Instagram stories vs posts – what are they, how do they work, and what are the key differences? When it comes to navigating social media, knowledge is power.
Instagram – or IG, Insta, or The ‘Gram – is an American image and video sharing social media network owned by Facebook. The primary function is not only for users to post their own content, but to engage with the content of others. Like minded users are able to connect via the use of hashtags and location geotags, so it differs greatly from the Facebook model of a community of “friends”.
In the early 2010’s, using Instagram was as simple as slapping a filter on an image and posting it with a few hashtags. These days, the game has changed significantly with additions such as stories, reels, IGTV and more. When it comes to using Instagram for business, if all you’re currently doing is liking a few images and posting content on your own platform – then that’s already a plus. In order to make the most of your time, energy and resources on “The Gram”, it’s important to know how the two primary methods work, along with their key differences.
Instagram Stories vs Posts: How Do They Work?
In 2020, if you’re not a member of the one billion plus community on Instagram – then you might want to reconsider. With the platform generating over $12 billion in advertising revenue in this year alone, it can be difficult to organically grow your platform without the need for paid marketing.
Considering that, there is a magical art in curating your feed to reflect the overall image of your brand or business, or “posting.” Relevant hashtags, quality and on brand content, and regular engagement are the pillars to “getting seen” on this social media platform.
Stories, however, are a newer concept. Released in 2016, these short 15 second vertical clips, videos or images disappear after 24 hours, and operate on a whole different model when compared to the format of traditional posting.
Key takeaways when considering the differences between Instagram stories vs posts include:
Instagram Feed And Posts
- A form of evergreen content, if allowed they can circulate forever
- Ideal for increasing your reach, as posts can get discovered by new audiences
- Your feed is the face of your brand, and what you represent
- Feed content is generally curated with a strategy to establish digital presence
- Most audiences view content with the sound off
Instagram Stories
- A post that disappears after 24 hours, increasing a sense of urgency and exclusivity
- Ideal for engagement, especially with existing audiences
- Great for video, as 70% of users watch stories with the sound on
- Less formal, fleeting and unofficial – a more casual method than the traditional post
- More tools available like polls, asking questions and stickers
What Types Of Content Are Best Suited To Instagram Stories vs Posts
Like most digital platforms, both Instagram stories and feeds require some form of a content strategy – “winging it” is only going to do you a disservice, it’s also not a great method when it comes to deploying your time and resources properly. So what content is best suited to each function?
Instagram Feed And Posts
- Lean on the pillars of evergreen content. What questions are your customers constantly asking? Are you repurposing your existing content?
- Testimonials should be leveraged to get a positive brand message out there
- Pretty and high-quality photos are great, but make sure that they are relevant to your brand, industry or sector
- Choose an overall theme or aesthetic when curating your feed – audiences should know what to expect from you
- Use the same (or similar) filters to achieve a consistent tone in your posts
Instagram Stories
- Reshare your existing posts to promote their reach to the highest range possible
- Host Q&A sessions about your products or service, or put the spotlight on your services by via tutorials
- Ask for audience feedback by using the polls feature
- Humanise your staff and get “behind the scenes” in a more casual tone
- Get familiar with video with live streams or short 15 second snippets
This Is Great – But I’m Not Confident Enough To Produce Content!
Producing quality, consistent and on brand content takes time, effort, experience and resources – and it’s totally okay if you know that you can’t quite commit to all that. Thankfully, investing in a solid content marketing strategy has never been easier.
Here at Content Hive, we specialise in getting brands buzzing online with digital marketing services done for you. Book in your free discovery call with us today, and take the first step in developing a digital marketing strategy that actually gets results.
