51ÊÓƵ

You’re well aware that Instagram Stories are aÌýgreat way toÌýconnect with your audience. But that’s not ²¹±ô±ô—I²Ô²õ³Ù²¹²µ°ù²¹³¾ Stories can beÌývery helpful inÌýconverting followers into customers. For online sellers, this isÌýaÌýhuge opportunity toÌýincrease sales.

You can create many different types ofÌýstories, but not all are equally effective forÌýgenerating orders forÌýyour online store. That’s why inÌýthis blog post, weÌýwill focus only onÌýStories that are great forÌýconverting followers into customers. IfÌýyou’re ready toÌýstart selling more products online, keep reading!

What Are Instagram Stories?

Instagram Stories are short pieces ofÌýcontent that appear atÌýtheÌýtop ofÌýyour followers’ Instagram feeds. They last upÌýtoÌý60Ìýseconds andÌýcan include videos, photos, gifs, music, orÌýtext.

Instagram Stories has tons ofÌýinteractive tools you can use toÌýengage with your followers. For example:

• Create polls orÌýquizzes toÌýget feedback onÌýyour products, industry news, orÌýanything related toÌýyour business andÌýniche.
• Use question stickers toÌýfind out what your followers would like toÌýlearn about your products andÌýbusiness.
• Use reaction sliders andÌýbuttons toÌýlet followers express their opinion onÌýdifferent products, news, collaborations, etc.
• Add aÌýlocation sticker toÌýshow where your in-person store isÌýlocated.
• Use aÌýhashtag sticker toÌýencourage customers toÌýcheck out posts containing your branded hashtag.
• Place aÌýcountdown timer toÌýannouncements ofÌýyour next sale, giveaway, product launch, live, andÌýsoÌýon.
• Add links toÌýexternal websites toÌýdrive your followers toÌýyour online shop, blog, partner site, etc.

Try different stories tools toÌýkeep your followers interested inÌýyour profile. Gradually you’ll figure out what types ofÌýstories your audience loves andÌýbeÌýable toÌýelevate them toÌýget more engagement.

Instagram Stories provides many tools toÌýmake itÌýaÌýversatile platform that businesses can use toÌýconnect with their followers, promote products, andÌýincrease sales. While experimenting with different tools, you can create unique forms ofÌýcontent with Instagram Stories.

For example, you can:

• Use stories toÌýannounce andÌýbuild excitement forÌýnew products, giveaways, orÌýcollaboration.
• Create FAQs about your products andÌýsave them toÌýHighlights soÌýthat followers can easily find important information inÌýyour profile.
• Share your feed posts, reels, andÌýlives toÌýstories toÌýincrease theÌýreach ofÌýyour content.
• Use stories toÌýrun theÌýgiveaways andÌýcontests.
• Share posts andÌýstories created byÌýyour customers that highlight your products andÌýtheir experience using them.

AsÌýyou can see, you can promote your brand andÌýengage with followers inÌýmany creative ways. However, some stories work best forÌýbuilding awareness about your products while others are best suited toÌýgenerating sales.

Before weÌýdive into theÌýsale-generating types ofÌýstories, weÌýneed toÌýtalk about theÌýmust-have tool every business needs toÌýmaster toÌýsell more: Instagram Shopping.

Shoppable Instagram Stories

Instagram has aÌýtool called Instagram Shopping that allows you toÌýcreate shoppable content onÌýtheÌýplatform. That includes stories, feed posts, reels, lives, andÌýIGTV.

Here’s how itÌýworks:

You create anÌýInstagram story containing your product. Then you add aÌýshopping tag orÌýsticker toÌýthat story. When your followers tap onÌýtheÌýsticker, they can view theÌýproduct information andÌýprice without leaving Instagram. Then they can buy your product right inÌýtheÌýapp!

Using shopping tags reduces theÌýfriction ofÌýbuying products online andÌýmakes itÌýeasier forÌýyour followers toÌýcomplete theÌýpurchase. That’s why ifÌýyou want toÌýgenerate sales with Instagram Stories, you must first enable shopping tags forÌýyour Instagram profile.

With Instagram Shopping, you also get aÌýdedicated Shop tab inÌýyour profile. Followers can view theÌýentire range ofÌýproducts you’re selling onÌýInstagram andÌýbuy products without ever exiting out.

