How to use Instagram Stories to create engaging content, extend your reach, and build lasting connections!

If you’re on Instagram, you’ve most likely viewed an Instagram Story and perhaps even shared one. High five, InstaFriends!

If you’re not using Instagram Stories, you’re really missing out on valued opportunities to connect, engage, and build meaningful connections.

In this tutorial, I’m setting out to share how to use Instagram Stories to create engaging content, extend your reach, and build lasting connections.

---

---

Instagram Posts vs Instagram Stories

Unlike Instagram posts that are 1080 x 1080 pixels and remain in our profile feed, Instagram Stories are vertical 1080 x 1920 pixels, also known as an aspect ratio of 9:16. They are video clips 15 seconds in length, and they display at the top of the Instagram feed for 24 hours. After 24 hours they disappear unless we save them to our Highlights.

Instagram posts may or may not show in our follower’s feed, due to Instagram’s Algorithm. Instagram Stories are quite different, as they display at the top of the feed and can be viewed by all. For this reason, and many more, they offer fabulous opportunities to connect and engage with fellow Instagram users.

Instagram Stories are just that ~ Stories. We can share stories in the form of interactive images or maybe a short video and behind-the-scenes glimpse of a process or product. There are numerous articles highlighting the statistical reasons for using Instagram Stories, but this post is specific to how to use this gem of a tool that rests at our fingertips … literally.

---

Instagram Story App

We can use Apps to create an Instagram Story and then share it, but Instagram makes this creation process super easy within their App.

We can access the Instagram Story App in a few ways. We can swipe to the right from our Instagram feed, tap the camera icon at the top left of the feed, tap our profile picture (+Your Story) at the top of the feed, and/or tap our profile picture from our profile page. 

---

---

This is what you can expect to see. 

---

---

We have a number of options to choose from. Each option offers its own features and benefits.

• Type
• Go Live
• Normal
• Boomerang
• Superzoom
• Focus
• Handsfree

For this tutorial, we’ll look at using a photo from our library and editing it to create an engaging, interactive Instagram Story.

Ready? Let’s jump in. 🙂 

In Normal view, we can easily access our photo library, as shown in the image above.

Your photo library will look something like this.

---

---

We choose the photo we’d like to use.

My library is full of screenshots I’m using for this tutorial. If you’re not quite sure how to take a screenshot with your iPhone, feel free to pop by my blog post ~ How to use an iPhone Mockup ~ a win-win for marketing and building connections across social media!

Once we select the photo we’d like to use, we’ll see the Icons displayed at the top of our photo.

Icons to choose from are:

• Download
• Overlay/ Effects
• Link
• Stickers
• Pen Tool
• Text

It will look similar to this.

---

Let’s look at each Icon.

---

Download

We can download our Instagram Story directly to our phone/iPad. This doesn’t share our Story on Instagram. It just saves it to our device. To share our Instagram Story, we need to tap Your Story located at the bottom of the screen. We’ll cover this in this tutorial.

---

Overlays and Effects

There are so many overlays/effects at our fingertips. You’ll see them located at the bottom of the screen.

To add an overlay/effect, tap the Smile Icon, as shown below.

To view the overlay/effects in action, we just tap the effect.

---

---

In the image below, I’m using an Overlay, GIF, and @Mention.

We’ll cover GIFs and @Mentions in this post.

---

---

Stickers

Stickers are fantastic for engagement and are unique to Instagram Stories versus Instagram Posts.

We can edit, resize, and transform all Stickers by pinching, expanding, and/or rotating.

---

---

We’ll look at the following Stickers:

• Location
• #HashTags
• @Mention
• GIFs
• Countdown
• Question
• Poll
• Quiz

All offer opportunities to connect and engage with InstaFriends, whether they are a close friend or potential customer. It’s all about connecting and engaging.

---

---

To delete a Sticker, we just drag it to the bottom of the screen and the trash can icon will appear, as shown below. Easy peasy. Drag and drop. 🙂

---

---

Location

By adding a location to our Instagram Story, our Story can be viewed by anyone who is viewing and searching Instagram content using the location option.

---

---

#HashTags

Adding relevant #hashtags is another way to connect with others who are viewing content via #hashtags or following a particular #hashtag.

Much like our feed content, using #hashtags provides the means of viewing content by searching or following a #hashtag. Basically, our content can be viewed by others who may not be a follower of our profiles. It’s a way of reaching more people who may or may not be following us.

If you’re sharing a Story about a new blog post, book cover reveal, book launch, new product, or new service, etc. using a relevant #hashtag will make your Story visible to anyone following that #hashtag or searching with it.

When I share a Story, I’ll use a relevant #hashtag and with its use, I’ve connected with some amazing folks. Adding #hashtags can lead to follows and potential friends and fans.

In the image below, you can see that I used #BloggingTips as a #hashtag.

