It seems that whenever there’s a new social media feature to explore, people are either totally on board or strictly against it. I didn’t understand why anyone would use Instagram Stories for the longest time. I saw how it could benefit a small business or blogger, but it really just seemed like another thing I’d need to curate content for (even as something that supposedly gave fans a peek into a user’s “real” life), and I just didn’t have the time. But in the last year I’ve started using it more and more, realizing that it’s so much easier to keep followers up to date on my life by posting on my Story rather than coming up with the perfect image for my permanent feed.
So, I’m still not an energetic adopter of all that Instagram Stories has to offer, but I think there are some cool things you can share with followers by using Stories versus regular posting. Here are 5 of our personal faves!
behind the scenes
Obviously the big draw to Insta Stories is that you can post the not-so-perfect moments without worrying about its permanence. It really requires so much less preparation than posting an image. We love sharing little behind the scenes peeks into our lifestyle shoots on the TBM IG. It’s fun to see a bit of the process that went into the pretty photos you see on your fave blogs, so we try to give that to our followers every now and then!
‘real’ life moment
You’ve probably noticed that people are all about sharing those non-curated, real-time moments. If you use your Instagram account for your brand or business, sharing some more unfiltered content, such as a genuine reaction to something or a fun announcement about your personal life, can connect you more personally to your audience. Just be sure you’re considering that some people follow your brand because, well, they love your brand, so you might not want to overdo it!
a quick DIY tutorial
As much as behind the scenes and candid moments can be entertaining, it’s also nice to feel like you’re getting something tangible from all that time spent perusing Stories. Think about it: if someone’s mindlessly clicking through the Stories in their feed, they’re so much more likely to remember you if you gave them something to be inspired by or excited about. That’s why I love seeing quick DIY tutorials, recipes, or fun tips pop up in mine.
work process
Beyond a behind the scenes moment, it’s also nice to share a few of your work secrets with your followers. I’ve seen this with a lot of photographers who share before + afters of their editing process, or letterpress artists that actually share their design process from start to finish. It’s fun to learn something new or gain some insight from the people you admire without spending a whole lot of time trudging through blog posts.
travel adventures
Last but not least, if you’re ever on a super cool trip, you definitely have to share with your readers! One of the reasons travel bloggers have become sooo popular on Instagram is that they’re literally taking their followers on a trip with them. So if you’re traveling and don’t want to spam your followers with twenty pictures of all your adventures, your Story is the perfect place for the other 19 ;)
Now that Instagram Stories is a staple in so many bloggers’ social strategy, how do you feel? Do you love it or feel like it’s just another step in the social media process? We’ll be sharing our tips on prioritizing social media soon, and IG will definitely be a part of it!