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ToÌýuse Instagram Shopping, you need toÌýconnect your online store toÌýInstagram toÌýsync your product catalog with your Instagram profile.

51ÊÓƵ byÌýLightspeed isÌýanÌýecommerce platform that allows you toÌýenable Instagram Shopping forÌýyour online store quickly andÌýeffortlessly. Even ifÌýyour online store has dozens ofÌýproducts, they’ll automatically beÌýadded toÌýyour Instagram Shop.

Moreover, your online store andÌýInstagram profile will beÌýsynced soÌýyou won’t need toÌýupdate product information manually. For example, ifÌýyou set aÌýnew price forÌýaÌýproduct inÌýyour online store, itÌýwill automatically change inÌýyour Shop tab onÌýyour Instagram profile.

IfÌýyou use 51ÊÓƵ byÌýLightspeed, it’ll beÌývery easy toÌýstart selling onÌýInstagram andÌýbenefit from shoppable content.

After you forÌýyour profile, it’s time toÌýleverage Stories toÌýget more orders inÌýyour online store.

Learn more: How toÌýLeverage Product Tags onÌýInstagram toÌýIncrease Sales

Step 1:ÌýCatch Attention

Instagram users watch hundreds ofÌýstories daily, soÌýyour content needs toÌýstand out inÌýthat never-ending stream.

Your first story needs toÌýcatch followers’ attention immediately. ItÌýshould beÌýcreated inÌýaÌýway that would beÌýimpossible toÌýmiss. There are several ways toÌýachieve that, like:

• Make theÌýstory attractive andÌýbright. Contrasting colors work best. For example, black andÌýwhite orÌýyellow andÌýpink.
• Use photos ofÌýpeople that express emotion, such asÌýhappiness orÌýsurprise.
• Add catchy music toÌýcomplement your story, like viral songs.

You can use text too, but itÌýshould beÌýshort, compelling, interesting, andÌýrelatable toÌýyour target audience. Something that debunks aÌýcommon myth works excellently here. For example, “Junk food doesn’t cause acne.”

Step 2:ÌýState aÌýProblem that Your Product Solves

When you’ve caught your followers’ attention, it’s time toÌýintroduce theÌýproblem that your audience can relate toÌýandÌýthat your product solves. For example, ifÌýyou sell underwear, you can state that most women wear theÌýwrong bra size without even knowing it.

Use reaction stickers toÌýencourage followers toÌýtap onÌýthem ifÌýthey encounter theÌýsame problem. That’ll increase engagement andÌýhelp increase your stories’ reach.

After introducing theÌýproblem your audience wants toÌýsolve, you need toÌýgive aÌýpowerful promise. For example, “Here’s what actually works best forÌýpreventing premature aging,” orÌý“Here’s aÌýproof-fool way toÌýidentify scammers when buying anÌýapartment.”

Step 3:ÌýIntroduce aÌýSolution

Once followers are hooked, it’s time toÌýintroduce how your product orÌýservice can help solve theÌýproblem.

The catch here isÌýnot toÌýmake itÌýonly about your product, soÌýdon’t jump into selling right away. Keep itÌýeducational toÌýavoid users getting annoyed andÌýleaving. Provide helpful advice onÌýwhat people should doÌýtoÌýtackle their problem. ItÌýwon’t hurt toÌýuse statistics, research, orÌýexpert advice toÌýconfirm that theÌýsolution you offer works.

Your followers should understand that they received value from your stories, but there isÌýmore. Your product should beÌýsomething that enhances theÌýsolution you’ve just presented orÌýmakes itÌýeven better.

For example, let’s say you sell skincare andÌýwant toÌýpromote your sunscreen. First, give dermatologist-approved advice onÌýprotecting skin from sunlight that doesn’t include using your product. Then, introduce your product toÌýget theÌýmost out ofÌýtheÌýpractices you’ve shared.

Again, don’t forget toÌýadd reaction stickers orÌýsliders toÌýstories toÌýlet followers express their opinion andÌýboost engagement.

