Posts in Instagram
Your 2021 Guide to Instagram’s 5 Types of Videos

Video is the perfect format for sharing more in-depth content with your audience because it allows for story telling in a way that a single photo never will. And, you no longer need a big budget to be successful at video marketing — because so many of Instagram’s formats emphasize authenticity and spontaneity, marketing through video is easily accessible to businesses of all sizes. 

Over the years, Instagram has expanded their upload options to a mind-boggling 5 formats: Stories, in-feed video posts, Reels, Live and IGTV. If you’re confused about the differences between these different types of videos, you’re not alone!  

Each of these 5 video types has an intended purpose and limitations on its upload format. But before we look at each video format, let’s review a few stats on why utilizing video is a marketing must: 

  • Video ads were the #1 way consumers discovered a brand they later purchased from. (Animoto)

  • 85% of marketers say that video is an effective way to get attention online.  (Animoto)

  • 94% of video marketers say video has helped increase user understanding of their product or service. (Wyzowl)

  • 93% of brands got a new customer because of a video on social media. (Animoto)

Now, it’s time to get knowledgeable about each type of Instagram video – and make sure to scroll to the end of this post for a quick reference guide of the different upload specs! 


Instagram Stories

These Snapchat inspired stories are what you see on the top of your home feed. These short 15-second clips disappear after 24 hours and are a great place for spontaneous content or short updates. Stories are the perfect place for off the cuff content – and because their aesthetics are separate from the rest of your feed you can be as creative as you want with them.  

One of the upsides of Stories is that you can include interactive elements such as voting, tags, stickers, and links. This is a great place to take a poll, tag a product, or get your customers to vote on something. For larger brands – those with 10k or more followers -- stories are one of the few places you can post direct links to help drive organic leads and conversions. 

Once stories have expired you can save them to the Highlights section and organize them into categories with custom cover photos (you’ll find this positioned above the grid on each profile).

 

Feed Instagram Videos

The original video format, feed videos have been around since 2013. They show up when you’re scrolling the main feed or explore section. They can be uploaded using Instagram’s built-in camera or by adding a file from your photo library. Feed videos tend to be the spot for your most planned out and professional content. All posts have to be 3-60 seconds in length, so this isn’t the place to go behind the scenes or to share much detail.  

Similar to an image post, these feed video posts can include a filter, location, caption, as well as user, location, and product tags. Once posted, people can engage with likes, comments, and sharing public videos in Stories and direct messages.

 

Reels

Reels are the newest video format on Instagram. These Tik Tok inspired clips have to be shot in portrait mode (9:16) and max out at 15-30 seconds. While these may sound a lot like Stories, Reels offer a variety of additional editing options including timed text, AR filters, green screen mode, timer and speed controls, and access to an audio library.

Reels can be shared to Explore and Stories. When you upload a reel, you can also choose to post it in your Feed. All the reels you create will also appear in a dedicated section of your profile, similar to IGTV posts

Live Instagram Videos

Instagram Live lets you broadcast a live video stream (from your built-in camera only) to your followers and is a great way to interact in real-time.

Live streams can last up to four hours and can be hosted by one or two accounts. When an account starts broadcasting live it appears at the front of the Stories bar with a Live icon. Once finished, Instagram Live videos can be saved to IGTV or shared for 30 days before being deleted.

This is the perfect place for deepening custom relationships with spontaneous video. Don’t worry about polish – live videos are all about authenticity. You’ll be able to see how many people are watching in real time and people can engage by adding comments or emoji reactions. 

We suggest going live for things like workshops, interviews, or Q&As. Live video also supports live shopping (businesses can tag relevant products) and allows for in-app donations (perfect for non-profits). 

Your 2021 Guide to Instagram’s 5 Types of Videos  |  Hue & Tone Creative
 

94% of video marketers say video has helped increase user understanding of their product or service. (Wyzowl)

IGTV

IGTV is Instagram’s format for in-feed videos longer than one minute. This video format is truly intended for long format content, similar to what you would post on YouTube. IGTV posts can go up to 60-minutes and must be pre-recorded (and uploaded via camera roll/photo stream).  

