Instagram Stories has quickly become one of Instagram's most popular features. Instagram Stories is a feature that allows users to post photos and videos for 24 hours before they disappear, which makes it easier than ever to share moments with friends and potential followers in real time.
In this article, we will discuss how Instagram Stories can be used as a powerful marketing tool for your business or personal brand. We'll also provide some tips on how you can get started with Instagram stories today!
What are Instagram stories?
Instagram stories are Instagram posts that last for only 24 hours. Stories appear in chronological order, with the most recent story at the top of your feed - like any other Instagram post. Instagram users can choose to add a colorful background and additional stickers or text to their photos before they publish them as part of their Instagram story.
How do I use Instagram stories?
Just like Instagram posts, you can add Instagram stories directly from Instagram or through your smartphone's camera. Stories will appear in the order they were posted on your profile and disappear after 24 hours (unless of course, someone taps to view them). You can share photos and videos, as well as doodles and Boomerang videos.
Instagram Stories Highlights
Instagram stories highlights are a great way to collect all of your Instagram stories from the past 24 hours into one collection. Instagram users can choose to create a highlight on their profile by tapping “Your Story” and selecting “Create Highlight,” or they can do this within Instagram Stories directly. By doing this you followers will be able to see Instagram stories you have posted in the past 24 hours all in one place.
How are Instagram Stories different from Snapchat?
Instagram Stories is similar to Snapchat, but there are some key differences that make Instagram’s version of this feature even better for small businesses and marketers. First, Instagram gives users two options when it comes to Instagram stories. As you can see in the images above, Instagram users have the option to load an awesome post on a normal Instagram story, which will last for only 24 hours and then disappear forever - just like Snapchat.
Alternatively, Instagram also provides an “Instagram Stories Highlights” feature that allows businesses to collect all of their Instagram stories from the past 24 hours into one location.
How will my posts appear on Instagram stories?
When you post a photo or video to Instagram, it will be visible in the Instagram Stories section of your profile for 24 hours. After that time has passed, your story will disappear from Instagram Stories and reappear in chronological order at the top of your feed. If someone taps on one of your Instagram stories within their Instagram app, they will be able to swipe through your Instagram story posts in the order you posted them.
Why are Instagram stories a powerful tool to grow your Instagram account in 2022? Instagram
Stories is a great way to connect with other Instagram users and turn Instagram followers into customers. Instagram stories can help show your personality behind the scenes, allow you to promote products and services in real time, and much more!
Instagram has made a great job adding features to Instagram stories that make it easier for Instagram users to promote their business and brand. Instagram stories are a great way to connect with your Instagram followers as well as an opportunity to become visible on the Instagram app timeline.
Instagram Stories are also a great way to interact with your Instagram audience in a way regular posts can't, for example, Influencers can ask questions to their target audience and Instagram users can send direct messages through Instagram stories.
Content creators can also make surveys using Instagram stories and ask Instagram users to interact with their Instagram stories.
How do I use Instagram stories to get more Instagram followers?
Instagram stories are a great way to show Instagram users real-time behind-the-scenes footage. Instagram Stories can also be used to make promotional content for your business, interact with customers in real time, and get new followers!
Why are Instagram stories valuable? According to Instagram’s blog post about Instagram stories highlights, over 300 million people use Instagram every day. Instagram stories are a great way to reach Instagram users that might not see your content on their Instagram feed, and they give you more opportunities to connect with Instagram followers than just regular posts(that means more probabilities to get new followers).
Instagram Stories Highlights is the best option for brands because it gives businesses another outlet for reaching new followers without clogging up their Instagram feeds or taking away from their Instagram Stories.
If you want to get real Instagram followers, Instagram Stories are a great way to go. Instagram stories can provide an opportunity for businesses to do live product demonstrations and other real-time promotional content that could not be done with regular Instagram posts.
Influencers can also use Instagram stories as another platform where they ask their followers questions or send direct messages through Instagram stories.
