Watching a stream of Instagram Stories can be memorizing, especially when the content is top-notch. For those of you who haven’t checked out Instagram Stories, these are image or short video additions to an Instagram account that are served to followers, but do not appear in the profile grid. They last for 24 hours and then they disappear, giving users and followers alike a chance to share in-the-moment activity that is supplemental to the regular feed. Also, many users flip through Stories first before even beginning to scroll their feeds.
As with any social media platform, there are best practices to follow to make sure that you’re getting the most out of every post. Check out these tips and tricks to maximize your Instagram Stories posts!
Do take the opportunity to put text and tags into your post.
Do use geotagging where appropriate to let followers know where you are.
Do use hashtags! Did you know that Instagram Stories are searchable? They are! Make sure to take advantage of those hashtags. You can also use linkable hashtags to bring viewers to other posts or your profile.
Do follow your brand style guide. Branding should run across all communication, so stick with your established brand aesthetic and messaging to keep your Stories posts on track.
Do post valuable information and content that enhances your followers’ experience with the brand. Irrelevant posts or content-for-content’s-sake is a sure way to get unfollowed.
Do include a call to action (CTA). This could be a swipe up to visit the website or to click on a linkable hashtag to check out other posts or your profile.
Do take advantage of the library of GIF stickers provided by Instagram Stories. These are fun, expressive and can help catch your followers’ attention.
Do share your Instagram posts to your stories. Instagram’s ever-changing algorithm impacts how many of your followers see your post. Stories are a great tool to notify followers of your new post and send them back to your page.
Don’t put text or tags too close to the sides, as these can get cut off or not be completely visible to your followers.
Don’t put too much content or text over your image or video. Users must be able to read and process everything you’ve included in a mere 15 seconds, so double check your text and make sure it’s not too much. Try breaking up content into a string of posts if you’ve got a lot to say.
Don’t post in the off hours. You still want to maximize engagement for Stories, even if they are a supplement to your main content. Make sure to post in peak hours when your followers are online.
Are you ready to post some Stories? If you follow these helpful Dos and Don’ts, you’ll be sure to maximize your brand’s impact in this fun and innovative space.