When you go to post an IGTV video you can create previews to post on your feed and sort your videos into series. All IGTV video appears in a dedicated section of your profile. 

Your IGTV channel is intended for complete, polished content that is well-planned and professional. These longer videos mean a longer engagement time and more potential for participation. You should consider all types of creative and educational content for this part of your feed. 


Looking for a quick reference guide that breaks down the specs of each of these formats?  

Now that we’ve broken down the different types of content, let’s review the nitty gritty for creating these different video formats. You’ll notice there are no specs for Instagram Live, and that’s because those videos can’t be created ahead of time and can only be recorded using your camera. 

 

Instagram Stories specs

  • Length: Up to 15 seconds per Story (longer videos can be clipped into multiple Stories)

  • Maximum video file size: 30MB

  • Recommended file type: .MP4 or .MOV format

  • Ratios: 9:16 and 16:9 to 4:5

  • Minimum width: 500 pixels

  • Minimum aspect ratio: 400 x 500

  • Maximum aspect ratio: 191 x 100 or 90 x 160

  • H.264 compression recommended

  • Keep about 250 pixels at the top and bottom of the video free from key content. In this area, it could be obstructed by the profile photo or call to action.

 

Instagram feed video specs

  • Length: 3 to 60 seconds

  • Recommended file type: .MP4 or .MOV format

  • Maximum file size 30MB

  • Maximum frame rate 30fps

  • Minimum width: 500 pixels.

  • H.264 compression recommended

 

Instagram Reels

  • Should be shot in Portrait mode (9:16 aspect ratio)

  • Will view on feed in 4:5 aspect ratio 

  • Minimum res: 600 x 1067 pixels

  • Maximum res: 1080 x 1920 pixels

  • 4K not supported

 

IGTV specs

  • Minimum length: 60 seconds

  • Maximum length: 15 minutes when uploading via mobile and 60 minutes when uploading from the web

  • File type: MP4 file format (required)

  • Vertical video aspect ratio: 9:16

  • Horizontal video aspect ratio: 16:9

  • Minimum resolution:720 pixels

  • Minimum frame rate: 30 frames per second

  • Maximum file size (for videos 10 minutes or less): 650MB

  • Maximum file size (for videos up to 60 minutes): 3.6GB

  • Recommended cover photo size: 420px by 654px (1:1.55 ratio)

What else do you want to know about Instagram video? Drop us a comment about what we should review in our next post! 


Hue & Tone Creative: Your social media partner 

Let us help you create a social media feed that shows off your brand and lets you reach new prospects! Whether you’re looking to increase your views or simply need a break from handling your account, Hue & Tone Creative has you covered for all things social.

Expand your sales by selling on Instagram
Expand your sales by selling on Instagram  |  Hue & Tone Creative

Sales are down, and you’re looking for creative marketing strategies to help boost them. Enter shoppable posts.

As Instagram’s grown in influence, so has the sophistication of its sales funnel. Shoppable posts take Instagram’s selling cycle one step further, streamline the user’s journey, and boost your business’ odds of converting followers into customers. 

With around 90 million Instagram accounts tapping on a shoppable post every month, they might just be that sweet spot your business has been missing.

Not sure how or where to start? Not to worry. We’ve covered the A to Z of everything you need to know to get going.


What are shoppable posts?


In a nutshell, shoppable posts enable Instagram users to complete the entire purchase journey - from discovery all the way through to checkout - without ever leaving the app. The benefit to you? Less steps. Less chance of distraction. Less chance of losing customers.

On or off Instagram, your customer journey is crucial. For starters, almost three quarters (76%) of consumers cite it as an important pre-purchase factor. But did you also know, 86% of customers say they’re actually willing to pay more for a great user experience?

