It’s one of the best ways to gain a following, build brand awareness and drive sales
All businesses should not miss out on using Instagram Stories to build an audience. Not only are Stories fun and creative, but they’re also one of the best ways to gain a following, build brand awareness and drive sales. So, if you’re looking to use Stories to build an audience and gain brand awareness, then you’ve come to the right place! Here are 6 ways that you can use Stories to build your audience.
- Take Advantage Of User-Generated Content
Instagram users love to share their experiences with products and services. Therefore, it’s important to use user-generated content (UGC) in Stories to engage and build your audience. Followers can feature your products in their Stories, and tag your brand in them, by offering an incentive or a freebie, so that they’re more apt to share their experiences using your products. UGC not only saves you time and effort, but also lets you promote your products without being pushy, and eventually builds credibility that your target audience can see.
- Display Highlights
Instagram Stories also has the “Add to Highlights” feature, where you can make your Stories available to your viewers even after the 24-hour period. The Highlights feature allows brands to curate multiple Stories so that viewers can watch them at their convenience.
Here are some great Stories to have in your Highlights section:
- Interviews
- “Trailers” (Coming Attractions)
- Photo showcase
- Interesting Case Studies
- Testimonials
- Have Polls And Trivia
Engaging your audience is even more fun when you host polls, quizzes, and trivia in Stories. In addition, it helps you to get to know your followers better, along with their likes and preferences.
“Asking for feedback is essential to your Instagram’s success. Asking viewers about their opinions gives you access to great data, and it makes them feel more valued and connected to your brand. And, their feedback ultimately helps you improve your products, and identify what resonates with people the most” says Lynn Adams, a marketer at UK Writings and Best British Essays.
- Make Videos
Recent studies suggest that by 2021, 80% of all web traffic will likely be video-related. And Instagram is one of many ways to view video content. Although Instagram can be a crowded place in retrospect, live videos in Stories are a great way to stand out and gain more visibility, even when there’s high competition.
You can also share pre-recorded videos that showcase your products, how they’re manufactured, or how they’re used. Regardless if videos are live or pre-recorded, they can be a great way to help viewers learn about new products, especially when you promote new products, thus creating brand awareness. Though, you’ll need your videos to perform well by putting thought and effort into creating them. Compelling and unique videos can range from the following:
- Live and exclusive interviews
- Events
- Product Promos
- Newsletters
- Take Viewers Behind The Scenes
People want to know how your product is created: the manufacturing, the technological aspects of it, the business side of it, etc. Cater to this inherent curiosity by taking your followers “backstage” with behind-the-scenes Stories, which help you put a face on your brand, and connect with your audiences on a personal level. From various images showcasing behind-the-scenes activities, to group photos of you and your team, these Stories can make viewers feel like they are a part of the fun, and more connected with the brand.
- Utilize Hashtags
Hashtags are very powerful in helping your content get discovered by a wider audience. By creating hashtags in Stories, you’re making sure that they get plenty of views. Plus, users can now add customized hashtags to Stories with either stickers or text. With these user-generated hashtags, your post can reach more viewers.
You can even tag a physical location in your Story with either text or stickers, and it will show up based on the location of your viewers, thus allowing people to find you easily. You can also tag yourself, any influencers you have, or other user (with their permission) to gain more viewership.
Conclusion
As Instagram Stories continue to evolve, and are here to stay, it’s important to implement this strategy, so that you’re not missing out on brand awareness and sales-driven opportunities. If you’re not on board, then you’ll miss the train leading to rising popularity. So, start creating fun and exciting Stories today, and see your brand reach more people and increase engagement. And soon, you’ll see potential leads turn into paying customers.
