How Instagram Stories Revolutionized Digital Marketing: Unleashing the Power of Brand Personality and Advertising

Instagram Stories have revolutionized digital marketing by allowing companies to showcase their more human side and use current trends to have more fun with their marketing.

Instagram has a large and diverse user base that makes it one of the most effective tools for marketers looking to increase the reach and engagement of their business.

Instagram maintains a customer-first advertising policy, limiting ads and how often its users see them. Because the advertising isn’t pushy or aggressive, it works.

Specifically, the implementation of Instagram stories in recent years has changed the game completely. Where a conventional Instagram post might feel somewhat formal, stories are a short, slice-of-life kind of content that emphasizes a sense of connection and humanity.

They’re fun, provide lots of room for creativity, and have the capability to be very, very interactive.

Here are some ways that Instagram Stories can be used to revolutionize digital marketing:

Show what makes your brand fun and relatable: Instagram Stories are a great tool for showing potential customers (and existing ones) why your brand is relatable or interesting. All marketers know that social media engagement is important. It’s one of the best ways to develop trust from prospects. And the more they trust you, the more likely they are to become loyal customers.
Create leads and generate customers: Instagram Stories make it easy for marketers to engage with users, humanize their brands, create leads, and generate customers on the platform. Brands can share a relevant photo or video with Instagram Stories and link to any piece of content – a blog, a page on the site, a YouTube video, an e-book, and more.
Opportunities for engagement: On an Instagram story, Instagram provides the opportunity to engage directly with your followers through features like holding polls and asking questions1. One of the reasons Glossier has been so successful is the way they’ve utilized Instagram stories. They give their customers the opportunity to provide valuable feedback and share their thoughts on all things skincare-related, building brand loyalty and awareness at the same time.
Instagram Story Insights: On Instagram, all business profiles have the ability to view their Story Insights. This allows the user to see how many people have viewed their story, how many people have engaged with it, and more.

Some keys to innovation

One of the most game-changing additions to the platform has been Instagram Stories, which has redefined the way brands present their personality and engage with audiences through advertising. In this blog post, we’ll explore how Instagram Stories has leveraged digital marketing tools and updates, revolutionizing brand promotion and customer interaction since its inception.

The Outset of Instagram Stories: Launched in 2016, Instagram Stories was initially considered a copycat of Snapchat’s feature, but it quickly surpassed its predecessor due to Instagram’s immense user base and built-in brand affinity. Instagram Stories enables users to share photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours, creating a sense of urgency and exclusivity, which advertisers soon realized could be harnessed for their benefit.
Humanizing Brands through Authentic Content: Instagram Stories provided a unique opportunity for businesses to showcase their brand’s personality beyond polished images and scripted captions. With the Stories format, brands could adopt a more authentic and human approach, connecting with their audience on a deeper level. Behind-the-scenes glimpses, employee takeovers, and real-time updates allowed companies to appear more approachable and relatable to potential customers.
Interactive Features for Enhanced Engagement: Instagram Stories introduced interactive elements such as polls, quizzes, and question stickers that encouraged active engagement with followers. This interactivity sparked genuine conversations and feedback, making users feel valued and heard. As a result, brands could gather valuable insights into their customers’ preferences and tailor their marketing strategies accordingly.
Influencer Marketing Amplification: The rise of Instagram Stories gave birth to a new era of influencer marketing. Influencers began utilizing the Stories format to provide authentic product reviews, unboxing experiences, and real-time endorsements. This collaboration between brands and influencers amplified brand visibility and credibility, driving higher conversion rates and brand loyalty.
Swipe Up Feature for Seamless CTA: When Instagram introduced the «Swipe Up» feature for verified accounts and accounts with a certain follower count, brands found a game-changing tool for driving traffic directly to their websites or landing pages. This streamlined call-to-action made it easier for consumers to access products or services, boosting conversion rates and overall campaign success.
Story Ads and Sponsored Content: As Instagram Stories gained momentum, the platform rolled out Story Ads and Sponsored Content options for businesses. These native advertising formats allowed brands to seamlessly integrate promotional content into users’ feeds, ensuring higher visibility and relevance. By strategically aligning their Stories with the interests of their target audience, marketers could achieve better engagement and conversion rates.

What are some creative ways to use Instagram Stories for marketing?

Here are some creative ways to use Instagram Stories for marketing:

Share a Reel or feed post with a “new post” sticker.
Post Stories throughout the day to stay top-of-mind for your followers without annoying them.
Use Instagram Stories to engage with your audience by conducting a poll, hosting a Q&A, spotlighting your customers, quizzing your followers, reposting user-generated content, hosting a giveaway, or starting a challenge.
Introduce your team to your audience to add transparency to your brand.
Use Instagram Stories to promote your products and services by using a link sticker or a shopping sticker.
Tease upcoming product launches in your Stories to create buzz surrounding the release.
Announce discounts and specials in your Stories.
Use Stories to drive traffic to other sources such as your website, additional social media platforms, or content on other mediums3.
Use Instagram Stories to show photos or videos of your product or service in action.
Use rainbow or ombre letters to make your Stories stand out.
Spread the word about upcoming promotions, sales, or discounts in your Stories.
Use Instagram Stories Highlights to curate customer-focused categories such as product launches, new features, use cases, blog content, and more.
Use Stories to showcase behind-the-scenes content, such as how your product is made.
Use Stories to introduce your brand’s values and mission to your audience.

These are just a few ideas to get you started. The key is to be creative and engaging with your audience. Use Instagram Stories to showcase your brand’s personality and connect with your followers on a personal level.

How to create engaging Instagram Stories for marketing

To create engaging Instagram stories for marketing, here are some ideas and tips:

Share stories about your business: You can share the story of how your business started, your mission, the challenges you have had to overcome, or an anecdote that shows the personality of your business. Use video or even just text on a simple background.
Showcase your products or services: Take advantage of the full-screen format of stories to showcase your products, launch new products, and announce sales. If you have a service business, show a glimpse of your services.
Ask for opinions and reviews from your customers: Ask your customers to share their opinions and reviews about your products and services, and share them in your stories.
Use stickers and polls: Stickers and polls are an easy and interactive way to capture your audience’s attention and increase engagement.
Create tutorials and how-to’s: The sequential format of the stories makes them perfect for step-by-step educational content. From recipes to beauty tutorials, you can create bite-size educational content that’s highly engaging.
Announce discounts and promotions: Use stories to announce special discounts and promotions to your followers.
Use music and text formatting: Music and text formatting can add creativity to your Instagram stories and give them energy.
Use links and tags: Use stories to direct your followers to other places, like your website or your other social networks.
Be authentic: Instagram stories are a casual way to connect with your audience, so don’t be afraid to be authentic and show your brand’s personality.
Post regularly: Post stories regularly to keep your audience engaged and top of mind.

Conclusion:

Instagram Stories has indisputably transformed the landscape of digital marketing. By providing businesses with innovative tools to showcase their personality, foster authentic connections, and promote products or services seamlessly, it has become a powerhouse for advertisers seeking to maximize their outreach. As Instagram continues to evolve, marketers must stay on top of the latest updates and trends to fully leverage the platform’s potential for driving brand success. So, whether you’re a seasoned marketer or a budding salesperson, harness the power of Instagram Stories to unleash the full potential of your brand and boost your digital marketing endeavors.