It can be intimidating to market your business on Instagram when you’re not sure what you should be doing. As a social media marketing agency, we have your back and will help you find the answers you’re looking for to grow your brand on Instagram. Before we cover the differences in content for your Instagram Stories vs. your Instagram Feed, let’s go over what Instagram is.
What is Instagram?
For the uninitiated, Instagram is a social media platform that allows anyone with an Instagram account to post pictures and videos while giving them the opportunity to engage with friends, family, Instagram celebrities, and brands. The Facebook-owned app can only be used to its full capacity on mobile and has more than 800 million users at the time this article was written. Here are more stats about Instagram you may not know:
79% of brand marketers of leveraged Instagram Shopping tools
82% of Instagram marketers post video content
Instagram Live has the highest ROI of any content format
84% of marketers say Instagram marketing was effective for their company last year
More than 1/3 of brands use Instagram for customer service and see high ROI
Despite the emergence of other social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. It’s in your best interest to consider the social media platform if you’re not already using it to grow your brand!
One of the questions we are asked regarding Instagram is what should I post to my story and what should I post on my feed? This is a common question so if you're wondering what the answer is, don't be embarrassed.
What should you be posting to your Instagram Story?
The approach you should take to your story is "What happens in a day of the life of me." Stories don't last forever on your Instagram story unless you want to save them. Take the vlog approach where you record the flow of your day and your random thoughts. A simple chain of events you could add to your story would be as follows:
Picture of your breakfast...add a little note of how it makes you feel
Boomerang of your favorite co-worker dancing at the office
Video of your lunch completed with a location tag
Screenshot of a quote you came across while on your phone at your desk
Picture of your favorite soda that you drink every afternoon
Picture of you and your BFF getting together for dinner with a location tag
Boomerang of you at the gym getting swole
A final picture of the day of you in bed
If you're a business, what you share on your Instagram Story will be different. Here are a few ideas of what you can share to your Instagram story as a brand:
Discounts and current sales
Announcements of new products or services
A sneak peak into a new clothing line
Run a poll on customer preferences
Behind-the-scenes pictures and videos of your factory/restaurant
A quick interview with the CEO
Instagram Stories capture the little moments of your day. They don't need to be absolutely perfect and should give your followers a glimpse into what goes on in your world. A key to having a successful Instagram Story is staying true to your brand's personality and style.
Start using the Stories feature if you haven’t already started! PC: Buffer
What should you be posting to your Instagram Feed?
Your Instagram Feed requires a different approach in a sense that posts are permanent unless they are deleted. If you're an influencer or a one-man-shop that provides a service such as athletic training, your feed should focus on polished, planned images and videos. Post images and videos that capture the essence of what your business is working to accomplish.
Planning photos and captions ahead of time will always work in your favor. It’s best to give yourself time when scheduling posts. You'll be able to post images that are consistent with your brand that your followers have grown to love. A few examples of people who do a great job are:
If you're running an Instagram account for a store or a restaurant, your approach will be different from an influencer's approach. Post well-lit product shots if you're selling a tangible item such as clothing, hardware, or food. If you can have models posing in the image, you'll get better engagement. Your goal should always be to provide value.
Improve feed post reach by sharing your posts to stories
Another effective way to expand your reach and get more engagement with your Instagram posts is to share posts as stories. This will help followers who mostly watch stories know that you just posted to your feed. It’s a simple way to increase overall engagement with your content for free. You can share both photos and videos to improve your visibility. This tactic can also be done with Instagram Reels to increase total views.
Are you new to Instagram?
If you haven’t already downloaded Instagram to your phone, you can get the Instagram app for free from the Google Play Store for Android devices or the App Store for iOS devices. Once the download has been completed, you can quickly set up your username and password to bring your Instagram account to life! It’s easy to set up your profile and begin adding photos and photos.
Got questions about Instagram marketing for your business?
Do you have any other questions about what you should post on your Instagram Feed or your Instagram Story? Fill out the form below and we’ll get back to you!