Since the introduction of Instagram’s Stories features in 2016, the amount of monthly engaged members has risen from millions to billions.

According to Instagram statistics, corporations are accountable for one-third of the most popular stories. This comes as no wonder, given that 90 per cent of Instagram profiles represent a company, and 68 per cent of individuals are more intrigued by a brand or product after discovering it in an Instagram story. If you’re not certain if Stories should be part of your brand or business’s marketing plan, these stats will help you decide.

The way you use Instagram is mostly determined by your business and budget. You can produce branded content on your own, partner with Instagram influencers, or even mix and match. Your Stories can be natural or sponsored, with the latter being a paid commercial with a subtitle ‘sponsored’ tag underneath your name.

How can one benefit the most?

When making a sponsored Instagram Story, you may utilise photographs, videos, and the carousel tool to express yourself. You can incorporate a blend of video and images in your storey with the Carousel feature. However, each sponsored ad is limited to three pieces of material. When it comes to sponsored ads, experiment with a variety of choices to see what fits better for your business.

Video is a clear winner for Stories, and it can better attract the interest of your viewers than still photographs. “Facebook IQ investigated how users ingest video content and concluded that in the UK, individuals look at video material on Facebook and Instagram for 5 times longer than they do at photographs,” says Ciara Wise, a marketer at Australian Assistance and Paper colleagues. Video is a versatile medium that may be used in a variety of ways. You may film a 360-degree view of a product, give a tour of your facilities, or tape a face-to-camera item briefing with your Head of Sales. Use video to express yourself and have a good time. Before you submit anything to your stories, explore and practise.

Branding your storey is a simple process. Take advantage of a photo editor to let you apply borders, filters, and text overlays to each storey. Colours, fonts, and layout should all be consistent with your brand so that they become identifiable with it. Develop three to four brand templates to ensure that your stories don’t become stale.

On the concluding episode of your Instagram Story, consistently incorporate a call to action, such as ‘Swipe Up For More Details.’ This call to action can direct readers to a product or service page on your website, a blog post with extra information, or a video explainer. The goal is to get more traffic to convert.