Do you regularly post photos and videos to your Instagram Stories? If you’re not using this feature to its full potential, consider this a sign to start.
- What are Instagram Stories?
- Why Should You Post to Your Stories?
- How Often to Post to Stories
- 10 Story Ideas to Steal, Recreate, and Post
What are Instagram Stories?
The Stories feature allows you to add photos or video clips to a story viewable for 24 hours before it disappears (similar to Snapchat Snaps). Using the Stories feature also allows you to tell better stories. You have unlimited time to share to your heart’s content.
Video recordings can be up to 15 seconds each and when you post a photo as a story, the image displays for 10 seconds.
Story content should be:
- Timely. Think off the cuff vs edited.
- Relevant to your niche. While Stories are more laid back, the content you post should be consistent to the type of content you post to your feed.
- Creative. Make your Stories stand out by using stickers, tags, boomerangs, filters, music, etc.
- Interactive. Encourage engagement by giving your followers a way to tap in by using the poll, questions, slider or quiz stickers.
Why Should You Post Instagram Stories?
More than 500 million Instagram users use Stories every day. This is a huge opportunity to get your cute canine content seen.
If used correctly, Stories can help grow your following while strengthening your relationship with your current followers.
I personally love watching other dog account Stories as you can to see their personalities in action. As we all know, the feed side of Instagram is for the frame-worthy shots, while Stories are the less pawfect, more authentic side of the gram.
How Often to Post Instagram Stories?
It’s recommended you post between one to seven stories per day.
Personally, I try to post at least three times a day: once in the morning, one midday and one in the evening as the bare minimum.
Consistency is the secret sauce to success here. If your goal is to grow your account, you have to show up every day.
10 Story Ideas to Steal, Recreate, and Post
I know what you’re thinking: “But I don’t have time to churn out MORE content every day.” Stop the stress here.
Keep in mind that your story content can and should be low effort.
And if you’re ever at a loss of what to post, bookmark this page and refer back to it.
Below are 10 story content ideas you can use on your account.
- Promote your last post
This is the quickest way to get into the Story game. By promoting your most recent feed post, you’re able to share more story content while also bringing more attention to your feed content. It’s a win-win!
Rather than simply adding your latest post to your story, give your followers more context to the shot. Tell the story behind the photo, call out what you love about it or share an interesting fact.
- Share funny or relatable quotes or memes
This is another fun and easy way to do more stories. First, make sure you’re following dog meme accounts. Some of my personal favorites are @kalesaladanimals, @cutest, @animalsdoingthings, @spicydogmemes, and @pupperish.
When you find yourself lol-ing to something one of these accounts post, reshare it to your stories with a reaction, comment, or emoji! Chances are your followers will appreciate you curating the laugh for them.
- Post a video how-to tutorial
Do you make delicious homemade treats? Show off your baking skills in a step-by-step video. Here’s how:
- Story 1: Hey everyone! Me and [pet’s name] are baking [item] today. Let’s go!
- Story 2-5: Record each step of the process, voicing over what to do and showing how your pet is helping along the way.
- Last story: Show off your finished product, post the full recipe and show your pet taste testing it. We hope you enjoyed this kitchen adventure today! If you try this recipe, tag us so we can see your dog’s reaction!
- Answer commonly asked questions
Do you get the same question over and over again in your DMs? Chances are a LOT of other people have the same question. Here’s how:
- Story 1: We get a lot of questions about [topic] and that’s why we’ve decided to address it here.
- Story 2-5: Record your pets with a voiceover of your answer to the question.
- Last story: We hope this helps! Let us know what other questions you have! [add a question sticker]
- Introduce your pet(s)!
Don’t assume your followers are paying attention. You should introduce your pupfluencer regularly, sharing fun, different facts and stories each time.
- Story 1: Hey everyone! We’re seeing some new faces and we wanted to say hi! I am [insert dog’s name(s)], and we [insert type of content you share]
- Story 2: Do you want to hear the story of how we got [dog name(s)]?
- Story 3: Quickly describe your gotcha story.
- Do a round of Q&As with the question box
Give the people what they want! This is another type of story to do regularly to strengthen your relationships with your followers. Try to answer as many questions as you can!
- Story 1: Let’s have some fun today! Ask us anything and we’ll answer in the next 24 hours! [insert question sticker]
- Story 2: Record your dogs and the answer to the question.
- Repeat for as many questions as you get.
- Last Story: Thanks so much for all the questions. Let us know if you want us to do this again! 🙂 [insert poll sticker]
- A day in the life of your pup
When in doubt, share behind-the-scenes footage of your pups living their lives. It may seem mundane to you, people love being a fly on the wall to others’ lives.
- Story 1: Hey furriends! Today, we’re showing you what goes on in [dog name(s)’ life]. Let’s go!
- Stories 2-10: Share videos, boomerangs and photos of your pets throughout your day
- Last Story: Did you enjoy getting a first-hand peek into our lives? [insert a poll]
- Ask for feedback
Feedback is a gift. This type of story not only promotes engagement but it can also help you improve your account!
- Story 1: Hey furriends! We’d love to create content you love to see so please help us out with this short poll
- Story 2-10: Would you rather? Are you more interested in [option] or [option]? [insert poll stickers]
- Last Story: Thanks so much for your feedback! <3
- Promote your other social media platforms
Are you also on TikTok, Twitter, YouTube, etc.? Cross-promote your content from your other platforms to your stories!
Don’t be afraid of shameless self-promotion – this is social media after all. No one will know to follow you in those other channels if you don’t tell them about it!
- Introduce the humans behind the phone
While the content is canine, at the end of the day pet Instagram accounts are really created by people for other people. By revealing a glimpse into who you are and why you run your dog’s account gives your followers something rarely shared.
- Story 1: Hey furriends! Today, we’re doing something different and turning the phone on the people behind this pup’s account.
- Story 2-5: Film yourself with your dog introducing who you are, when you started your dog’s IG account, why you started the account and any other fun facts about yourself that would be relevant to fellow dog parents.
- Last Story: Challenge your followers to have their humans share about themselves too. Consider tagging a few of your furriends. 🙂
Instagram Stories are an important part of your Instagram life and I hope you found these thought-starters useful.
Comment below with how you usually use the Stories feature.
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