Here, we explain how you can use Instagram Stories for your business. We also provide some tips on how to grow your IG followers in a short period of time.

Instagram is one of the most popular social media networks, with over 1.074 billion active users who spend an average of 53 minutes a day on this platform, according to a 2021 survey. However, its broad reach is not the only thing that makes it a powerful marketing tool.

Below is the list of reasons why Instagram can serve as a potent marketing tool for your business, regardless of its size, industry, and target audience. 

• Over 500 million people use Instagram Stories daily. 

• Half of Instagram users follow at least one business. 

• The platform encourages around 80% of the users to buy a product or service. 

• About 71% of US businesses have an Instagram account. 

• The platform generates four times more interactions compared to its sister company Facebook.

Instagram Stories

While the platform has a wide array of features that can serve as a potent marketing tool, Instagram Stories is arguably the most effective. 

IG Stories are vertical photos or videos of up to 15 seconds in length that disappear 24 hours after posting. They are displayed at the top of a user’s app and can be tapped through to view.

How to Use IG Stories to Promote Your Business

• Promote specific products

• Use poll stickers

• Promote brand-centric content

• Use quick stickers

• Listen to your target audience

• Go live on IG Stories

• Use chat stickers

• Take advantage of IG Stories Ads

• Use IG Stories Highlights

Promote products

You can promote a specific product using product stickers, which allows you to tag whatever you’re selling and add a link that lets people buy directly from the IG Story. This feature particularly favors small businesses because it comes with no 10K-follower barrier of entry. 

However, you can only use this feature if your Instagram business profile is connected to a Facebook catalog.

Use poll stickers

Poll stickers have high user engagement rates since consumers inherently want to be “heard.” And for businesses, this is excellent news because it helps them understand their target audiences, and ultimately, create content that can stoke their interest.

Promote brand-centric content

You can promote your brand-centric content such as new products, discounts, special offers, and sales using IG Stories. Just make sure that you add a call-to-action text–e.g., enjoy 80% off this weekend or check out our seasonal products–and provide a link that takes your customers to your e-commerce site or whatever platform you want them to go.

Use Quiz Stickers

Quiz Stickers allow brands to post multiple-choice questions on IG Stories so their followers can answer them by tapping their choice. This feature encourages your target audience to engage with you and allows you to learn more about their preferences. 

Listen to your target audience

The use of question stickers allows companies to ask brand-related, open-ended questions and get answers. A good rule of thumb is to post a product or any image that reflects your brand identity.

Take advantage of IG Stories Ads

This feature is a great way to engage with a highly targeted audience, although you have to allocate a budget since it is a paid ad platform. According to recent surveys, the average cost of Instagram Ads is between $0.70 and $1 per click, although you have to pay a bit higher if you are in a highly competitive industry such as e-commerce and fashion.

Use Chat Stickers

You can host chats on IG Stories using Chat Stickers. This feature allows user engagement similar to Snapchat with its direct messages functionality. 

When you add this feature to your IG Story, you can select up to 32 people for a live chat who can provide you feedback on your products or customer service or suggest new product ideas. Of course, their answers will primarily depend on the topic you want to ask them.

Go live on IG Stories

When you use “Live on IG Stories,” active users will immediately get notifications. Hence, according to surveys, it makes sense to schedule your live streams when there is heavy traffic, which is generally between 10 am and 3 pm.

Some surveys are even more specific about the day. For instance, HubSpot published an article stating that Wednesday is the best day to post on IG, particularly around 11 am, followed by Friday, especially between 10 am and 11 am.

Use IG Stories Highlights

If you have a genuinely interesting story, why not save your best IG Story slides to Instagram Stories Highlights? This story can “humanize” your business and strengthen your brand.

Additional Tip: Growing Your Followers

Brands with more IG followers appear more trustworthy compared to their competitors who have fewer. For this reason, you need to grow your followers if you want your company to look like an industry leader. 

Below is the list of tried-and-tested hacks that can help you grow your followers fast:

• Make sure that your IG profile is complete. 

• Post engaging content. (Around 2-3 times a week or at least not more than 1x per week.)

• Find your target audience. 

• Connect with your friends. 

• Engage with followers by asking them questions. 

• Remove fake followers.

• Utilize Reels, IG Stories, carousels, and IGTV.

• Make your feed visually appealing. (One easy tip is to pick one filter and stick to it.)

Did you like our post? If yes, you may also want to read our blog, 2021 Instagram Updates: What Businesses and Marketers Should Know, or you can call us at (916) 303-408 and schedule a free consultation with our chief inbound marketing expert Stephen.