Instagram Releases A ‘Instagram Stories COVID-19 Playbook’ Featuring Tips For How Businesses Can Use Stories During COVID-19
Source: Instagram
With businesses severely impacted by COVID-19, Instagram recently released a new Instagram Stories COVID-19 Playbook that provides tips and practical ways that businesses can use Instagram Stories to communicate and stay connected with their customers during COVID-19.
“One way to stay connected with your customers is through Stories. Stories’ real-time and authentic nature can help humanize your brand, drive entertaining engagement, and garner support for your business,” the social media platform says.
Below is a breakdown of the most important tips shared in the playbook:
Make It Easy For People To Support
Instagram recently released gift card and food order stickers for Stories, and believes that these are great ways for businesses to let their customers know the different ways that they can be supported, whether it be through delivery orders, gift card purchases or donations. Also, it recommends that businesses get their supporters involved by reposting relevant Story content such as shoutouts and reviews, which have the potential to inspire others to support them.
Be Timely & Considerate
Instagram believes businesses should be aware of the imagery and videos that they are sharing with their followers and should make sure that they don’t “contradict the social reality many are experience.” Along with this, it advises businesses to show empathy and highlight products or services that provide value for people and help them adjust to changes such as working from home.
Stay In Touch With Your Customers
Instagram suggests businesses take advantage of Stories to share information and answer FAQs. They can proactively communicate important information and changes such as updated digital business hours or events. It also sees Stories as an opportunity to scale communication with customers. In cases where a business doesn’t have the time to answer every Direct Message or email, businesses can use Stories to answer FAQs and then save them as a Highlight so that their audience can view them at a later date.
Keep It Real & Purposeful
Instagram sees Stories as a way for businesses to be authentic and share their support. Businesses can take their customers behind-the-scenes of their businesses to show how they are feeling and impacted by COVID-19. Plus, they can let their customers know what they are doing to help and support the community and how their customers can get involved too.
Make It Participatory Using Interactive Stories
Instagram recommends businesses use interactive stickers to start conversations and create excitement. For example, businesses can use the Questions sticker to ask their audience how they feel while they can use the Countdown sticker to build anticipation for an upcoming live event.
Despite being only nine pages long, the playbook is a strong resource for businesses to see how they can use Stories to communicate and connect with their customers.
From a breakdown of available tools and features for Stories and practical examples of how businesses are successfully using the content format, the playbook is another excellent addition to a recent string of resources and guides released by Instagram to help out businesses during this challenging time. Previously, Instagram published a guide for how businesses and creators can go Live during the pandemic.
You can check out and download the full Instagram Stories COVID-19 Playbook here.
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SOURCE: Facebook For Business
