Instagram Story

An Instagram Story is a feature on Instagram that allows users to publish content that will disappear after 24 hours. Instagram stories appear vertically and can contain text, images, videos, and music. Instagram stories differ from Instagram posts as they do not appear in feeds, and Instagram users must click on their profiles to view their stories. Users can customize their stories to include different interactive options for viewers or highlight certain content. Users can add many other features to their stories to showcase their personalities and engage their audience.

Instagram stories are a great way for creators to share content with their followers that they don’t want to have on their feed or grid forever. Instagram stories don’t have to be curated so that Instagram posts are made to be “Instagram perfect” and allow creators to quickly connect and engage with their followers, resulting in more robust community engagement.

Benefits of Instagram Stories:

• Privacy: Users are able to choose who is able to view their story, they are also able to see which profiles have viewed their story. Instagram provides a close friends feature where the user is able to select which accounts are part of their close friends list and able to see content released just for them.
• Interactivity: There are many features that users can add to their story to help keep the viewers engaged and sit through the whole story. Users are able to connect with their audience and ask them questions to receive feedback.
• Limited Content: Since Instagram stories disappear after 24 hours, they are an excellent vehicle for delivering time-sensitive information or showcasing content the user does not want on their permanent grid.
• Increase exposure: Users can repost their content to promote their profile and encourage their followers to engage with their content. Instagram stories appear at the top of the Instagram home feed; therefore, followers are more likely to view the content.
• Effective Marketing: Businesses can use stories for targeted advertising and include links to any webpage or product they want the viewer to access quickly. Instagram stories provide valuable information as the user is able to see who viewed the story and what content receives more likes from the viewers.

Unlike other forms of content shared on Instagram, stories are not featured to accounts who aren’t followers, however Instagram stories can be accessible to all Instagram accounts through their public profile. Instagram stories for the creator to build their community and engage with the followers. Creators can utilize Instagram stories to share quick snippets of their personality and highlight what makes them unique.

Who Can View Instagram Stories?

• When a public account shares Instagram stories, anyone with an Instagram account can view them within 24 hours.
• Instagram stories shared through private accounts can only be seen by Instagram account followers.
• Close friends is a feature that Instagram implemented where users may curate a list of Instagram accounts they would like to have access. When posting a story Instagram users can pick between posting it to their regular story or to their close friends story.

Features of an Instagram Story

Users can share images, videos, and text to their stories. Instagram stories are very customizable and have a variety of features, such as:

• Stickers –Stickers can be cartoons, GIFs, or text to enhance the interaction between viewers and the story. Stickers can be used to provide additional information like hashtags and locations.
• Interactivity –Users can add polls, questions, trivia, and sliders to ask their viewers questions. This boosts engagement and provides the user feedback on what their viewers are interested in.
• Mentions –Users can tag other users in their story. This allows the viewers to be able to quickly find profiles of others.
• Music –Users can add any music of their choice. Adding music to an Instagram story helps the viewers stay engaged and watch the story longer.
• Images –Users can add a collage of images to highlight multiple elements at once
• Drawing Tools –Users are able to use a pen or marker to draw on their stories, this allows the user to be creative.
• Links –Users can add a link to their story, allowing their viewers to head directly to a product or website.
• Location –Users can add a geotag to their story.
• Countdown –Users can add a countdown timer for events or announcements.
• Text –Users can add text to send a temporary message to their followers or add extra context to their story.

Story Series

Instagram users can post multiple stories on their profiles. They will appear as a story series, and the viewers will see each story chronologically. A maximum of 100 stories a user can post within 24 hours. However, users should note that there will be a natural decline in views when posting multiple stories simultaneously. A slight decline is expected; however, a drastic decrease would indicate that the viewers do not find the content engaging or does not pique their interest. Users should utilize this information to see if they can create more engaging Instagram stories.

Creating Story Highlights

Instagram users can add stories to appear on their profiles as highlights. Instagram highlights can be viewed even after the Instagram story has expired. Users can create different highlights and organize their stories accordingly. Here are the steps to add a story to a highlight:

1. On the profile page, there will be a plus sign close to the top right corner of the screen.
2. The user will be prompted to select which type of content they would like to create, and users should select ‘Story highlight.’
3. Users should be able to enter a name for their highlight folder and then click next.
4. Users can select which story or stories they want to add to that highlight.
5. Users can choose a cover photo for the highlight and then click done.

Note: Users can edit their highlights at any time. Highlights will remain visible after the original story expires, and they will remain visible until the user removes them. Highlights will remain visible to accounts that have been able to view the original Instagram story.

When to make an Instagram Story

Since Instagram stories are temporary and disappear after 24 hours, they are best for content that wouldn’t fit well in an Instagram post or Instagram reel. Examples of situations where an Instagram story is most appropriate include:

• Teasing a product launch
• Announcing time-sensitive dates, such as limited-time offers
• Showcasing special events
• Sharing behind-the-scenes content with their audience
• Sharing content that does not fit with the Instagram grid and profile’s aesthetic
• Linking content outside of Instagram