TIKTOK vs. Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn: Which is the best platform for business ads?

Kyrin Hall, PhD • Jul 26, 2023

TIKTOK vs. Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn:

Which is the best platform for business ads?


Social media platforms have become a crucial marketing tool for businesses of all sizes. With so many platforms available, it can be overwhelming to know which one to choose for your business ads. TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn are some of the most popular social media platforms available today. Each platform has its own unique set of features and benefits that can help businesses reach their target audience effectively. However, choosing the right platform can be challenging, and it is essential to understand the pros and cons of each platform.


In this post, we will explore the differences between TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn, and help you determine which platform is best for your business ads. Whether you are looking to increase brand awareness or drive sales, you will find valuable insights to help you make an informed decision.


  1. Intro to TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn
  2. The different types of ads available on each platform
  3. The audience demographics of each platform
  4. TikTok vs. Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn: Which platform is best for reaching a younger audience?
  5. TikTok vs. Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn: Which platform is best for B2B advertising?
  6. TikTok vs. Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn: Which platform is best for e-commerce advertising?
  7. TikTok vs. Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn: Which platform is best for building brand awareness?
  8. TikTok vs. Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn: Which platform is best for targeting specific interests?
  9. The cost of advertising on each platform



1. Intro to TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn

As social media continues to dominate the world of digital marketing, businesses are constantly seeking the best platform to advertise their products or services. TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn are four of the most popular social media platforms used by businesses to reach out to their target audience.


TikTok is a relatively new platform that has taken the world by storm. It allows users to create short videos that can be shared with others. Facebook is the largest social media platform in the world with over 2.8 billion active users. It offers a range of features including groups, pages, and advertising. 


YouTube is a video-sharing platform where users can upload, view, and share videos. It has over 2 billion, monthly active users. LinkedIn is a professional networking platform that enables users to connect with professionals in their industry, as well as find new job opportunities.


Each platform has its own unique features and audience, making it important for businesses to determine which platform is best suited to their marketing strategy. In this blog post, we will compare the pros and cons of using TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn for business advertising, helping you decide which platform is right for your business.

2. The different types of ads available on each platform


Each platform offers different types of ads to suit different business needs.


Facebook offers a range of ad formats including image, video, carousel, and slideshow ads. These ads can appear in a user's News Feed or in the right-hand column of the screen. Facebook also offers sponsored stories, which are ads that appear in a user's News Feed and look like regular posts from friends.


YouTube offers TrueView ads, which are skippable video ads that appear before or during a video. YouTube also offers bumper ads, which are short six-second ads that play before a video and cannot be skipped.


LinkedIn offers sponsored content ads, which appear in a user's LinkedIn feed and look like regular posts. They can include text, images, and even video. LinkedIn also offers sponsored InMail, which is a targeted messaging service that allows businesses to send personalized messages to potential customers.


TikTok, on the other hand, offers a range of ad formats including in-feed ads, brand takeovers, branded lenses, and sponsored hashtag challenges. In-feed ads appear as regular videos in a user's feed, while brand takeovers are full-screen ads that appear when a user opens the app. Branded lenses allow users to add filters to their videos, while sponsored hashtag challenges encourage users to create content around a specific hashtag.


It's important to consider the different types of ads available on each platform and which ones would best suit your business goals. Each platform has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it's important to do your research and choose the platform that aligns with your business objectives.


3. The audience demographics of each platform


Understanding the audience demographics of each platform is crucial in deciding the best platform for your business ads.


Let's start with Facebook. Facebook's audience is diverse, with the platform having more than 2.8 billion monthly active users. However, the majority of Facebook users are aged between 25 to 45 years old. Facebook is a great platform for businesses that target a wide range of age groups.


Next up is YouTube. The platform has over 2 billion monthly active users, making it the second-largest search engine after Google. The majority of YouTube's audience is aged between 18 to 49 years old, with more male users than female. YouTube is a great platform for businesses that have a product or service that can be visually demonstrated.


Moving on to LinkedIn, the platform is specifically designed for professionals and businesses. With over 700 million monthly active users, the majority of LinkedIn's audience is aged between 25 to 45 years old, with higher education degrees and higher income levels. LinkedIn is a great platform for B2B businesses and for reaching decision-makers.


Lastly, TikTok, has over 1 billion monthly active users. The majority of TikTok's audience is aged between 16 to 24 years old, with more female users than males. TikTok is a great platform for businesses that target a younger audience and have a product or service that can be showcased through short videos.


