How to Maximise Instagram Stories as a Brand
Before getting into how to maximise Instagram stories as a brand, a few words should be said about why this is so important within today’s marketing strategies. It is becoming more and more evident that most people now turn to social media for information on everything from brands to products and even services. With this in mind and Instagram being always within the top five social platforms, there are few better ways to establish your brand and engage your audience. To think that it all begins with an Instagram story that will draw your audience in. Now it’s time to see how that’s best accomplished.
Begin with a Clear Definition of Your Business Goals
This is a critical stage in planning how you will tell your story as a brand. It is imperative that you set clear goals prior to creating or uploading any content. Things to consider might be:
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What do you want your audience to know about your brand?
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What are you trying to accomplish?
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How can you put a face to the name?
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How can you best engage your audience?
These are just a few ideas to get you started with the planning stage. Once you have a clear definition of exactly what you hope to accomplish with your Instagram story as a brand, it’s time to begin creating and uploading content.
Every Picture Tells a Story
Many of you may not remember the Rod Stewart hit circa 1971 unless you are into classic rock; however, truer words were never spoken. Sung? Every picture does tell a story so if you are using Instagram as a way to build brand awareness with your business story, let the pictures do the talking for you. Remember, it’s Instagram after all!
Perhaps the best piece of advice you can be given here is that the quality of your photos speaks volumes as to the quality you embrace as a brand. Fortunately for any business trying to avoid the cost of professional photographers, you can shoot your own digital photo and then change background of photo online. It doesn’t matter what you have in the background; it can easily be totally replaced with a high-quality background that appears as if the picture was snapped by a pro.
Invite User Comments and Questions
This is something that is also a critical element in a social media marketing strategy to build brand awareness. Today’s consumer wants to build relationships with brands they deal with and the best way to do that online is by inviting them to comment or ask any questions they might have. However, it is even more important that you respond timely to their comments. No relationship, by its very definition, is a one-way street, so make sure to let the commenter know they are heard and acknowledged. Instagram is a highly popular social media platform, after all, and to keep it social it demands a conversation.
The Choice Is Yours
Since you are telling your brand’s story with images, you can choose the photos you wish to show the world. You can showcase products, people, warehouses, manufacturing lines or whatever you want your audience to know about who you are and what you do.
With that said, consumers like to put a face to the name, so try to highlight key people in the photos you upload. It could be management, staff, or even happy clients. Remember, you just need the image because you can change the background easily online. Get a clear digital image, add a pertinent background and you are now an Instagram pro. It can be just that easy if you follow the plan for maximising your Instagram story for brand awareness.