In this blog, we’ll show you some techniques for creating compelling stories and sharing them in a way that maximises their reach.  

About half of Instagram’s monthly users are using Stories. That’s 500 million people posting 1 billion Stories every day. And about 62% of those people say they’ve become more interested in a brand or product after seeing it in their Stories.

Whether you’re just getting started or looking to master that latest tools, we’ve got the complete rundown on best practises for optimising your Story.

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1.      Add Hashtags to your Story

Most of us are probably aware by now the benefit of using hashtags in Instagram posts, so why not use them in your Stories as well.

Adding a hashtag to your Story makes it discoverable to a wider audience, as it may be selected by the Instagram algorithm to appear on the page for that hashtag. If it does, you’ll know because that hashtag’s page will show up in your list of viewers.

Don’t forget, the more hashtags you use the more likely you are to appear on different hashtag pages. Aim for at least 3 – 5 hashtags per story where applicable without hindering the aesthetic appeal of your Story.

2.      Location, Location, Location

Like hashtags, adding a location to your Story expands your potential reach beyond your followers. Whether you are at an event, meeting with a client or even just in your office, you will be able to find the location through Instagram Stickers tab. If your Story features on this feed for a popular location, you could end up getting a lot more views.

If you have a brick and mortar business, you can set up a location sticker of your own! Your location sticker can be used by customers when sharing their own pictures of your product or service, leave reviews or showcase their experience.

3.      Showcase Your Highlights

Stories don’t have to disappear after 24 hours! With Highlights, you can now pin Stories to your profile to keep them visible for all your followers to see.

Similarly, they can be very beneficial if new potential customers come across your profile for the first time. Highlights can showcase your best content to visually show what you can offer.

Browse through your Archive of Instagram Stories and select previous stories you’ve posted to get your Highlights started, while not forgetting to add new ones as you share them.

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4.      Engage your Audience through Polls &Questions

Adding Polls or the Questions feature can provide valuable feedback and customer insights without requiring a lot of effort.

Whether you are deciding what product to launch next, want to know if people would be interested in a delivery service or you want feedback on a new style of clothes you’ve just released, these features can be a great tool to engage audience and make them feel like they are a part of your brand.

Get creative and use them in a fun, interactive manner and bring your audience on the journey with you as you grow and develop your business.

5.      Shoot Vertically

Each social media platform has its own traits, features and formats. Instagram Stories is no different and requires its own strategy when it comes to capturing and filming content. What might work as an Instagram post may well not work on a Story due to the format and size.

Therefore, it’s important to remember to shoot vertically for Stories.

6.      Mention Other Accounts

Mentioning other accounts in your Instagram Stories is a great way to build community and show your appreciation.

Whether you’re collaborating with another brand or reposting content, you can mention other business handles in your Instagram stories. This gives the tagged account the opportunity to share it to their own Story as well, further increasing your potential reach and the size of the audience watching your Story.

7.      Don’t forget a Call-To-Action.

Call-to-Actions are a friendly reminder to viewers of what you want them to do next. This may be to swipe up on a Story to visit your website or purchase something through the shopping feature.

There are plenty of ways to incorporate a CTA into your Story using different stickers and features, so why not test out a few different options and see what works best for you.

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