Instagram Story Tips to Increase Engagement

When you scroll through Instagram, circles surround some of the profile pictures. These circles indicate that the user shared an Instagram Story, a temporary post that disappears after 24 hours.

Instagram Stories are simpler and more versatile than traditional posts. You can share existing posts or upload images from your camera roll, then add links, stickers, hashtags, polls, and other tidbits. Once they expire, they become inaccessible unless you add them to your highlights.

Best of all, Stories are free promotion, and they often involve reusing existing material. Learn how to create engaging Instagram Stories for business to keep your profile active throughout the week.

Share Spontaneous Moments

Give clients a peek into your life by sharing spontaneous moments, such as event clips, dog walking videos, and pictures of freshly fallen snow. Often, you can tie this into your business by discussing the issue that your product solves or pointing out the view outside the office.

Since these Stories don't have to meet the same quality standards as regular posts, you can upload a quick snapshot or video clip without spending a dime. Your audience learns more about the people behind the business, and you'll save money for bigger projects. If you're particularly proud of a photograph, polish it later for an official post.

Host a Poll

People love sharing their opinions, and with Instagram polls, a single click gives them a voice. Adding polls to your Stories boosts your engagement rates, which is an essential part of the lead generation process. Plus, when you ask questions about your brand, you'll walk away with insightful data.

Polls can range from simple topics, such as "When do you prefer to work out?" or "How often do you meal prep?" to requests for input on products and services. Sometimes, people will comment to continue the conversation, giving you another opportunity to close the sale.

Quiz Your Followers

Polls also give you the opportunity to quiz your followers. Ask them a question with several options, then show the correct answer on the next slide. If they were right, they'll get a burst of dopamine--and if not, the percentage of people who chose the same response shows that they're not alone.

Try quizzing your followers on your brand, products, or business history. You could also quiz your audience on topics related to your industry. For example, if you sell hair care products, schedule a hair quiz that teaches them how to protect their softness and shine.

Incorporate Music

Music grabs people's attention while they're scrolling, encouraging them to stop and read your post. Fortunately, Instagram Stories have a catalog of thousands of songs. Use one of the recommended tracks, or search for your favorite tune.

Once you find a song, you'll choose a short clip to play as the Story's timer runs out. You can include lyrics if they suit the mood or simply display the artist and song title.

Pop hits and viral TikTok tunes are crowd-pleasers. However, if you want to branch out, Instagram's selection includes underground and indie tracks. You'll also see the option to save your favorites for later use.

Promote Your Store

Every day, companies lose sales because customers don't want to make an extra click. Instagram catches some of those lost conversions by allowing you to embed products in your Stories. Viewers click the link to go right to your store; no manual app switching is required.

Your business must have product stickers enabled. Afterward, any qualifying user, including you, may add your products to their Stories. Stories support up to five product stickers at once.

Share Coupons

Like coupons, Stories appear for a limited time. This provides the perfect opportunity to share a coupon that works for a day or two. Since Stories expire after 24 hours, you won't have customers digging up old posts and complaining when the codes don't work. Plus, the fleeting nature of Stories boosts your sale's momentum.

Share a picture of products with an exclusive coupon code. Make sure you include the expiration date in the Story for people who screenshot it for later use. For more excitement, add a countdown and remind followers to use their code before the clock reaches zero.

Revive Old Content

Your profile has months' or even years' worth of great content. Unfortunately, your audience won't see it unless they're willing to scroll through your archive. Reposting old content brings some awareness, but it also suggests that you're relying on reruns because you don't have new content available.

Sharing old posts on your Stories allows you to showcase your backlog without making permanent posts. You can add posts to your Stories in seconds, and it's easy to add helpful captions, such as "Throwback to when this video went viral" or "Want to revitalize your morning routine? Read this classic blog from one of our staff writers."

You can even share milestones, such as the first post you ever made or the first picture to earn over 1,000 likes. Don't rely too heavily on recycled content, but throw it in once or twice a month to generate profile activity.

