas Vine only allows you to take videos, (and with no editing features). If you want the convenience of using one app for both, then Instagram may be the winning choice.
Finally, one major advantage of Instagram for videos is that it already has over 130 million monthly users, as compared to Vine’s 13 million. It might be more advantageous to choose the one with the established audience depending on your customers’ taste. Remember, social platforms are not just about where you want to be, but where your customers are.
Advantages of Vine over Instagram Video
Vine is integrated with Twitter so you can view Vine videos directly on Twitter without having to go through a link. This leads to a cleaner user experience if your customers are active on Twitter.
If you want the videos to be displayed on your website or blog, Vine offers the ability to embed the videos directly onto these platforms. Currently, Instagram doesn’t offer this feature.
In addition, Vine users are able to mute the video, whereas on Instagram they do not have this choice. The only way of muting audio on Instagram is if viewers turn off the volume on the phone or the computer where they are watching the video. This isn’t always an easy or a convenient option, especially when a user is in a public setting such as a bus, train or restaurant.
Final thoughts
I encourage you to try both options and get to know them and their capabilities. Your choice for the best video tool for your restaurant should be based on your usability as well as your target audience’s media preferences. If you like both and think you can use both, go for it! There is no reason to limit to just one. But we all know time is of the essence, so if you only have time for one, then pick one that you feel comfortable using while also keeping these things in mind.
