Why Small Businesses should use Instagram Stories

More than half of all Canadians and Americans own smart phones. Those phones are being used to buy, shop, bank, communicate and so much more. Mobile marketing is increasingly becoming the number one source for marketer, if for no other reason then its convenience and flexibility—for both the advertiser and the consumer.

A solid social media strategy includes Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram. Instagram’s newest feature, Instagram Stories, released in August 2016, can have a big implication for your business.

What are Instagram Stories?

Instagram Stories are very similar to Snapchat. Both allow you to post photos or stories that disappear in a certain amount of time. With Instagram Stories, you can share photos and videos, making them appear as a slide show, adding text, stickers, or using drawing tools to add to them.

Typically, Instagram photos are very carefully constructed and perfectly composed. Stories are designed to be more raw, light hearted and even silly.

Using your smart phone, you can post Stories and also create and post 10-second videos. This mobile marketing technology allows for you to post videos as a Story and to add more videos throughout the day. And they will all disappear after 24 hours.

On the fence about whether or not Instagram is a great idea for your business? There are 500 million monthly active Instagram users – and if your audience is there then introducing them to your business story can be a great, free marketing strategy. If you already have an Instagram account, incorporating Stories into your marketing strategy is easy and you already have followers waiting to see them.

Why should a small business use Instagram Stories?

Consider how you could use Stories to your advantage and raise the profile of your business. A Story could celebrate a company milestone, show what a “day in the life” of your business looks like, generate engagement by having users vote on your next post or use it as a teaser for something such as an upcoming promo or a Facebook video.

To use Stories, the first step is to learn the basics. That means understanding the ins and outs of all the functions of the Stories feature. You can read about it on Instagram or find a myriad of tutorials through a simple Google search.

How to use Instagram Stories work for your business:

Forget about making things perfect

If you are accustomed to creating highly polished images for Instagram this can be difficult. Remember that Stories are supposed to be candid and fun. Focus on being authentic.

Post consistently

When posting online, a good guideline is to have consistency. People like to know what to expect and are more likely to continue following you and engage when you offer a consistent, high quality product.

Keep image descriptions brief

Instagram Stories are visually driven and as the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. So keep your words to a minimum or use the photo alone to convey your message.

Creating Instagram Stories can be engaging and fun. Give your Instagram followers something to look forward to all while promoting your business.

Are you looking for a virtual assistant proficient in social media? Contact Virtual Office Resources to find out if we’re a good fit to work together.