5 Ways to Boost Engagement on Instagram Stories

By Gracie Steel, Digital Marketing Assistant at Omega High-Impact Print Solutions

Instagram Stories are an effective component of social media sharing, offering a dynamic way to connect with your audience. But with so many brands, influencers, and content creators competing for the spotlight, how can you stand out and ensure your stories are not only captivating but engaging, too? Apply the following tips and tricks to your Instagram Story strategy so you can send your engagement rates through the roof.

Let's get started!

Use Interactive Features

Instagram offers several interactive features that encourage engagement. Listed below are just a few examples of available Instagram Story features.

1. Location- Connects local community members to your business by tagging specific locations, making it easier for nearby users to discover and engage with your content

2. Add Yours Templates- Invites users to contribute their own content to a shared theme or topic, fostering interaction and connection

3. Questions- Allows users to ask and respond to questions, promoting business-consumer rapport

4. Poll- Encourages followers to actively participate and share opinions through interactive polls

5. Quiz- Invites users to test their knowledge and engage with interactive quizzes

6. Links- Facilitates conversions through clickable links, directing followers to external websites, products, or additional content

7. Emoji Slider- Prompts users to gauge opinions or reactions on a sliding scale using emojis

8. Hashtag- Expands reach to a wider audience interested in similar topics through searchable keywords and phrases

9. *NEW* Frames- Enables users to add Polaroid-style photos to their story that appear gray at first, cuing the user to shake their phone to reveal the content 

10. *NEW* Reveal- Blurs the content of the post, encouraging users to send a DM to the person who shared it to reveal the content
    

Create Consistent, High-Quality Content

Consistency and quality signal professionalism and reliability, building trust with your audience. When followers can expect valuable and engaging content from you regularly, they’re more likely to stay engaged and loyal to the brand.

Instagram favors accounts that they deem active Instagram users. A consistent posting schedule can boost your visibility, making it more likely to push your content to non-followers. It is recommended to post 3-5 Instagram Stories every day.

Compelling stories can drive traffic to your website, blog, or other social media platforms, resulting in increased conversions and sales. Including call-to-action (CTA) elements can encourage followers to take the desired action. 

Collaborate With Influencers

Influencers often have their own dedicated and engaged followers. By partnering with influencers relevant to your industry, you can tap into their audience and expose your brand to potential followers and customers. 

When influencers share a positive review of your business, product, or service, it provides social proof to their followers that your brand is credible and authentic. Seeing others endorse your brand can motivate their followers to engage with your content, follow your account, or make a purchase. 

Influencers often use creative storytelling techniques and engaging content formats, capturing the attention of their audience and encouraging them to interact with your brand. This can generate excitement around your brand, its products, or services.

Leverage Instagram Highlights

Instagram highlights extend the lifespan of your Instagram Story content beyond the 24-hour expiration. It is recommended to add your best-performing content to Instagram highlights to help new followers catch up on what they missed and prompt existing followers to explore and engage with your content. 

Engage With Your Audience

Engagement is a two-way street. Take some time to check out your main followers and supporters and engage with their latest content. By liking, commenting, and sharing, you’re showing appreciation for your followers’ contributions, promoting further interaction, and building a stronger bond between your brand and audience. Before posting an Instagram Story, spend 15 minutes interacting with other peoples' stories by participating in polls and Q&As, and sending quick messages or reactions. 

By implementing these techniques into your marketing strategy, you’ll start connecting with your audience in meaningful ways, boosting your brand’s visibility and fostering deeper connections. 

For all things print and digital marketing, subscribe here.