How can Instagram stories be used as a marketing tool?
Instagram stories are a great way to connect with your audience and share valuable content.
They can be used for various purposes, such as promoting your brand, sharing news about your company, and providing insights into the scenes.
This guide will discuss how to use Instagram stories for marketing purposes. We’ll cover everything from creating an Instagram story to using features like live streaming and stickers.
By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to create successful Instagram stories that help promote your brand and engage with your audience!
Why Use Instagram Stories for Marketing?
Instagram stories offer a unique way to connect with your audience. Unlike posts, which can be easily missed in a feed, stories are front and centre whenever someone opens up Instagram.
This makes them the perfect platform for sharing essential announcements, running promotions, or highlighting new products and services.
- As of June 2021, Instagram had over 2000 million active users.
- Instagram stories were first introduced in August 2016 and have since been used by over 250 million people.
- In May 2021, Instagram announced that more than 10 billion posts had been shared on the app.
With such a large user base, it’s no surprise that Instagram has become a popular platform for marketing.
Instagram stories provide businesses with a unique way to connect with their audience.
Unlike traditional posts, which can be easily missed in a person’s feed, Instagram stories appear at the app’s top, making them more likely to be seen.
Instagram stories also offer a variety of features that can be used to engage with your audiences, such as live streaming and stickers.
By taking advantage of these features, you can create Instagram stories that are both informative and visually appealing.
Also Read, How to Say “Follow this Page” on Instagram for More Followers
How to Use Instagram Stories for Marketing
There are endless possibilities when it comes to using Instagram stories for marketing. Some ideas include:
Running a contest or giveaway.
You can use Instagram stories to run a contest or giveaway if you own a product or service.
This is a great way to promote your product while engaging with your audience.
To run a contest or giveaway on Instagram stories, simply create a story and ask your followers to enter by tagging a friend or leaving a comment.
Then, choose a winner at random and announce the results in your next story.
Not only will this increase engagement on your Instagram stories, but it will also promote your product to a broader audience.
As you can see in the above example, @vtsurrorganics conduct contests for festive season in their story to gain exposure for their brand.
Also check out 20+ Must-have apps for Instagram marketing for your success
Sharing behind-the-scenes content
Instagram stories are a great way to give followers a behind-the-scenes look at your business.
This content is precious if you have a brick-and-mortar store or offer services requiring appointments.
By sharing behind-the-scenes content, you can show your followers what goes into running your business and what they can expect when they visit you.
To share behind-the-scenes content on Instagram stories, simply create a story and share some photos or videos of your day-to-day operations.
You can also use the live streaming feature to give your followers a real-time look at what’s going on in your business.
As you can see above, photographer @cameratricks_ is sharing behind the scene insights to let his user know how he conducts photoshoots for his clients.
Announcing a new product or service
If you have a new product or service, Instagram stories are a great way to announce it to your followers.
Simply create a story and share photos or videos of the new product or service.
Then, include a call-to-action telling your followers to check out your website or visit your store.
Using Instagram stories to announce a new product or service, you can generate excitement and interest in your offer.
In above example, @newveganfooduk sharing their new products in a different way, they let user to share their new products on their Instagram and they reshares it to their stories to make it look like their customer appreciating their new products.
Previewing new products or services
If you have a new product or service that you want to promote on Instagram, using Instagram Stories is a great way to do it!
You can use stories to give your followers a sneak peek of what’s to come and get them excited about the launch.
@mekg.hq previewing their new product with health benefits along with it, as you can see it reveals the body scrub’s ingredients as a creative on their Instagram Story.
Highlighting customer testimonials or success stories
Customer testimonials and success stories are a great way to build social proof and show potential customers that your product or service is worth investing in.
Instagram Stories is the perfect platform for sharing these stories because you can use text, audio, or video to tell them.
@newtonschoolofficial sharing rags to riches #Mystory post from a reputed news outlet, i.e. @thelogicalindian who did the schooling from their academy. It’s a unique and authoritative way to show testimonials.
Sharing exclusive coupon codes or discount codes
If you want to give your Instagram followers a little extra incentive to buy your product or use your service, why not share an exclusive coupon code or discount code?
You can do this by sharing a screenshot of the code in your story or, even better, creating a story template they can use to redeem the offer.
@savewithnayla always shares discounted products with coupons on their profile and her stories as a marketing tool to gain commission from it.
Providing insights into your industry
Instagram Stories is an excellent platform if you want to show your Instagram followers that you’re an expert in your industry.
You can use stories to share tips, tricks, and advice with your followers. You can also use them to answer common questions or dispel myths about your industry.
Do you have any other tips for using Instagram Stories for marketing? Share them in the comments below!
In the above example, as you can see, @thepresentpsychologist shares some insights about their industry and adds CTA (Call to action), which redirects to their website and there they have added email integration to collect emails in exchange for the free insights.
Tips for Creating Instagram Stories
Here are a few tips to keep in mind when using Instagram stories for marketing:
Design Stunning Stories Using Readymade Templates From Canva
When it comes to Instagram Stories, presentation is everything. If your story looks sloppy or unprofessional, people are less likely to take you seriously.
That’s why using templates from Canva is a great way to ensure your stories always look amazing. With over 60,000 ready-made templates to choose from, all you have to do is add your text, photos, and videos.
Keep your stories short and sweet.
No one wants to watch a 10-minute story! Aim for stories that are 15 seconds or less. But you can upload for up to 60 seconds. That way, you’ll keep your followers’ attention, and they’ll be more likely to watch your whole story.
Make use of story highlights.
If you have a series of stories you want to keep accessible, make sure to add them to your story highlights. This way, your followers can easily find and watch them at their leisure.
Add calls to action
Ensure your stories have a clear call to action, so your followers know what you want them to do. For example, if you’re sharing a coupon code, include text that says, “show this story to redeem.”
Use engaging visuals
Your stories should be visually appealing, so they capture your followers’ attention. Use high-quality photos and videos, and avoid using too much text.
Experiment with different types of content
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different types of content on Instagram Stories. You can use photos, videos, GIFs, live videos, Boomerangs, and more! Find what works best for you and your brand and run with it.
Be consistent
The key to any good marketing strategy is consistency. If you want to see results from Instagram Stories, make sure you’re posting stories regularly. Once you’ve found a content strategy that works, stick with it!
Get Inspiration from Brands
Get inspired by bands who Use Instagram Stories Effectively
Here are some examples of brands that are using Instagram Stories effectively:
– Nike: @nike
– Lululemon: @lululemon
– Adidas: @adidas
– H&M: @hm
– Uniqlo: @uniqlo
These brands use Instagram Stories to give followers a behind-the-scenes look at their business, preview new products, and share exclusive deals.
So there you have it! Everything you need to know about using Instagram Stories for marketing. Now go out there and start creating some amazing stories of your own!
More Resources;
- Does Alt Text on Instagram Help SEO? Read Why Its Powerful
- Instagram Pinned Posts: How to Leverage the New Feature for Your Marketing Needs
- 19 Amazing Instagram Content Ideas for your Business
- Best Way to add Instagram hashtags for likes and followers
- How to add Multiple Photos to an Instagram story (4 Easy Methods)
- How to Clear Cache on Instagram on Android and IOS Devices
- How to Hide Followers on Instagram (3 Easy Methods)
Conclusion
If you’re not using Instagram stories for marketing, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity! Stories are a great way to connect with your audience and drive sales. Keep these tips in mind as you start using Instagram stories for marketing, and you’ll surely see success in no time!
