Social Media

Social Hour: Instagram Stories are Here to Stay. So Here’s How to Use Them.

by Nikki Volpicelli Posted On September 21st, 2017 | 3:00pm EST

Today, Instagram stories are more than just a way to for your coworker to share their latest dinner dish or your little sister to lip sync to Lady Gaga. Today, brands and agencies are using IG video to guide you through their most important causes, events and initiatives. According to Digiday, they’re “hopping on the fad.”

But if it works for your peers, why can’t it work for a brand? And let’s be honest… is it really a fad? As a brand, you need to meet your customer where they are. And where they are is Instagram. Instead of flooding the feed day after day with static imagery, or grid video (which historically doesn’t see the same engagement points as photo or stories), consider trying out ephemeral video to engage and educate your audience.

Digiday pulls out a few good examples of brands introducing video, including Red Tettemer’s rollout that showcased a behind-the-scenes tour of The Franklin Institute, or Mekanism, who decided to use the platform to discuss the difference between it and another similar platform, Snapchat.

The truth is, if you’re looking to showcase the culture, people, and identity of your brand, Instagram stories is a good place to do that. HootSuite has a great 101 guide for businesses looking to start their video debut. Once you’re comfortable with the add-ons and know your way around the process, get creative. Instagram stories is no fad—and since all video only lasts 24 hours, you’ll have plenty of time to play around with captivating content.

For more information on how City/Studio can help your brand utilize video and social media in your content marketing strategy, click here.