What makes stories work and why people appreciate them is explored in “The Storytelling Animal” by Jonathan Gottschall. In it, the insatiable need to tell tales among humans is laid bare. They embellish mundane occurrences into attention-grabbing tales. Although the techniques for reading tales have evolved over time, the concept itself has endured. Stories have always been around, first in books and now in people’s social media profiles.
Instagram, one of the most well-known social media sites, is credited with popularising the idea of storytelling among its users. It debuted the function of “Story” in its app back in August 2016, and today over 500 million users use this feature on daily basis. Instagram users create “stories” that disappear after 24 hours.
In this post, we’ll go over some simple tips for making your Instagram story more engaging, with the goal of making a long-lasting impression on your audience.
Insta-Story: what’s the deal?
In 2016, Instagram co-founder and CEO Key Systrom revealed that the app’s “Story” feature lets users post photos that disappear after 24 hours. A slideshow of all “story” images will always appear at the very top of a user’s main feed. The duration of each slide is 10 seconds (the spectator can pause the slideshow by touching the screen). No presentation slide or story can be more than a day old before it must be reuploaded.
Instagram Stories can range from advertising a new product to sharing a hilarious kitten video. Each day, millions of users see the stories posted by everyone from celebrities and influencers to startups and Fortune 500 companies. These narratives not only boost user engagement but also aid in the generation of natural leads.
It’s true that it can be challenging to come up with engaging Instagram stories on a consistent basis, especially for first-time users.
First, let’s take a look at some of the most important Instagram Stories statistics.
Instagram: How to Make a Good Story?
Creating and sharing Instagram stories is quickly becoming a popular pastime among young people and a useful tool for marketing products and services online. The world over, people are scrambling to figure out how to best take advantage of the 24-hour shelf life of these 10-15 second slides (Story).
Most Instagram users are aware of the platform’s ability to help them tell a compelling tale. The use of online graphic design software is not always necessary to stand out and generate unique stories, but it can assist. It has become increasingly vital for businesses and individuals to use graphic design software in order to promote their brand.
We’d be happy to share some fantastic advice on how to write stories that are both interesting and easy on the eyes.
Awe-Inspiring Graphic with Hip Verbiage
Several studies have shown that people are more likely to watch a story if it contains both attractively produced photographs and content written in the current dialect.
One of the most well-known travel agencies, for instance, promoted luxurious vacation spots on Instagram with the captions “YOLO” (You Only Live Once). They hoped to advertise their brand’s service by showing photographs of exciting locations and appealing to the audience’s sense of style and current events with sophisticated, on-trend copy.
This combo can be used for both business and pleasure. The abundance of free online graphic design tools makes it simple to create such images, which can then be uploaded to your Instagram story.
GIFs, Stickers and Emojis
Beautiful GIFs, original stickers, and emotive emoticons make it simple to communicate any feeling.
You might, for instance, want to share the news that you’ve finally been able to save your marriage online. Including some heart emojis or wedding-themed GIFs in your Instagram story might help you create a visually appealing post. A bright or moving sticker expressing your elation at this momentous change in your life is also an option.
Businesses may use GIFs and emojis to promote new sales or give users cash back, and they’re not only for making people’s stories look cool. Stickers can be used as a call to action, to promote sales and discounts, or to draw attention to brand upgrades.
Instagram’s in-app feature or the corresponding software can be used to add GIFs, stickers, and emojis to your posts.
For Viewers With Trigger Add-Ons
Most Instagrammers would like to see an increase in their number of followers. Users actively seek out comments and likes on their articles in an effort to increase their niche following count.
Users can be motivated to take action by including specific details in your tale. You can ask a timely question, add a poll with two choices (one of which is your location), or provide readers with a direct link to any resource of your choosing.
If you include one or the other add-on to your tale, it might stimulate the natural responses of viewers and help in improving your direct engagement. Instagram users can choose from a wide selection of stickers, emoticons, and GIFs. In contrast, graphic design software typically includes a number of premade templates that can serve as a starting point for further creative experimentation or audience segmentation.
Medley: the Story-Tuning Tool
Instagram is constantly trying out new things in order to improve the app. Just recently, it added the incredible ability to fine-tune your already incredible Instagram story. Make your stories come alive by adding touching lyrics that capture the emotion you want to share. You can use audio clips in your Instagram story.
If you own a dance studio and want to advertise it, you can use photographs of yourself in various dance stances set to popular tunes by artists like Cardi B and Beyoncé.