10 Creative Ways to Use Instagram Stories for Your Brand

With a staggering 500 million users accessing Instagram Stories daily, businesses have an immense opportunity to cash in on this Story trend. In fact, 58% of users claim to show greater interest in brands after viewing their Instagram posts.

Incorporating creative Instagram ideas into your content strategy can help expand your audience. However, it’s not enough to post a generic Story and hope for the best. The goal is to use engaging content that encourage viewers to tap on links, participate in polls, browse your shop or watch your Story.

To help you achieve all of these, we have curated a comprehensive list of ten creative Instagram ideas you can utilize to develop captivating and interactive content. By applying these suggestions you can enhance your views, engagement and ultimately increase traffic to your Instagram account.

10 Creative Ways To Use Instagram Stories For Your Brand

Implementing these Instagram Story ideas can help you create content that connects with your audience and encourages them to interact with your brand. From behind-the-scenes glimpses to Story trends, there are numerous ways to pique your followers’ interest and prompt them to engage with your content. With these tips, you can transform your Instagram account into a platform that generates substantial engagement and captivates your audience. 

• User-Generated Content Is The New Trend.

UGC, or user-generated content, is an invaluable resource for brands and creators looking to create compelling and engaging content. UGC is content that is created by users, customers or fans of a brand, and it is a powerful tool for building a strong and loyal community on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

One of the great things about UGC is that it is often more authentic and relatable than brand-generated content. For example, when a fashion blogger takes a photo in a trendy pair of shoes and tags the shoe company, they are creating UGC the brand can share with their followers. This diversifies the brand’s content and also provides a refreshing break from the typical polished and promotional material that brands often post on their social media accounts.

What’s even better is that UGC can be shared by brands without having to create their own content. This means that even small businesses or creators with limited resources can still post captivating and engaging content on their Instagram Stories. Simply reposting UGC from satisfied customers or fans can be an effective way to build brand loyalty and showcase the quality of your products or services.

With UGC, you can showcase the authenticity and relatability of your brand while providing a refreshing break from the typical polished promotional material.

• Gratitude Is The Attitude.

The importance of followers on social media platforms like Instagram cannot be overstated. After all, they are the ones who help you build your brand, spread your message and ultimately grow your business. Without them, your content would just be another drop in the ocean of digital noise. That being said, it’s crucial to acknowledge their support and show them an appreciation for their engagement.

By saying thank you via your Instagram Story, you’re not only making your followers feel valued and seen, but you’re also fostering a sense of community around your brand. This simple gesture can go a long way in building brand loyalty and establishing a positive reputation among your audience. Additionally, it can also encourage further engagement, as followers who feel appreciated are more likely to interact with your content in the future.

From a social media marketing perspective, showing gratitude to your followers is a no-brainer. It’s an easy and effective way to strengthen your relationship with your audience and build a strong brand identity. So don’t be afraid to take a moment to thank your followers via your Instagram Story. The benefits are sure to be worth it!

•  Passion Is Contagious: Spread Content That Inspires.

Finding inspiration and staying true to your brand’s identity is essential. You create a more personal connection with your audience by sharing photos or videos of things that inspire you and resonate with your brand. It’s a way to show there’s a real person behind the brand and you’re not just a faceless entity. Authenticity is key in social media marketing, and sharing your unique perspective and personality can help differentiate you from competitors. So, showcase your interests and passions through your content. Your followers will appreciate getting to know the real you. Remember, you’re not just a bot. Prove it!

• Make Your Mark On The ‘Gram’ With A ‘New Post’ Sticker.

It’s no secret that Instagram Stories are becoming increasingly popular among users, with many people opting to view stories over scrolling through their feeds. As a result, it’s crucial to make sure your content is still reaching those individuals who might miss out on your feed posts.

One easy solution is to share your new posts or Reels to your Story. Not only does this ensure a wider audience sees your content, but it also allows you to add an extra layer of engagement through text or stickers.

Thankfully, there are plenty of “New Post” stickers available that make sharing your latest content a breeze. And if you’re interested in sharing longer Reels of your Story, helpful resources are available to guide you through the process. 

