Below are just a few tried and true strategies for harnessing brand awareness and increasing viewer engagement on Instagram stories. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remember, with great social strategy comes great responsibility\u2026 that\u2019s how the saying goes, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tell a Story <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"This](\"https:\/\/www.digitalmarketer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Instagram-Story-Engagement-img1.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s right there in the name, an engaging Instagram Story\nmust first and foremost\u2014tell a story. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seems like a no brainer, we know, but you\u2019d be surprised at\nthe difference a cohesive narrative makes when it comes to keeping your audience\u2019s\nattention. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A bunch of random photos thrown together leaves the viewer\nfeeling confused and disconnected which means they\u2019re most likely clicking\nthrough as fast as they can to get to the next account. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even the slightest amount of context lets the audience \u201cin\u201d\non your story, which in turn makes them aware of your purpose and helps them\nunderstand your brand as a whole. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That being said, we\u2019ve found that using a story board is a\ngreat way to visualize your Instagram Stories ahead of time. Pre-scheduling and\npreparation are key. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Use Hashtags<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"This](\"https:\/\/www.digitalmarketer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Instagram-Story-Engagement-img2.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAdding hashtags to your Instagram Stories is a super easy\nway to increase your reach and engagement. It allows new audiences to discover\nyour content and start following you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If a hashtag is popular enough, users can actually search\nfor it and view live stories on a curated hashtag page where they may come\nacross your account. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is why it\u2019s so important to use words and phrases you\nthink might be top of mind for your target customers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Add Stickers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Starbucks](\"https:\/\/www.digitalmarketer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Instagram-Story-Engagement-img3.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne of the most effective ways to increase social engagement\nis by using stickers. You\u2019ve likely seen these on a friend\u2019s account or maybe\nbeing used by another popular brand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whether it\u2019s a playful emoji or a poll prompting responses\nto the outfit of the day, there are a number of different ways to make stickers\nengaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These are a few sticker options we\u2019ve seen work well for\nbrand marketing: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Countdown stickers<\/em><\/strong> are great for\ncreating anticipation around a product launch or event.
- Polls and question stickers<\/em><\/strong> are\nuseful for learning more about your followers and their opinions. <\/li><\/ul>
- Gif stickers<\/em><\/strong> allow you to get\ncreative with your CTA\u2019s and they let your followers know you\u2019re not a regular\nbrand, you\u2019re a cool<\/em> brand. <\/li><\/ul>
- Quiz stickers<\/em><\/strong> are a fun feature\nthat allow users to participate with your stories and provides entertainment in\naddition to brand awareness. <\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Caption Your Videos <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"AOC](\"https:\/\/www.digitalmarketer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Instagram-Story-Engagement-img4.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nIf you\u2019ve ever been tapping through Instagram Stories while\nat work (or in another locale which doesn\u2019t welcome sudden, blaring audio) you\nknow how frustrating it can be when you want to watch an account\u2019s video content\nand it doesn\u2019t have captions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s one reason why it\u2019s so important as a brand to make\nsure you include captions for videos that can be watched without audio. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
More importantly, you don\u2019t want to alienate your audience\nmembers that may be hard of hearing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Users are far more likely to stay engaged when they can\nenjoy content from anywhere regardless of sound capability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If captions are not an option for certain videos, then a\n\u201csound on\u201d cue is a good way to let the viewer know they have to turn their\nsound on for that particular piece of content. Otherwise, they will most likely\nget annoyed and move on to the next account. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Keep them around by giving them the convenience of enjoying\nyour content no matter where they are. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clipomatic<\/a><\/strong> is a video editing app available on the Apple Store that allows you to record captions using speech recognition. <\/p>\n\n\n\nFind Peak Engagement Times <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Insights](\"https:\/\/www.digitalmarketer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Instagram-Story-Engagement-img5.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nKnowing your audience is key to increasing engagement on social media<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThat means doing a deep dive into your analytics to find out\nwhen your followers are typically most engaged with you. Once you\u2019ve nailed\nthat down, you can plan your stories around those peak engagement periods to\nensure you\u2019re maximizing audience attention with your best content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Every Instagram business account is equipped with an Insights tab<\/a><\/strong> which allows access to Instagram\u2019s native analytics. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThese metrics include anything from demographic factors like\nage range, gender, and location to peak activity times, most popular posts, and\nmore. They will be an invaluable piece of your social strategy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
