{"id":24631,"date":"2023-05-02T16:03:46","date_gmt":"2023-05-02T16:03:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rivaliq.com\/?p=24631"},"modified":"2023-05-05T20:26:11","modified_gmt":"2023-05-05T20:26:11","slug":"instagram-stories-best-practices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rivaliq.com\/blog\/instagram-stories-best-practices\/","title":{"rendered":"9 Must-Have Instagram Stories Best Practices for 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"

Instagram Stories best practices and benchmarks go hand in hand, so fans of our latest Instagram Stories Benchmark Report<\/a>, this one\u2019s for you!<\/strong><\/p>\n

We rounded up our favorite Instagram Stories best practices and loads of examples to inspire you to try new things and expand your engagement on the world\u2019s most engaging social channel. This definitive list features copy, design, tech, and measurement tips to help you grab the most engagement with every Story.<\/span><\/p>\n

Below, let\u2019s go over the more important Stories metrics to track and the best practices to follow if you want to amplify your reach and engagement on Instagram in 2023.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s go over the best practices you can follow to improve your Stories performance in 2023. <\/span><\/p>\n

9 Instagram Stories Best Practices for 2023<\/h2>\n

1. Make the first few frames count<\/strong><\/h3>\n

As we saw in our latest <\/span>Instagram Stories Benchmark Report<\/span><\/a>, retention in your first few frames is critical to keeping users engaged throughout the rest of your Story.<\/span><\/p>\n

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With that in mind, plan something extra special, visual, or attention-grabbing for your early frames. Some of our favorite ideas for this include videos that introduce the reader to what they\u2019ll be seeing or snappy frames that use the interactive elements we mentioned above.<\/span><\/p>\n

The hook on this frame from ice cream brand <\/span>Yasso<\/span><\/a> encourages viewers to continue tapping through to learn how they can earn rewards. The brand also uses an enticing image featuring ice cream to help make its case \u2014 because who wouldn\u2019t be swayed by the promise of a sweet treat?<\/span><\/p>\n

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2. Use interactive elements like stickers and quizzes<\/h3>\n

We\u2019ve all experienced Instagram Stories where you float from one frame to the next before exiting in disinterest. Give your followers something to do in your Stories by adding Interactive elements like quizzes, polls, emoji rating stickers, countdowns, and more. These engaging elements can also increase your reach rate. Not to mention, Instagram says that <\/span>60% of businesses using Instagram Story ads<\/span><\/a> are using interactive elements to increase video view times and lower costs per click.<\/span><\/p>\n

Aside from encouraging participation, another benefit of using interactive stickers like questions or polls is that you can gather more information about your followers and customers. Consider it a form of market research. For example, you can use a quick poll to see which product your followers prefer like the beverage brand <\/span>Richard\u2019s Rainwater<\/span><\/a> does in the Story below.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Another example of this best practice in action comes from <\/span>top beauty brand<\/span><\/a> Laneige. The brand used a questions sticker to answer followers\u2019 questions about one of its new products. This is a simple yet effective way to see what common questions people have and use that insight to create more content that addresses any questions or concerns.<\/span><\/p>\n

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While Instagram limits the data from these interactive elements in their API, you can at the very least track sticker taps to see how much interest they got from viewers. <\/span><\/p>\n\n

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\n Download the 2023 Instagram Stories Benchmark Report <\/p>Grab your copy now! <\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

3. Drive traffic with links<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Another sticker option that helps drive engagement for your Stories is the link sticker. Whether you want to drive traffic to a sign-up page or promote a new product, the link sticker is a great way to direct people directly to it with little effort on their end.<\/p>\n

In this story from hotel and spa brand Miraval Resorts<\/a>, the brand uses an aspirational image with a link sticker to share a booking promotion. The image gives viewers a glimpse of what their relaxing vacation could look like and the perfectly placed link sticker provides a clear call to action.<\/p>\n

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Do you have products to promote? Take inspiration from beauty brand <\/span>Kosas<\/span><\/a>. The brand used a link sticker to direct followers to a special product page for a sale it was running. This makes it easy for people to seamlessly shop and add to cart without ever leaving the app. Plus, the link sticker is integrated nicely with the image and colors, which makes the frame even more compelling.<\/span><\/p>\n

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4. Have a throughline to keep users tapping forward<\/h3>\n

While a compelling first frame is important, it\u2019s important not to give away the whole farm. Treat each frame like a chapter of your favorite mystery novel and help your followers understand exactly why they can\u2019t miss the next frame in your Story. Adding several frames that tell a story can impact your tap-forward rate, which is the percentage of Story impressions that have a tap forward.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Using multiple images that tell a story \u2014 like a before and after reveal, for example \u2014 is a great way to motivate users to stay with your Story. You can also break up your copy blocks over multiple frames using short sentences or ellipses to keep people with you. As a bonus, before and after frames also encourage tap-backs to compare, which leads to even more Story engagement!<\/span><\/p>\n

