Thanks to IgStories.online, Instagram users can post more often. And not only photos that are perfectly staged and commented on, but also snapshots that are created quite incidentally. Stories are also becoming more and more interesting for marketers - but how can you incorporate Instagram stories into your own marketing strategy?
According to Instagram, this function is intended to ensure that users who post very frequently do not experience any problems. The "stories" are displayed in a separate area and users can post as many photos in story format as they want without flooding their friends' feeds or their own profile page.
Post an Instagram story: step-by-step guide
Here we go! We'll tell you how to create your first Instagram story, and we'll also show you a few cool features.
- Tap the plus sign in the top left of your Instagram screen.
Here you can also see the Instagram stories of your contacts. If you have already published a story within the last 24 hours, you will see a circle around your profile picture here.
- Take a photo by tapping the round button or record a video by holding it down for up to 10 seconds.
The flash symbol activates the flash, and the symbol with the two arrows enables you to switch between the two cameras on your smartphone.
Have you already made a recording that you would like to use? Then just swipe down and choose the photo or video of your choice. This can also be a boomerang or hyperlapse video.
- Choose one of the three drawing tools to paint on your photos. Add emojis from your keyboard or swipe right to apply a simple color filter.
Tip: The colors shown at the bottom of the screen are just a small selection of those available to you. You can access more colors by pressing and holding one of the color circles. You will then see this screen:
- When you are happy with your story, tap the tick icon to share it with others.
Your story will then appear in your friends' feeds as shown here. Tap your profile picture to see your story there too.
Once your story is live, you can save it locally by simply opening the recording, tapping the three dots in the lower right corner and selecting "Save Photo". If you have a certain number of followers, you can also embed links in your story.
- Find out who watched your story by swiping up on your recording.
By the way, you can determine yourself who can see your posts. To do this, call up the settings (top right) via your profile. There you can define who can see your story and who can reply to your posts. You can also see the interactions with your Instagram story and get an insight into the reach of your story. Also find out who took screenshots of your story.
Wait a moment! Sounds like Snapchat, doesn't it?
In fact, you can tell from the name that Snapchat is dealing with a new competitor. Further similarities are the photo / video functionality, the automatic deletion of the content after 24 hours, filters and the drawing tools.
Instagram Stories now also has a "Memories" function, as is available on Snapchat, as well as filters, GIFs and stickers . When it comes to facial recognition, Instagram has quickly imitated the pioneer Snapchat - one of the most popular Snapchat features of all!
However, Instagram Stories has one big advantage over Snapchat: As part of the Facebook / Instagram conglomerate, it is difficult to make this feature appealing to users. The 150 million daily active users of Snapchat pale in comparison to the 300 million Instagrammers. With that in mind, Snapchat has yet to prove itself - Instagram can rely on its existing user base.
Instagram stories for marketers
Aside from your existing audience, you also have a better chance of being found on Instagram. You have to regularly promote Snapchat content on other channels - otherwise it will not be seen. On Instagram, on the other hand, there are hashtags, geotags and the "Discover" area, through which you can easily be found with your Instagram business account . With Snapchat content, it's easy to no longer find it - unless you know exactly what to look for.
But do Instagram Stories reach users?
Every social network has its own character, and Instagram has so far been the go-to place for well-prepared content. Stories offers exactly the opposite: short-lived snapshots that the typical Instagrammer could possibly find lack of work.
We're witnessing a new trend here where the emphasis is on short-lived content. Snapchat has shown the way and Instagram has successfully followed suit. Instead of spending hours working on the perfect photo, users now have the ability to create content that will only last for a short time.
No matter which network has the edge in the end, short-lived content will stay with us for a while. Or just not - as you can see.
