How To Use INSTAGRAM STORIES For Marketing Your Business
Should you bother with Instagram stories? Just because you're getting people viewing your stories, does that actually mean that they're gonna turn into sales for your business? Okay, so the short answer is yes, Instagram stories is gonna help you grow your business only as long as you're using them correctly. So in today's video, I want to show you how to leverage the power of Instagram stories. You're gonna learn how to use stories to get people on your website and how to get more loyalty out of your current audience. So make sure that you're sticking to the end where I'm gonna show you how to use stories to actually make sales. Gotta save the juicy part for last. How to use Instagram stories to get more engagement. So if your audience makes you feel like you're talking to a wall, you are not alone. Because of the Instagram algorithm changes, engagement has gone down in recent years. But the good news is that you can use your stories to re-engage your audience and then turn them into people who actually care about your brand. So you might be asking, do I really care about Instagram engagement? You know, that's not actual sales. But yes, you still want to focus on getting your audience more engaged. Because the more people that care about your brand, the more that they feel like your brand is their friend. And that means they're gonna be more likely to buy from you in the future.
Should You Bother with Instagram Stories?
Should you bother with Instagram stories? Just because you're getting people viewing your stories, does that actually mean that they're gonna turn into sales for your business? Okay, so the short answer is yes, Instagram stories is gonna help you grow your business only as long as you're using them correctly. So in today's video, I want to show you how to leverage the power of Instagram stories. You're gonna learn how to use stories to get people on your website and how to get more loyalty out of your current audience. So make sure that you're sticking to the end where I'm gonna show you how to use stories to actually make sales. Gotta save the juicy part for last. How to use Instagram stories to get more engagement. So if your audience makes you feel like you're talking to a wall, you are not alone. Because of the Instagram algorithm changes, engagement has gone down in recent years. But the good news is that you can use your stories to re-engage your audience and then turn them into people who actually care about your brand. So you might be asking, do I really care about Instagram engagement? You know, that's not actual sales. But yes, you still want to focus on getting your audience more engaged. Because the more people that care about your brand, the more that they feel like your brand is their friend. And that means they're gonna be more likely to buy from you in the future. Show your face or show any face. Okay, so my first tip for you is to get a face on screen. It could be yours, it could be someone from your network, or even a satisfied customer. Seeing a face adds a personal touch and makes your audience feel more connected. This is a powerful way to increase engagement and build a loyal following. Use stickers and interactive features. Adding stickers, polls, questions, and other interactive features to your stories can significantly boost engagement. It encourages your audience to actively participate and interact with your content, leading to a stronger connection and increased interest in your brand. Behind-the-scenes content. People love to see the real, authentic side of your business. Share behind-the-scenes glimpses, sneak peeks, and day-in-the-life content to give your audience a deeper look into your brand. This fosters a sense of transparency and trust, strengthening the bond between you and your audience. Share user-generated content. Encourage your audience to create and share content related to your brand, and feature it in your stories. This not only increases engagement but also makes your audience feel valued and appreciated. It shows that you recognize and celebrate their contributions, further solidifying their connection to your brand. In conclusion, Instagram stories are a powerful tool for growing your business when used strategically. By focusing on engagement, personal connection, and authenticity, you can effectively leverage stories to enhance your brand presence, build loyalty, and drive sales.
The Power of On-Camera Engagement
When it comes to engaging with your audience, the power of on-camera presence cannot be underestimated. It's true that high-quality graphics and product images have their place on your feed, but when someone speaks directly to the camera, the impact is undeniable. The viewership increases, and more people are likely to reach out to you via DMs to chat. People crave human connection, and seeing a real person on camera provides just that. One client I worked with had tried all sorts of content for her stories, from product promotions to quotes, but it was a hilarious real-life story that truly connected with her audience. She shared an amusing incident about her fake eyelash falling off, and the response from her community was overwhelmingly positive. It goes to show that authenticity and relatability trump polished content. While appearing on camera and being genuine with your audience is highly effective, it may not align with everyone's brand image. But fear not, there are alternative ways to boost engagement. Embracing a more casual and unscripted approach on stories can be just as impactful. Stories are the perfect space for unedited, behind-the-scenes footage, and your audience actually expects that raw, authentic content there. Overproduced stories can lead to viewers skipping ahead, so it's important to keep it real. I experienced this firsthand when I launched a product using beautifully designed and animated graphics in my stories, only to have virtually everyone tap 'next.' However, a simple video of me speaking directly to the camera about my excitement for the new products captured the attention of a significantly larger audience. The key is to embrace natural lighting, and don't be afraid to make genuine mistakes. Ultimately, the human touch and genuine connection that on-camera presence brings are irreplaceable in fostering meaningful engagement with your audience.
The Power of Engagement Stickers and Interactive Content on Instagram
Even, and then you're off to the races. Use engagement stickers. So Instagram has a feature called stickers. You might be aware of them already, but if you're looking for engagement, stickers would be the way to go. So the stickers that I like for engagement are the questions, the poll, the slider, and the quiz. And these are gonna give you that two-way interaction that you're looking for.
