When it comes to social media, you may think that you know the whole story. However, there may be one specific chapter that you are overlooking.
In fall 2016, Instagram launched the stories feature, blatantly imitating the popular “Snapchat Stories.” This feature differs widely from the platform’s other products, and the content only lasts for 24 hours.
As social media grows more saturated, feed posts may get buried under the weight. According to Hootsuite, the average reach rate for brands with large followings is 12% for posts. However, a staggering 70% of users watch stories daily. Utilizing stories can be a great way to reach more of your audience and increase overall engagement! They are also perfect for more candid and casual content that you don’t want on your feed permanently.
What to Post
Casual, behind-the-scenes content humanizes your page and builds connections. Showing faces, events, and everyday activities makes your page represent more than what you’re selling.
Using the highlight features for stories is also a strategic way to make important information easily accessible. Popular highlights that business pages use include, but are not limited to, reviews, locations, contact information, about, services, team, and events.
Good Habits:
- Aim to post 3-5 stories per day.
- Repost all feed posts on your story to reach more people.
- Use the sticker features for fun ways to interact with your audience (polls, questions, etc.).
- Keep your highlight information updated so they can be effective navigational tools.
Something to note is that if you begin to post more stories, you shouldn’t then decrease the number of feed posts you are putting out. Stories and feed posts serve different purposes, and stories should supplement your content strategy.
Posting more stories is a method of content diversification, which helps reach the most people. Something that we have observed in the social media world is that content that peels back the curtain and takes viewers along for the journey is extremely engaging and valuable.
Need help telling your story on social media? Brick Media is here for you!
