Instagram Stories are a great way to connect with your customers and share what’s going on in your business. However, if you’re not getting the reach you want, there are some things you can do to improve it. In this blog post, we will discuss some tips and tricks for increasing the reach of your Instagram Stories. We’ll also cover how to use them to promote your ecommerce business. Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
What is Instagram Stories
In case you’re not familiar, Instagram Stories is a feature within the app that allows users to share photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours.
You can think of it as sort of like Snapchat, but with a few key differences: first, because it’s built into the main Instagram app, it has way more users than other services (2 billion daily active users, as of December 2021).
Many companies, even the online banking service providers, are already creating a business account on Instagram to assist a full range of works and services and contact customers for customer support, gather information, launch advertising, connect with customers, and etc.
Second, you can share Stories directly to your feed, which gives them the potential to be seen by even more people.
And third, unlike Snapchat, you can see how many people have viewed each individual story, as well as who has viewed it.
This makes Instagram Stories an incredibly powerful tool for ecommerce businesses since you can use it to not only reach new potential customers but also to get feedback from your existing ones.
What is Instagram Stories Reach
Before we dive into the tips and tricks, let’s first define what Instagram Stories reach is. Instagram Stories reach is the number of people who see your ads.
It’s different from impressions, which are the number of times your story appears in someone’s feed. The average Instagram Stories reach is about 15%. However, this number will vary depending on the number of followers you have and how often you post stories.
Benefits of using Instagram Stories
There are a few key reasons why ecommerce businesses should use Instagram Stories.
First, as we mentioned before, it’s a great way to reach new potential customers. By using creative content, you can make your stories more discoverable to people who don’t already follow you.
Second, you can use Stories to show off your products in a creative and engaging way. This is a great way to give potential customers a better idea of what your product looks like and how it can be used.
Finally, you can use Stories to run quick and easy contests or promotions. This is a great way to increase engagement and grow your following.
Statistically, viewers are more likely to spend money on your brand.
Online Behavioral Advertising
There is one additional benefit of using Instagram Stories for ecommerce businesses: you can use it to collect data for online behavioral advertising.
Online behavioral advertising is a type of targeted advertising that uses data collected from people’s online activity to show them ads that are relevant to their interests.
For example, if you run an online store that sells women’s clothing, you could use online behavioral advertising to show Instagram Stories ads for your products to women who have previously viewed similar products on other websites.
How to create a great Instagram Story
Ecommerce businesses really should use Instagram Stories, right? If businesses manage to create great Instagram Stories, they are on their way to success.
Let’s look at some tips for creating a great Instagram Story for your ecommerce business.
Be Visually Appealing
First, make sure your story is visually appealing. This means using high-quality images and videos that are well-lit and in focus. You should also use creative visuals, like graphics, close-ups, and product photos to add interest. And, if you’re using text, use large, easy-to-read fonts.
Your story should also be visually cohesive. This means using similar colors, filters, and styles throughout your story. This will help create a consistent look that is easily recognizable to your followers.
To make sure your story is visually appealing, you can use Instagram’s built-in editing tools. These tools allow you to add filters, crop images, and more. You can also use third-party editing apps to create custom visuals.
You need to remind your employees to make the stories easy to read on the phone, as Instagram users mostly use a wireless device to access their Instagram accounts and browse.
By being visually appealing, you will be able to draw viewers in and keep them engaged.
Keep it Short
Second, keep your story short and sweet. Remember, people’s attention spans are shorter than ever, so you want to make sure you’re getting your point across quickly.
That means you should focus on one message per story and keep your videos under 15 seconds. And, if you’re using multiple images in your story, make sure they flow together seamlessly.
By keeping your story short and sweet, you’ll be more likely to hold people’s attention and get your point across.
Post Useful Content
Third, make sure your story is actually useful to your followers. This means posting content that is helpful, informative, or entertaining.
For example, you could post a tutorial on how to use your product, share a behind-the-scenes look at your business, or give a sneak peek of a new product. You could also run a quick contest or promotion.
By posting useful content, you will be able to connect with your followers and give them a reason to follow you or visit your websites.
Tips for increasing the reach of your Instagram Stories
Even if your Instagram Stories are great and converting, they are only productive when they reach the audience.
There are a number of ways to go about this.
Add a CTA (call to action) button
First, adding a CTA button to your Instagram story can help increase its reach. This can be done by going to your story settings and adding a “swipe up” link.
When viewers see this button, they will be more likely to swipe up and review the content you are sharing. This is a great way to increase the reach of your Instagram story and get more people to see your ecommerce sites.
A CTA button, in fact, has been shown to improve conversion rates by 83 percent.
Thus, if your CTA is asking viewers to share, it is highly possible that the reach of your Instagram Stories would become higher.
Embed links in your stories to direct viewers to specific pages on your website or blog
Third, you can increase the reach of your Instagram story by embedding links. This can be done by using the “link in bio” feature.
To do this, go to your profile and tap on the “Edit Profile” button. Then, scroll down and tap on “Add Website” Here, you can add a link to your website or blog.
Once you’ve added a link, it will be clickable in your stories. When viewers see this, they will be more likely to click on it and visit your website or blog. This is a great way to increase traffic to your site and get more people to see your ecommerce business.
Create polls and questionnaires for fun engagement with your audience
In addition, another way to increase the reach of your Instagram story is by creating polls and questionnaires. This is a great way to engage with your audience and get them involved in your story.
To create a poll or questionnaire, simply go to your story settings and tap on “Poll” or “Question”. Then, you can create a question and add answer options.
Viewers will then be able to vote on the poll or answer the questionnaire. This is a great way to get people involved in your story and increase its reach.
Repost user-generated content from your followers for added exposure
Finally, you can also increase the reach of your Instagram story by reposting user-generated content. This is a great way to show your followers that you appreciate them and their content.
To do this, simply go to your story settings and tap on “Repost”. Then, you can choose a photo or video from your feed to repost.
When you repost content, be sure to credit the original creator. This is a great way to increase the reach of your story and get more people involved in your ecommerce business.
The Takeaway
There are a number of different ways that you can use Instagram Stories to promote your ecommerce business.
In order to create a great Instagram Story, it should always be visually appealing, short and sweet, and useful in content. These are the basic rules to follow when creating an Instagram story.
And, if you want to go the extra mile in promoting your ecommerce business on Instagram Stories, be sure to use calls-to-action, links, polls and questionnaires, and user-generated content. By following these tips, you can start to see an increase in the reach of your Instagram Stories and overall engagement with your ecommerce business!