An average day on Instagram typically starts with scrolling through stories and possibly responding to one of those Ask Me Anything stickers.
Who can really question the importance of IG stories? I bet no one!
Instagram story engagement serves as a key that brands and creators strive to unlock. More engagement in your stories captures the attention of the IG algorithms, resulting in increased visibility.
So, what does this mean precisely, and how can you enhance it? Let’s embark on a journey together to unravel these insights.
What Does Engagement Mean on Instagram Story?
Instagram stories engagement is all about how users interact with your story content.
It includes simple and passive actions like viewing, as well as active ones such as likes, replies, sticker clicks, quiz responses, link clicks, poll votes, shares, Exits, and Taps Backward or Forward.
In a nutshell, it’s the various ways people engage with and respond to your Instagram stories.
IG metrics for story engagement
What Is Instagram Story Engagement Rate?
To measure how well your stories engage your audience, you need a number called the Story Engagement Rate.
How to calculate the engagement rate on an Instagram story?
Now, let’s dive into some calculations to determine this crucial indicator. To measure IG stories engagement rate (ER), there are two different methods:
- The total number of shares, replies, link clicks, tap forwards & backward Total Number of Followers 100= IG Story Engagement Rate
- The total number of shares, replies, link clicks, tap forward & backward Views 100= IG Story Engagement Rate
You may also like to learn how to calculate Instagram engagement rate.
Instagram Story Insights
So, what is a good engagement rate for Instagram stories?
First off, what’s considered a good engagement rate differs for various Instagram stuff like stories, Reels, Carousels, and solo pics.
Then, the ideal engagement rate depends on what you’re into or do (your niche). But in general, most social media folks agree that the average Instagram story engagement rate is between 1% to 5%. Anything below 1% is usually seen as a low rate.
Good Instagram story engagement rate
Does Posting Stories on Instagram Increase Engagement?
The answer is Yes and I’ll show you how.
It all comes down to the Instagram algorithm, and interestingly, Instagram has different algorithms for various content types like stories, Reels, and the main feed.
How the Instagram story algorithm operates: The key factor here is the number of personal interactions you have with an account through Stories, not the main Feed. So, the stories you spot at the front of your stories feed are from accounts you’ve interacted with the most. The more you’ve viewed or engaged with someone’s story, the higher it’s placed.
While it’s important to have views on your Stories, the real game-changers are active engagements like likes, replies, shares, and playing around with stickers.
Let’s picture the map of your story journey:
Just a quick reminder: Instagram favors accounts that generate higher engagement.
Instagram stories key statistics:
- Around 500 billion users use Instagram stories every day (Facebook for Business).
- 36% of businesses use Instagram stories to promote their products (Elf Sight).
- The average reach rate for brands with large followings is 2% for stories.
- One in a third of the most viewed Instagram stories are created by businesses (Embed Social).
- More than 50% of businesses produce Instagram stories (Instagram).
Explore the best sites you can find Instagram usernames for sale!
How to Increase Instagram Story Engagement?
I guess you’re now convinced enough that Stories have a special place in Instagram’s heart. It’s evident from the constant updates and new features they keep adding.
Sure! Stories Must be part of your IG marketing strategy whether you’re growing an Instagram account from scratch or you’re improving it. Now, let’s find out how to get more engagement on Instagram stories.
#1. Post stories at the right times
Before you dive into what to post, figure out when your audience is most active. It’s like a mom knowing when her kids hit the hay and wake up.
That way, your stories have a better shot at grabbing attention. If you’re not sure about that perfect time, do some experimenting with different posting times.
Explore the best time to post on Instagram.
#2. Post consistently (Not frequently)+ Schedule
Don’t go for the disappearing act—posting a bunch of stories, vanishing, and then flooding back with more doesn’t do the trick.
To keep your audience engaged, stick to a consistent posting schedule. However, that doesn’t mean bombarding them with stories every hour. Find the right balance!
No one-size-fits-all rule for how often to post stories, but here’s a simple routine to try:
Share 3-6 stories each day, let them expire, take a 24-hour breather, and then keep up with this cycle!
Thanks to Instagram scheduling tools, you don’t have to be glued to the screen all the time. Just schedule your story for the best time and kick back!
Recommend you also read how to schedule IG posts & stories.
#3. Leverage Instagram story engagement ideas
No worries! I’ll walk you through what I mean by these Instagram story ideas.