Looking at Instagram alone, here are some successful case studies from brands who use shoppable posts as part of there social strategy:

  • Spearmint LOVE witnessed a 25% increase in traffic and 8% uplift in revenue

  • Tyme saw their web traffic rise by 44%

  • Lulus attributes more than 100,000 site visits and 1,200 product orders to shoppers who started on Instagram

Here’s what it looks like in practice:

 
 

With more than 200 million Instagram accounts viewing at least one business profile per day, shoppable posts unlock the door to a whole load of opportunities.

A few quick-fire facts:

  • You can tag up to five products per image or video

  • A maximum of 20 products can be tagged per carousel

  • When you tag products in Instagram, they’re shared on the explore section (where 200 million accounts visit daily) as well as with your immediate audience

  • Products can be tagged within stories too, by using what’s called a ‘product sticker’. We’ll delve into the detail of how this differs a little later on, but below’s a snapshot of how product stickers vary from shoppable posts

A step-by-step guide

So, let’s get started with the details of how to actually create your own shoppable Instagram posts. 

 

1.  Account requirements 

To be able to make the most of shoppable posts, there are a few boxes you need to tick:

  • Your business must be located in certain countries (if you’re in the US, don’t worry, you’re covered). For a full list of countries that are and aren’t included, head here

  • Your Instagram account must primarily sell physical goods

  • You must convert your account to a business profile

  • You must comply with Instagram’s commerce policies

  • Your Instagram business profile must be hooked up to a Facebook catalog

  • Your Facebook profile (which must also be a business page) can’t have any country or age restrictions attached to it

 

2. Facebook catalogs

As we just touched on, to enable shoppable posts, your Instagram account must be associated with a Facebook catalog. In its simplest form, a Facebook catalog is a hub containing information on each of the items you want to sell - like their name, price, condition and category, and looks like this:

Image via facebook.com

Image via facebook.com

Now, there are one of two ways you can go about setting your Facebook catalog up:

  • Option A: Add a shop to your Facebook page. Find out how to do this in five simple steps here.

  • Option B: Use a catalog on Business Manager. This guide will walk you through the set-up process.

3. Account review

Once you’ve hooked your Instagram profile up to a Facebook catalog it’s a bit of a waiting game because, before you can start exploring Instagram’s shopping feature, your account has to be reviewed - this’ll happen automatically. Typically, it takes a few days for the review to complete, however, it may take longer if your account needs to be reviewed in more detail.

It’s worth noting that if you’re creating your very first Facebook catalog, the catalog itself will need to be reviewed before your automatic review can commence.

 

4. Start adding tags and/or stickers

The penultimate step revolves around actually adding your product tags and/or stickers on Instagram. Before you get going, here are a couple of points to bear in mind:

  • Before you can add tags or stickers, your Instagram account must be approved for shopping. If it’s not, you’ll hit a dead end; and

  • Make sure you’re using the latest version of Instagram’s app to ensure you’re utilizing all its latest updates.

If you’re up to speed with everything you ought to be at this point, then you’re ready to turn on your product tags. To do this, just work your way through these easy-to-follow steps:

 

1.  Head to your Instagram business profile

2. At the top right of your screen, you should see an ellipsis (…) - click on it

3. Look out for the ‘Shopping’ option under the ‘Business settings’ tab and tap into it

4. Hit ‘Continue’

5. See which product catalog you want to use within your shoppable posts and select it

6. Voila. You’re set-up and ready to start tagging products in your posts and/or stories.

 

5. Creating the actual post

So, you’ve got all the ingredients you need to create a shoppable post or story, now it’s time to pull the final concoction together. 

Shoppable posts 

As we touched on earlier, you can tag up to a maximum of five products per single picture and 20 products per carousel (i.e. a series of images within one post). 

Each tag will show the name and price of the item in question, and if you want, you have the option to go back and add tags into old posts, too.

Shoppable stories

Instagram stories work slightly differently. For starters, you use what’s called a ‘product sticker’ which showcases the product’s name - but not the price. You are, however, given a bit more personalization flexibility with stickers, in that you can edit their color and text. 

