8 best practices to succeed in Instagram Stories
Instagram Stories is succeeding. In the last few months alone, this format has gained 50 million users, so businesses that use Instagram Stories have more opportunities than ever to get closer to users.
But as is always the case in the world of online advertising, the most important thing is not what platform you use, but how you use it. If you want to learn the best practices to make your brand sweep Instagram Stories, don’t miss this article!
8 tactics to improve your Instagram Stories ads
Did you know that in Spain, we are machines creating Stories? It turns out that, on average, we produce 150% more content in this format than the global world average. Let’s face it, we love to share our lives, spread the cool stuff that surrounds us, and be a little posturing. With all the love in the world. Madrid is the fifth city in the world where this tool is most used within the popular image social network.
This data is really interesting, both from the user’s point of view and for advertisers. Opportunities are always there, and if we don’t let them pass us by, so much the better.
In addition to ads in feeds or the organic work of the corporate account, it can be an interesting strategy to bet on advertising on Instagram Stories, with more informal, fun content that truly connects with the audience and is fleeting in time. Lasting only 24 hours, its life.
Let’s start with ideas to improve your creatives, content, and storytelling in Stories so that you can make more money with Instagram.
1) Show how your product is used
A picture is worth a thousand words… but if it is on the move, much better. To sell a brand on Instagram Stories, static photos and product descriptions fall short. Instead, take a cue from sports brands that show athletes in action and teach users how to use your products. This way, they can get a real idea of what to expect.
2) Launch limited-time promotions
When a contest, sweepstakes, or promotion is available for a limited time only, it creates a sense of urgency that moves users to take action. That’s why limited-time promotions are a great way to get engagement spikes for your business on Instagram Stories.
Do you have excess stock or promotional materials, such as t-shirts and badges? Take the opportunity to launch a giveaway on Instagram. These types of actions usually work great because they target an audience that is already interested in your brand: your followers.
3) Tell a story that connects with your audience
Its name itself indicates it: the content that works best on Instagram Stories is… the stories. So get creative to find the stories that best suit your brand values, with their beginning, their middle, and their ending. Humor is always a good resource, but you can also seek to provoke other emotions. The most important thing is that what you tell fits the tone and principles of your brand and the interests of your target.
4) Echo the news
Your Instagram followers are probably there because they’re interested in the industry you represent. That’s why sharing news from your industry can be a useful resource to present your company as an expert and show your audience that you’re really engaged.
After all, the key is not to talk about your brand all the time (which comes at the risk of alienating your followers) and instead show that the community matters to you.
5) Play with your followers
Human beings of all ages have one thing in common: we love to play! People are naturally curious, and when presented with a playful challenge, they are usually up to the task.
Games increase engagement because they engage your audience in a much more interactive way than conventional posts. Any ideas? You can play guessing games using your products, or organize a “scavenger hunt” with clues and prizes for the winner.
6) Unveil exclusive content
Exclusive content is a great resource for keeping the audience engaged across multiple channels. So, you can use Instagram Stories to show “how it was made” or backstage videos of your company’s events. Your followers will feel especially valued because you’re giving them access to content that’s not available anywhere else, and they’ll have an extra incentive to follow you and make sure they don’t miss anything.
7) Educate your audience
Instagram Stories is a great format to combine fun and education. For example, if you have a brand related to the world of travel, you can use them to show curiosities from different cultures or geography pills. You can also show your audience how your products are made, share fun facts about your products or your industry… There are a lot of possibilities!
8) Don’t forget about calls to action
Last but not least, there’s a key digital marketing best practice in general that we can’t ignore in Instagram Stories: calls to action.
Calls to action are the most direct and effective way to encourage your followers to do something. According to a study by KISSmetrics, embedding calls to action in videos generates 380% more leads than placing them in a sidebar or website. Therefore, Instagram Stories videos are an excellent opportunity to increase your leads and conversions.
