Instagram stories have taken over the world. In 2016, small circles started to appear at the top of the Instagram app. These circles were Instagram Stories, and although they took a little while to gain traction, soon they changed the way the platform worked.

Instagram Stories are incredibly engaging because they only last for 24 hours, and then they disappear. This unique factor makes people want to watch them now for fear of missing out.

As an added benefit, you can even repost your Instagram stories onto Facebook so that both your audiences get exposure to them.

Currently, there are not many best practices out there for how to create the best Instagram Stories. Today we will look at three tips to help you make your Instagram stories engaging and valuable for your business.

1) Speak to the Camera

The new world of social media is all about relatability. Speaking directly to the camera in your stories is a great way to build a more personal connection with the audience.

Instagram cuts all Stories videos into small 15 second clips, which can appear as mini-vlogs. This casual, direct style will help people to feel like they are engaging with you one-to-one.

Remember to use text as subtitles on your videos because very often people will watch your stories without sound. Adding text to your Instagram stories gives context to what you are saying and increases engagement.

2) Use Images To Capture The Moment

Because Insta Stories only last 24 hours, they have exclusivity, and a ‘behind-the-scenes’ feel to them. Using photos of your team, your daily business, and your upcoming announcements can be a great way to grow engagement.

Remember always to choose photos that are filtered well and a good representation of your brand. Adding a few images during the week to your Instagram stories gives people a feel for your personality and your business.

3) Make It Fun

As a business, it’s tempting to think you should make all your online content professional. But over time, this becomes boring, and people don’t engage with boring content online.

The Instagram Stories feature is full of different tools you can try to add life to your stories. There are filters, text, images, gifs, and even music to help add something extra to your videos.

Of course, remember to stay within your brand voice and make sure it’s congruent. But be sure to have some fun and push the boundaries occasionally to see what you can create.

Remember above all that Instagram Stories are ephemeral, meaning that they don’t last forever. This scarcity and time pressure makes people want to watch stories now.

If your Instagram Stories content is engaging, your followers are more likely to come back and watch another one tomorrow. They will become more connected to you with each day that you post.

Want to grow your online engagement? Brandastic is an Orange County Advertising and Digital Marketing Agency. We specialize in helping businesses grow their reach and to increase their revenue through online sales. Reach out to us today to see how we can help you.