Unlike with shoppable posts, you can’tadd product stickers to already published stories. If you want to add a sticker to an already-published story, you’ll have to delete and re-publish it with the product sticker.

 

The creation process: 

1.   Create your Instagram post or story as you normally would.

2a. If you’re pulling a post together, click ‘Tag products’ on the ‘Share’ screen.

2b. If you’re making a story, tap the sticker icon and then hit the product sticker option.

3. Whether you’re following the instructions for a post or a story, you’ll be presented with your product catalog - choose which one you want to tag and drop it on or close to the item you want to promote.

4. Share your post or story and prepare to monitor the traction you get from your product tags or stickers - you can do this by heading to the ‘Insights’ section of the app (for posts, tap ‘View Insights’ on your chosen shopping post, and for stories just swipe up once you’re in the story).


Hue & Tone: Your Social Media Partners

Overwhelmed just reading this guide? Ready to see your business' Instagram sales shoot up? See how we can help amplify your efforts today by getting in touch with the team at (336) 365-8559. 

10 accounts every designer needs to follow on Instagram

When it comes to finding design inspiration, Instagram can serve as your personal playground — it’s a gold mind for great content and inspiration… if you follow the right people, that is.

Whether you’re looking to get inspired for an upcoming photoshoot or you need to find a new font to try out, here are 10 awesome Instagram accounts every designer should tap into from time-to-time.

 

1.  logoinspirations 

If you’re stuck in a rut trying to create that standout logo, logoinspirations curates all the best identities out there to save you trawling the web. If you check out their highlights, you’ll find lots of tips, inspiration and tools.

 

2.  logonew

Sticking with the logo theme, logonew shares a healthy blend of sketches and digital concepts. From drones and eagles to bitmojis, bees and beer, their feed is brimming with variety that’s sure to set your creative wheels in motion.

 

3.  neil_a_stevens

Specializing in poster design, Neil’s Instagram illustrations are nothing short of ingenious. Whether you’re looking for digital or online inspo, his masterpieces will get your inspiration flowing -- and your jaw dropping.

eaters-collective-129481-unsplash.jpg

4.  darias88

In his own words, the owner of this account, Daniel Aristizábal, “brings forward new technologies to create stunning and inspiring artworks.” He’s constantly experimenting with new styles and is known for his mastery of turning everyday objects into something abstract, original, and colorful.

 

5.  mrseaves101

Run by an Australian artist called Gemma O’Brien, this account is packed with bold lettering, illustrations, andtypography. It’s vibrant, it’s edgy, and it encompasses a mix of bold artwork and beautiful snapshots from around the world.

 

6. handmadefont

Finding a font is no easy feat, but if it’s variety you’re after, handmadefont has you covered. From industrial, futuristic and floral looks, to street art, 3D and foodie feels, it curates a whole load of forward-thinking concepts. 

 

7. interaction_design_foundation

This one’s less actual artwork, more practical tips -- to help you achieve that perfect piece. With posts on everything from introducing lean UX and conducting heuristic evaluations to information visualization and color emotion, there’s something for everyone.

 

8. heystudio

Heystudio focuses on brand identity, editorial design, illustration, geometry, color and direct typography. All these topics are at the heart of what they do and their feed has a quirky and contemporary look. With clients like Apple, Vodafone and Oxfam on their books, they must be doing something right…

 

9. uiuxgifs

GIFs are on the up. If you’re looking to incorporate some on your site or in your social media and email campaigns but just can’t map out what you want, this feed’s full of animated inspiration.

 

10. velvetspectrum

Last but by certainly means not least, Velvet Spectrum houses a mix of typography, illustration and motion graphics. Oozing with dynamic color and careful composition, the updates are nothing short of electric.


Hue & Tone Creative

If you’ve hit a creative wall, we can help you take your artwork to the next level. We can work with you on every design project, no matter what the medium — no print or digital job is too small. To get an idea of what we can do, see some of the projects we’ve worked on in the past or get in touch.

