Instagram Stats You Should Know

Introduction
Instagram is now more important than ever as a social platform for businesses! For years, the platform has been successfully asserting itself against its competitors and will continue to play a central role in topics such as marketing and sales in the future. Numerous studies and statistics have proven the importance and potential of the social media platform in the past. Here you can find out what you can do with Instagram, what you should be aware of, and how you can successfully use Instagram in your business.

Instagram Feed as a Business Card

The Instagram feed is like a company's business card. It's where your branding, industry, and more are displayed. You can even use the posts in the feed to introduce new products and increase sales. The great thing about classic Instagram posts is that they are permanent and don't disappear after 24 hours, like Instagram Stories. So, if you have products or promotions that you want your followers to see on your Instagram account all the time, a story post is perfect.

Instagram Stories - An Essential Marketing Tool

The fact that Instagram Stories disappear after 24 hours doesn't mean you shouldn't use them. History has shown that Instagram Stories is the most successful and important product that Instagram and Facebook have ever launched. They modeled it after Snapchat, their direct competitor. Snapchat is known for presenting short videos that disappear after 24 hours. Instagram took this idea and created the "Instagram Stories" feature. The practical thing is that Instagram Stories can be shot and edited directly in the app. They are the ideal way for users to show themselves "imperfectly" in front of the camera.

The Benefits of Instagram Stories

Being "imperfect" in front of the camera has more advantages than you might think. In fact, this advantage is not for the account owner, but for his followers. Through Instagram Stories, they get an authentic look behind the scenes of a company. This builds trust and makes the person, as well as the company or brand, more approachable. Users feel more connected to the company and are more likely to buy. Because Instagram Stories are deleted after 24 hours, business owners need to worry less about the content than they would with a post. Of course, that doesn't mean you can just post whatever you want. Whether it's posts or Stories, you should always work with a strategy and make sure you're delivering high-quality content. However, the content in Stories is very different from the content in your feed.

As mentioned above, Instagram Stories are primarily used to inspire trust and retain users. The best way to do this is with "imperfect" Stories that look authentic. For example, you can show the work behind the scenes, but also let users know that you're currently working on a new product. As a result, they'll cheer you on and become more likely to buy.

Furthermore, the fact is that Instagram Stories are now gaining a higher reach than some might think. In 2018, there was a study that said that Instagram Stories reach an average of 7.2% of the followers who follow the account. However, this is in addition to users who are not yet followers of the account.

Instagram for Business

80% of all Instagram accounts follow at least one business, according to research. However, most of them follow multiple businesses at the same time and are even interested in promotional content. This means that they are not just inactive followers, but actually those who want to be kept up to date on new products and developments in the company.

The studies also show that users regularly check out companies' Stories. Stories with up to ten slides have the highest engagement rates. Generation Z, in particular, is actively looking for stories about the products and services they want to buy. Considering these statistics about Instagram Stories, it's clear that this feature offers a fantastic opportunity for businesses to reach a wider audience and promote their brand, taking engagement to a whole new level.

In fact, according to Instagram, one in three of the most viewed Stories are from businesses. For this reason alone, you should definitely take advantage of the Instagram Stories feature to avoid being left behind by the competition. As with all areas of business, the same holds true here: If you're not open to new developments or willing to follow trends and adapt in a certain way, you'll quickly be left behind. So take advantage of the potential Instagram Stories has to offer your business.

Take Advantage of the Different Features of Instagram Stories

With Instagram Stories, you can tell great stories and get right into the hearts of your followers. The beauty is that not only your own followers can see your Story, but also strangers. As a business account, you have a public profile that anyone can see at any time, including your Story. So if a new user lands on your profile and finds your Instagram Story interesting, you can even use it to get them to follow you and, in the best case, even win a new customer. You can also save really great Stories to "Highlights" so that they are not deleted after 24 hours, but remain available.

Exclusivity and Connection

You can also use Instagram Stories to create a sense of exclusivity. You can share special offers just for your followers. This makes them feel more valued and gives them the feeling of receiving an exclusive offer. It makes advertising fun!

Instagram Stories also help you personalize your brand. Most businesses and brands represent a service or product, and often the human element is missing. So it's important to show personality because "people buy from people." By showing your face in your Stories, your followers feel connected to you and trust you more. It shows them that this is not a robot and makes them feel like they are part of something bigger.

Here's How to Get Started with Instagram Stories

If you've never worked with Instagram Stories before, getting started can be tricky at first. But as with so many things in life: Practice makes perfect! Before you post your first Stories on your business account, you can practice getting in front of the camera and shooting Instagram Stories with your personal account. However, not all Instagram Stories need to have a face. While this is important to take advantage of the connectedness and familiarity aspects mentioned above, you can also make a lot of Instagram Stories by posting photos and videos through this feature.

Once you get the hang of it, you should definitely start using the many different stickers. For example, the different poll stickers and the sliders. This is a great way to get your followers to engage with you and your business without having to do much. Users love to interact, but usually only when it's quick and doesn't take a lot of time or energy. That's exactly what you can do with the convenient Question Stickers feature. Your users can simply vote by tapping "Yes" or "No". You can also use the poll function for multiple votes. For example, you can present two different products to your followers and then ask them which one they like better. If you were to just use a normal question sticker, it would mean that users would have to write you a message. In today's digital world, this is too much effort for most people. However, if you use the Survey Sticker feature, where users only have to tap one of two options, the effort is extremely low. So they don't have to spend any time or energy, but they still have the opportunity to express their opinion. That's what Instagram users love to do, so give them the opportunity to do so on a regular basis.

