Instagram Stories are a great way to share your day-to-day life with your followers, but they can also be a great way to promote your brand or business. However, with over 2 billion active users, competition is stiff.
So, how can you make sure your Stories stand out and get the views and engagement they deserve? Here are some Instagram story tricks and tips to create content that is both creative and engaging for your followers.
1. Jazz Up Your Content with Stickers
When it comes to creating eye-catching content, stickers are your best friend. Instagram has a lot of content being posted regularly, so it’s essential to make your Stories stand out. Adding stickers to your photos and videos is a great way to do this. You can use stickers to add text, draw attention to a particular object, or just make your Story more fun and exciting.
There are two ways to access stickers on Instagram. The first is by tapping the sticker icon in the top right corner of the screen when you’re creating a new Story. This will bring up a menu of all the available stickers. The second way to access stickers is by using the search bar. Just type in what you’re looking for, and a selection of relevant stickers will come up.
Once you’ve found the perfect sticker, tap it and hold it to place it on your photo or video. You can then use your finger to resize and rotate the sticker. If you want to remove a sticker, tap and hold, then drag it off the screen.
2. Record Videos Hands-Free
When recording a video on Instagram, you usually have to hold down the record button the entire time. This can be a little awkward, especially if you’re trying to film something that requires both hands. Luckily, there’s a hands-free recording option that you can use instead.
To record a hands-free video, go to your settings and enable the “hands-free” option. Once this is turned on, you can start recording a video by tapping the record button and placing your phone down. To stop recording, tap the screen again. This is a great option if you’re filming something that requires both hands or if you want to avoid getting shaky footage.
3. Give Your Audience More Sharing Options
Did you know that you can let people share your Instagram Story as a direct message? This is a great option because it allows your followers to share your content with their friends, which can help you reach a wider audience. After all, not everyone wants to share Stories publicly.
To enable this feature, go to your settings, then to “Privacy,” followed by “Story.” Now, activate the “Allow sharing as message” option. Once you activate this feature, viewers will see a share button when they’re viewing your Story. They can then share it as a direct message with anyone they want.
4. Get Artistic
You can get more artistic with Instagram’s pen tool. This tool allows you to draw on your photos and videos, which can be a great way to add some personality to your content. You can also use it to highlight something in your photo or video.
The pen tool can be found in the top right corner of the screen, next to the sticker icon. Once you’ve selected the pen tool, you’ll see a menu of different colors. Select the color you want and the thickness of the stroke and start drawing.
You can also use the eraser tool to remove any mistakes. Just tap the eraser icon and then rub your finger over the area you want to remove.
5. Mention Other Accounts
Do you want to get more views on your Instagram Story? One great way to do this is by mentioning another account in your Story. When you mention someone, their username will appear in your Story. Instagram lets you include up to ten usernames in each Story.
Mentioning someone in your Story is a great way to get their attention and potentially get them to share your Story with their followers. It’s also a great way to reach a wider audience.
To mention someone in your Story, tap the “A” icon and then type in “@” and the username. You can also search for a particular user by tapping the magnifying glass icon. When you’re finished, tap “Done,” and your Story will go live.
6. Give Your Text a Little Pizzaz
The default font on Instagram is pretty dull. If you want to make your Story more fun and engaging, try out some of the different font options. Simply tap the “Aa” icon in the top right corner and then select the font you want to use.
Instagram currently offers nine different fonts to choose from. However, you also can use fonts that Instagram doesn’t officially support.
Go to an Instagram font generator site like Coolfont.org or IGFonts.io. Enter your text in the provided area, and the site will display the text in various styles. Choose the option you like best and copy the text. The text will retain its font style when you paste it into Instagram.
You can also customize the color of your text by tapping the “color” icon. You can either use one of the colors from the provided palette or add a custom color from your photo or video.
To do this, tap the text icon and select the eyedropper tool in the lower left-hand corner of the screen. Then, move the eyedropper over the image, and when you find the color you want, tap the screen. The color of your text will be changed to match the color you selected.
You can also add a drop shadow to your text to make it a little more dramatic. Write the same text twice and give them different colors. Then, position one of the layers above the other, giving it a slight offset. You’ll usually get the best results by coloring the bottom layer of text black or white, which helps the top layer of text stand out.
7. Look at Who’s Seen Your Story
If you’re on Instagram just for fun, seeing who has viewed your Story might not be that important. But if you’re using Instagram for business or marketing purposes, it’s essential to know who is checking out your content.
It’s useful because it gives you more information on what your audience likes and doesn’t like. For example, if you see that a particular type of content is getting a lot of views, you can post more of that in the future. Conversely, if you see that some of your content isn’t getting that much engagement, you can change tactics.
To see who has viewed your Story, go to Instagram’s homepage on your phone and tap on “Your Story.” Then, swipe up from the bottom of the screen. A list of everyone who has viewed your Story will appear, along with how many times they’ve viewed it.
Ready to Take Your Instagram Stories to the Next Level?
Instagram Stories are a great way to share quick updates with your friends and followers. But if you really want to stand out, you should start using some of the advanced features that Instagram has to offer.
By following the tips and tricks in this article, you can take your Stories to the next level and get more views and engagement. From jazzing up your text to mentioning other accounts in your Story, there are many ways to make your content more interesting and engaging.
So what are you waiting for? Start experimenting with Instagram Stories today and see how you can improve your results. With a little practice, you’ll be a pro in no time.
Read also: How to Create a Successful Pinterest Marketing Strategy