Instagram Stories: How to get the most out of them?

Since its launch in 2010, Instagram has accumulated more than 1,478 million active users, according to data from the German company Statista for 2022.

Its relevance and popularity is due, at first, to the updates and new functions that came to the application over the years. An example of this was the arrival of Instagram Stories (or Instagram Stories, due to their translation into Spanish), in 2016, shortly after the great impact that the social network Snapchat began to have.

Since that moment, there have been countless updates in one of the greatest successes of the social network. And as expected, this Instagram feature soon became a great tool for companies, brands and businesses to expand their horizons .

Today, in the middle of 2023, there are strategies, tips and other advice to be able to get the most out of this Instagram function that revolutionizes the way we connect with the world every day.

What is Instagram Stories?

According to the social platform itself, this function is summarized in the following phrase: “Share moments of your day . ” And it couldn't be more literal, since Instagram Stories are that; a function that allows us to share, through audiovisual or simply visual content, a moment, moment, news or event with our followers. It is worth highlighting the maximum particularity of Instagram Stories: they only last 24 hours and are displayed in the upper region of the mobile and web application.

In order to unleash the user's creativity, Stories can be accompanied with:

• Location tags.
• Text.
• Music.
• Stickers.
• GIF.
• Hashtags.
• Filters.
• Mentions from other accounts.
• Avatars.
• Surveys.
• Links.
• Questionnaires.
• Question boxes.
• Countdowns.
• Interactive stickers.
  

We are sure that future updates will bring new tools and functions to Instagram Stories.

How to make an Instagram Story

There are various methods to create a good Story. To create an Instagram Story using the conventional method, just open the application and press the “Your story” option.

The application's camera will open and all you have to do is take the photo or video you want and edit it with the options offered by the application and then share it with our followers for 24 hours. Likewise, you can select some content directly from the photo roll.

In addition to the previous point, there are other more elaborate methodologies to create Instagram Stories. In this sense, the professional or advanced method refers to the use of software other than Instagram to edit the content, as well as having a better production team to obtain the material.

Usually professional content is edited with other programs to achieve results that cannot be obtained with the options that Instagram offers us.

If you are a person or organization that is interested in creating quality content for your social networks, we recommend creating a methodology that helps you obtain the content and results you want . Likewise, you should carefully plan the themes you will use to create your Stories.

How to check your Instagram Stories views

In a personal account, just enter the Story and swipe up. This action will display a menu showing the total number of people who viewed the status, as well as the profiles of each of them.

For their part, the accounts of creators or companies show other data. When you slide up, a new tab called “Statistics” appears, in which you can find reach and interaction data that followers had with the Stories such as:

• Accounts reached.
• Accounts that interacted.
• Profile activity.
• Impressions.
• Times it was shared.
• Answers.
• Advances.
• Abandonments.
• Setbacks.
• Next story.
• Profile visits.
• New followers.

What is the size of Instagram stories?

Although you can share audiovisual content of any size on Instagram Stories, the ideal and recommended size for an image or video to be displayed in full screen is 1080 px by 1920 px.

Understood another way, it is an aspect ratio of 9:16 so that the content can be appreciated ideally.

7 tips for making Instagram stories

If you want to learn how to get the most out of Instagram Stories, we recommend following the following tips to be successful.

Promote content, services and products

The reach of an Instagram Story is much greater than a publication, just look and compare the views of a story and the likes of any publication from the same brand.

In this sense, try to create creative and attractive content about what you offer. Instagram Stories are a great channel and tool for disseminating information.

Share content with your followers

When a user tags you in a Story or post, the possibility of sharing it in your stories will be presented. This generates a strong link between the user and the brand. Plus, users will be grateful.

Interact and get to know your followers

With the Questions or Surveys functions, for example, it is possible to interact with users to find out their opinions and ideas. It is a great option, since it allows you to have short responses from followers.

Create Highlights

Highlights, also known as Featured Stories, are a function anchored to our profile where stories that were previously shown are brought together, but are now only visible to those who visit the profile.

With this tool, you can create groups or categories of Featured Stories that may be interesting to followers.

Share your own posts in Stories

A comprehensive way to have almost the same reach in Stories and publications is to share any post on your profile as a story. Not only is it a good way to create content, it is also an excellent method of self-promotion.

Take advantage of Instagram colors

Do you think you can only use the colors shown in the Instagram Stories tools? Hold down the color bar and a slider will appear from which you can choose the color you want to draw or create text.

You use Instagram Stories like a BTS

If you have a business or company, you can use Instagram Stories to show the human part of the processes you carry out. Present your work team, your daily life or simply create storytelling to gain validity among your consumers.

Schedule a call with MHA and let us advise you so you can achieve your sales goals.