When it comes to creating a high-performing Instagram strategy for your brand, it’s pretty common for the main feed to get the most attention. From the grid aesthetic to creating content pillars that will generate those oh-so-desirable likes and comments, keeping up with our Reels and static posts can take up a lot of time and focus, while another Instagram feature often gets put to the backburner: stories. Consider this your sign to change that narrative!

Why Instagram Stories?

Instagram stories are one of the best ways to reach your audience, create conversions, and engage one-on-one through DMs with your followers. Stopping the scroll on the main feed with your content is one thing, but what about stopping the tap-through of stories to get your audience's attention?

Unlike feed posts, stories have the option to include links that can either go to your website, a specific product, a newsletter sign-up, or your latest blog, making the customer journey from CTA to action that much easier. Additionally, if your followers have a question or like what they see in your story, they can simply respond directly to your story, eliminating many opportunities for miscommunication and even leading to more conversions.

I know it might feel overwhelming to develop a whole new story-centric strategy for your brand when you’ve already got a ton on your plate, so for today’s blog, we thought we’d share some ideas that have really worked for our brand in hopes that you may adopt some of these ideas to make the most of your Instagram stories. 

Instagram Story Tip #1: Engage With Your Audience

Instagram stories are the best way to get feedback from your audience, either through DM or one of Instaram’s various stickers. This includes rating scales, polls, multiple-choice questions, and even the option to allow your audience to ask questions in the question box. Take advantage of these (and use a Packsia video background while you’re at it!) and watch your story views climb. 

Instagram Story Tip #2: Make Them Interactive

An interactive story set is one of our favorite types of stories to create. While they may take a bit more time, they are a fun way to encourage your audience to continue tapping through your stories instead of swiping to the next account. We do this by creating our “Tap to Edit” stories, which show the step-by-step process of using a Packsia video to create content like a blog call-to-action or an out-of-office announcement. 

Instagram Story Tip #3: Consistency + Frequency

If there’s one thing the algorithm loves, it’s consistency! Take a few minutes at the beginning of the month to plan out what kind of stories you will run each day. On Mondays, we like to show our newest packs; on Fridays, we like to feature our most popular packs. Run the same schedule for a few weeks while tracking the data to see which content performs best. From there, you can readjust your strategy to keep it fresh and high-performing. No matter what, by posting every day, you will stay atop of the feed and always at the forefront of your customer’s minds. 

Instagram Story Tip #4: Add Value

Use your stories to offer exclusive deals and discounts to reward your followers for watching them! This can include a limited-time discount code, an exclusive first look at a new product, and more. 

Instagram Story Tip #5: Support Your Community

Stories are a fantastic way to share love with your community! This means re-posting your customer's content (we love to see how our community uses our Packsia videos!), sharing tips that you find useful from your favorite accounts, or simply just posting content that you enjoy!

Instagram Story Tip #6: Make Them Original

Sharing your feed posts to your stories is great, but we suggest mixing it up with original content too. A little extra effort goes a long way, and with Packsia creating original content for your stories is super easy. 

So, are you ready to give your story strategy a little extra love? With our vertical video library made for stories and Reels, the possibilities are truly endless. We can’t wait to see what you create, and don’t forget to tag us for a re-share!