Reels are cut off after 15 seconds, but if you want to learn how to share a whole 60-second Reel to your Story, you can check out this video. So, don’t let your hard work go unnoticed. Share your content in your Story, and keep your audience engaged.

• The Tap To Reveal Strategy.

Using a sticker to partially cover a photo on your Instagram account feed can be a clever way to create an air of mystery around your content, making it more intriguing and tempting for viewers to click and learn more. Think of it as a digital version of a “lift-the-flap” book. People can’t resist peeking beneath the sticker to uncover what’s hidden underneath.

This technique can be beneficial if you’re looking to promote a new product, announce a sale or simply add an element of surprise to your feed. By teasing your followers with a partially obscured image, you can pique their curiosity and drive more engagement with your content.

Just be sure to choose a sticker that fits the overall aesthetic of your brand and is not too distracting from the underlying image. Done right, using a sticker to obscure a photo can be a creative and effective way to spice up your Instagram account feed and keep your followers engaged.

If you want to create a popular Tap-to-Reveal Instagram Story, then check out these templates from Easil.com. 

•  Disconnect To Reconnect: Let Your Out-Of-Office Message Steal The Show!

  

  Create an Instagram story showcasing your clever out-of-office message, including personalized graphics or photos to capture your audience’s attention and generate engagement.

Sharing your out-of-office message with your followers on Instagram Stories can be an excellent way to build a more personal connection with your audience. It shows you are human and need time off, just like everyone else. Plus, it creates a chance for your followers to see a different side of your brand and get to know you on a more personal level.

Furthermore, sharing a vacation photo can be an excellent opportunity to showcase your brand’s personality and aesthetic. You can show off a beautiful sunset, a scenic view, or even your favorite vacation activity, all while tying it back to your brand’s values or mission. This can help create a deeper connection between your followers and your brand, as they get to see the person behind the business and understand what drives you.

Additionally, sharing your vacation on Instagram Stories keeps your followers engaged while you’re away. It shows you are still active and that you value your followers enough to keep them updated on your whereabouts. You can even use this opportunity to ask your followers for their vacation recommendations or share your travel tips, further encouraging engagement.

• Ready, Set, Tease!

Providing your followers with pre-event content can be an incredibly effective way to generate buzz and excitement around your upcoming event. By giving your audience an inside look, you can make them feel like they’re part of an exclusive club and build a sense of anticipation for the big day.

The key to success with this strategy is authenticity. Your followers want to see the real you and the hard work that goes into creating a fantastic event. They don’t expect everything to be perfect, so don’t worry about making the content polished or overly produced. Instead, focus on giving them an authentic look at what kind of preparation goes into your work.

Consider sharing behind-the-scenes photos, videos or stories that showcase your team working hard to make your event successful. You could show the process of setting up the venue, testing out equipment or even rehearsing for performances or speeches. By sharing these moments with your followers, you’ll give them a glimpse into what it takes to create an unforgettable event.

For example, this vintage store owner took a video of themselves making posters for an upcoming sale.

• Spread The Love And Share The Joy By Celebrating A Positive Review.

While advertising and promotional content can be effective, nothing quite compares to the impact of a positive review from a happy customer. Sharing these reviews on your Instagram Story can be an incredibly effective way to hype up your business and show your followers just how great you are.

When you share a positive review on your Instagram Story, it’s important to do so in a way that’s humble and authentic. Don’t make it seem like you’re bragging or trying to sell your business too aggressively. Instead, focus on the positive feedback you’ve received from your customers and share it in a way that feels genuine and sincere.

One effective approach is to create a graphic that showcases the review using eye-catching fonts and colors to make it stand out. You could even add a personal touch by thanking the customer who left the review and sharing a brief story about how their feedback has helped you improve your business.

Another option is to create a video testimonial, where you showcase the positive feedback from your customers in a more dynamic and engaging way. You could feature clips of your customers talking about their experience with your business, along with images and graphics that help to reinforce the message.