75 post ideas for Instagram

Are you lacking imagination for your next Instagram post? Everyone’s creative cogs stop turning every now and then, but fear not, we’ve put our creativity to the test by coming up with 75 post ideas to help you through your creative block:

75 post ideas for Instagram  |  Hue & Tone Creative

  1. Lighten the mood with a meme

  2. Pull out a quote from a happy client

  3. Post a picture of your products

  4. Film a demo of how to use your product or service

  5. Publish pictures of customers using your product or service

  6. Shout about any competitions you’re running

  7. Put your own spin on a big event - like Super Bowl

  8. Re-post stuff your followers tag you in

  9. Push out any promotions

  10. Create some motivational quotes

  11. Celebrate any business milestones

  12. Tell people about any job vacancies you’ve got

  13. Share team bios

  14. Share your team members favorite product

  15. Let people see what goes on behind the scenes

  16. Tease people new product launches

  17. Wish everyone a good weekend

  18. Remind your audience of your contact details so they can share any questions/concerns

  19. Promote employee recommendations

  20. Create an event reminder - if you’re hosting any

  21. Shout about any charity work you do

  22. Promote local charity events

  23. Have fun with your brand

  24. Show alternative uses for your products

  25. Ask questions to gauge audience interest in a topic

  26. Share your industry knowledge

  27. Ask for feedback

  28. Tell the story behind your brand

  29. Point people to new content on your site

  30. Shout about any awards you’ve won

  31. Raise money for charity

  32. Consider interviews with industry experts

  33. Set a challenge for people to get involved with

  34. Remind people when the clocks change

  35. Remind people of your unique selling points

  36. Share some New Year’s Resolutions

  37. Post live pictures and videos from events

  38. Share relevant news stories

  39. Visualize an inspirational, well-known quote

  40. Film a video that will make people laugh

  41. Get an influencer to endorse you

  42. Latch onto a trending hashtag

  43. Let people know what a day in the life at your business is like

  44. Publish statistics around your product or service

  45. Share any positive press coverage you receive

  46. Get involved with topical trends (think ice bucket challenge)

  47. Think of something crazy that could go viral

  48. Reach out to a celebrity and see if they’ll engage with you

  49. Show before and after transformations

  50. Thank your customers for their loyalty

  51. Congratulate customers or clients for their own successes

  52. Point people to key pages of your website

  53. Share a fun fact

  54. Create a collage to show a timeline of events

  55. Run a quiz

  56. Feature products that are on sale

  57. Make a business announcement

  58. Hook onto random awareness days - like International Day of Happiness

  59. Play an April Fool’s Day prank

  60. Show people what life would be like without your product or service

  61. Sell your product in a 20 second video

  62. Be vulnerable: share a challenge your business has

  63. Set up a user-generated content competition

  64. Post a picture of the person in control of your Instagram so people can put a face to a name

  65. Share a #throwbackthursday

  66. Invite people to follow your other social media channels

  67. Run a Christmas-themed giveaway

  68. Schedule a ‘Merry Christmas’ post for on the day

  69. Remind people of your business hours

  70. Share your company’s culture

  71. Start your own unique weekly series, like #whatifwednesday

  72. Ask people to leave you a review (and tell them where they can do it)

  73. Share styling tips

  74. Start a countdown to a key date/event

  75. Share someone else’s content that’ll be valuable to your audience - but make sure it’s not someone who can take business away from you!


SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING IN the triad

Looking to develop your social media presence? Hue & Tone Creative is a web marketing agency specializing in graphic design and social media management. Be sure to check out our portfolio to see clients we’ve helped in the past, or give us a call if you're ready to get started building your online presence.

How to Curate Your Instagram Feed
We all want our feed to look like this!

We all want our feed to look like this!

Ever stumble across a gorgeous Instagram feed and suddenly come down with a major case of account envy? We’ve all been there.

