What changed in Instagram Story’s performance in 2021?
We have to start this Instagram Story stats category by highlighting that Instagram is one of the most popular platforms, having the highest engagement levels. So, it’s only natural that businesses have understood the importance of diverse content and started to use Instagram stories regularly in their social media strategy.Average number of Instagram stories per month
The median number of stories published in a month is 15-16 Instagram stories, according to an Instagram stories study by Socialinsider. This is double compared to 2020. The study found that this applies to bigger brands, who have doubled their Instagram Story posting throughout 2021.
If we stop and think for a bit, this makes sense, because the bigger the brand, the bigger the budget for social media.
On the other hand, smaller accounts have lower increases in the average number of monthly Instagram stories published, but this doesn’t mean that the habit of posting more Instagram stories doesn’t exist.
Posting up to five Instagram stories per day ensures a retention rate of over 70%
Instagram stories have the advantage of instantly hooking viewer attention through storytelling. Since stories are all about visuals, they rely on the interaction between a brand and their followers through all sorts of methods – from live sessions and behind-the-scenes moments, to games or contests. However, more doesn’t always mean better, so brands need to be careful with the amount of Instagram stories they post. Too many can become spammy and push away the viewer. In fact, the Instagram Story study done by Socialinsider discovered that posting up to five stories per day ensures a retention rate of over 70%.
With this information in mind, brands can now adapt their Instagram strategy and give just enough Instagram stories to their followers, in order to make them want more and come back.
Image stories vs. video stories
Without a doubt, video is a powerful type of content for both marketers and consumers. Through video, businesses can generate more leads and increase the time users spend on a page. Not only that, but video marketing has the advantage of being more relatable and authentic, which is something that consumers desire more and more from social media. However, in the case of Instagram stories, things are a bit different. The same Instagram Story study revealed that image stories slightly outperform video stories in terms of reach.
According to the chart, smaller accounts have a reach rate of 10.40% for image stories and 9.37% for video stories.
On the other hand, bigger accounts (with more than 100K followers) have an average reach rate of 5.03% for video stories and 4.95% for image stories.
Reach post vs. feed
As demonstrated earlier, Instagram stories are increasing in popularity due to their fun and creative nature. Brands have not only doubled their usage of Instagram stories; it seems that including this feature in their content strategy will likely increase their reach rate as well. However, this doesn’t mean that brands should neglect the power in-feed content has. Sure, Instagram stories can let the artist in you shine, but social media managers should not neglect a brand’s Instagram feed. The same study done by Socialinsider found out that most of the time, a brand’s Instagram Story reaches only half of the people in-feed posts do.
According to the study, these findings apply to all accounts, regardless of their fan base.
But one interesting thing to note here is that middle-sized accounts (with 10K – 100K followers) struggle to have good Instagram stories reach, despite posting around 22 stories per month, on average.
Instagram Story ideas to boost engagement
As demonstrated earlier, integrating Instagram stories into your business marketing strategy is a must in 2021. However, we all know that today’s digital space is extremely crowded, so being authentic and creative is not an easy job. Let’s explore five Instagram Story ideas that every business can adopt in their social media strategy.#1 Include link stickers
At the end of October 2021, Instagram announced that it now allows all users to share links in their stories. In the past, this Instagram feature was limited to verified accounts or accounts with more than 10K followers. This obliged the other accounts that didn’t fit into these categories to add links in bio. This limitation made everyone who couldn’t add links to their Instagram stories desire this feature—not being able to add links to Instagram stories meant decreasing viewer interest. You can play with this feature in endless ways, from cooking to volunteering, or even shopping. Before posting your Instagram Story, add a call to action so that your audience wants to click your link. For example, “Read more here!” or “Want more? Continue reading!” If you want your Instagram Story to be more interactive, you can also add poll stickers or question stickers next to the links.
(#2 Showcase behind-the-scenes content
Behind-the-scenes content is the type of content that is not that polished or edited. With this kind of raw content, you can connect with your followers on a deeper level. Social media is all about presenting the best facet of your personality or business. But people started being more interested in real stories that speak to them directly, especially since the pandemic began. This is why showing your followers behind-the-scenes content is an excellent Instagram Story idea. You can walk them through your office, show them the coffee shop you’re working from, or film your cozy couch that has become your workspace.
(Image source #1 and image source #2)
You can also present how your products are made and guide viewers through each step, from the early stages to the final product. No matter what you decide to share with your followers, this kind of Instagram Story will show the human side of your brand; you’ll become more relatable in the eyes of your audience.
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