Our favorite <\/span>Instagram expert Sue B. Zimmerman<\/span><\/a> also recommends adding intro and outro frames to your Stories so people know exactly what\u2019s in store for them.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Don\u2019t be afraid of long text blocks<\/h3>\n

I know I just told you not to put everything in one frame to increase retention, but believe it or not, long text blocks can help keep people around too. If you\u2019ve ever seen a frame with a long text block, you know that a good way to consume that text is to tap and hold the frame so it doesn\u2019t advance until you\u2019re done reading.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the Story below from skincare brand, <\/span>Dr. Dennis Gross<\/span><\/a>, the frame includes a few paragraphs that explain the ingredients and benefits of one of its products. If you\u2019re a fan of the brand or are interested in learning more before becoming a customer, there\u2019s a good chance you\u2019ll tap and hold this frame to consume this info. The visual aspects like the clean background, big text blocks, and pops of color also make this information easier to digest as a viewer. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Use the tap-and-hold method to increase the time your user spends on a frame. This tells Instagram that the user is engaged with your content and makes it more likely that Instagram will serve up your stuff in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Video matters (even if it\u2019s lo-fi)<\/h3>\n

As Instagram continues to prioritize video, it\u2019s a good idea to incorporate as much video into your Stories as you can.<\/span><\/p>\n

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As you can see in the graph above, video reaches more people than static images. While this graph from our Stories report is in reference to post reach rates, it still makes the case for incorporating more video into your Stories.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why? Photos are consumed in the blink of an eye and lead followers to move quickly to your next frame, leading to more taps forward. A strong video can hold a viewer\u2019s attention for the full duration of the video (up to 60 seconds), which helps keep them engaged and ready for your next frame.<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t be intimidated about using your phone to grab a quick video: Instagram Story viewers aren\u2019t expecting a perfect and polished video. Instead, give them something real and of the moment to help them connect with your brand. Bonus: If it makes sense, add music to your Stories to hold viewers\u2019 (or listeners\u2019) attention even longer like beverage brand <\/span>Poppi<\/span><\/a> does below.<\/span><\/p>\n

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7. Use hashtags and locations for more discoverability<\/h3>\n

Many of us spend hours scrolling through <\/span>Instagram\u2019s Explore tab<\/span><\/a> for Stories and posts Instagram thinks we\u2019ll like, and the most surefire way to show up there is by using hashtags and locations. (My Explore tab is chock full of houseplants \ud83c\udf35). These simple additions to your Stories help Instagram categorize your content and more easily show it to people whose interests align with your brand even if they aren\u2019t currently followers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Plus, when you use a location tag on your Story, your content will be associated with the public information for that tag and account. In the Story below from iconic fashion brand <\/span>DVF<\/span><\/a>, the brand took viewers inside an event the brand was having. Viewers could tap the location tag to see where it was taking place and learn more about the museum.<\/span><\/p>\n

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8. Keep a consistent look and feel<\/strong><\/h3>\n

You don\u2019t need an ad agency or a professional video shoot to be successful with Instagram Stories, but a consistent color scheme or font can help clue viewers into your brand. In these Stories from <\/span>National Geographic<\/span><\/a>, the consistent black-and-white imagery not only helps tell a story, but it\u2019s also in line with the media brand\u2019s overall branding. <\/span><\/p>\n

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National Geographic uses unobtrusive colors and fonts to let their extraordinary photos speak for themselves.<\/p><\/div>\n

These simple color and font choices can go a long way to making you recognizable and trustworthy without looking overproduced. Don\u2019t worry about jamming your logo into every frame or spending thousands on a new video setup\u2013just keep things consistent so your viewers can instantly recognize that they\u2019re viewing a Story from a brand they know and love.<\/p>\n

\u00a09. Be accessible and inclusive<\/h3>\n

Ensuring that everyone can consume your Stories regardless of physical ability or access to headphones makes good sense for both your bottom line and your karma, so use simple tools to make your Stories accessible. Use captions and\/or thoughtful frame descriptions so every viewer can follow along.<\/span><\/p>\n

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In the video above, <\/span>Everlane<\/span><\/a> uses Instagram\u2019s auto-generated caption feature to easily caption its Instagram Story which features two people talking to the camera. Captions allow those who are deaf or hearing-impaired to consume your Stories. Captions also help followers of all abilities engage with your Stories even when they can\u2019t play videos with sound, like at a sporting event or the library. In fact, one study found that <\/span>75% of people watch mobile videos on mute<\/span><\/a>. This means adding captions should be a priority if you want a majority of viewers to enjoy it.<\/span><\/p>\n

The most important Instagram Stories metrics<\/h2>\n

There are many ways to measure success on Instagram Stories, but here are a few of our favorite metrics. Review these metrics over time to see how strategy tweaks affect your success, and don\u2019t forget to <\/span>compare your progress against industry benchmarks<\/span><\/a> to see how you\u2019re really doing on Instagram.<\/span><\/p>\n