Share Posts From Customers

Happy customers offer free advertising. When they post about your business and tag you, share their post in a Story with a thank-you message. This makes them feel valued and shows followers that you take care of your clients.

Don't have any client-generated content? Invite them to share their purchases online, tag you, and use your exclusive hashtag. Drive more engagement by hosting a giveaway. Every post and tag leads to a giveaway entry that could result in free gifts and discounts—and more lead generation on your end.

Likewise, screenshot four- and five-star reviews and share them in your Stories. This may encourage more reviews from people who want attention from a major brand.

Add Stickers

Stickers are small images that liven up your Story. Your selection is virtually limitless. When you type a keyword, such as "coffee" or "butterfly," into the search bar, Instagram offers a selection of emojis, GIFs, and animations. Rotate them, change the size, and move them around until you find the perfect place for each sticker.

If none of the available stickers work, hit the "AI Stickers" button, then enter a few keywords. Instagram will instantly generate a few stickers that match your criteria. Add one of these, or keep generating until you find the perfect image.

You could also use a cutout from an image on your camera roll. Choose "Cutouts," select an image, and cut out the part that you want to share. The cutout becomes a sticker that you'll resize and add to your Story.

Inspire Donations

Show that you care by raising money for your favorite charity. When you click the "Donation" button, Instagram reveals dozens of charities for various issues, including cancer, heart disease, hunger, natural disasters, and homelessness. You'll choose a charity, name the fundraiser, and select a goal amount.

Consider adding collaborators to broaden your reach. The fundraiser appears on their profiles, and they can advertise it through posts and Stories. Once you've launched your campaign, followers can donate for up to 30 days. Afterward, the PayPal Giving Fund receives the money within 45 days.

Hosting fundraisers helps you spotlight important issues and emphasizes your commitment to charity. However, consider contributing your own donation first. Otherwise, you might hear the age-old question: "Why doesn't your business donate since you have the money?"

Host Product Reveals

One new way to create engaging Instagram Stories for business is to host product reveals. Hit the "Reveal" button, then type a short description or message to your audience. This hides the image from followers until they click "Message to reveal" to send you a direct message (DM) and view the newly uncovered page.

After the exchange, you'll receive a DM that could lead to conversions, and they'll feel like they have uncovered an exclusive secret. When you don't have products to reveal, try concealing a quiz answer, fun fact, book download, surprise announcement, and anything else that grabs people's interest.

Take Food Orders

If you're a restaurant owner with a business or creator account, Instagram allows you to add food order stickers to your Stories. Choose a partner, such as DoorDash, Grubhub, or Uber Eats, then add your partner link. Diners will click the button in your Story to order food through your delivery partner, saving them time and effort.

To entice customers, pair this sticker with pictures of your delicious food, customer reviews, kitchen videos, and limited-time offers. Try posting around mealtimes to boost your engagement, highlighting your hot breakfasts, satisfying lunch option,s and hearty dinner entrees. If you're open late, invite your audience to indulge in a late-night snack.

Launch a Countdown

Building momentum with a countdown will create engaging Instagram Stories for businesses. As the timer ticks toward zero, excitement buzzes in the air. Customers eagerly await your upcoming sale, announcement, or product drop—and if you want more mystery, start a countdown without an explanation.

When you choose "Countdown," you'll see options to name the countdown and select the end date and time. The countdown is visible until the Story expires, so if it lasts longer than 24 hours, you'll have to re-upload your timer.

Include Hashtags

Hashtags expand your reach to non-followers. When you tag a Story, your post may appear on that hashtag's search page. Simply hit the "hashtag" button, then type a hashtag and add it to your Story. Note that Stories only display one tag at a time.

Similarly, tap the "mention" button to give someone a shoutout. They'll get notified that you tagged them in your Story. This is particularly valuable for collaborations and giveaway announcements.

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