Use interactive stickers
Loads of story stickers or story prompts make engaging with followers a breeze. They encourage replies, and positive interactions, and send good signals to Instagram’s algorithm. So, place these stickers in your stories:
- Questions
- Polls
- Quizzes
- Add Yours
- Countdown
- Emoji Slider
- This or That
- True or False
- Mention
- Location
- Link
- Hashtags (Not general but branded ones)
- Sound On
- Music
Respond to followers’ questions
Whether you’re using interactive stickers or not, responding to followers who ask questions in reply to a story is a fantastic way to boost engagement. Even a small conversation around an IG story sends positive signals to the algorithm.
Add text & caption to your story
If you want your followers to stick around in your story or pause to read the whole thing, a catchy caption summarizing what’s in your story can do the trick. Sometimes, a quote can grab their attention!
Use CTAs & Prompts
When you ask your followers, it takes a moment for them to process. You can request them to sign up, shop, read via a link, or just ask them to “Hold for More” or “Swipe to the Next Story.”
Tip: Get creative! Use doodles or gifs to grab people’s attention towards your links, CTAs, or the main point you’re making. It adds a fun touch!
Send users from posts to stories, not vice versa
Remember when everyone suggested sharing every post in your Instagram stories? Well, those days are gone. If you have posts with good engagement, why not leverage them to boost your Instagram story engagement as well?
Promote your product
Certainly, this is indeed one of the best Instagram story ideas for businesses. Just share a top-notch image or video showcasing your product, throw in a product link, and you’re good to go!
Tell a visual story
People love serial content. You shoot the first part, they get curious, and voila, they’re eager to swipe to the next story.
Imagine:
You’re launching a new product. In the first story, you can introduce a sneak peek of the product, leaving a bit of mystery.
Then, tease that there’s more to come, and encourage viewers to swipe for the big reveal in the next story. This builds anticipation and keeps them invested in your content.
Spread fun
Being funny works wonders, whether in posts or stories. Throw in some memes related to your niche for that extra dose of humor and engagement!
Share followers’ comments
Comments are a popular form of user-generated content and IG story ideas that can catch people’s attention and make them pause to read.
Flash Sale
The idea behind a story promoting a flash sale with a CTA and link is to create urgency. It urges users to grab the opportunity quickly. No doubt, it’s a fantastic story idea for brands and businesses.
Host a giveaway
Giveaways, raffles, contests, or whatever you call them, are great ideas to make a buzz around your stories.
- The lure of winning a free prize motivates viewers to take action beyond passively watching your Story.
- Users will engage to enter, increasing your Story’s views and completion rate.
- Increased engagement signals to Instagram that your content is valuable, potentially pushing your Stories higher in the Explore feed.
- And, shared excitement around the giveaway fosters a sense of community among your audience.
So, what are you waiting for? Take a look at these Instagram giveaway ideas to spark your inspiration.
Behind-the-scenes peek
In a world filled with filters and effects, people appreciate authenticity. Offering an exclusive glimpse into your work process or daily life can create a personal connection and boost curiosity.
Just be yourself! Introduce your team, share your challenges and setbacks with your followers, and use your story-telling power to build that golden connection!
Don’t forget to engage them by asking questions, responding to their comments, and using other interactive stickers.
#4. Track stories insights
The Instagram story post ideas mentioned earlier are quite engaging on their own. However, in this ever-changing world, there’s no one-size-fits-all. It’s crucial to keep an eye on your Instagram story insights regularly to figure out what clicks with your audience.
Track metrics like likes, replies, exits, and taps for each story. By doing so, you can shape your story strategy according to your audience’s preferences and optimize your content for better engagement.
FAQs
Here are a few frequently asked questions about IG story engagement.
Are Instagram Stories Good for Engagement?
Yes. Instagram stories, with their interactive features like stickers and prompts, present the best opportunities to capture users’ attention and send positive signals to the Instagram algorithm.
Does liking Instagram stories affect engagement?
Absolutely. Liking Instagram stories is one of the positive interactions that increases engagement.
Does posting stories on Instagram increase followers?
Posting stories won’t directly get you more followers, but if your content is engaging, your current followers might share it, bringing in new ones.
How to make an engagement story for Instagram?
By incorporating interactive stickers such as polls, quizzes, questions, “this or that,” and more, along with user-generated content, flash sales, and promoting your products with a link, you can make your stories highly engaging.
Do stories get more engagement than posts?
No, there is no clear evidence that stories get more engagement than feed posts.
