In today’s digital age, social media has become an indispensable tool for marketers and brands. Instagram, one of the most popular social media platforms, has recently introduced a new feature called Stories. This feature allows users to share photos and videos with their followers for a 24-hour period, creating an interactive and engaging way to connect with their audience. In this article, we’ll explore the various ways in which you can use Instagram Stories to engage and expand your brand’s digital presence.
What are Instagram Stories?
Instagram Stories is an interactive feature that allows users to post a compilation of photos and videos in the form of a slideshow. The content will be visible to the user’s followers for 24 hours before it automatically disappears. Users can add various elements such as text, stickers, and filters to their Stories, adding an extra layer of engagement. By using the Stories feature, users can provide a refreshing and engaging way for their content to be discovered by followers and non-followers alike.
How to Use Instagram Stories for Business?
Instagram Stories can be a valuable tool for businesses and brands to build up a loyal following and engage their audience in engaging and creative ways. As an added benefit, Instagram Stories are popular among top social media marketing managers because they give brands the opportunity to reach a broader audience than what is reached with the main Instagram feed.
Here are some of the best ways in which brands can capitalize on Instagram Stories:
Share Behind-the-Scenes Content:
One of the best ways to engage your audience and gain their trust is by sharing behind-the-scenes content. This could be anything from showing the process of making your product, to a day in the life of your office, to the fun and lighthearted moments shared amongst your team. Regardless of what type of business you are, sharing behind-the-scenes content can help show off your brand’s personality and values, and help to build a more personal connection with your followers.
Poll Your Audience:
An excellent way to keep your audience engaged is to use Instagram Stories to run polls. This feature allows you to ask your followers questions and encourage them to vote in order to get their input. By collecting feedback from your audience via polls, brands can get valuable insights into the preferences of their followers and, in turn, determine how to best meet their needs.
Promote New Content:
If you have new content, products or services that you’d like to promote, Instagram Stories is a great way to give your audience a sneak peek. Use a combination of videos, images and engaging captions to showcase your new content in a fun and creative way. By sharing new content on Stories, you’re making it more enticing, as users will have to view your Story before it goes away in order to see it.
Run Contests and Giveaways:
Everyone loves the excitement of winning something, which is why running a contest or giveaway on Instagram Stories can be a great way to engage your audience. Run fun and interactive contests and encourage your followers to submit their entries through Stories. You can offer various prizes such as discounts, free products, or exclusive access to new content in order to encourage more user participation. Plus, since Stories only stick around for 24 hours, this type of promotion is especially time-sensitive, motivating users to act fast.
Conclusion
Instagram Stories offer brands and businesses the unique opportunity to engage their audience in fun and creative ways. From sharing behind-the-scenes content to running polls and contests, there are various ways that you can use Stories to take your marketing efforts to the next level. By making use of Stories, you can build up a more personal connection with your followers and expand your brand’s digital presence.