The introduction of IGTV on Instagram — a video streaming service designed to get users to spend more time in the app — is a reminder that it’s easy to waste a lot of time on social media. If you aren’t into longform video content, you can stick to Snapchat and Instagram stories.
Not only are they a lot of fun, but stories have become revolutionary for marketers, influencers and businesses all over the world. Snapchat first introduced stories in October 2013, and in 2016, Instagram took the idea and ran with it.
Stories allow you to poll your friends, edit pictures creatively and even share snippets of your life with the people who follow you. You don’t have to be a social media superstar to take advantage of the tool. You can use stories to bring your own version of reality television to the small screens of your audience.
Today, more than 300 million users snap stories or post them via Instagram or even WhatsApp Status, and interactive stories have become a go-to for increasing social media engagement.
The most active industries using Instagram stories include fitness and fashion, but retail and technology are not far behind. Snapchat Discover Stories are ruled by Buzzfeed, Comedy Central, iHeart Radio, the Food Network, and ESPN, covering everything from cake-making to sports highlights. Regardless of what you love, there’s a story for it.