How they can be your business’ new best friend

Instagram Stories

IntroductionInstagram Stories are fifteen-second pictures or videos you share with your followers that disappear in 24 hours.In this brief eBook, PTE shares five reasons why they can be a fun and handy feature to utilize for helping promote your business.Are you ready?

If you or your business has an Instagram account, chances are you’ve experimented with, or at least viewed, Instagram Stories.

Contents

1. See and Be Seen2. A Peek Behind the Curtain

3. Turn the Tables4. Interact and Engage5. COVID-19 Special Features

See and Be Seen

1

Instagram Stories give you the potential for some great reach.

According to Instagram's internal data from 2019, Stories are used by 500 million users every day. Stories are also always at the very top of your followers' feed, making your content easily seen and easily accessible. No need to worry about being hidden by the algorithm here!

Plus, even people who don’t follow you can view your Stories, or Highlights, and get a glimpse of what your business has to offer via social media. Stories are also shareable, meaning your followers can send and spread your account to friends.

A Peek Behind the Curtain

2

Stories are a great place to show off some of the “behind the scenes” to your business.

Users want to see the human side of a brand, and studies have shown that authenticity is playing a much more significant role in consumers' decisions now.

Stories won’t take too much time out of your day to capture, and they could enhance your brand’s image to customers.

Take a series of quick videos introducing members of your team, demonstrating how things are made, or addressing frequently asked questions. Don't be afraid to have fun with it and add in some humor if fitting for your brand.

Turn the Tables

3

Stories are a great way to learn more about your followers, too.

Multiple features within Stories allow you to get information from and engage with users, such as polls, Q&A, and quizzes. These features are great ways to ask for feedback, survey which product or service your customers would like to see debut next, or to open the floor for your audience to ask youquestions.

Your audience will feel more connected to you, and you're showing them that you value their opinions.

Plus, you can see the individuals who viewed the story, not just the total count, and you can start identifying those most engaged with your brand.

Interact and Engage

4

While polls, Q&A, and quizzes offer ways to learn about your audiences and get certain information, Stories offer the unique ability to interact and engage with your followers as well.

If a customer or guest mentions or tags your business in a photo, you can share it to your Story as a way to give them a shout out or thank them. This helps build relationships online and encourages engagement in the future. Just remember to tag them in the Story so they get notified!

Plus, user generated content can act as a firsthand testimonial to potential customers. When they see that someone else has interacted positively with your product or brand, they could be more inclined to do so themselves.

COVID-19 Special Features

5

As the situation with COVID-19 continues to evolve, staying in touch with your audience is essential.

Instagram has launched various COVID-19-specific features for use in Stories including a Stay Home sticker, a Thank You sticker (intended to thanking health care heroes and others serving on the front lines), and a Support Small Business sticker.

When you use these stickers, your story will be added to a shared Instagram story for other to see. In particular, the Support Small Business sticker offers a new way for consumers to discover new places, as well as the opportunity for your business to reach new customers/guests and stay connected to those you already serve. Further, this feature allows for a lot of the engagement and interaction abilities noted in point four.

ClosingIt’s our hope that this eBook has helped you identify some opportunities for your own business to use Instagram Stories.

Not sure where to begin? Don’t worry.We’re here to help.

Contact us today.

Thank youIf you have any questions or want to talk about how

we may be able to assist you more, please get in touch.

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