Instagram Stories have quickly become one of the most popular features on the platform since launching in 2016. These disappearing photos and videos only last 24 hours before vanishing, unlike regular Instagram posts.

For brands and businesses, Instagram Stories provide an excellent opportunity to connect with current Instagram followers and reach new audiences. In addition, you can buy IG followers via GoreAd to double your reach. The ephemeral nature encourages creativity over perfection. And the more casual, “behind-the-scenes” style helps forge stronger relationships.

When used strategically as part of your Instagram marketing approach, Stories can be invaluable for boosting brand loyalty. Keep reading to discover exactly how.

Why Instagram Stories Matter for Brands

Over 500 million users interact with Instagram Stories every day. That’s almost two-thirds of Instagram’s total user base accessing Stories.

This impressive engagement shows the content format resonates with users. For brands, that presents a major opportunity to grab attention.

But why are Instagram Stories so popular? There are several key reasons:

They Feel More Authentic

Instagram Stories also feels more genuine to audiences because it is like a laidback, spontaneous style. Being transparent builds trust in brands that show behind-the-scenes sneak peeks or employee takeovers.

They Encourage Interaction

Unlike regular Instagram posts, Stories offer two-way communication that brands can have with fans. With slider stickers, you can ask questions, run polls, and increase engagement.

They Reach More Users

If you have a public account, your Instagram Stories appear on the main Stories bar at the top of the app. That gets your content in front of a lot of people who don’t even follow your brand.

They Enable Cross-Promotion

You can easily reshare Stories as posts on your Instagram profile grid or as ads. Similarly, you can publicize your Instagram Stories activity in Stories highlights or via links in permanent Instagram posts.

How Brands Can Use Instagram Stories to Increase Loyalty

Building a loyal community on Instagram takes time and strategic effort. But consistently posting captivating, value-driven Stories is one of the most effective ways.

Here are six tips for using Instagram Stories to boost brand loyalty:

1. Take Your Audience Behind the Scenes

Give your followers VIP access they won’t get anywhere else. Use Stories to showcase sneak peeks of new products, services, or campaigns before anyone else.

Let fans see inside your offices, factories, or stores. Capture employees hard at work or discuss the creative process openly.

The goal is to make audiences feel valued as part of an inner circle. That makes them more invested in your brand’s story long-term.

2. Spotlight Loyal Customers

Nothing captivates potential new customers like showing off your happy existing ones. With permission, feature loyal fans in your Stories.

Ask them to share authentic reviews, unboxings, or images/videos of them actively using your products or services. This user-generated content directly shows how you have satisfied customers already.

To encourage more participation, you could even run a branded hashtag campaign or contest around customer Stories.

3. Share Expert Tips and Advice

Position your brand as an industry leader by educating audiences. Use Instagram Stories to provide insider secrets, professional advice, and actionable tips related to your niche.

Give people the guidance they need while highlighting your expertise. For example, an outdoor apparel company could share hiking trail recommendations from adventure athletes they sponsor.

You want followers to see the unique value your brand brings. So focus on truly useful, engaging content they won’t find elsewhere.

4. Provide Behind-the-Scenes Event Access

Attending exclusive brand events makes customers feel special and builds loyalty. During conferences, trade shows, galas, or experiences you host, leverage Instagram Stories to make virtual attendees feel included.

Let them follow along with the action in real-time with videos and photos. Show them speaker presentations, new product unveilings, and candid audience reactions as they happen.

The FOMO this creates keeps remote viewers feeling connected and part of the experience too. They stay invested in future happenings.

5. Launch Limited-Time Promotions

Instagram Stories are only around for 24 hours. That’s why they are perfect to drive urgency around special deals and offers.

Use these temporary Instagram Stories to promote sales, and coupon codes, or to enter contest entries. Users are pressured by the ticking clock to make use while they still can before it is too late.

You can also build anticipation by announcing an upcoming promotion in Stories first. Then follow up with reminders counting down to launch time across the next few days.

Limited-time exclusives make customers jump at special treatment from brands they love.

6. Poll Followers for Opinions

Gathering quick feedback from your audience is easy on Instagram Stories. Survey followers with built-in polling and quiz stickers.

Get opinions on new products, logo redesigns, upcoming campaigns, etc. that would be useful. It makes fans feel heard and like they make an impact.