In conclusion, understanding the audience demographics of each platform is crucial in deciding which platform to use for your business ads. It's important to choose a platform that aligns with your business goals and target audience.


4. TikTok vs. Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn: Which platform is best for reaching a younger audience?


When it comes to reaching a younger audience, TikTok is the clear winner. TikTok is a social media app that has taken the world by storm, especially among the younger generation. The app allows users to create and share short videos, and its user base consists primarily of people between the ages of 16 and 24.


On the other hand, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube have a much broader user base, including people of all ages. While these platforms may still be effective in reaching a younger audience, they may not be the best choice if that is your primary target audience.


Marketing on TikTok can be a great way to connect with a younger generation of consumers and create brand awareness. With the app's algorithm, businesses can quickly gain traction and get their content in front of a large audience in a short amount of time. Plus, TikTok's unique features, such as filters, effects, and challenges, can make ads more engaging and shareable.


However, it's important to note that TikTok is still a relatively new platform, and not all businesses may find success on it. It's important to do your research and determine if TikTok is the right platform for your specific business and target audience.



5. TikTok vs. Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn: Which platform is best for B2B advertising?


When it comes to B2B advertising, LinkedIn is the clear winner. As a professional networking site, LinkedIn allows businesses to target ads based on job title, industry, company size, and more. This means that you can tailor your ads to reach specific decision-makers and influencers within your target companies.


While TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube may not be the best platforms for B2B advertising, that doesn't mean they should be completely ignored. Facebook still has a massive user base and offers advanced targeting options, including the ability to target users based on their interests and behaviors. YouTube, on the other hand, is great for brand awareness and can be a powerful tool for showcasing your company's expertise and thought leadership.


TikTok, while primarily known for its viral dance challenges and lip-sync videos, is quickly becoming a popular platform for businesses looking to reach younger audiences. With its short-form video format and highly engaged user base, TikTok can be a great way to showcase your brand's personality and connect with a new generation of potential customers.


Ultimately, the best platform for your B2B advertising will depend on your specific goals and target audience. It's important to consider factors such as demographics, interests, and behaviors when choosing where to invest your advertising dollars.

6. TikTok vs. Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn: Which platform is best for e-commerce advertising?



When it comes to e-commerce advertising, the platform you choose to advertise on can make all the difference. TikTok is a relatively new player in the advertising game, but it's quickly gaining popularity for its short-form video ads.


Facebook, on the other hand, has been around for over a decade and is still one of the most popular advertising platforms with its advanced targeting options. YouTube, owned by Google, has the advantage of being the second most popular search engine in the world and also offers video ads. LinkedIn, known for being a professional networking platform, can be a great option for B2B e-commerce businesses.


TikTok might be the best option for e-commerce businesses that want to target younger audiences, as the app has a large user base of Gen Z and millennials. Facebook, on the other hand, has a wider range of age groups and advanced targeting options that can help you reach your target audience precisely. YouTube can be great for businesses that want to use video content to showcase their products or services, while LinkedIn can be a good choice for businesses targeting professionals or other businesses.


Ultimately, the best platform for your e-commerce advertising will depend on your target audience and advertising goals. It's essential to research and analyze the demographics and behavior of each platform's user base before making a decision. Additionally, testing different platforms with small ad spends can help you determine which platform provides the best ROI for your business.

7. TikTok vs. Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn: Which platform is best for building brand awareness?


When it comes to building brand awareness, all platforms have their own unique benefits. Let's start with TikTok. With its rapidly growing user base and emphasis on creative, short-form videos, TikTok can be a great platform for businesses looking to reach a younger audience. It's especially effective for brands that have a strong visual component to their product or service. 


TikTok's algorithm also favors content that is engaging, so if you can create something that resonates with your target audience, you have a good chance of your video going viral.


Moving on to Facebook, the platform's massive user base and advanced targeting options make it a great choice for businesses looking to build brand awareness. Facebook allows you to target your ads based on a variety of demographic and behavioral factors, so you can reach the specific audience you're looking for. Facebook's ad formats also lend themselves well to building brand awareness, with options like carousel ads and video ads that allow you to showcase your brand in an engaging way.


YouTube is another platform that's great for building brand awareness. With over 2 billion monthly active users, YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world (after Google). This makes it a great place to reach people who are actively searching for information or entertainment related to your industry. Video ads on YouTube can be skippable or non-skippable, giving you flexibility in how you want to showcase your brand.


