Why there is no better time than right now to get your Instagram Stories on!
Have you been procrastinating getting in on the Instagram Stories game? If so, we’re here to give you the nudge you need to increase your organic reach! We understand that the concept of Instagram Stories isn’t exactly “cutting-edge” but it sure is becoming wildly successful.
You may be wondering, “Why should I be creating Instagram Stories? Who would even watch what I have to post?” Well, we have the answers you crave.
First off, let’s discuss Instagram and why that platform is important for your content marketing strategy.
The Rise of Instagram
Currently, Instagram has over a billion monthly active users and that number is growing with each second that passes by. As a business, you can either simply post images with creative captions or dive deeper into the wealth of options that Instagram offers to give businesses the advantage they need to gain an edge on the competition. One of the most important features that can be taken advantage of is Instagram Stories.
What are Instagram Stories?
The idea behind Instagram Stories is an easy one to understand. It was established to allow people to share “moments” of their day in a fast, efficient, and fun way. From photos to videos, the stories that you put up become a slideshow on your page and can be viewed by all of your followers. For 24 hours, Instagram users will be able to view your story and then it disappears, unless you have Instagram Story Highlights, which allow you to archive the stories on the upper portion of your page. If you are someone concerned with Instagram’s algorithm, do not worry, Instagram stories appear at the top of the home page and only move once your story is watched or updated! Whether someone follows your page or not, they will be able to view your story and will be presented with the opportunity to learn more about you before even hitting the “Follow” button, which increases your reach. Right now, Instagram Stories present the greatest organic reach on all of social media.
You have options!
One of the beautiful things about Instagram Stories is that you have options. It is important to have intentions with posts on Instagram but with stories, you can have a bit more fun. Here are some types of content that you can showcase in your stories:
- Product Promotions
- Behind-the-scenes looks
- Instagram takeovers with friends
- Live events
- How to’s
- Motivational content
- Contests
These are just a few of the options you have to get the wheels spinning, but to be clear, you have so many different ways to be creative and make people smile.
Creating Stories
Want to create a story but aren’t sure how to? All you have to do is:
- Tap the camera icon in the top left corner
- Shoot a photo/video or import a previously saved photo or video
- Add fun tools such as stickers, elements, and fun faces
- Tap “Your Stories” in the lower-left corner to make it live.
Yes, this process is just as simple as it sounds and is entertaining too!
Right now, over 400 million Instagram stories are posted on a daily basis and that number will increase so it is crucial that you are taking advantage before everyone is posting stories. In addition to this statistic:
- People spend almost the same amount of time on Instagram as they do on Facebook.
- More than one-third of adults in the US use Instagram.
- More than 20% of Instagram users visit a business profile daily.
- More than 95 million photos are uploaded to Instagram every day.
Wondering how you can stand out from the crowd? Get to posting stories! At Hashtag Creative, we pride ourselves on remaining at the forefront of our industry and care deeply about empowering small businesses so that they can gain an edge on their competition and thrive. From creating eye-catching social media posts to running powerful, results-driven campaigns, we are doing whatever it takes to help entrepreneurs excel. To elevate your digital marketing, contact us today and to learn more, check out our blog!