Ultimately, sharing positive reviews on your Instagram Story can be an incredibly effective way to build trust and credibility with your audience. By showcasing the positive experiences your customers have had with your business you can create a powerful sense of social proof that can help to hype up your business and generate new leads and sales.

• Be Aesthetically Appealing.

It is always important to strike a balance between creating engaging content for your audience and overwhelming them with too many calls to action. While it’s important to post stories that encourage your followers to take action (such as polls, question stickers and links), it’s also important to mix it up and share content that’s purely aesthetic and visually appealing.

One effective approach is to break up your more actionable stories with beautiful collages of lifestyle photos or other pretty pictures from your camera roll. This can give your followers a breather from all the calls-to-action, while still keeping them engaged and interested in your content.

To create a visually stunning collage, consider using one of the many Instagram-friendly collage apps that are available. These apps make it easy to combine multiple photos into a single, eye-catching image that can be posted to your Story. You could also consider using Instagram’s built-in layout feature which allows you to combine up to six photos into a single post.

This video tutorial will guide you on how to include several photos in an Instagram Story.

• Craft Your Way Into Your Audience’s Hearts By Showing Off Your Creativity!

Instagram Stories have become an essential tool for creatives to showcase their skills and attract new followers. The Story sticker feature allows you to add a variety of elements to your stories, including GIFs, polls and questions. But for creatives, the best use of this feature is to showcase their work in a visually appealing and engaging way.

For instance, consider the Instagram account of Erika Taylor Montgomery, CEO of Three Girls Media. She adeptly leverages the feature to showcase her cooking prowess by crafting engaging step-by-step tutorials, granting her followers an exclusive glimpse into her creative process. Her content even includes recipes, which adds an extra layer of value for her audience.

Instagram Stories for Marketing

Stay up-to-date with the latest Instagram features and trends to leverage the full potential of Instagram stories for your business, and regularly engage with your audience through creative and captivating content.

Unlike individual photos on Instagram, Stories allow you to tell a more complete and engaging story. Instagram Stories enable you to showcase your brand’s story through photos and videos. Although they may only be visible for 24 hours, this time constraint encourages regular, fresh content that keeps your audience engaged.

Moreover, Instagram Stories provide a way to engage with your audience without overwhelming their feeds. Consistently posting on social media can be a delicate balance between being proactive and spammy. By using Instagram Stories you can tell visual tales about your brand without taking up too much space in your audience’s feeds.

This feature also allows you to show off your brand’s creativity and connect with your target audience in a more intimate and relatable way. Instagram Stories are more than just simple images; they are a dynamic combination of photos and videos that work together to tell a captivating story.

One of the greatest advantages of Instagram Stories is their limited lifespan. Unlike content that may continue to rank in search engine results from pages long after it’s relevant, Instagram Stories disappear after 24 hours. This makes them an excellent platform for time-sensitive content such as promotions and flash sales.

It’s imperative to create content that catches your audience’s attention, especially when over 500 million Instagram account users access Stories every day. To stand out in the crowd it’s essential to go above and beyond the basics and include engaging visuals, creative narratives and interactive features that entice your audience to come back for more.

Incorporating unique Instagram ideas can help you connect with your target audience and achieve your objectives. So, instead of settling for generic content, it’s time to develop stories that inspire action and stimulate engagement. By integrating creative Instagram ideas into your content strategy, you can take your account to new heights and expand your audience in meaningful ways.

In conclusion, Instagram Stories have emerged as one of the most promising channels for business growth. With Instagram introducing new features regularly (like Stories appearing in the Explore tab), the advantages of gaining exposure, enhancing brand recognition and acquiring more followers cannot be overlooked. Since your Instagram Stories are likely the first thing users will encounter, it’s crucial to invest ample time and effort in creating them. By leveraging our Instagram Story tricks along with your creative flair, your brand can confidently stride towards its Instagram success.

Need Help Creating An Instagram Growth Strategy For Your Business?

Creating an Instagram growth strategy can be difficult. If you’d like help, Three Girls Media is here for you. Contact us today for a complimentary 30-minute consultation to see what we can do for your business. Our team of experienced marketers is here to help you take your business’s social media marketing to the next level.

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