Follow these recommendations to use Instagram Stories to grow your Instagram followers:
Post Instagram stories several times a day
Instagram stories last 24 hours, so Instagram users that don't check Instagram every day might miss out. Posting Instagram stories several times a day will ensure Instagram users see your posts in their feed when they do open the app.
Additionally, Instagram stories are only 15 seconds long so Instagram stories are about as long as a commercial break, Instagram users might check Instagram more often if they think there is new content.
Add stickers, drawings, or text to your photo Instagram
Instagram Stories let users add stickers, drawings, and text to their Instagram stories. Instagram stories are a great way for Instagram influencers to interact with their target audience in real time because these features allow them to ask questions or send direct messages through Instagram stories.
Stickers are a pretty popular Instagram Stories feature because Instagram users can add a bunch of different stickers to their Instagram stories. Instagram influencers often share the same sticker on several Instagram stories so they stand out and Instagram users know there is a new post from that Instagram user
Additionally, businesses also use this tactic by adding links back to their website in order for Instagram followers to get more information on them or for Instagram followers to sign up for a newsletter.
Tag other Instagram users who have similar interests as you
Tagging other users on Instagram stories is a great way for Instagram influencers and businesses to make more connections. Instagram users can tag other Instagram users who they want to connect with or mention the people who inspired them in their Instagram Stories posts.
When you tag other Instagram users in your stories, Instagram users will get a notification that you mentioned them in your Instagram story. This is a great way to network with people on Instagram and connect with Instagram influencers who may be interested in working together, of course, you will also reach their followers, especially when they share your stories or posts with them.
Use emojis and call-to-action prompts to encourage followers to take action
Emojis are Instagram Stories best friend because Instagram stories allow users to add emojis to their Instagram story captions. Instagram influencers often use Instagram stories as a place where they share quick updates, answer questions, and interact with followers one-on-one.
Instagram Stories is the perfect platform for Instagram Influencer to create a more personalized Instagram stories experience by adding emojis and call-to-action prompts to their Instagram Stories.
Emojis are a great way for Instagram Influencers to get users engaged in the Instagram story because they can add emojis that represent what they're talking about on their Instagram Story, so if an Instagram influencer is talking about a new Instagram post, they can add an Instagram story emoji that looks like their profile photo to give Instagram users context on what the Instagram influencer is talking about.
Now, we are going to share examples of calls to action you can use on your Instagram stories. Instagram Stories allow Instagram users to add a "Swipe Up" CTA at the bottom of their Instagram stories.
Instagram influencers and businesses can use Instagram Stories to promote products or affiliate links by creating an Instagram story that shows behind-the-scenes photos, videos, or images related to your business and adding a swipe up prompt so Instagram users can swipe up to watch the Instagram video, read more about your Instagram post or product, or to get a coupon code.
You could also invite your followers to visit your Youtube channel, website, or Instagram account by using a "Swipe Up" call-to-action prompt.
Share stories about what you are up to in real-time - this will build trust with your follower base
Instagram influencers can share Instagram stories about their daily lives because Instagram Stories is the perfect platform for Instagram users to show off what they are doing in real-time.
This tactic allows Instagram Influencer to get more personal with their followers and build trust while also showing that you're a person, not just another business account - this means Instagram influencers can add Instagram story polls and Instagram story questions to show Instagram users they are listening.
Instagram influencers also use this tactic by adding links back to their website in order for Instagram followers to get more information on them or for Instagram followers to sign up for a newsletter.
Additionally, businesses also use this tactic by adding links back to their Instagram bio or Instagram business profile, so Instagram users can get more information on the Instagram influencer's products and services.
Before you end your Instagram Stories post, ask for user input - this will create a sense of community with your followers
Instagram stories allows Instagram Influencers to add swipe up prompts at the bottom of their Instagram stories to encourage Instagram followers to take action.
Instagram Influencers can also create Instagram Stories poll questions or Instagram story question prompts to get Instagram users involved and build a more interactive relationship with your Instagram target audience.
For example, if you're an Instagram influencer who sells beauty products for dogs on your business profile, you could ask the following Instagram story question: "Would you rather buy a new Instagram collar or Instagram leash?"