(RELATED:<\/strong> Facebook\u2019s NEW Instagram Capabilities in Creator Studio<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\nCross Promote Within Your Feed<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.digitalmarketer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Instagram-Story-Engagement-img6.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAnother way to send more eyes to your brand\u2019s Instagram\nStories is by cross-promoting them within your regular feed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is especially helpful if you already have significant\nengagement with your posts and need to diversify audience attention. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The popular social media scheduler platform Later<\/a><\/strong> does a great job of organically directing people to their Instagram Stories from their feed, as you can see from the post above. <\/p>\n\n\n\nReshare User Content<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Reshared](\"https:\/\/www.digitalmarketer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Instagram-Story-Engagement-img7.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nPerhaps one of the best ways to fill your stories with\nengaging content is by re-sharing user posts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only does it make your followers feel like they\u2019re part\nof your brand, but it also creates valuable consumer trust. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Business 2 Community<\/a><\/strong>, User Generated Content (UGC) is 50% more trustworthy than any other type of media. Hence why there\u2019s such a wildly successful influencer market on Instagram. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe swim brand Fella S<\/a>w<\/a>im<\/a><\/strong>, for example, did an entire \u201cAs Seen On\u201d series which co-branded user content with their own. Check it out above. <\/p>\n\n\n\nUse the \u201cSwipe Up\u201d Feature<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.digitalmarketer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Instagram-Story-Engagement-img8.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nYou\u2019ve likely seen popular brand accounts use Instagram\u2019s \u201cSwipe\nUp\u201d feature in their stories. This feature is only available for accounts with\n10,000 or more followers, so if your brand hasn\u2019t hit that mark yet, it\u2019s a\ngreat goal to strive for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Swipe Up tool encourages followers to engage with a\nspecific landing page on your website or inspires them to purchase a new\nproduct. They can easily swipe up from your story and be taken to a new page\nwithout experiencing a complete disruption to their normal social activity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, the Converse<\/strong> Instagram account<\/a> does a great job of prompting their followers to check out new collections without being too \u201cin your face.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\nRespond to Direct Messages<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Later](\"https:\/\/www.digitalmarketer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Instagram-Story-Engagement-img9.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne of the biggest things every brand should be doing is\nresponding to audience direct messages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you want people to engage with you, then it only makes\nsense that you engage with them in return. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Obviously, when you get to a certain point it becomes\ndifficult to respond to everyone, but at least making the effort shows your\naudience that you are an authentic and genuine brand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are receiving a lot of similar questions in your\nDM\u2019s, it\u2019s also useful to post responses in your Instagram Stories. This way\nall of your followers can feel as though they\u2019ve been acknowledged. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Collaborate with Other Brands\/Try Takeovers <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Anthropologie](\"https:\/\/www.digitalmarketer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Instagram-Story-Engagement-img10.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nCollaborating with new brands is another good way to grab\naudience attention, especially if you\u2019re in a creative rut. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whether you have an influencer take over your story for a\nday, or maybe host an Instagram Live video with another brand, there are\nendless ways to change up your content while also building meaningful\nrelationships. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check out the collaboration above that Anthropologie<\/a><\/strong> did with The Good Hive<\/a><\/strong> for Earth Day. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThis kind of project not only looks good for your brand, but\nit also shows you\u2019re capable of expanding the type of content you do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Give Your Audience Something to Share<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Bangs](\"https:\/\/www.digitalmarketer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Instagram-Story-Engagement-img11.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nLast, but certainly not least, it\u2019s important to remember\nthat you want your audience to share the content you create. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes, it seems obvious, but sometimes it\u2019s easy to lose sight\nof this when you\u2019re thinking as a brand and not a user. Always put yourself in\nthe audience\u2019s perspective. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What kind of content would you want to share as a follower?