But it's not just your followers who benefit from this feature, you do too. For example, if you are working on a new product or service in the background, you can use the poll function to "feel out" which product your followers, i.e. your (potential) customers, would like the most. In this way, you can further optimize your products and tailor them to your target audience.

However, this does not mean that you should completely leave out the normal question sticker. You can use it from time to time to give your followers a chance to answer you in full sentences. However, expect fewer responses and make sure that your stories are appealing and attractive. This means that small effects and so-called "GIFs", i.e. small moving images, can definitely be an advantage. This makes your story look more lively, which keeps the user's attention on your story. Last but not least, you should try to add some value to each story. This doesn't always have to be in the form of helpful information, although that's always useful. Tutorials or helpful tips will certainly make your followers feel like they are getting something out of following you and watching your Stories. But there are other benefits a follower can get from watching your Story. For example, if they feel entertained, this may be enough of a benefit for them to watch your Story again next time.

Advertising and Sponsored Posts on Instagram

Of course, you can also use Instagram Stories to market promotional content. There's a reason why so many businesses work with influencers. Accounts with more than 10,000 followers reach a lot of people with their Stories, so it's worth investing in this marketing strategy. As mentioned above, it is very important that customers have trust in a company they want to buy from. And that trust is built when a company is approachable and people feel connected to it. It doesn't matter if it's a business or a public figure - if you regularly make Instagram Stories, you usually automatically have a connection with your customers or fans. If a certain product is then recommended in his Instagram Stories, the sales figures are usually quite high afterwards.

You can also promote yourself on Instagram, which in many cases also contributes to effective marketing. One way is to market your posts so that they appear in the feeds of people who do not follow you. The other option is to turn on Instagram Stories so that your promotional content is shown to other users in Stories. The advantage here is that you can tailor the content to a specific audience and reach them faster.

These Businesses Have Successfully Implemented Instagram Marketing

Below, we'll show you some impressive examples of how to be successful on Instagram. The companies listed here have used the social platform not only to successfully market their current products, but also to attract many new customers. Below, you'll learn how they put each feature to work and used it to their advantage.

McDonald's

As the market leader in Malaysia, McDonald's is always looking for new ways to reach a wider audience. Taking into account Instagram Stories statistics and awareness of new features, McDonald's has allocated 70% of its budget to digital platforms. To explore the possibilities of Instagram, they leveraged the potential of Instagram Stories to create animated ads that combined storytelling and branding. The ads included colorful text overlays and animations that highlighted product features.

ASOS

ASOS, the world-renowned, fast-growing fashion retailer, is using Stories to engage customers and build awareness in an authentic and fun way. The solution was a series of ads that combined high production values and a fashion shoot style with mobile video.

Reebok

Reebok is one of the brands that best answered the question of how best to use Instagram Stories to increase engagement rates. The footwear company has developed FOMO ("fear of missing out"), which is an effective marketing strategy, especially when used on Instagram Stories. The line, "It's back ... for a limited time," creates a sense of urgency in potential customers, making them more likely to buy as they want to keep up with the latest trends.

Maybelline New York

Maybelline wanted to see how well Instagram ads worked with TV, while generating interest in their new "Big Shot" product. They tweaked their ads for each channel. The ones that ran on Instagram focused on mascara, with the goal of improving the brand's image and increasing purchase intent.

Adidas

The lifestyle brand promoted the idea that "Original Is Never Finished" with an epic video featuring celebrities like Snoop Dogg and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Set to a version of Frank Sinatra's "My Way," the spot featured unique imagery that showcased the products and asked viewers what it means to be an original. The brand used a custom audience that allowed it to target and re-engage with the right people.

LEGO

The toy company used a canvas format within Stories to drive awareness and sales of its new play set. The campaign used a combination of full-screen images, calls-to-action, and video, and a CTA to drive engagement. The ads featured Vernie, a LEGO robot figure, and showed viewers how to build and program the same robot.

Michael Kors

The world-renowned fashion house used Instagram Stories to promote its Michael Kors Access smartwatch, targeting a millennial audience with custom content. Featuring model Martha Hunt, the videos varied in length to see what worked best.

CoverGirl

CoverGirl mastered the art of using Instagram Stories for business, creating an ad campaign for its brand awareness marketing. The American beauty brand introduced a powerful new tagline, "I Am What I Make Up," which emphasizes that beauty is all-encompassing and multifaceted. They worked with six brand ambassadors, including Katy Perry, Issa Rae, and Massy Arias, who exemplified how makeup can be used for self-expression. The ambassadors also received personalized video edits, which they posted to their Instagram accounts with a CoverGirl tag.

MAC Cosmetics

MAC Cosmetics uses their Instagram feed to showcase makeup inspiration, promote their latest products, and keep makeup artists like influencers and beauty bloggers up to date on the latest trends. In their Instagram Stories, they use brand hashtags like #MACGirls and #MACArtistChallenge to grow their follower network and generate organic engagement.

Conclusion
As you can see, the companies above have made a lot of things happen with the help of Instagram Stories. Take a cue from their stories, and get your own business off the ground on the social media platform by strategically leveraging Instagram's many features.