Instagram Influencers can also add Instagram story polls to their Instagram Stories that ask questions like, "Who's the cutest puppy of them all?", which will allow Instagram users to swipe up and vote on their favorite picture.
Stories is a great way for Instagram influencers to get Instagram users involved by asking them questions or creating Instagram story polls that allow Instagram followers to swipe up and take action.
Include influencers in your story so people can see how they live their lives too
Instagram influencers can add Instagram Story emojis to pictures and videos when they mention other Instagram accounts.
This tactic allows Instagram influencers to get more eyes on their Instagram Stories because it lets people know that there is another Instagram account you want your audience to follow once the Instagram story ends by encouraging users who like this picture or video, to follow the Instagram story owner.
You can also add Instagram Story links to direct Instagram followers or users who like your Instagram post, back to a specific webpage that you want them to visit.
This tactic allows Instagram influencers and businesses to increase their click-through rate because it creates a sense of urgency for people by giving them a deadline in order to get the Instagram story link.
If Instagram influencers want Instagram followers or users who like their Instagram post, to visit a specific webpage that they uploaded onto their website, then Instagram Influencers can add an "Instagram Story countdown" which will create anticipation and excitement for Instagram users before they click on your Instagram Story Link.
Influencers can also use Instagram Stories to send a series of Instagram Story videos to their Instagram followers, so people will stay tuned for the next Instagram story.
This tactic allows Instagram influencers and businesses to increase engagement rates because it encourages users who liked your previous Instagram post or video, come back and check out your new content.
Before you end your Instagram Stories post, ask for user input - this will create a sense of community with your Instagram followers
By including influencers in Instagram stories, it allows people to see what other Instagram users are doing and how they live their lives too.
Use hashtags related to your Instagram stories Instagram
Instagram creators can also use right hashtags on their stories to make it easier for Instagram users to find their Instagram Stories.
For example, if you're an Instagram influencer who sells dog food on your business profile and wants more Instagram followers, then you could use the following relevant hashtags in your Instagram story: #dogsofinstagram or #dogs.
This tactic allows Instagram Influencers to get Instagram users to find Instagram Stories because it makes the hashtags in Instagram stories searchable and gives Instagram followers more opportunities to discover your Instagram post.
Influencers can also add Instagram hashtags on their Instagram Story videos, pictures or polls so people can find their content easier and it has also more probabilities to rank higher in the Instagram explore page. Because when Instagram users use the hashtag research tool Instagram will first show Instagram stories that have relevant hashtags before showing Instagram posts.
Influencers can also use Instagram Stories polls to get Instagram users' input on a specific topic, question or challenge so they can create engaging content for their audience - this increases engagement because it encourages them to come back and check out your new Instagram story content.
Instagram TV videos an extra tool to grow your Instagram account faster.
Influencers can also add Instagram TV videos on their profile so people who don't have an account or users who miss the video when it is still live will be able to view your story later. This tactic allows influencers to increase watch time because some of their followers might not see your Instagram story for a variety of reasons - such as location, time zone or if they don't have an account.
Influencers can also use Instagram Stories Highlights to save their best content and create a library/archive of video highlights that people who aren't following them yet, can still watch. This tactic allows influencers to increase watch time because it encourages new viewers to come back and check out your IGTV videos.
Instagram Stories can be a useful tool for influencers who want more engagement on their posts, find relevant hashtags or get new followers - while some of these techniques might take longer than others, they're all guaranteed ways to grow your Instagram account.
No time to grow your Instagram account and interact with your targeting audience?
We’ve talked about the importance of Instagram in marketing and how to use it for your business. Now you know all that, what will you do? Follow these tips to take advantage of this powerful platform and get more followers. Use stories as a way to interact with your targeting audience by creating content they want, like videos or images from behind-the-scenes operations. If you need help getting started on social media advertising or building up an active following on any other networks, we can help! Our team specializes in Instagram marketing strategy and is ready to work with you one-on-one so contact us today at www.socialgrowthengine.com