\nHow can you create this content for your fans? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everyone loves a good Instagrammable moment, especially\ninfluencers who are even more likely to take advantage of a photo op. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The local Austin shoe brand BANGS<\/strong> knocks it out of the park when it comes to creating Instagram moments with a message. Check their content here<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s right there in the name, an engaging Instagram Story\nmust first and foremost\u2014tell a story. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seems like a no brainer, we know, but you\u2019d be surprised at\nthe difference a cohesive narrative makes when it comes to keeping your audience\u2019s\nattention. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A bunch of random photos thrown together leaves the viewer\nfeeling confused and disconnected which means they\u2019re most likely clicking\nthrough as fast as they can to get to the next account. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even the slightest amount of context lets the audience \u201cin\u201d\non your story, which in turn makes them aware of your purpose and helps them\nunderstand your brand as a whole. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That being said, we\u2019ve found that using a story board is a\ngreat way to visualize your Instagram Stories ahead of time. Pre-scheduling and\npreparation are key. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Use Hashtags<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAdding hashtags to your Instagram Stories is a super easy\nway to increase your reach and engagement. It allows new audiences to discover\nyour content and start following you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If a hashtag is popular enough, users can actually search\nfor it and view live stories on a curated hashtag page where they may come\nacross your account. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is why it\u2019s so important to use words and phrases you\nthink might be top of mind for your target customers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Add Stickers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne of the most effective ways to increase social engagement\nis by using stickers. You\u2019ve likely seen these on a friend\u2019s account or maybe\nbeing used by another popular brand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whether it\u2019s a playful emoji or a poll prompting responses\nto the outfit of the day, there are a number of different ways to make stickers\nengaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These are a few sticker options we\u2019ve seen work well for\nbrand marketing: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Countdown stickers<\/em><\/strong> are great for\ncreating anticipation around a product launch or event.
- Polls and question stickers<\/em><\/strong> are\nuseful for learning more about your followers and their opinions. <\/li><\/ul>
- Gif stickers<\/em><\/strong> allow you to get\ncreative with your CTA\u2019s and they let your followers know you\u2019re not a regular\nbrand, you\u2019re a cool<\/em> brand. <\/li><\/ul>
- Quiz stickers<\/em><\/strong> are a fun feature\nthat allow users to participate with your stories and provides entertainment in\naddition to brand awareness. <\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Caption Your Videos <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nIf you\u2019ve ever been tapping through Instagram Stories while\nat work (or in another locale which doesn\u2019t welcome sudden, blaring audio) you\nknow how frustrating it can be when you want to watch an account\u2019s video content\nand it doesn\u2019t have captions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s one reason why it\u2019s so important as a brand to make\nsure you include captions for videos that can be watched without audio. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
More importantly, you don\u2019t want to alienate your audience\nmembers that may be hard of hearing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Users are far more likely to stay engaged when they can\nenjoy content from anywhere regardless of sound capability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If captions are not an option for certain videos, then a\n\u201csound on\u201d cue is a good way to let the viewer know they have to turn their\nsound on for that particular piece of content. Otherwise, they will most likely\nget annoyed and move on to the next account. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Keep them around by giving them the convenience of enjoying\nyour content no matter where they are. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clipomatic<\/a><\/strong> is a video editing app available on the Apple Store that allows you to record captions using speech recognition. <\/p>\n\n\n\nFind Peak Engagement Times <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nKnowing your audience is key to increasing engagement on social media<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThat means doing a deep dive into your analytics to find out\nwhen your followers are typically most engaged with you. Once you\u2019ve nailed\nthat down, you can plan your stories around those peak engagement periods to\nensure you\u2019re maximizing audience attention with your best content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Every Instagram business account is equipped with an Insights tab<\/a><\/strong> which allows access to Instagram\u2019s native analytics. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThese metrics include anything from demographic factors like\nage range, gender, and location to peak activity times, most popular posts, and\nmore. They will be an invaluable piece of your social strategy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