Creating a lust-worthy Instagram account is more than just slapping on a filter and a handful of hashtags. It’s about telling a story and understanding your own unique style.

Whether you’re trying to revamp your feed for yourself or your brand, we’ll give you the scoop on how to create an account your followers will love. 

 

 

Choose a Theme

Found the perfect filter or editing settings? Keep your feed cohesive by using it on your other images. 

All successful Instagram accounts have something in common. They all have a look. Finding your own theme takes a lot of research and self-discovery, so don’t get discouraged if it takes some time to get your feed where you want it to be.

Start by studying your favorite Instagram accounts, creating color stories on Pinterest, or simply writing down a list of adjectives that describe your brand. Think about what emotions you want your followers to feel when they scroll through your feed and brainstorm how you can express that visually.

For instance, a feed for a yoga studio could use relaxing colors, natural light, or motivational quotes. An account for a café might use vibrant colors or flat lays of ingredients... Once you get rolling the ideas are endless!

After you’ve decided on a style, use that as a guideline for all your future posts. 



Spice it Up

Now that you’ve found your look, keep your interesting by varying what you post. No one wants to follow an account that posts virtually the same images all the time.

Get creative by telling your story in different ways:

  • Piece a mosaic of individual images

  • Celebrate a holiday

  • Change your setting

Still need more examples of what to post? We’ve got even more ideas to help you get inspired.




Quality over Quantity

Never post a subpar picture just for the sake of likes. It’s much better to have a small number of great images than hundreds of blah ones. Always post high quality images that reflect your brand’s vibe and overall style. If it doesn’t fit your look, don’t post it.


Pro tip: Use a social media scheduler to help you preplan your Instagram content. We recommend giving Buffer or Hootsuite a try! 


Try an App

Although Instagram has a huge array of filters to choose from, don’t be afraid to venture outside of the app! There are tons of (mostly free) photo editing apps on the market with beautiful color stories and editing features.

VSCO- subtle effects and presets

1967- filters with a vintage feel

Foodie- perfect for lovers of food photography

A Color Story- lovely collection of filters and light effects

Adobe Lightroom- a high quality on the go photo editor

 

One last takeaway…

Creating a cohesive look takes time so don’t rush the process! Post frequently and try not to overthink it. 


Social Media Marketing in Greensboro, NC

Running out of ideas on what to post? Can’t seem to increase your number of followers? Take a breather and leave it to the experts. Whether you’re trying to get the word out for an event or are preparing to launch a hot new product, Hue & Tone Creative can help you ramp up likes, retweets, and mentions on all of your social channels.

How to Become a Hashtag Pro (and specific hashtags for your industry)
HOW TO BECOME A HASHTAG PRO (AND SPECIFIC HASHTAGS FOR YOUR INDUSTRY)  |  Hue & Tone Creative

Everyone knows that hashtags and pictures go together like PB&J. But not everyone knows how to correctly utilize hashtags.  When it comes to helping people find your company and products on Instagram, hashtags can play a big role -- but only if you're using the right ones. 

Today, we're going to run through the two main types of hashtags, and then cover how to find and use them properly.

 

Types

Before you start collecting hashtags, it’s important to understand which ones you should be using. There are two main types to choose from: community and branded hashtags.

Community hashtags are popular on Instagram, but they don’t really have anything to do with brands. For instance, #tbt or #cat could be used by anybody, it’s not exclusive to a company. These are great for helping people discover your profile -- but you'll want to be specific and primarily use hashtags that directly relate to the mission of your brand.

Unlike community hashtags, branded hashtags are for… you guessed it, brands! Usually companies use a consistent tag featuring their name, but you could also make one for a promotion, competition, or product launch.

Branded hashtags are awesome for supporting user-generated content campaigns (UGC) because they help people connect with you and show their love for your brand. 

 

Where to Find Hashtags

Although it would be easy to throw on a couple of hashtags and call it a day, you really need to your homework if you want to be discovered. 