Polls and questions also boost Stories engagement as people share responses. Additionally, you gain useful data to guide your Instagram marketing strategy.

Creative Ways to Use Instagram Stories for More Loyalty

Hopefully, you’re inspired already by the loyalty-building power of Instagram Stories. Now let’s explore some specific creative examples and tactics to integrate across your own marketing.

Recipes

Cooking tutorials and recipes make ultra-shareable Stories. For restaurants, packaged food brands or appliance makers, showcase chefs preparing signature dishes or mixes.

Encourage viewers to attempt recipes themselves. This positions your company as a helpful source for at-home cooks to return to repeatedly.

Product Demos

Seeing how a product works builds more trust to drive sales. Product companies can create Stories explaining essential features, unboxings, and real-life demonstrations.

The more informative and useful your video content is, the more authority your brand gains within your niche. Audiences rely on firms that educate them.

Spotlight User Reviews

As mentioned before, user-generated content offers authentic social proof. Collect and highlight positive product reviews from real customers through Stories.

Ask followers to submit testimonials of why they love your brand and how it’s helped them. The relatable peer perspectives make new users confident to engage.

Share Company News

Make fans feel like insiders by announcing new products, services, hires, and company milestones via Stories first. Later you can expand into regular feed posts.

But the initial sneak peeks on Stories make people excited to follow your brand’s journey and growth. They’ll eagerly anticipate each update.

Behind-the-Scenes Footage

Satisfy curiosity around how your products get made or who’s behind your brand. For example, spotlight factory workers assembling goods or designers conceptualizing campaigns.

Offering transparency allows audiences to connect with the real people powering your company. This fosters emotional investment in your success.

Influencer Collaborations

Collaborate with the industry influencers that are relevant for you and together with them you create Instagram stories where they post your products or services to their Stories.

It gives credibility when an unbiased third party nods its approval. Also, it puts your brand in front of the influencer’s audience.

Ask them to share discount codes or special offers so their followers will make a purchase and eventually become loyal future customers.

Instagram Live Q&As

Hop on Instagram Live stream within Stories to chat directly with engaged followers in real time. Take questions, gather feedback, and bond more personally.

The authentic connection builds trust and the likelihood that fans will support your brand consistently.

Branded Stickers and Filters

Create unique stickers, filters, or augmented reality effects with your company name, logo, or hashtag phrase to elevate your Stories brand.

Inspire viewers to apply these creatively inside their own Stories. This produces user-generated material and naturally increases brand recognition.

There are countless ways you may twist Instagram Stories marketing. Continue to explore interesting ideas and evaluate what material most connects with your fans.

Measuring Results of Instagram Stories Efforts

With many possibilities, how can brands track what’s working and optimize their approach? Rely on these key Instagram analytics to assess your Stories’ performance:

Views. See the total number of views your Stories receive from followers and non-followers. Benchmark views over time to detect trends.

Replies. The replies sticker lets audiences respond to your Stories’ questions or polls. High reply volume means you’re encouraging engagement.

Exits. This metric shows what percentage of viewers exit your Story before the end versus watching the whole way through. Lower exits signal captivating content.

Link Clicks. If you add links to your Instagram bio or website Stories within, stat reveals how many users swipe up. More link clicks demonstrate valuable worth further. Lots of saves indicate audiences want content exploring.

Screenshots. Similarly, check when followers screenshot your Stories to save natively on their camera roll or share elsewhere. This is a powerful sign of connective content worth spreading.

Hashtag Views. Track views of the hashtag stickers you add to Stories. Increasing volume over time shows growing discovery via hashtag topic searches.

Together these metrics paint a picture clear how your of Instagram Stories strategy is performing and where efforts adjust going forward.

Key Takeaways

Instagram Stories present a massive opportunity for brands. The immersive, authentic content builds stronger bonds with audiences for long-term loyalty.

Keep these best practices in mind:

1. Give followers exclusive behind-the-scenes access and insider info.
2. Spotlight happy customers and user-generated content.
3. Help audiences learn valuable tips and advice from you.
4. Limited-time promotions and event coverage allow you to build FOMO.
5. Ask questions and take polls with interactive polls.
6. See how key analytics can help refine your approach.

As you craft captivating Stories, your efforts will be rewarded with higher engagement and a more invested follower base over time.