(RELATED:<\/strong> Facebook\u2019s NEW Instagram Capabilities in Creator Studio<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\nCross Promote Within Your Feed<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAnother way to send more eyes to your brand\u2019s Instagram\nStories is by cross-promoting them within your regular feed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is especially helpful if you already have significant\nengagement with your posts and need to diversify audience attention. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The popular social media scheduler platform Later<\/a><\/strong> does a great job of organically directing people to their Instagram Stories from their feed, as you can see from the post above. <\/p>\n\n\n\nReshare User Content<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nPerhaps one of the best ways to fill your stories with\nengaging content is by re-sharing user posts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only does it make your followers feel like they\u2019re part\nof your brand, but it also creates valuable consumer trust. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Business 2 Community<\/a><\/strong>, User Generated Content (UGC) is 50% more trustworthy than any other type of media. Hence why there\u2019s such a wildly successful influencer market on Instagram. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe swim brand Fella S<\/a>w<\/a>im<\/a><\/strong>, for example, did an entire \u201cAs Seen On\u201d series which co-branded user content with their own. Check it out above. <\/p>\n\n\n\nUse the \u201cSwipe Up\u201d Feature<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nYou\u2019ve likely seen popular brand accounts use Instagram\u2019s \u201cSwipe\nUp\u201d feature in their stories. This feature is only available for accounts with\n10,000 or more followers, so if your brand hasn\u2019t hit that mark yet, it\u2019s a\ngreat goal to strive for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Swipe Up tool encourages followers to engage with a\nspecific landing page on your website or inspires them to purchase a new\nproduct. They can easily swipe up from your story and be taken to a new page\nwithout experiencing a complete disruption to their normal social activity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, the Converse<\/strong> Instagram account<\/a> does a great job of prompting their followers to check out new collections without being too \u201cin your face.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\nRespond to Direct Messages<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne of the biggest things every brand should be doing is\nresponding to audience direct messages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you want people to engage with you, then it only makes\nsense that you engage with them in return. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Obviously, when you get to a certain point it becomes\ndifficult to respond to everyone, but at least making the effort shows your\naudience that you are an authentic and genuine brand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are receiving a lot of similar questions in your\nDM\u2019s, it\u2019s also useful to post responses in your Instagram Stories. This way\nall of your followers can feel as though they\u2019ve been acknowledged. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Collaborate with Other Brands\/Try Takeovers <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nCollaborating with new brands is another good way to grab\naudience attention, especially if you\u2019re in a creative rut. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whether you have an influencer take over your story for a\nday, or maybe host an Instagram Live video with another brand, there are\nendless ways to change up your content while also building meaningful\nrelationships. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check out the collaboration above that Anthropologie<\/a><\/strong> did with The Good Hive<\/a><\/strong> for Earth Day. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThis kind of project not only looks good for your brand, but\nit also shows you\u2019re capable of expanding the type of content you do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Give Your Audience Something to Share<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nLast, but certainly not least, it\u2019s important to remember\nthat you want your audience to share the content you create. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes, it seems obvious, but sometimes it\u2019s easy to lose sight\nof this when you\u2019re thinking as a brand and not a user. Always put yourself in\nthe audience\u2019s perspective. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What kind of content would you want to share as a follower?\nHow can you create this content for your fans? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everyone loves a good Instagrammable moment, especially\ninfluencers who are even more likely to take advantage of a photo op. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The local Austin shoe brand BANGS<\/strong> knocks it out of the park when it comes to creating Instagram moments with a message. Check their content here<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAdding hashtags to your Instagram Stories is a super easy\nway to increase your reach and engagement. It allows new audiences to discover\nyour content and start following you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If a hashtag is popular enough, users can actually search\nfor it and view live stories on a curated hashtag page where they may come\nacross your account. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is why it\u2019s so important to use words and phrases you\nthink might be top of mind for your target customers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Add Stickers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne of the most effective ways to increase social engagement\nis by using stickers. You\u2019ve likely seen these on a friend\u2019s account or maybe\nbeing used by another popular brand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whether it\u2019s a playful emoji or a poll prompting responses\nto the outfit of the day, there are a number of different ways to make stickers\nengaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These are a few sticker options we\u2019ve seen work well for\nbrand marketing: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Countdown stickers<\/em><\/strong> are great for\ncreating anticipation around a product launch or event.
