Making the Most of Instagram Stories

By Grace Beasley

It’s no question Instagram is one of the most successful forms of social media for promoting your company and brand. Instagram Stories not only help you boost your posts but also directly engage users with your content by adding personalized touches.

Being active on Instagram Stories can significantly increase your reach when done consistently and correctly. Here’s how:

Instagram Story Basics

Instagram Stories allow followers to view photo and video content for 24 hours. Simply snap a photo or video on Instagram, or upload from your camera roll and it’s ready to post.

But stories don’t have to be lost after 24 hours. Highlights allow you to store and organize past stories on your profile page so they remain accessible for new followers to view.

Instagram Stories are used by over 500 million users each day. Fifty-eight percent of people surveyed by Instagram say they have become more interested in a brand or product after seeing it in Stories, and 50 percent of those surveyed said they have visited a website to buy a product or service as a result of seeing it in Stories.

Polls & Questions

Polls and questions are a great way to add more personalized interaction between you and your audience.

Polls allow you to ask questions and have viewers pick between two choices, whereas questions are more open ended and leave a space for viewers to reply. Answers can then be reposted or shared if needed.

H2: Hashtags & Locations

Using hashtags and tagging locations in Instagram Stories is a quick and easy way to reach more people through stories. By using these features, your story will show up under the hashtag or location mentioned.

Swipe-Up Links

Swipe-up links on stories allow viewers to easily access your content or products. Accounts with over 10,000 followers are eligible to add third-party links in swipe-ups, but anyone can link to longer IGTV videos.

Simply attach the link to whatever story you post, and an arrow will show up at the bottom of the story allowing your audience to click or swipe up to access the link.

These links can be used to promote blog posts, products, upcoming events, IGTV videos and more. Instagram swipe-ups are a much easier way to boost engagement, rather than placing a link on your profile page.

Donation Button

Donation buttons are a notable way for your brand to support and spread the word about a cause. You choose the charity for the button and viewers can tap to donate. This is a great way to conduct successful fundraisers, and nonprofits receive 100 percent of the donations.

Contact the Brand Studio today to maximize success and engagement through Instagram Stories and other forms of social media.