Finally, LinkedIn is a great platform for businesses looking to build brand awareness in a B2B context. With its focus on professional networking, LinkedIn can be a great place to reach decision-makers in specific industries. LinkedIn's ad formats include sponsored content, sponsored InMail, and display ads, all of which can help you get your brand in front of the right people.


Ultimately, the best platform for building brand awareness will depend on your specific business and marketing goals. It's important to consider your target audience, ad budget, and the type of content that will resonate with your audience when deciding where to invest your ad dollars.

8. TikTok vs. Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn: Which platform is best for targeting specific interests?


When it comes to targeting specific interests, TikTok is quickly becoming the go-to platform for businesses. TikTok's algorithm is very sophisticated and it uses artificial intelligence to understand what a user likes and dislikes, and then shows them content that is most relevant to their interests.


This means that businesses can target their ads to users who are already interested in their products or services. For example, if your business sells vegan protein powder, you can target your ads to users who have shown an interest in veganism, fitness, and health.


Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn also provide targeting options, but they are not as advanced as TikTok. Facebook allows you to target users based on their age, gender, location, interests, and behaviors. LinkedIn allows you to target users based on their job title, company, industry, and location. YouTube allows you to target users based on their interests, demographics, and keywords.


While these platforms are great for targeting specific groups of users, TikTok's algorithm takes it to the next level by understanding a user's interests without them having to explicitly state them. This makes it easier for businesses to reach the right people with their ads and increase the chances of converting them into customers.


In conclusion, if targeting specific interests is a priority for your business, TikTok should definitely be considered as a platform for your ads. However, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn are still valuable platforms for targeting specific groups of users based on their demographics and behavior.



9. The cost of advertising on each platform

When it comes to advertising on social media platforms, the cost is always a factor. Each platform has its own unique way of pricing its ads, and it's important to understand these costs before investing your budget.


Facebook, for example, offers several different pricing options including cost-per-click, cost-per-impression, and cost-per-action. The cost of advertising on Facebook can range from a few cents to several dollars per click or impression, depending on your target audience and the level of competition in your industry.


YouTube, on the other hand, offers a cost-per-view model for advertising. This means that you only pay when someone clicks on your ad and watches it for at least 30 seconds or clicks on a call-to-action button.


LinkedIn, which is more focused on B2B advertising, offers advertising on a cost-per-click or cost-per-impression basis. The cost of advertising on LinkedIn can be higher than on other platforms, but it offers more targeted advertising options for businesses.


TikTok is a newer platform for advertising, but it also offers a cost-per-click model. The cost of advertising on TikTok is generally lower than other platforms, but it's important to consider whether your target audience is on this platform before investing in advertising.


Ultimately, the cost of advertising on each platform will depend on your specific business goals, target audience, and advertising strategy. It's important to do your research and carefully consider the costs and benefits of each platform before making a decision.

Summary


Determining the best platform for your business ultimately depends on your target audience and advertising goals. Each platform has its own unique features and strengths that can be utilized to reach different demographics and achieve different objectives.


For businesses targeting a younger demographic or seeking to promote creative and visually-driven content, TikTok may be the best option. With its focus on short-form video content and growing user base, TikTok offers a unique opportunity for businesses to reach a highly engaged audience.


For businesses seeking to reach a wider audience and establish a more established online presence, platforms like Facebook and YouTube may be more suitable. Facebook remains the largest social network with a broad range of advertising options and targeting capabilities. YouTube is the go-to platform for video content and has a large audience base that can be reached through targeted ads.


For businesses in B2B industries looking to connect with professionals and build industry credibility, LinkedIn may be the best platform. With its focus on professional networking and thought leadership content, LinkedIn offers a unique opportunity to reach decision-makers and establish a strong brand reputation.


Ultimately, the best platform for your business will depend on your specific goals, target audience, and budget. By understanding the unique features and strengths of each platform, businesses can make informed decisions about where to invest their advertising resources to achieve the best results.


We hope you found our blog post about TikTok vs. Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn helpful in deciding which platform is the best for your business ads. Each platform has its own unique strengths and weaknesses, so it's important to consider your target audience, budget, and overall goals when choosing where to advertise.


Whether you decide to go with TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, or LinkedIn, remember to track your results and adjust your strategy accordingly.  Get in touch if you want a Done For You Ads campaign >>> Click Here

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