Instagram video stories are a powerful way to engage your audience, showcase your brand personality, and share valuable content. But how do you create an Instagram video story that stands out, captivates, and converts? Here are some best practices to follow.
Before you start filming, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your story. What is the main message, goal, or call to action? Who is your target audience and what do they care about? How will you structure your story to hook them in, deliver value, and end with a bang? Write down a storyboard or a script to guide you through each scene and transition.
Here are some Instagram story best practices- Hook 'em in: The first 3 seconds matter! Start with vibrant visuals, catchy music, or a question to grab attention. Story arc matters! Plan a progression, build intrigue, and end with a call to action. Keep it vertical and quick: Portrait mode is your friend! Use full screen visuals and prioritize mobile viewing. Short & sweet wins! Keep clips under 15 seconds and stories under 10 minutes. Make it visually stunning: Tips: Post consistently! Stay top-of-mind and build a loyal audience. Vary your content! Experiment with different formats, stories, and themes. Track your insights! See what resonates with your audience and refine your strategy.
By speaking with your existing clients and asking them why they engage with you, you might find that nugget that you're looking for. That thing that sets you apart from your competitors. Some hook that can become the opening of your video and lifts you above your competitors.
Set up your storyline. If it's a "follow me to see my day" it could start with: Coffee Responding to emails Then following up with filming the other tasks that you do through out the day. There will be a beginning, middle, and end. Make sure that the end however has some call to action for your followers.
Instagram video stories have some specific requirements and limitations that you need to consider. For example, your videos should be vertical, with an aspect ratio of 9:16, and a maximum length of 15 seconds per clip. You can also use stickers, filters, text, and music to enhance your videos, but don't overdo it. Keep your visuals simple, clear, and consistent with your brand identity and tone.
Even though Instagram video stories are meant to be authentic and spontaneous, you still want to make sure they look and sound professional. Use a tripod or a stabilizer to avoid shaky footage, and choose a well-lit and quiet location to film. You can also use external microphones, lenses, and editing apps to improve your audio and video quality. Remember to test your videos before posting them to check for any glitches or errors.
Instagram video stories are a great opportunity to show your personality and connect with your audience on a deeper level. You can use different types of content, such as behind-the-scenes, tutorials, testimonials, polls, quizzes, or live streams, to showcase your value proposition and generate interest. You can also use storytelling techniques, such as hooks, cliffhangers, emotions, and humor, to keep your viewers hooked and curious.
One of the most important aspects of Instagram video stories is to encourage your audience to take action. Whether you want them to visit your website, sign up for your newsletter, buy your product, or follow you on other platforms, you need to make it clear and easy for them to do so. You can use the swipe up feature, the link sticker, or the direct message option to direct your viewers to your desired destination. You can also use incentives, such as discounts, freebies, or contests, to motivate them to act.
Finally, you need to measure the performance of your Instagram video stories and learn from your data. You can use the insights feature on Instagram to track metrics such as impressions, reach, views, completion rate, taps forward, taps back, replies, and exits. You can also use tools like Google Analytics or Bitly to track the clicks and conversions from your links. By analyzing your results, you can identify what works and what doesn't, and optimize your strategy accordingly.