What is instagram stories?
Instagram Stories are short, full-screen photos or videos that disappear after 24 hours. They offer a quick, engaging way for businesses to share behind-the-scenes content and connect with their audience.
Key points
- Temporary content that disappears after 24 hours.
- Appears at the top of the Instagram feed for high visibility.
- Offers interactive features like polls, questions, and links.
- Ideal for authentic, behind-the-scenes, and urgent marketing messages.
Instagram Stories are a popular feature within the Instagram app. They let users share photos and short videos that automatically vanish after 24 hours. These stories appear at the top of a user's feed, making them highly visible. Unlike regular posts that stay on your profile, stories are designed for quick, in-the-moment sharing.
For businesses, Instagram Stories offer a unique way to engage with their audience. They provide a more casual and authentic platform compared to carefully curated feed posts. Marketers can use stories to show behind-the-scenes glimpses, run polls, ask questions, or announce flash sales. This temporary nature often encourages people to watch stories quickly so they do not miss out.
Why it matters for marketing
Instagram Stories are more than just a fun feature for personal use; they are a powerful tool for marketing teams. Here is why they matter for your business:
- High visibility: Stories appear at the very top of the Instagram app, making them one of the first things users see when they open the app. This prime location ensures your content gets noticed.
- Authenticity: Stories allow for less polished, more raw content. This helps businesses show a more human side, building trust and a stronger connection with their audience.
- Engagement tools: Instagram provides many interactive stickers within stories, like polls, question boxes, quizzes, and sliders. These tools make it easy for your audience to participate and engage directly with your brand.
- Urgency: The 24-hour expiration creates a sense of urgency. Viewers are more likely to watch a story right away so they do not miss out on exclusive content, offers, or announcements.
- Reach: Stories can help you connect with a wider audience, including people who might prefer watching quick, digestible content over scrolling through a traditional feed.
Best practices for marketing teams
To get the most out of Instagram Stories, marketing teams should follow some key practices:
Keep it short and sweet
Most viewers tap through stories quickly. Aim for short, concise videos and images that convey your message effectively. Each story segment is only 15 seconds long, so make every second count.
Be authentic
Stories are the place to show the real side of your business. Share behind-the-scenes moments, daily operations, or candid employee interactions. This helps build a genuine connection with your audience.
Use interactive stickers
Do not just post static images. Leverage engagement stickers such as:
- Polls: Ask your audience for their preferences or opinions.
- Questions: Let followers ask you anything or prompt them with a specific question.
- Quizzes: Test their knowledge about your brand or industry.
- Countdown stickers: Build excitement for product launches or events.
- Link stickers: Direct eligible viewers to your website, product page, or blog post.
Add calls to action
Tell people what you want them to do next. This could be
Real-world examples
A local bakery's flash sale
A local bakery posts a series of stories showing freshly baked croissants, announcing a "buy one get one free" offer for the next two hours, encouraging customers to visit immediately. They use a countdown sticker to build urgency.
Software company's "day in the life"
A tech company shares short video clips throughout the day, showing employees collaborating, enjoying lunch, and working on new features. They use a "question" sticker asking followers what new feature they'd like to see.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Not using interactive features: Just posting static images without polls or questions misses a big engagement opportunity.
- Over-editing or making stories too polished: Stories are meant to be more casual; overly produced content can feel out of place.
- Ignoring analytics: Not checking story insights means you will not learn what your audience likes or dislikes, hindering future content planning.