---

---

@Mentions

@Mentions are great for shout-outs and building connections with others. If you’re sharing a Story that features another’s work, maybe a gem review of a product, or just sending out a genuine thank you for being awesome, a @Mention is an ideal way to do so.

To add a @Mention, tap the @Mention Sticker. This will add it to our Story.

We simply edit the text with the correct @InstagramHandle, resize, rotate, and tap again to change the color and we’re done. The person or persons will receive a Direct Message notifying them of the @Mention.

---

---

In the image below, you can see a recent Instagram Story I created as a thank you to my friend and author, blogger, and amazing gal, Vashti Q.

Vashti is awesome for sending out gratitude to her followers and she’s amazing at featuring and supporting others. This thank you to her is long overdue.

---

---

GIF Stickers

Who’s not a fan of GIFs? Seriously, they are little rays of sunshine!

Adding a GIF to an Instagram Story is quite simple, as well.

First, tap GIF to add it to your Story.

---

---

Ta-da! So many GIFs to choose from. We can even search GIPHY for more!

Once we find a GIF we’d like to add, we just tap it.

We can resize and rotate with a pinch and/or expand, then place it where we’d like by holding and dragging into place.

---

---

Countdown Stickers

Using a Countdown is another way to reach fellow Instagrammers. There are so many reasons and ways to use a countdown in an Instagram Story.

I recently created a Countdown for a sale I’m hosting. After sharing the below Story, I received an increase of visitors to my Shop and a bump in sales. It’s a win-win!

Think of cover reveals, book launches, blog tours, etc. There are so many benefits to using this form of marketing.

Creating a Countdown is a simple process.

First, tap the Countdown sticker.

---

---

Next, edit the text and tap the timmer.

---

---

Select the end date and then tap done. The timer will begin to countdown.

---

---

When we’re done, we just tap Your Story.

---

---

Question Stickers

Let’s have a look at the Question Sticker. We can use Questions in various ways. We can invite InstaFriends to ask us questions, or we can pose a question.

Again, it’s all about engagement.

To add a Question Sticker, we tap it.

---

---

Then edit the text. We can change the colors, as well.

---

---

Another sample of using the Question Sticker.

---

---

To view our Instagram Story responses and insights, we tap our profile picture located in the bottom left corner.

Also, we can view more options by tapping the … More located in the bottom right corner.

---

---

Viewing insights is a valuable tool to see what’s working and what’s not.

We can respond here, as well.

---

---

Poll Stickers

The Poll Sticker is another gem for connecting and engaging with followers.

I love receiving feedback on products, but I also see it as a great way to build meaningful connections.

First, let’s tap Poll to add it to our Story.

---

---

Next, we edit the text with our question. A yes/no question that invites our followers to respond is a win, in my opinion.

In the Story below, I ask my InstaFriends if they blog, too. I value all responses and for those that blog, I’m likely going to visit their blog and possibly become a new follower. It’s also a little self-promo for my blog, too.

I’m a huge fan of the blogging community and enjoy connecting and sharing ideas and tips with others.

---

---

Once complete, tap and add to Your Story.

We can also choose to send it to Close Friends or Send via direct message.

---

---

Quiz Stickers

Next up is the Quiz Sticker.

Quizzes are another awesome feature to help connect and engage with viewers. The below quiz is much like a Question Sticker, but we can customize it as we’d like with multiple answers. As an author, I’m curious to know the reading preferences of my InstaFriends.

We just tap it to add it to our Instagram Story.

---

---

We can also customize the color palette.

Next, we edit the text with our question and add our answers. It’s that simple.

---

---

Once complete, add to Your Story.

---

---

Pen Tool

Let’s look at the Pen Tool.

Tap the Pen Icon to access the multiple pen options.

---

You’ll see many options to choose from.

From left to right we have the options:

• Undo
• Pen
• Marker
• Brush
• Eraser
• Done

Tap the Pen Tool option and then begin to write.

We can also change the Pen color.

---

---

Text Tool

The final tool in this tutorial is the Text Tool.

Again, an easy tool to use.

First, tap it to open.

---

---

This opens the Text Tool in our Instagram Story.

We can change the font style, font color, text alignment, and add or remove a background color.

---

---

We can customize the color by tapping the pen icon, then position the balloon on the desired color from our image.

---

---

Final look.

---

---

Viewing Analytics, Insights, and Responses

---

Viewing analytics and insights is key to understanding what is working and what isn’t. This information is not accessible to others.

We can view these insights by tapping the bottom left corner of our Story.

---

---

Are we’re done!

There are so many awesome ways to use Instagram Stories. This post is just a glimpse of what’s at our fingertips.

I hope this post encourages you to use Instagram Stories. Let’s get social. That’s what it is all about, isn’t it? 😉

Have a tip you’d like to share? Please feel free to share in the comments below.

Until next time… happy connecting, my friends!

---

---

---