Live video is finally getting the attention it deserves. Platforms like Facebook and Twitter have already jumped aboard the bandwagon, rolling out their own versions of this feature. Now, we see Instagram doing the same thing, with “Stories.” This is going to take social media marketing to another level for companies that are already on Instagram.
Instagram is owned by Facebook, so it’s no surprise that they decided to go this route. Whenever someone goes live on Instagram, you will see a “live” icon show up in the profile’s Stories bar. Only followers will be able to see this alert.
Unlike Facebook and Twitter, Instagram Stories doesn’t hang on to the live footage you shoot. Instead, the video disappears after 24 hours. This was to accommodate folks who are worried about their videos becoming a part of internet history, which may one day come back to haunt them.
So how can you start using Instagram Stories for your brand? You can either hire services from social media marketing companies or follow these instructions.
Quick Guide to Using Instagram Stories
This is a simple step-by-step guide for setting up your live feed on Instagram:
- Click the plus sign found in the left corner at the top of your screen.
- Next, hit the round button to capture an image, or press down on it for 10 seconds to start capturing video.
- Now, you can use one of the three pen types to start drawing on your photo/video and adding emojis. Color filters are also available.
- Once you’ve done, click on the check mark icon.
This will publish your video to your feed. You can check out who’s seen the video by swiping up on your story. If there are people viewing that you’d like to block, just simply click the “X” next to their name.
Building Credibility and Followers
Regularly creating Instagram Stories can drive more followers to your channel and make your profile more discoverable. Just make sure you’re promoting your company content on other social media channels you’re marketing on. If you need help in this area, you can hire an internet marketing agency to handle this for you.
What makes Stories a neat addition is that it fits perfectly with Instagram’s ideal of showcasing beautiful, curated content from your daily life. With the right strategy, you can come up with creative ways to use images and video to enhance your brand.
