Instagram stories are becoming the most utilized function on Instagram! Instagram has over 1 Billion users and over 500 million active users daily. Huge for businesses with this kind of growth, seeing that five years ago, it had barely over 100 million users daily. Now more than ever before, being active on Instagram with your stories is essential if you are a business.
WHY ARE STORIES SO IMPORTANT?
Out of those 500 million active users daily on Instagram, 70% of them are watching stories daily.
73% of successful Instagram “Influencers” agree that Instagram stories are the most effective content formats for influencer marketing in 2019
Why is this statistic important? While I don’t necessarily like the title “influencer,” I do see the importance of those who have used Instagram successfully, agreeing that stories are the most effective way to market on Instagram.
In 2018, 15-25% of Story viewers swiped up to follow a link and engage directly with a business’ website.
Again why is this another vital statistic?
This statistic means that almost every one out of four people that will be viewing your story will follow a link back to your website. A fantastic return on investment of nothing more than posting a story! Kids do it all day of their food and selfies. Your business can be posting stories, and depending on your follower size, you can generate over 500 story views, which could translate to over 100 people clicking your website with one story that took five seconds to post. Can you imagine if you did this three times a day for five days?
What are Instagram stories?
Instagram stories are your friend! Not literally, they are a post similar to a post in your Instagram timeline that you usually scroll through. Instead of gathering likes, comments & lasts forever, an Instagram story disappears within 24 hours! I find this to be a beautiful thing because Instagram stories become much more associative with daily activities rather than the pressure of cementing something forever in your Instagram profile. Instead of getting lost in the Instagram algorithm, it also ends up on top of your Instagram app, and the first thing your followers will see when you post it. It gives you a great chance to be discovered and create investment from your followers regularly.
The reason why I love the idea of utilizing stories on Instagram as a business is that it shouldn’t be used as a constant shameless promotion but a way to get your potential customers or clients to see who you are. It just is a simple reminder that “Hey, I am out here doing awesome stuff and have cool products, and you should stop on by!” You would be surprised how many people would love to visit your store or work with you but forget to follow up and maybe don’t know what your business is about!
Now that you know the amazingness that is Instagram stories, how should you use it? Great question! As a regular genuine person! I will give a shoutout to a local Instagram account in my city, which is @visitventura. They are killing it with their stories simply because they utilize their stories 90% of the time to showcase how amazing the Ventura beaches are in the morning and at sunset. They will show stories all day at the shore of the waves crashing and birds flying and now and then showcasing their sea glass finding skills! They are offering great free content with no hidden agenda! So with that much excellent content, you don’t mind when they showcase some exceptional items they have for sale in their shop!
You may be thinking well I own a candle shop how would I use stories to promote that? Well, show us some of the coolest candles you got! Show us your recommendation for scents during different seasons! With the holidays right around the corner stage, a way to decorate thanksgiving dinner with candles!
How are your candles made? Let us in on the magic!
Do you have a hamster training business?! Show us their weekly workouts! Show us those Lil furry friends on the treadmill getting in shape!
What kind of protein shakes are those little critters drinking? Did your prize hamster pull a hamstring? How is his recovery going?
You get the picture! We are curious creatures (talking about humans now.) That is why we love nature documentaries and seeing how the sausage is made! When we know the process and the person behind the business, we fall in love and invest in them — in an age of technology and disconnect, picking a business to give our money to can come down to just picking a name out of a lineup in the Waze navigation app. What will separate you from other businesses is going to be who you are and what is your story. (see what I did there?) Start posting more of the other side of your business on Instagram stories and watch the difference it makes with your community!
