Instagram has more than one billion users on its platform as of January 2021 and 1,950,000 of them are New Zealand users, and that number is only set to increase. Not only is Instagram one of the fastest-growing platforms in the world, but it’s also a powerful tool to advertise your organisation’s services or products while growing your audience. With over 25 million companies already seeking out the popular platform to boost engagement, it’s clear that companies need to be on Instagram.
One of the most underutilized tools on Instagram is the famous Instagram stories. They’re easy-to-use, fun for your audience, and provide a hands-on, simple way to connect, engage and drive sales. Continue reading to learn how you can integrate Instagram stories into your marketing plan to boost engagement for your organisation today.
What Are Instagram Stories?
Instagram stories were initially launched in August of 2016. They allow users to post videos or photos on their “story” that vanish after 24 hours. When you post on your story, your profile picture will pop to the top of users’ feed, where they can click and watch the information you posted.
There are tons of features designed inside of the story camera to help you create engaging content that works. It’s become so popular that fewer people prefer to post on their Instagram feed and instead focus on posting to their story. If you’ve ever wanted an easy way to reach your followers, boost engagement and stand out from the competition, Instagram stories are the perfect solution.
How To Boost Engagement For Your Business With Instagram Stories
If you’re ready to convert more customers, grow engagement and highlight your brand’s profile, it’s time to get started by creating Instagram stories. Instagram stories are filled with different features that help to encourage your audience to interact with your profile or stay in tune with your posts. The more you can get your audience to react or respond to your content, the better your profile will rank with the Instagram Algorithm. Here are a few ways you can start incorporating these features into your marketing strategy today.
Feature #1: Reaction Sliders
Reaction sliders are a fun way to allow users to respond to the content posted in your story. You can choose from a wide variety of emojis to gauge your customer’s interest in the things you offer at your company. This feedback can help you get a sense of how engaged your users are with your stories. Many companies love to use this feature to help learn how their audience feels about a service or product they already offer or are looking to offer.
Feature #2 Links
Having more than 10,000 followers on your Instagram allows you to add external links to your Instagram story. When a link is added, it will show at the bottom of your story post, allowing customers to swipe up to be re-directed to whatever location you’ve chosen. Your Instagram links are one of the easiest ways to promote a call to action. Things like: Book Today, Shop Our 40% Off Sale, or Start Our Free Trial can encourage your audience to follow your links and engage with your content.
Feature #3 Poll
Instead of having your customer fill out questionnaires to figure out what they’re thinking, you can instead get your answers through an Instagram poll. It’s also one of the easiest ways to encourage engagement from your followers because it only requires a simple tap to participate. Using polls can be helpful to get to know your audience, receive customer feedback, conduct market research, or just to have fun with your followers.
Feature #4: Questions
The new questions sticker has made it easy for brands to allow customers to ask questions or ask the audience questions. The questions feature is a great way to engage your audience and encourage customer interaction. You could use this information to gauge interest in a new product, gather questions for a Q&A, or even ask random questions to get to know your audience, which can also help you understand your target market even better.
Feature #5: New Post Stories
When you post a story to your feed, not all of your customers will likely see it due to the Instagram algorithm. One way to bring more engagement to your posts is to advertise them on your stories by sharing a thumbnail. Most times, brands will put an emoji or sticker over the thumbnail, with a captivating header to get their audience excited. For example, you might hint that your post contains your new collection of products.
Feature #6: Go Live on Instagram
Instagram Live is an excellent way for businesses to receive more engagement. Make sure to advertise it beforehand to your audience, so your followers know that it’s happening. The more views and engagement your video gets, the more likely it will be promoted by Instagram. You can choose to answer client questions during your live video, showcase your new products, host interviews, or even talk about special promotions or sales.
Working On Your Social Media Marketing Strategy
Social media has become one of the most critical and influential platforms where businesses can advertise their products and brand and have millions of people potentially find them. Whether you own a business, work at a business, or want to start a business, building your social media strategy is essential to any company or brand looking to increase engagement. However, knowing where to start doesn’t come naturally to everyone.
If you’re ready to step up your digital marketing strategy game, it’s time to get serious about your education. Whether you’re looking for an in-depth marketing diploma to help you learn everything you need to know about digital marketing, or you need a shorter, digestible course on Social Media Marketing Strategy to expand your marketing skillset, The New Zealand Institute of Education has you covered. Learn at your own pace, from the comfort of your own home, with a schedule that works best for you.
