Latest Instagram Story Tips To Get Started – Your Instagram feed is no longer the only way to engage your audience and stand out from the crowd.
In fact, since the feature’s debut in August 2016, Instagram Stories has rapidly grown to over 500 million daily active users, implying that at least half of Instagram’s total user base creates or views stories on a daily basis.
This means you have the opportunity to connect with your Instagram audience in two different places on the app, and you don’t want to squander it with boring Stories and visuals.
#1 – Start with a storyboard [Latest Instagram Story Tips To Get Started]
Instagram Stories can be used in a variety of ways. Stories are a great way to engage with your audience without having to be as polished as your feed, from promoting new blog posts to sharing new features and more.
This means you can record live video, behind-the-scenes footage, and iPhone photography without worrying about it clashing with the rest of your content.
However, when it comes to Instagram Story graphics, you still want to make sure you’re creating visually appealing designs that entice your audience to watch.
A storyboard is a great way to get started because it allows you to fully plan out your story before you begin designing.
Build a storyboard around several of your key tips or points that entice viewers to click through if you want to promote a recent blog post. Alternatively, you could create a storyboard that demonstrates how to use your product or service.
The options are limitless, but having a plan in place can make the entire design process much easier.
#2 – Keep to the lines
Consider your elementary school colouring days (or maybe just last Tuesday in your adult colouring book). It takes a lot of practise to learn to stay within the lines.
Your Instagram Stories have some important lines and parameters to adhere to as well.
Your username and ways to interact with your story are displayed at the top and bottom of your story graphics, respectively. There should be no relevant information or design elements in these areas.
Thankfully, Instagram will warn you if you’re about to move an element too far up or down the screen, but it’s also important to make sure that anything you design outside of the app follows the same rules.
While the dimensions of Instagram Stories are 1080 x 1920 pixels, Instagram recommends keeping all key design elements between the centre 1080 x 1420 pixels, leaving 250 pixels at the top and bottom. [Latest Instagram Story Tips To Get Started]
#3 – Create a style guide for Story.
While you can use fully produced graphics and short video clips for your Stories, Instagram also provides a plethora of design elements to enhance your content.
Consider creating a style guide that specifies which fonts, filters, GIF types, and other elements your company can use from IG Stories to stay branded.
You can create this style guide in a variety of formats to keep on hand whenever someone on your team creates and shares Instagram Stories. Given the variety of design preferences, having a Story-specific style guide can help improve brand recognition even further.
#4 – Use your company’s fonts and colours.
Maintain consistency in everything you create. Instagram Stories, too.
This means you should have your brand kit ready to go, complete with colour hex codes, fonts, a logo, and other elements.
When your followers are scrolling through their stories, incorporating your brand fonts and colours helps with brand recognition. They’ll see one of your graphics and immediately recognise it as belonging to your company, without even seeing your username.
#5 – Include photography.
Instagram Stories do not have to be entirely custom graphic designs. It’s a great idea to mix it up and include photography now and then.
The beauty of Instagram Stories is that you don’t have to publish everything that is high-quality and professionally created. Instead, use your smartphone camera to capture some behind-the-scenes footage right within the app.
Don’t forget about the millions of free stock photo options available to you as well. Simply ensure that they are relevant to your brand and the content you are sharing!