- Polls and question stickers<\/em><\/strong> are\nuseful for learning more about your followers and their opinions. <\/li><\/ul>
- Gif stickers<\/em><\/strong> allow you to get\ncreative with your CTA\u2019s and they let your followers know you\u2019re not a regular\nbrand, you\u2019re a cool<\/em> brand. <\/li><\/ul>
- Quiz stickers<\/em><\/strong> are a fun feature\nthat allow users to participate with your stories and provides entertainment in\naddition to brand awareness. <\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Caption Your Videos <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nIf you\u2019ve ever been tapping through Instagram Stories while\nat work (or in another locale which doesn\u2019t welcome sudden, blaring audio) you\nknow how frustrating it can be when you want to watch an account\u2019s video content\nand it doesn\u2019t have captions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s one reason why it\u2019s so important as a brand to make\nsure you include captions for videos that can be watched without audio. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
More importantly, you don\u2019t want to alienate your audience\nmembers that may be hard of hearing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Users are far more likely to stay engaged when they can\nenjoy content from anywhere regardless of sound capability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If captions are not an option for certain videos, then a\n\u201csound on\u201d cue is a good way to let the viewer know they have to turn their\nsound on for that particular piece of content. Otherwise, they will most likely\nget annoyed and move on to the next account. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Keep them around by giving them the convenience of enjoying\nyour content no matter where they are. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clipomatic<\/a><\/strong> is a video editing app available on the Apple Store that allows you to record captions using speech recognition. <\/p>\n\n\n\nFind Peak Engagement Times <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nKnowing your audience is key to increasing engagement on social media<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThat means doing a deep dive into your analytics to find out\nwhen your followers are typically most engaged with you. Once you\u2019ve nailed\nthat down, you can plan your stories around those peak engagement periods to\nensure you\u2019re maximizing audience attention with your best content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Every Instagram business account is equipped with an Insights tab<\/a><\/strong> which allows access to Instagram\u2019s native analytics. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThese metrics include anything from demographic factors like\nage range, gender, and location to peak activity times, most popular posts, and\nmore. They will be an invaluable piece of your social strategy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
(RELATED:<\/strong> Facebook\u2019s NEW Instagram Capabilities in Creator Studio<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\nCross Promote Within Your Feed<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAnother way to send more eyes to your brand\u2019s Instagram\nStories is by cross-promoting them within your regular feed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is especially helpful if you already have significant\nengagement with your posts and need to diversify audience attention. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The popular social media scheduler platform Later<\/a><\/strong> does a great job of organically directing people to their Instagram Stories from their feed, as you can see from the post above. <\/p>\n\n\n\nReshare User Content<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nPerhaps one of the best ways to fill your stories with\nengaging content is by re-sharing user posts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only does it make your followers feel like they\u2019re part\nof your brand, but it also creates valuable consumer trust. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Business 2 Community<\/a><\/strong>, User Generated Content (UGC) is 50% more trustworthy than any other type of media. Hence why there\u2019s such a wildly successful influencer market on Instagram. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe swim brand Fella S<\/a>w<\/a>im<\/a><\/strong>, for example, did an entire \u201cAs Seen On\u201d series which co-branded user content with their own. Check it out above. <\/p>\n\n\n\nUse the \u201cSwipe Up\u201d Feature<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nYou\u2019ve likely seen popular brand accounts use Instagram\u2019s \u201cSwipe\nUp\u201d feature in their stories. This feature is only available for accounts with\n10,000 or more followers, so if your brand hasn\u2019t hit that mark yet, it\u2019s a\ngreat goal to strive for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Swipe Up tool encourages followers to engage with a\nspecific landing page on your website or inspires them to purchase a new\nproduct. They can easily swipe up from your story and be taken to a new page\nwithout experiencing a complete disruption to their normal social activity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, the Converse<\/strong> Instagram account<\/a> does a great job of prompting their followers to check out new collections without being too \u201cin your face.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\nRespond to Direct Messages<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne of the biggest things every brand should be doing is\nresponding to audience direct messages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you want people to engage with you, then it only makes\nsense that you engage with them in return. