I’m relatively new to Instagram, but have already found some great (free) resources and started to grow my audience over there. It you’re new there too, I recommend this FREE download from CoachGlue that teaches you how to connect with potential clients on Instagram, and this (also FREE) 7-day Instagram course from Alex Tooby.

One thing I’ve learned is that if you have an Instagram account to promote your business and you’re not using Instagram stories, you’re potentially missing out on a powerful marketing opportunity. As on other platforms, stories allow you to post a photo or video that will only be viewable for 24 hours, after which it will disappear.

The idea behind Instagram stories is that they’re easily shareable and, because they’re only available for 24 hours, people are encouraged to view them quickly. For bloggers, coaches and others solopreneurs, Instagram stories have great potential to boost business if you know how to use them.

Here are 4 ideas for how to make use of Instagram stories to boost business.

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Showcase a regular day in the life of your business

One clever way of using Instagram stories is to post ‘behind the scenes’ pics or videos of the standard, day-to-day stuff you do in your business. You can attach captions to explain what’s going on to followers.

This works best for businesses with appealing products that can be showcased in photos or videos. For example, food bloggers can post an Instagram story of them making a dish, crafters can post a story of them making a craft project, and health coaches can post a story of them working out, doing yoga or just preparing a healthy smoothie.

 Give out discounts or special offers

You can use Instagram stories to give discounts or special offers out to customers. Announce the discount through a simple picture or make a quick video where you talk about the discount and tell people how to claim it. Make sure to be clear that the offer is only valid for a short time (preferably just the 24 hours your story will be live for).

You can also use this tactic to drive traffic to your website by letting people know about a promo code that they need to enter on your website to claim their discount or special offer.

Show your product being used

If you sell a product as part of your business, then upload photos or videos of the product actually being used. Lots of companies use this strategy. For example, kitchen appliance companies (like Vitamix, the blender company) often upload videos of their appliances in action. If you upload an interesting, funny, or entertaining clip, you can really make people want to buy your product.

Acknowledge a business achievement

Did your business recently reach a major milestone? Win an award? Celebrate a birthday? Make an impressive sales target? If so, make sure to share it with an Instagram story.

Even a basic ‘talking head’ video of an you talking about why you’re excited to celebrate this milestone (and what it means for your customers) can really help promote the fact that your company has achieved something. This is a great way to give your business a bit of personality, spark customer interest and build a stronger connection with your followers.

Want to learn how to set your Instagram up for success and grow it like a pro? Check out this awesome Instagram training program from Alex Tooby. Alex really knows what she’s doing when it comes to growing your business with Instagram.

Have you joined our FREE resource library for solopreneurs? It’s packed full of free downloads, workbooks and guides to help you run your online business. You can get access here. You’ll also get a chance to grab The Busy Blogger’s Success Kit for half-price, and my regular newsletter with tips, freebies, and special offers. 

Featured Image by Plann on Unsplash.