How to use Instagram Stories to Build your Audience
Ever wonder how to use Instagram stories to grow your business? This podcast will dive into the power of Instagram stories as a special guest, Jenny Melrose, provides her tips on how to make an Instagram story that will increase your following and sales.
How to use Instagram stories is a difficulty that many influencers and bloggers tend to run into. Knowing what type of content to use and how to make an Instagram story are vital strategies for being successful and productive.
This podcast will help you solve these problems by illustrating how to create Instagram stories that will provide you with the best outcomes for working smarter in your business.
How to use Instagram Stories to Build your Audience and Sales
ABOUT JENNY MELROSE
Jenny is a former reading specialist who “retired” from her teaching career when her blogging income far exceeded her salary. Through hard work and dedication, her lifestyle blog, The Melrose Family, became regularly sought out by nationally recognized brands such as Neutrogena, Smuckers, Glad, Costco, Stanley Steamer, Sara Lee, and many more.
She is a content strategist that helps entrepreneurs better understand their messaging and unique position in the online space. Now, she’s combining her passion for teaching with her extensive experience of creating strategic content for online business owners via JennyMelrose.com and her podcast, Influencer Entrepreneurs with Jenny Melrose as well as her first book Influencer Entrepreneurs: The 4-Step Framework to Building Your Audience, Growing Your Business, and Making More Money Online.
Website: JennyMelrose.com
Instagram: @Jenny_Melrose
Facebook: @JennyMelrose1
HOW TO MAKE AN INSTAGRAM STORY THAT IS SUCCESSFUL
How to make an Instagram story that is successful is all about personal branding. Many times, bloggers tend to hide behind their content, causing their platforms to be less personal. Successful influencers are those that are willing to share who they are, what their values are, and their beliefs.
You may be wondering how to use Instagram stories to convey your personal brand. You can do this by posting about your personal life. People want to be able to connect with you through things such as your hobbies, your family, your day-to-day activities, etc.
Posting your personal life is how you make an Instagram story that will relate with an audience that is more willing to purchase your product and help you gain a larger following.
The book, Duck Tape Marketing is a great tool to help show you how to make Instagram stories that will get your followers to know, like, and trust you. Check it out below!
HOW TO CREATE A STORY ON INSTAGRAM THAT BUILDS YOUR AUDIENCE AND SALES
Using direct messaging instead of the swipe-up feature is a great tip for how to create a story on Instagram that is engaging. People are not invested when you promote something using the swipe-up feature. Instead, use filters such as polls, text features, and voting.
As Jenny states, “75% of users do not watch stories with the sound on.” Summarize what you are saying in your video so people can read it without the sound.
Voting and polls are how to use Instagram stories for your own gain. This lets you see how they vote and based on what they press, you can get into their DMs to send them the links to whatever you are posting about. DMing your active followers a link to what you are promoting is how they save Instagram stories content for future use.
Getting people to participate and interact with your profile is how you can use Instagram stories to better market your business.
HOW TO POST A STORY ON INSTAGRAM THAT GETS FOLLOWERS ON YOUR LIST
Your email list is the best way to share content and help solve a problem. Give them something valuable, such as a free list or pdf guide, in exchange for signing up for your email list.
You may be wondering, “How can I strategically go about this?” A great way is to learn how to use Instagram stories to give them the link. Give them a way to interact via your Instagram stories so that you can individually DM them a link that is now clickable at any time and does not require them to swipe-up on a story to find it.
How to post a story on Instagram that helps get interaction involves a call to action. This can be commenting/DMing their favorite emoji, answering a poll, or voting for something. This gives you permission to DM them, which will affect the Instagram algorithm. Your content will be displayed more to them because you have had an interaction. This makes it easier to engage as, according to Jenny, the engagement rate is what truly matters.
HOW TO USE INSTAGRAM STORIES DAILY
Many people always wonder, “How long are Instagram stories supposed to be?” or, “How many posts do I share?” In order to keep your audience engaged and happy, you should be posting 3-5 times a day. You do not have to think super hard about what you post as it is only 15 seconds long and is only up for a day. These stories allow you to be you, no editing, for a few seconds a day.
At least 2 of your stories should be business-related, such as a podcast panel, interviews happening, etc. and the rest should be personal. These can be anywhere from videos of you cooking recipes, pictures of your family, running errands with the kids, etc. Being a regular person is how to use Instagram stories to connect and increase your audience.
Jenny created a great Instagram planner that organizes your day and helps get those 3-5 stories out. It aids you to think of idea opportunities for your stories. Check out the free link below!
OTHER TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE INSTAGRAM STORIES THAT ARE SMART FOR YOUR BUSINESS
It is important to remember how to create a story on Instagram that is for the correct audience. If the only people you engage with are other food bloggers, for example, you will not know your audience. Post with hashtags that your audience is using and things that will help them solve a problem/ that they will be interested in.
It is also crucial to know your business values and prioritize them. Look for ways to help solve a problem for your audience and learn their needs. Change your mindset and view your Instagram posts as ways to help the consumer, not sell the consumer on something.
Keeping these tips in mind will help illustrate how to use Instagram stories to better your business.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Make sure you grab your FREE download >> Instagram Story Planner
You can connect with Jenny on Instagram.
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