How to Influence Customers Through IG Stories
Instagram Stories has been around for less than two years, but it's already become one of the most popular social media platforms.
According to a recent study by Hootsuite and We Are Social, Instagram Stories reached 1 billion active monthly users a couple of years ago. The same study found that users who post regular stories are three times more likely to get organic reach than those who don't use the feature at all.
As such, marketers should take advantage of this opportunity by creating engaging IG stories that attract followers and increase brand awareness among targeted audiences.
Here are some tips on how to do just that!
Use storytelling to create a personal connection with viewers.
Before you start using Instagram Stories, you need to understand how to influence customers through IG Stories.
The first step is to use storytelling. When people think about storytelling, they often think about the classic novel or movie format, but it's much more than that. It's about making your audience feel connected to your brand by sharing your story and helping them see themselves in it.
You can do this by using a variety of different features on Instagram Stories: photos, videos, polls, questions, stickers and more. You can also use hashtags to help your audience find your brand or products easily and make sure that they're getting the information they want from you!
Here are some tips to follow when creating stories on Instagram:
Use storytelling to create a personal connection with viewers.
Use a consistent style of storytelling throughout your IG stories.
Share the behind-the-scenes of your business, so viewers feel like they're getting an inside look at their favorite brands and companies.
Use consistent branding and messaging throughout your IG stories.
Now that you've seen all the ways to use IG stories, it's time to put these strategies into practice. But before you do, there are a few important things to keep in mind.
One of the most important things is using consistent branding and messaging throughout your IG stories. This can be tricky because it requires a lot of planning ahead, but it'll pay off in the long run by making sure your customers know exactly who you are and what you stand for as a brand.
Give followers a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes of your business.
Giving followers a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes of your business is a great way to get them invested in your company.
You can show them what it’s like to work at your company and give them a peek into your culture, which will help them feel like they know you better and make them more likely to become customers.
If you have fun doing what you do, this content will also be entertaining for people outside of your industry who just want to see something funny or interesting from time to time.
Include user-generated content in your IG stories.
You can use user-generated content (UGC) to show your customers how much they mean to you.
Showcase their photos of themselves using your products, or ask them to post photos of themselves doing something that shows off your brand.
You could also ask customers to show you what they're buying, and then share their purchases on IG stories. This will help spread their excitement about the things they love, and get others excited too!
Respond to comments on your IG stories.
It’s a good idea to respond to comments on your IG stories. Here are some ways to do it:
Respond quickly with a positive comment and emoji. This is a great way to show that you heard the person's complaint, are taking it seriously, and will work to improve things for them in the future.
Be honest about what happened when someone complains about you or something you did. It shows customers that you take their feedback seriously and gives them confidence in working with you again in the future.
Ask questions or pose polls related to your business so that customers can give feedback directly within your story if they want (and this helps get more people involved). You can find out how many people like certain products, which features they love most about a service or product, etc., which is helpful if there are changes/improvements needed based on user input!
Run an Instagram Stories contest or giveaway.
If you're looking for a way to increase engagement, Instagram Stories contests and giveaways are perfect for your brand.
A contest is a fun way to engage customers and share their experiences with others, while a giveaway encourages them to interact with the content in order to win something.
Set up an Instagram Story ad that includes all of this information:
A link where entrants can submit a photo or video (or whatever they’re asked to submit)
The rules and guidelines of your contest or giveaway (the more specific, the better)
The hashtag you want them to use when posting their submission (this will make it easy for people who want to enter)
Consider what types of prizes would appeal to your audience and what kind of story would keep them interested. If you're trying to sell a product, consider giving away the product itself or something related to it.
For example, if you're selling makeup brushes, give away a gift card for makeup brushes or lipsticks at a local drugstore. If you're trying to sell tickets, give away tickets through Eventbrite or another offer-based service.
Create sneak peeks for new products or services in your IG stories.
When you create an Instagram story for a new product, service or event, make sure to start it with an image that shows the excitement and anticipation. This will create a sense of urgency in your followers and encourage them to continue watching until the end of your story.
You can also use this opportunity to give them an offer they can't refuse! Make sure it's something they find valuable enough to share with their friends and family.
You can use many different tactics to influence customers through Instagram Stories
You can use many different tactics to influence customers through Instagram Stories. Use pictures and videos to share what your business is all about. You can also use consistent branding, give followers a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes of your business, include user-generated content in your IG stories, respond to comments on your IG stories and run an Instagram Stories contest or giveaway.
Make sure you have a specific goal in mind before starting any marketing campaign. If possible, make that goal measurable so that you know when it has been reached (i.e., increase sales by 10 percent within three months).
Conclusion
Instagram Stories has proven to be a powerful tool for businesses looking to connect with their audience. We can use it to engage people in new ways by telling stories online and using visuals in different ways.
It is important that we understand what makes IG Stories so appealing and take inspiration from how brands use them today to learn from their Instagram's success. After all, more engagement leads to a bigger following. Which also increases your chances of making money on Instagram.