If you are looking to increase brand recognition and boost conversion rates for your business, Instagram is an unmissable social media platform. Instagram Stories, in particular, can be a game-changer for your business if you want better audience engagement and drive sales.
Every day, 500 million people use Instagram Stories. Stories created by business profiles account for one-third of the most-viewed Instagram Stories. These Stories have a lifespan of 24 hours. The interactive format of Instagram Stories makes it engaging for the audience, allowing businesses to completely capture their attention.
This means that creating high-quality stories can give your business a strategic advantage. However, to optimize the correct strategy, you need to know the right techniques.
Check out these formats for Instagram Stories that can work for business.
1- Add Teasers About Your Products
In case you are launching a new product or service, you can use Stories to build anticipation. Share behind-the-scenes photos, teaser videos, or speak directly to the audience about your upcoming product.
For example, if you are launching a line of detox drinks, post photos of the ingredients or packaging of the bottle to tease the audience. Don’t forget to mention your product’s release date -- this will make the audience come back to check out the actual product when launched.
2- Encourage The Audience To Ask Questions
Instagram Stories gives you the option of adding a question sticker, which is a great way to enhance interaction with your audience. The audience can ask questions, and you can provide answers to them, adding a human element to your brand. This also helps to boost customer loyalty.
You can encourage the audience to provide feedback about your product or tell you what kind of posts they would like to see on your Instagram handle. For example, if you have an organic skincare line, you can host an ‘ask-me-anything’ session and ask your audience to send you questions about skincare routine. You can use this as an opportunity to showcase the right product as a solution.
3- Take The Pulse Of Your Audience Through Polls
If you want to create a strong sense of community and create strong brand advocates, make polls your best friend. Polls are like blank canvases -- you can use them in various ways to boost audience interactions.
Polls can help you show off your product catalog without explicitly talking about them. For instance, if you make handmade masks, show your followers the various options available and ask them to vote for their favorite one.
You can also use polls to know more about your target audience. For example, you are launching a limited edition of hand-stitched trousers for women. You can ask the audience which style do they prefer -- highrise straight fit or low rise bootcut.
4- Host Contests
Create a buzz about your product or service by hosting a contest or giveaway on your Instagram Story. Since a Story lasts only 24 hours, it encourages more participation by creating a sense of urgency.
For example, you can create a detailed Instagram post on your profile about the competition, rules, and the prize up for grabs. You can promote the contest through Instagram Stories by sharing pictures of the prize and a screenshot of the original post on your profile. Make sure to use the right hashtags like #giveaway to ensure maximum participation.
Get more eyeballs for your Instagram Stories
Follow these pointers to get more views for your Stories:
Get to the point: Storytelling is an art. The shorter your Story is, the better are the chances of your target audience interacting with it. Don’t take too long to convey the message. Posting ten stories at a time is a good idea to keep it fun and entertaining for the viewers.
Use built-in tools: If you want to create on-brand Stories, don’t forget to utilize the wide range of pre-made templates and filters for Instagram Stories. Use GIFs, text blocks, different colors, and fonts to create aesthetic Stories for your brand. You can also add various effects like Boomerang to the Stories captured in video format directly within the app.
Nudge the audience to slide into your DM: Direct messages lead to a deeper connection with your viewers. The one-to-one experience offered by DMs can help you know more about the audience’s pain points and generate engagement for your brand.
For example, if you are a video content creator, share your achievements at the end of the month through an Instagram Story and also encourage your audience to share their achievements with you through a DM.
Focus on sharing instructional content: Instructional content is a crucial ingredient for the overall success of your digital marketing campaign. Every viewer craves knowledge and when sharing such advice establishes your brand authority.
For example, if you sell jewelry online, create Stories about how to take care of your jewelry or how to style the jewelry for any occasion.
You don’t have to do this alone
Instagram Stories for businesses have enormous potential. However, to get the most out of these stories, you need to post quality content consistently. Doing everything on your own can be overwhelming and impact your bottom line. So why not leave it to the social media experts who can simplify the process and get you the results.
Check out Prrowess, a full-service marketing & design agency that provides unlimited design services and social media support. Our team of social media marketing managers can take care of scheduling & posting on your brand’s Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn accounts. Whether it is choosing the relevant hashtags for your posts or putting together a monthly marketing calendar for an effective campaign -- Prrowess provides complete solutions for your business. A dedicated designer is assigned to your account to achieve a high level of communication and consistency.
To know more about how Prrowess works, check out the demo and register today for a ten-day RISK-FREE trial with a 100% money-back guarantee.
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