YouTube Shorts vs TikTok: Where Should You Post in 2024?

Short-form video content has taken over social media, with TikTok leading the charge and YouTube Shorts emerging as a powerful competitor. But which platform should you focus on? Let's break it down.

The Numbers: TikTok vs YouTube Shorts

TikTok Statistics

• Over 1 billion monthly active users
• Average user spends 95 minutes per day on the app
• 67% of users are under 30 years old
• Strong in entertainment, lifestyle, and creator content

YouTube Shorts Statistics

• Over 2 billion monthly active users (YouTube total)
• Shorts receive over 70 billion daily views
• Broader age demographic (13-65+)
• Strong in education, tutorials, and branded content

Key Differences Between the Platforms

1. Discovery Algorithm

TikTok: The "For You" page is designed to show you content from creators you don't follow. It's easier for new creators to go viral on TikTok.

YouTube Shorts: Heavily favors channels with existing subscribers. If you already have a YouTube channel, Shorts can drive significant traffic to your long-form content.

2. Monetization

TikTok:

• Creator Fund (being phased out)
• TikTok Shop (e-commerce)
• Brand partnerships
• Live gifts

YouTube Shorts:

• Ad revenue sharing (launched 2023)
• More lucrative long-term for creators
• Better integration with YouTube's existing monetization

3. Content Style

TikTok:

• Trends-driven culture
• Heavy use of music and audio
• More casual, authentic content
• Emphasis on entertainment and personality

YouTube Shorts:

• Educational content performs well
• Teasers for longer YouTube videos
• How-to and tutorial content
• More polished production acceptable

4. Video Length

TikTok: Up to 10 minutes (though most successful content is under 60 seconds)

YouTube Shorts: Maximum 60 seconds

5. Search and Discoverability

TikTok: Limited search functionality, discovery is primarily algorithmic

YouTube Shorts: Benefits from YouTube's powerful search engine, making content discoverable for years

When to Choose TikTok

Choose TikTok if you:

• Target Gen Z and younger millennials
• Create entertainment-focused content
• Want to quickly test content ideas
• Focus on trending challenges and audio
• Build a personality-driven brand
• Don't mind creating platform-specific content

TikTok Success Strategy

1. Post 1-3 times daily
2. Jump on trends early
3. Use trending audio
4. Create hooks in the first 3 seconds
5. Engage heavily with comments

When to Choose YouTube Shorts

Choose YouTube Shorts if you:

• Already have a YouTube channel
• Create educational or tutorial content
• Want content that remains discoverable long-term
• Target a broader age demographic
• Plan to monetize through ad revenue
• Want to drive traffic to longer videos

YouTube Shorts Success Strategy

1. Post 3-5 Shorts per week
2. Optimize titles and descriptions for search
3. Use Shorts to tease long-form content
4. Create evergreen, searchable content
5. Cross-promote your main channel

The Best Strategy: Use Both

Here's the truth: you don't have to choose. The most successful creators use both platforms, but with a strategic approach:

Content Repurposing Strategy

1. Create once, optimize for each platform

   • Shoot in 9:16 vertical format
   • Create platform-specific versions
   • Adjust captions and hooks for each audience

2. Use TikTok for discovery

   • Test content ideas quickly
   • Build audience awareness
   • Drive traffic to YouTube

3. Use YouTube for monetization

   • Longer-term content value
   • Better revenue sharing
   • Subscriber building

Platform-Specific Optimization

Don't just duplicate content. Instead:

• TikTok: Focus on trends, personality, entertainment
• YouTube: Focus on value, tutorials, evergreen content
• Both: High-quality production, strong hooks, clear value proposition

Cross-Platform Content Calendar Example

Monday: TikTok trend-based content Tuesday: YouTube Short (evergreen tutorial) Wednesday: TikTok entertainment content Thursday: YouTube Short (product review/showcase) Friday: TikTok & YouTube (cross-post best performer)

Tools to Manage Both Platforms

Managing two platforms sounds time-consuming, but with the right tools, it's manageable:

• Content Creation: CapCut, InShot, or Adobe Premiere Rush
• Scheduling: PostLink supports both TikTok and YouTube
• Analytics: Track which platform performs better for different content types
• Batch Creation: Create multiple videos in one session

Making the Decision

Ask yourself these questions:

1. Where is your audience? Check demographics
2. What's your content style? Educational or entertainment?
3. What are your goals? Viral reach or long-term growth?
4. How much time do you have? One or both platforms?
5. What's your monetization strategy? Quick partnerships or ad revenue?

Conclusion

Both TikTok and YouTube Shorts offer incredible opportunities for creators and brands in 2024. TikTok excels at viral discovery and younger audiences, while YouTube Shorts benefits from search discoverability and better monetization.

For most creators, the winning strategy is to use both platforms strategically—TikTok for rapid testing and viral reach, YouTube Shorts for evergreen content and long-term growth.

Ready to manage both platforms efficiently? PostLink makes it easy to schedule and publish content to TikTok, YouTube, and 4 other platforms from one dashboard. Try it today and streamline your short-form video strategy.