Save your hashtags tags in Google Docs or a spread sheet so that you have on hand when you need them. 

We recommend thinking like your audience. Dig around and find out which influencers and hashtags are popular with your followers. It also helps to zero in on the more specific community hashtags because they have a smaller following. For example, #artistsoninstagram has over 3 million posts, but if you narrow it down to #inkdrawing, you have about 820,000 posts to compete with. Less competition = more exposure for you.

Speaking of competition, it may also help to scope out what tags they’re using. If they’re posts are getting a crazy amount of attention, hunt around for the right hashtags to spark some likes on your own page. 

 

Instagram Pro tip

Keep your post clutter free by hiding your hashtags. 

  1. Open Notes in your phone.

  2. Type a dot and hit return (Repeat this process 5 times).

  3. Add all the hashtags you want to use after the 5th dot.

  4. Copy all the dots and hashtags.

  5. After you post your picture in Instagram, hit the comment button and paste all your dots and hashtags.

  6. When you look back at your post, all the tags should be hidden!


Need a few hashtag ideas to help you get started? Here are some popular ones for some of the top industries and the Triad:

Fitness:
#fitlife
#getoutside
#eatclean
#fitspo
#fitnessgoals 

Greensboro & the Triad:
#gso
#gbo
#sogso
#wsnc
#gatecity

 Marketing:
#digitalmarketing
#advertising
#entrepreneurship
#influencermarketing
#marketingstrategy

Restaurants:
#delicious
#locallygrown
#eatlocal
#treatyoself
#hungry

Nonprofits:
#volunteer
#change
#dogood
#socialgood
#socialimpact


Social Media Marketing in the Triad: Hue & Tone Creative

Does managing all your social media accounts feel like a chore? We can give you a hand! Whether you’re looking to expand your list of followers or boost your amount of likes, the digital marketing pros at Hue & Tone Creative can give your accounts the attention they need.

Beginner tips for Instagram Stories
Beginner tips for Instagram Stories  |  Hue & Tone Creative

With over 150 million daily users, Instagram stories have gained a lot of popularity since their launch. If you haven’t hopped on the stories train yet, it’s not too late!

Instagram stories are the perfect way to engage your followers without overloading their feed. Each story only lasts for 24 hours (aka Snapchat style), so it’s important to post regularly. We suggest adding a lot of variety to your stories so that you can gauge what your followers respond best to.

Not quite sure of what to post? Here are a few ideas to get you started: 

  • Get Artsy: Play around with the pen tool and draw little doodles around your images/ videos. You also scribble a colorful background behind text. 
  • Tie in your other social channels: Did you recently upload a new video on YouTube or create a contest on Facebook? Share a snippet in your stories!
  • Before & after’s: This is perfect for designers, stylists, or anyone showing of a DIY success.
  • Create an ad: At the beginning of this month, Instagram announced that Instagram Stories Ads would be available for businesses worldwide. 30+ brands including Asos, Airbnb, and Netflix tested out the new feature earlier this year with great success.
  • Collaborate: Work with other businesses or try out a guest “takeover” to add a different perspective. 
  • Be consistent: IG stories only last for a day, so make sure that you post regularly. If every day is too much, try to post a few times a week.
  • Have fun: Try not to make your stories too stuffy! Play around with emoji’s, clever captions, color, and fun filters. Adding a bit of candid fun will give your followers something to look forward to. 
  • Mix it up: Instagram stories are kind of like a little patchwork quilt of daily events. Keep it interesting by incorporating pictures, music, videos, and Boomerang clips.

Don’t overthink it! At the end of the day, Instagram stories are a fun and temporary extension to your Instagram feed. Sometimes spontaneity is key.


Marketing & Social Media Services in Greensboro: Hue & Tone Creative

Need a second opinion on your current social media strategy? We've got your back! Our social media management services will help you boost engagement, increase followers, create brand awareness.... and, most importantly, create content your customers will love.