Instagram Story Hacks: Improve Your Small Business Account with These Tricks
Do you utilize Instagram stories for your small business account? Instagram stories are the ideal place to boost your engagement, create close-knit relationships with your audience, and even make more sales. Here are some Instagram story hacks to help improve your small business account.
Benefits of Using Instagram Stories
Boost Engagement and Conversations with Your Audience
Your Instagram feed is where people can learn from you and receive value, but your stories are where deep relationships form. There are lots of different ways to boost engagement on stories with polls, question boxes, tap react sticks, sliders, etc.
Encourage your audience to engage with your stories and take those conversations over to the DMs. Also, when you share more about your life, you'd be surprised at how many DM replies you'll receive!
Showcase Your Personality
Are you more silly or reserved? Do you nerd out over certain topics? Are you a massive dog lover or Swiftie (me)? Instagram stories give you the opportunity to showcase your personality. There's less pressure, because your stories disappear after 24 hours.
You can show up, talk about something on your mind, and share for the sake of sharing. Your content doesn't even have to be directly related to your business, because people want to know YOU too!
Share Behind-the-Scenes Moments in Your Business
Your audience cares about your process. On your Instagram feed, you may only be sharing the final productāthe raving testimonials, the client case studies, or the product before it's shipped out.
Your Instagram stories are where you share the in-between moments. Talk about what you discussed on a client call. Share the behind-the-scenes of your process. This content allows your audience to envision what it's like to work with you.
Sell to Your Most Engaged Audience Members
Instagram stories can be strategic, too. While constantly selling on your feed isn't always recommended, frequently selling on stories is okay. The people who watch your stories are your most engaged audience members, meaning they're the most likely to buy from you. Share your offers frequently in a variety of ways on stories.
4 Hacks to Improve Your Instagram Stories
1. Include a transparent overlay on your Instagram stories.
Don't feel like talking face-to-camera on stories? Here's a favorite Instagram story hackāadd a transparent overlay on top of an old video or photo with text over top. Here's how.
Open up your stories and upload a photo or video from your camera roll. Then, click Draw and select the highlighter tool. Choose the color you prefer, then tap and hold down on the screen. A transparent overlay will automatically be added! From there, you can add any text you'd like on top of the screen. Click here to watch a reel walking you through this step-by-step!
2. Add your brand colors.
Want to use custom brand colors on Instagram stories? First, save photos that include your brand colors on your camera roll. I create Instagram story sized graphics in Canva for this, one for each brand color and save it in an album on my camera roll called "Bud to Bloom Colors".
Upload the photo or video you'd like to add to your stories. Then, click the sticker icon and navigate to the photo option. Select the photo of the brand color you'd like to use. Using the text or draw tool (whichever you'd like to add with your brand color), select the eyedropper. Pull the color from the photo. Then, delete the photo and finish your story!
3. Post to your close friends list.
The close friends list feature is SO underutilized by small businesses. If people who watch your Instagram stories are your most engaged audience members, your close friends list is full of your ride-or-dies.
Occasionally ask on stories if people would like to be added to your close friends list. I do this via a tap react button, where people can tap to be added. On close friends, you can run exclusive sales, give behind-the-scenes sneak peeks into new offerings, and you can share more real and raw conversations. If you want to gain inspiration from how I use my close friends list, DM me on Instagram @budtobloommarketing and ask me to add you. Iād be happy to!
4. Repurpose content using your Archive.
Don't feel like posting at all on stories but want to stay consistent? Visit your Archive! If you go to your Profile > Hamburger Icon > Archive, you'll be able to upload old stories and reshare them. I don't recommend doing this all the time, but it's helpful if you're in a pinch.
Wondering what to post on Instagram stories for your business?
Are you feeling inspired by these Instagram story hacks and want to post more consistently? Looking for some more strategy, specific to your business? I invite you to book a 60-minute strategy session, where we can dive deep into your Instagram strategy and some intentional ways you can best utilize your Instagram stories.
At Bud to Bloom Marketing, I value treating people like people over potential dollar signs. That means we're going to come up with some effective marketing strategies that actually feel good for you and your business AND that work! Click here to book your strategy session. And if you prefer to just be Instagram friends, you can follow me @budtobloommarketing here.
