How I Wish More Small Businesses Would Use Instagram {Part 1}

If your business is not on Instagram nowadays, you might be missing a major opportunity. Instagram is a powerful (and don’t forget FREE) marketing tool that most small businesses should be using to connect with their target audience and bring in new sales and clients.

When I scan through small business profiles, I see many opportunities for connection with their audiences that are frankly - missing.

Read on to find out Part 1 on how I wish more small businesses would use Instagram.

Why Should Businesses Use Instagram Stories?

According to embedsocial.com, two thirds of the Instagram stories visits are from non-followers who want to learn more about the products and businesses on Instagram. Back in 2019, Instagram stories were the fastest growing format on Instagram!

Instagram Stories are one of the easiest ways a small business can connect with your audience.

Customers/Clients usually won’t take a blind chance on you without having some type of connection with the brand. Whether that is a peer recommendation, similar value system or similar traits, interests and skills. Showing your face is proven to build trust with your followers. And by showing your face, you are creating brand recognition. It is so important for small businesses to make these personal connections.

Top Benefits of Using Instagram Stories

1. Reach

Instagram Stories are discoverable - they can be found and viewed by people who are not your followers. Add hashtags, people and/or business tags and location tags and your reach is expanded even further.

2. Lead Generations & Conversions

Beyond brand awareness, Instagram Stories can be used as part of your conversion funnel. From a story that provides value, invite your viewers to message you through your DMs, give a link to your email signup or purchase a product or course.

3. Audience Connection

Stories provide endless opportunities to to engage with your audience and allow them to interact with your stories.

Here are some instant ideas:

1. Behind the Scene Content

2. Free Tips and Tricks

3. Create ‘How To’ Tutorials

4. Showcase a Product or Course

5. Give a special promotion or discount code

6. Showcase a recent event your business attended

Want More Ideas?

Instagram Story Stickers

Your Instagram stories should also utilize the engagement and interaction stickers provided within the app.

Instagram prioritizes content that uses its own features. If you post 1-3 stories, at least one of them should include some type of interaction sticker - an emoji reaction, question, quiz, poll or link.

1. Questions sticker

2. Poll sticker

3. Emoji sticker

4. Quiz sticker

5. Have an email signup or blog post to share? Use the Link Sticker to direct viewers to a specific URL.

Add Instagram Stories to Your Marketing Strategy

If your small business has yet to add Instagram Stories to your Marketing Strategy, you are missing out on an easy and quick way to build the Know, Like and Trust factor with your audience. So, what are you waiting for!? It's time to explore this Instagram feature and add it to your content calendar today.