Interested about growing your business on Instagram, but not sure where to begin? We’ve got you covered! In this three part series, we’ll cover the basics that will make it easy to get started, and easy to keep it up.
Before we begin: if you have questions about whether Instagram is the right platform for your business, check out our recent blog post on the top four social media platforms and what you need to know for each.
See part one here: How to grow your business on Instagram: When and what to post
See part two here: How to grow your business on Instagram: Part two - hashtags
What are Instagram Stories?
Whereas the traditional Instagram feed is typically more curated and polished, Stories is a place where you can be more casual. It’s more about showing, well, a story, because you can post a series of photos and videos without inundating customers with multiple feed posts.
What should I post on Stories?
Just to get your creative juices flowing, here are a few instances where you might post to stories rather than your feed: You’re traveling for work. Take customers along on a buying trip, an industry conference, or a staff excursion. New products are available. Let customers see new apparel items, the evening’s dinner specials, or the steps for making an item you sell. Sharing customer mentions. If a customer tags you in their post or Story, share that in your Story. It makes them feel valued, and it’s easy additional content for you! Special event. Whether it’s a sale, a gallery walk, or a speaker, share the event with customers who couldn’t make it—this could increase the chances they’ll make a point to attend next time. Life beyond work. Let customers see you in the real world! It’s a great opportunity to let them get to know you better and feel more connected to you, and as a result, more connected to the business you are building. It’s also great practice to share the best photo from your Story on your feed, and encourage customers to “see more in my Stories!” Start with something you feel is doable. For instance, if stories sound like too much at the beginning, just start posting to your regular feed. The more you do it and use it, the more comfortable you will be trying new things. And the sooner you start, the sooner you’ll be a total pro!