So this morning, I was looking at which brands are doing a good job of this, and We're Not Really Strangers sells this card game that's meant to start meaningful conversations. Take a look at this story. Are you over your ex? And then it says, if you clicked no, swipe up. And then it takes you to some content marketing. This is literally genius because, first of all, that question is so engaging because it hits a nerve, right? And then they top it off with a blog post that's gonna help their audience get through it. So they're engaging their audience with helpful, useful content, and they're further enforcing their brand values. All at the same time, I think this is genius, and I love it.
And also, don't forget that you can use stickers to gain some super valuable insights about your audience, and make business decisions based off of those responses. Some brands use polls to hear what products their audience would want to see next, and then they can go confidently into production with these insights.
Play a game. Don't underestimate the power of just having a good time on social media. Frank Baud did a film-the-blanks game
Tips for Using Instagram Stories to Boost Sales and Website Traffic
When it comes to using Instagram stories to engage your audience and drive sales, the options are endless. You can create interactive polls for people to vote on their favorite products, or engage them with fun quizzes. This is a great way for new customers to get to know your brand and for you to stay top of mind.
If you're an entrepreneur looking to start your own online store, Shopify is an excellent platform to consider. From inventory management to shipping and marketing, Shopify makes it all easy. It's a platform that the speaker has personally found unmatched by other e-commerce platforms.
The speaker emphasizes the ease of setting up a Shopify store, having done it themselves, and recommends Shopify for anyone looking to start selling online. They also mention a free 14-day trial offer, allowing users to test the platform before committing. The trial period enables users to create their store, brand it, add products, and see if they like the experience.
Moving on to the use of Instagram stories to boost sales and website traffic, the speaker goes into the details of engaging the audience to encourage them to make a purchase. After engaging with the audience as discussed, the next step is to guide them in making a purchase decision, leading to a potential increase in sales and website traffic.
The Power of User-Generated Content (UGC) and Instagram Stories for Driving Sales
User-generated content (UGC) is a powerful marketing tool that consists of content posted by fans, influencers, and the community. It provides a raw and realistic look at the product, creating a genuine connection with potential customers. Unlike idealized studio photos, UGC offers a more authentic portrayal of the product in real-life situations.
Jaded London effectively utilizes UGC by featuring stories with various influencers wearing their clothing, accompanied by shoppable stickers and influencer tags. Implementing this strategy is simple; by linking the products in your posts and using the sticker and shopping features in Instagram stories, you can seamlessly integrate UGC into your marketing approach.
In addition, leveraging Instagram stories to announce sales is a highly effective strategy. Creating a sense of urgency by promoting short-term sales with tight deadlines, such as 24-hour or weekend sales, can greatly boost engagement and drive conversions. Offering free shipping, as revealed by a recent study, has proven to be more impactful than simply reducing prices.
To maximize sales and engagement, it's essential to include a clear call to action in your Instagram stories, along with visually appealing content. Furthermore, injecting humor into your sales promotions can enhance audience engagement and make the experience more enjoyable for potential customers.
In conclusion, the combination of user-generated content and strategic use of Instagram stories can significantly enhance your brand's sales and engagement levels, ultimately leading to a more robust online presence and increased revenue.
Tips for Improving Your Personality on Instagram for Business Growth
I just want to give you a quick reminder that you can use the link in the description box for that free 14-day trial if you are wanting to start building your Shopify store. Alright, on to comment time. Okay, so I'm going to go through some of your comments in the comment section and I'm going to answer a few of you. So Mark Banson says, educative content, thank you for these kinds of videos. I was just wondering though, how do you recommend someone interested in building his business on Instagram to improve their personality to match what they promote and what they promote? So I think this is such a good question. I think there's no right or wrong answer here but in my opinion, I think it's just important to be yourself. My friend Colm, he runs a clothing business called KidSuper and I think I might have talked about him before but he just does such a good job of being himself and I think that's what's, you know, been such a big part of what's made him successful. So Colm and his brand, they're all about having fun and his image on Instagram really reflects that. He's got content of him like jumping on a bouncy castle but then at the same time, he's also in Paris Fashion Week. So I think that just goes to show that, you know, him being true to his personality, even if it is childish, even if it is playful, it's what's been a huge part of what's made him so successful and it's helped him be a part of something as serious as Paris Fashion Week. So in essence, it's not so much about like tweaking your personality but it's more about what characteristics
The Importance of Brand Personality in Marketing Your Business
When it comes to marketing your business, it's crucial to focus on the specific aspects of your personality that you choose to pull out to better market your business. Hopefully, that has answered your question. However, humans are complex creatures and not just one thing. It can be challenging to pick out a single trait and distill your brand into just one personality trait. Despite this, it is important to focus on a key message and stick to it. Having one clear message is what differentiates you as a brand and contributes to your success. If you want an entire video on how to position your brand and choose its personality, feel free to let me know in the comments, and I will create it for you. In summary, it's essential to highlight specific aspects of your personality in marketing, even though it may be challenging to narrow it down to one trait. I hope you found this discussion helpful and if you have more questions for future videos, leave them in the comment section. Don't forget to subscribe and hit the bell icon for notifications on our future posts. Thank you for watching. I'm Michelle and I look forward to seeing you in the next video. Bye!
Conclusion:
Instagram stories are a powerful tool for growing your business when used strategically. By focusing on engagement, personal connection, and authenticity, you can effectively leverage stories to enhance your brand presence, build loyalty, and drive sales.