Step 4:ÌýOvercome Objections

Now you can finally focus onÌýyour product. Don’t get too pushy, though! You should use this part ofÌýtheÌýstory sequence toÌýanticipate objections people can have about buying your product.

For example, ifÌýyou sell raincoats, show your product inÌýaction: pour some water onÌýitÌýtoÌýdemonstrate its water-proof capabilities. Photos andÌývideos work better than text when you need toÌýprove your product’s quality.

IfÌýyou previously used Q&A stickers inÌýstories, you can use them toÌýhelp you gather customers’ doubts about your product. For example, ifÌýyou notice that many customers ask ifÌýthey can use your raincoat inÌýwinter, you can address that doubt inÌýthis step.

It’s also aÌýgood idea toÌýexplain why your product isÌýbetter than similar ones. You can doÌýthis byÌýhighlighting theÌýunique features ofÌýyour product. For example, state that your raincoat has theÌýhighest temperature rating among popular alternatives.

Even when you’re tackling objections, keep your stories interactive. Use theÌýquestions sticker soÌýpeople can ask their burning questions, orÌýinclude aÌýpoll soÌýthey can vote onÌýaÌýparticular topic.

Step 5:ÌýProvide Social Proof

After you’ve presented your product, it’s essential toÌýinstill trust inÌýtheÌýcustomer. ToÌýdoÌýso, show them that other people have tried your product orÌýservice andÌýare happy with it.

Share customer testimonials, photos, andÌývideos ofÌýyour customers using your products orÌýdemonstrating theÌýresult ofÌýusing your service. For instance, ifÌýyou offer language classes, share aÌývideo ofÌýyour student speaking inÌýaÌýforeign language they learned thanks toÌýyou.

You can also display before andÌýafter photos ofÌýcustomers that are happy with their purchase. For example, ifÌýyou sell storage boxes, share before andÌýafter photos ofÌýcustomers who organized their messy wardrobes with your boxes.

This step helps instill trust andÌýproves toÌýyour potential customers that your product actually solves their problems.

Step 6:ÌýMake ItÌýEasy toÌýBuy

Remember shoppable stories? It’s time forÌýthem now!

Add aÌýphoto orÌývideo ofÌýyour product andÌýadd aÌýshopping tag toÌýit. Followers can click onÌýtheÌýtag toÌýbeÌýredirected toÌýyour product page, where they can easily complete theÌýpurchase.

IfÌýyour product has different options, don’t hesitate toÌýshow them off inÌýthis step. OfÌýcourse, don’t forget toÌýadd aÌýshopping tag toÌýeach ofÌýthem.

ToÌýSum Up

This six-step guide onÌýcreating Instagram Stories will help you generate sales forÌýyour online store. Keep inÌýmind theÌýfollowing:

• Hook followers’ attention byÌýintroducing aÌýrelatable problem forÌýyour audience.
• Provide value byÌýsharing advice forÌýsolving theÌýproblem.
• Introduce your product asÌýone ofÌýtheÌýsolutions toÌýtheÌýproblem.
• Overcome objections byÌýaddressing doubts that customers may have.
• Promote your business byÌýsharing photos andÌývideos ofÌýhappy customers.
• Most importantly, add shopping tags toÌýyour stories toÌýmake itÌýeasy toÌýbuy.

OfÌýcourse, this isÌýnot theÌýonly way toÌýget stories toÌýstart generating sales. Don’t beÌýafraid toÌýadjust theÌýstrategy toÌýyour business, product, andÌýtarget audience. ByÌýexperimenting with different types ofÌýstories, you’ll find theÌýones that work best forÌýyour online store.

Ìý

• How toÌýSell onÌýInstagram: Complete Guide forÌýBeginners
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• How toÌýWrite aÌýGreat Instagram Bio forÌýYour Business Profile
• Trending Product Niches onÌýInstagram
• How Much Does ItÌýCost toÌýSell Online With Instagram?
• How toÌýGet Approved forÌýInstagram Shopping
• How Many Followers DoÌýYou Need toÌýSell onÌýInstagram?
• How toÌýLeverage Product Tags onÌýInstagram toÌýIncrease Sales
• 6ÌýEasy Steps toÌýGenerating Sales with Instagram Stories
• How toÌýSell onÌýInstagram Without aÌýWebsite