How To Use Instagram Stories For Your Business
Instagram has just introduced a new feature for it’s users called Stories. It’s an exciting Snapchat-like feature for Instagram that allows you to fill the gaps between your traditional video and photo posts. In this post we will be looking at best practice for using this feature as a business.
Your Instagram Story is available for 24 hours. Photos and videos from your story won’t appear on your profile grid or in your feed. If you are currently using Snapchat, this format should be familiar to you.
How should I be using Instagram Stories if I am a business?
At Monsoon, we would recommend that you treat Instagram Stories much the same as Snapchat. Stories should be viewed as a method of connecting with your customers on a more personal level. It is not the best place for a pushy marketing message but can help to build affinity with your brand.
An example of how you might use Stories would be, covering a live event, or behind the scenes access to your operation. A photographer might use Stories to compliment a photo post they are planning. This helps build context, makes the viewer feel connected with the image. The same could be true of a product launch for a retailer.
Why would I not just use Snapchat?
Of course, you could and probably should continue to use Snapchat to engage with your audience. It is still a very effective platform that drives excellent engagement. The main difference with Instagram Stories is scale.
Nike is one of the biggest brands on Instagram. They have reported generating 800,000 views in 24 hours for an Instagram Story on the first day the feature was available. In comparison Nike’s best video on Snapchat got 66,000 views. Another area where Instagram excels is, discovery. With it’s ties to Facebook, it is extremely easy is for your audience to discover your brand via Instagram. Snapchat still lacks refined discovery tools.
