Instagram Stories is one of the most used features on the platform, with over 500 million daily users. Recognizing the immense marketing potential Instagram Stories offers, about four million businesses advertise on the platform each month.
Up to 58% of users have become interested in a product or brand after seeing it in Stories. No matter how you look at it, it’s clear that well-curated content published in Stories can drive up a brand’s engagement and bottom line.
That being said, it must be noted that there’s a science behind creating impactful content that attracts engagement on Instagram Stories. Combining the tips highlighted in this guide with insights gained from your social media marketing courses at Cumberland College can make you a more productive online marketer.
Define a Brand’s Visual Identity After Social Media Marketing Courses
The first tip is straight from the playbook of social media advertising courses: always define a brand’s visual identity. If the brand hasn’t yet crafted a visual identity or branding for itself, take some time to consider a suitable one before creating content for Instagram Stories on behalf of the brand.
On the other hand, if the brand already has clearly defined visual elements, remember to reinforce the brand’s visual branding in your content. When it comes to defining a brand’s visual identity, consistency is key. It’s important to keep the fonts, colours, and templates of your Stories consistent with key elements of the brand’s visuals.
The bottom line is to ensure that your audience is so familiar with the brand’s style that they can immediately recognize its content.
Tell The Brand’s Story
While trying to create content that passes across a brand’s message, don’t forget to tell a story. After all, the feature is called Stories for a reason. Instead of trying to force engagements or conversions through aggressive marketing, focus on telling the brand’s story and telling it well.
Content driven by great storytelling is likely to attract more engagement and interactions. Even better, it humanizes the brand and makes it much easier for the audience to identify with its values.
Use a Selection Of Tools, Formats, and Features
One thing that makes Instagram Stories remarkable is the sheer number of functions and features it offers. To make each Story unique and even more engaging than the last, it’s recommended that you get familiar with and use Instagram Stories’ full range of functions.
For instance, you may use GIFs to make your stories more fun or poll stickers to invite more engagement from audiences on any particular subject matter.
Include a CTA
A Story without a clear, actionable call to action is a missed opportunity. An effective Instagram Story should specify what you want your users to do after consuming your content. Writing impactful, engaging CTAs is a core topic that social media marketing courses cover.
Pro Tip: be specific about what you want your audience to do in your CTA. For instance, instead of simply asking them to swipe up, ask them to follow a link for pricing or booking information. Further, be upfront about what your audience will discover by following your recommendation and clicking your CTA. If you’ve included a link, let them know exactly where it leads.
Are you ready to begin your social media courses?
Contact Cumberland College to learn how you can get started.