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Obviously, when you get to a certain point it becomes\ndifficult to respond to everyone, but at least making the effort shows your\naudience that you are an authentic and genuine brand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are receiving a lot of similar questions in your\nDM\u2019s, it\u2019s also useful to post responses in your Instagram Stories. This way\nall of your followers can feel as though they\u2019ve been acknowledged. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Collaborate with Other Brands\/Try Takeovers <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nCollaborating with new brands is another good way to grab\naudience attention, especially if you\u2019re in a creative rut. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whether you have an influencer take over your story for a\nday, or maybe host an Instagram Live video with another brand, there are\nendless ways to change up your content while also building meaningful\nrelationships. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check out the collaboration above that Anthropologie<\/a><\/strong> did with The Good Hive<\/a><\/strong> for Earth Day. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThis kind of project not only looks good for your brand, but\nit also shows you\u2019re capable of expanding the type of content you do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Give Your Audience Something to Share<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nLast, but certainly not least, it\u2019s important to remember\nthat you want your audience to share the content you create. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes, it seems obvious, but sometimes it\u2019s easy to lose sight\nof this when you\u2019re thinking as a brand and not a user. Always put yourself in\nthe audience\u2019s perspective. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What kind of content would you want to share as a follower?\nHow can you create this content for your fans? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everyone loves a good Instagrammable moment, especially\ninfluencers who are even more likely to take advantage of a photo op. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The local Austin shoe brand BANGS<\/strong> knocks it out of the park when it comes to creating Instagram moments with a message. Check their content here<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne of the most effective ways to increase social engagement\nis by using stickers. You\u2019ve likely seen these on a friend\u2019s account or maybe\nbeing used by another popular brand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whether it\u2019s a playful emoji or a poll prompting responses\nto the outfit of the day, there are a number of different ways to make stickers\nengaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These are a few sticker options we\u2019ve seen work well for\nbrand marketing: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Countdown stickers<\/em><\/strong> are great for\ncreating anticipation around a product launch or event.
- Polls and question stickers<\/em><\/strong> are\nuseful for learning more about your followers and their opinions. <\/li><\/ul>
- Gif stickers<\/em><\/strong> allow you to get\ncreative with your CTA\u2019s and they let your followers know you\u2019re not a regular\nbrand, you\u2019re a cool<\/em> brand. <\/li><\/ul>
- Quiz stickers<\/em><\/strong> are a fun feature\nthat allow users to participate with your stories and provides entertainment in\naddition to brand awareness. <\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Caption Your Videos <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nIf you\u2019ve ever been tapping through Instagram Stories while\nat work (or in another locale which doesn\u2019t welcome sudden, blaring audio) you\nknow how frustrating it can be when you want to watch an account\u2019s video content\nand it doesn\u2019t have captions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s one reason why it\u2019s so important as a brand to make\nsure you include captions for videos that can be watched without audio. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
More importantly, you don\u2019t want to alienate your audience\nmembers that may be hard of hearing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Users are far more likely to stay engaged when they can\nenjoy content from anywhere regardless of sound capability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If captions are not an option for certain videos, then a\n\u201csound on\u201d cue is a good way to let the viewer know they have to turn their\nsound on for that particular piece of content. Otherwise, they will most likely\nget annoyed and move on to the next account. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Keep them around by giving them the convenience of enjoying\nyour content no matter where they are. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clipomatic<\/a><\/strong> is a video editing app available on the Apple Store that allows you to record captions using speech recognition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Find Peak Engagement Times <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nKnowing your audience is key to increasing engagement on social media<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That means doing a deep dive into your analytics to find out\nwhen your followers are typically most engaged with you. Once you\u2019ve nailed\nthat down, you can plan your stories around those peak engagement periods to\nensure you\u2019re maximizing audience attention with your best content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Every Instagram business account is equipped with an Insights tab<\/a><\/strong> which allows access to Instagram\u2019s native analytics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
These metrics include anything from demographic factors like\nage range, gender, and location to peak activity times, most popular posts, and\nmore. They will be an invaluable piece of your social strategy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
