The Impact of Instagram
It’s no secret that Instagram has been dominating as the top social media platform for quite some time. Despite its, somewhat recent, acquisition by Facebook, the app continues to grow in both active users and new functions. From the ability to stream live videos to the various story functions and business abilities that allow for brands to track their weekly reach and engagement, Instagram has opened numerous doors and opportunities for businesses, brands, and entrepreneurs, and has transformed the way advertisers and marketers approach sales.
As far as the app itself goes, it’s safe to say that Instagram has come a long way from the linear photo feed it started as back in 2010. And with the launch of Instagram Stories in 2016 giving Snapchat a run for its money, the platform didn’t stop there. Today, Instagram’s most recent launch aligns more with other video streaming platforms than ever before, bringing the ability to have your own Instagram video channel to life via IGTV.
Instagram and Your Brand
This multi-layered platform offers a host of both photo and video opportunities for people and brands alike. But don’t let that scare you from being a part of the community. If you have a business, or even a personal brand and you’re not on Instagram yet, it’s never too late to start building your online presence.
While the visually based platform isn’t for everyone, it can be a great way to bring the personality or tone of your brand to life. Not everything has to be a sales pitch. So if you don’t have a particularly glamorous brand, take a different approach and become an educator in your field. This is a cool way to show how what you do is still interesting and also builds credibility with your audience.
You don’t have to post every day to be engaging either. In fact, I actually advise against it. It’s better to stay active on your IG stories than your feed. Sound crazy? More and more brands are starting to see the reach the IG story feature has. And, if used properly, this feature can majorly benefit a business. Here are some reasons why you should consider using the story feature for your business.
3 Reasons Your Brand Should Be Using Instagram Stories
Interactive
Creating engaging digital content is one of the best things you can do for your brand, especially in this increasingly visually tuned-in society. IG stories is one way that you can do that. Part of the allure to IG stories is that the content only lasts for 24 hours and then disappears. If your brand has a playful side, you could use the story feature to show your following and potential customers that you have a sense of humor. If you were to post snippets of your day that got people laughing and interacting with your brand, your brand awareness goes up. Maybe they’ll even post and feature your business on their story, increasing your digital footprint and reach.
If people are interacting with your stories, you’re doing something right. With the ability to add geo-locations, hashtags and polls, tag other users and post outbound links, there’s no limit to the potential interaction you could receive out of your IG story. Let your creative juices flow, and strive for interactive content for your IG story.
Unique Content
Instagram is a very powerful branding tool when used properly. One of the best ways you can stay top of mind with your followers, and create brand recognition is through the type of content you create on a regular basis. On Instagram alone you have the ability to create photo, video, live and segmented content for a potential audience of more than 200 million users every day. Specifically with the story feature, there are already a ton of potential customers actively searching for stories to engage with and products they didn’t know about. So, what does that mean for your brand?
It means that you’re able to put out relatable, genuine and unique content with potentially 200 million users who could discover your business. The keyword there is discover. Because Instagram stories are discoverable for people who don’t already follow you. That means anyone could stumble upon your content and be moved to explore your business further. If you’re only posting pictures to your IG, you could explore with a story to add some variety to the content you’re putting out. People like to see variety. And since the content only lasts for a full 24 hours, you don’t have to worry about what time you post.
Grow Your Following and Community
Social media is a huge community. It’s a place that has evolved from a platform of personal expression to an ecommerce-esque environment, where advertisements and paid partnerships are scattered throughout Instagram stories and timelines. As a business owner, this is exciting because it means there’s another way for you to attract customers. But more than that it’s an opportunity for you to grow your following and community. By putting out interactive, unique content you’re building your credibility as a brand. When you put out great content consistently, you continue to build credibility and your followers and community you’re building around your brand will only get stronger and larger.
Start Posting
Now that you know the benefits, it’s time to start using them for yourself! Set a goal to post at least 2 Instagram stories a day for the next week, and watch how your engagement grows. You’ll not only begin showing up as a top story for the followers who engage with you the most, but you can also use this feature to drive more traffic to your profile, and even your website. Remember to keep your content engaging, unique and genuine for the best results. And don’t forget to follow Let’s Bee Social on Instagram for more digital marketing tips.