Instagram Stories

Are you using Instagram Stories for your brand? If not, you should be! And if you’re wondering how to get started, our latest #ContentWritingChat is perfect for you. If you missed out, dive into the recap below, which is filled with awesome tips brands can use to impress on Instagram Stories. #ContentWritingChat Recap: Instagram Stories for Business with Sue B. Zimmerman Join us for #ContentWritingChat on Tuesday, April 11th at 10 AM Central Time to chat Instagram Stories with @SueBZimmerman! pic.twitter.com/zqqS8QRVGy — Express Writers (@ExpWriters) April 4, 2017 Our guest host this week was the Instagram Expert herself, Sue B. Zimmerman. Sue is no stranger to posting content on Instagram Stories, so she shared her tips on how we can all be using it to connect with our audience and grow our online presence. Q1: Is it important for a brand to be present on Instagram Stories? How can it help your brand? Is it really necessary for a brand to be using Instagram Stories? And how exactly can this Instagram feature help a brand’s online presence? Find out what our chat participants think about it below: A1 Instagram Stories are great for brands if you have a strategy that your audience will be interested in watching #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/AYPgTi7rsk — ★TheInstagramExpert★ (@SueBZimmerman) April 11, 2017 Sue feels Instagram Stories can be great for brands if they have a strategy their audience would be interested in watching. After all, it comes down to having interesting content that your target audience would want to tune into. A1 Stories are mostly for real human story which #Millennials & all other loves. You can’t ignore #InstagramStories #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/DMowno4UZz — Varun Kumar ? (@DigitalVK) April 11, 2017 Varun knows that millennials and many others connect with real, human stories. Instagram Stories provides a great way for you to share that with your audience. A1: I think IG stories can really help personalize your brand, we need to jump on board & do it. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/Hj4P2JdG6L — editorr® (@editorrapp) April 11, 2017 It’s a great way to personalize your brand and allow your followers to get to know you. When they get to see who you are and what you’re all about, they’ll form a stronger connection with your brand. A1 Instagram stories bring your audience up close and personal with your brand! Don’t fail to utilise it! #contentwritingchat pic.twitter.com/sUycYUWXl6 — HeyOrca! (@HeyOrca) April 11, 2017 You can easily bring your audience up close and personal with your brand through your Stories content. Q2: How do you know if Instagram Stories is right for your audience? Should you also be using Snapchat or stick to just one? Before you begin using Instagram Stories, it’s important that you consider if it’s right for your brand and your audience. While it may work for someone else, it might not be the ideal move for you, so you have to think about it first. Check out this advice on how to know if it’s right for you and if you should also use Snapchat: A2 I think #InstagramStories can be use for any business as long as it aligns with your core business values #ContentWritingChat — ★TheInstagramExpert★ (@SueBZimmerman) April 11, 2017 Sue said Instagram Stories can work for any business, as long as it aligns with your core business values. A2: Go to where your audience is! If you’re followed on Snapchat, use that plaform, if it’s Instagram, go there! #contentwritingchat — Digital Natives Cast (@DgtlNativesCast) April 11, 2017 When choosing between Instagram Stories and Snapchat, you want to consider where your audience is. Use the platform that they’re actively using so you stand a better chance at getting seen. A2a: Do your research! Are your customers on IG? Do your competitors do well on IG? Don’t be there for the sake of it! #contentwritingchat pic.twitter.com/x1JaVtAdqx — Traffic Jam Media (@trafficjammedia) April 11, 2017 Take the time to do your research before investing the effort into another platform. Ask yourself if your customers are spending time on Instagram Stories. Are your competitors doing well there? These are important things to consider before diving in. A2: If IG audience likes your Stories, head over to SnapChat to see if it resonates there, too. If not, no biggie.#ContentWritingChat https://t.co/ZAx01ScsfL — ThinkSEM (@ThinkSEM) April 11, 2017 If your audience likes your content on Instagram Stories, Snapchat may work for you as well. If you want to find out, the best way is to just give it a go and see what happens. A2 I’d recommend testing all that your audience uses-see where you get the most engagement, not just views #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/Kaic6Wjafy — LUCYrk (@LUCYrk78) April 11, 2017 Lucy also recommends testing to see which platform is ideal for your brand and audience. Try sharing content to each and see which one gets the most engagement. A2: Don’t just blast the same content on both channels, especially if your audience is on both. Shake it up a little! #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/lESGqF9MVx — Mallie Rust (@malliefe2o3) April 11, 2017 As Mallie said, it’s important that you don’t share the same content on both channels. If you have people following you on Instagram Stories and Snapchat, it’ll be repetitive. Find ways to change it up so that it stays fresh and interesting. Q3: What kind of content should you create and post to your Instagram Stories? Once you’ve made the decision to commit to Instagram Stories, you need to decide what you’ll post there. After all, you can’t just post any old thing. It has to be relevant and appealing to your audience. Here’s some helpful advice so you can create amazing content for Stories: A2 Make sure you are sharing EXCLUSIVE content in your IG Stories so people come back every time they see the rainbow #ContentWritingChat — ★TheInstagramExpert★ (@SueBZimmerman) April 11, 2017 A3 Share a Raw, Informal Glimpse Into Your Business #ContentWritingChat Real & Raw is what connects others to YOU — ★TheInstagramExpert★ (@SueBZimmerman) April 11, 2017 Sue recommends sharing exclusive content to … Read more