(RELATED:<\/strong> Facebook\u2019s NEW Instagram Capabilities in Creator Studio<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cross Promote Within Your Feed<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAnother way to send more eyes to your brand\u2019s Instagram\nStories is by cross-promoting them within your regular feed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is especially helpful if you already have significant\nengagement with your posts and need to diversify audience attention. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The popular social media scheduler platform Later<\/a><\/strong> does a great job of organically directing people to their Instagram Stories from their feed, as you can see from the post above. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reshare User Content<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nPerhaps one of the best ways to fill your stories with\nengaging content is by re-sharing user posts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only does it make your followers feel like they\u2019re part\nof your brand, but it also creates valuable consumer trust. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Business 2 Community<\/a><\/strong>, User Generated Content (UGC) is 50% more trustworthy than any other type of media. Hence why there\u2019s such a wildly successful influencer market on Instagram. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The swim brand Fella S<\/a>w<\/a>im<\/a><\/strong>, for example, did an entire \u201cAs Seen On\u201d series which co-branded user content with their own. Check it out above. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Use the \u201cSwipe Up\u201d Feature<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nYou\u2019ve likely seen popular brand accounts use Instagram\u2019s \u201cSwipe\nUp\u201d feature in their stories. This feature is only available for accounts with\n10,000 or more followers, so if your brand hasn\u2019t hit that mark yet, it\u2019s a\ngreat goal to strive for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Swipe Up tool encourages followers to engage with a\nspecific landing page on your website or inspires them to purchase a new\nproduct. They can easily swipe up from your story and be taken to a new page\nwithout experiencing a complete disruption to their normal social activity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, the Converse<\/strong> Instagram account<\/a> does a great job of prompting their followers to check out new collections without being too \u201cin your face.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Respond to Direct Messages<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne of the biggest things every brand should be doing is\nresponding to audience direct messages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you want people to engage with you, then it only makes\nsense that you engage with them in return. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Obviously, when you get to a certain point it becomes\ndifficult to respond to everyone, but at least making the effort shows your\naudience that you are an authentic and genuine brand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are receiving a lot of similar questions in your\nDM\u2019s, it\u2019s also useful to post responses in your Instagram Stories. This way\nall of your followers can feel as though they\u2019ve been acknowledged. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Collaborate with Other Brands\/Try Takeovers <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nCollaborating with new brands is another good way to grab\naudience attention, especially if you\u2019re in a creative rut. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whether you have an influencer take over your story for a\nday, or maybe host an Instagram Live video with another brand, there are\nendless ways to change up your content while also building meaningful\nrelationships. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check out the collaboration above that Anthropologie<\/a><\/strong> did with The Good Hive<\/a><\/strong> for Earth Day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This kind of project not only looks good for your brand, but\nit also shows you\u2019re capable of expanding the type of content you do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Give Your Audience Something to Share<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nLast, but certainly not least, it\u2019s important to remember\nthat you want your audience to share the content you create. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes, it seems obvious, but sometimes it\u2019s easy to lose sight\nof this when you\u2019re thinking as a brand and not a user. Always put yourself in\nthe audience\u2019s perspective. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What kind of content would you want to share as a follower?\nHow can you create this content for your fans? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everyone loves a good Instagrammable moment, especially\ninfluencers who are even more likely to take advantage of a photo op. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The local Austin shoe brand BANGS<\/strong> knocks it out of the park when it comes to creating Instagram moments with a message. Check their content here<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Quiz stickers<\/em><\/strong> are a fun feature\nthat allow users to participate with your stories and provides entertainment in\naddition to brand awareness. <\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Gif stickers<\/em><\/strong> allow you to get\ncreative with your CTA\u2019s and they let your followers know you\u2019re not a regular\nbrand, you\u2019re a cool<\/em> brand. <\/li><\/ul>
- Polls and question stickers<\/em><\/strong> are\nuseful for learning more about your followers and their opinions. <\/li><\/ul>