How to do this or that on instagram stories


A Step-by-Step Guide: Create Playful and Interactive Instagram Stories

(Update on November 14, 2021 at 9:00AM PT: This blog post was published in 2019. For up-to-date information, please visit our Instagram Stories page.)

Read this for creative tips to share playful and interactive stories with your community and delight your audience.

Step 1: Start using stories throughout your day at these 5 moments

Instagram Stories are a playful and attention-grabbing way for people to learn about your business. One-third of the most viewed stories come from businesses1.

If you have never shared photos or videos to your story, learn how to do it here.

Here are 5 ways you can use stories:

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Show unfiltered moments of your day.

Give your community an insider’s view of your business with unpolished, behind-the-scenes photos and videos as it happens in real-time. In a study commissioned by Facebook, people across Brazil, Indonesia, the UK and the US were more likely to say they visit stories to see live, unfiltered content.2

Share customer testimonials.

Ask your customers for their reviews for your products and services, and share them in your stories.

Tell your business story.

You can share the story about how your business got started, your mission, challenges you’ve had to overcome or an anecdote that shows your business personality. Use video or even just text on a plain background.

Feature your products and services.

Take advantage of stories’ full-screen format to show your products, launch new products and announce sales. If you have a service-based business, give people a glimpse of your services. In a study commissioned by Facebook, half of the respondents said they have looked for the product/service on websites where they could buy it after seeing a product/service in a story.3

Share tutorials.

Show people how they can use your products. You can educate people who are considering their purchase while also establishing your expertise in your industry.

Step 2: Add text to your stories with these 5 tips

Stories offer a variety of tools for people to express themselves and explore their creativity.

Here are 5 creative tips about adding text to your stories:

Mix the colors of your text.

If you are looking for a lighter or darker shade of a color for your text and brush, tap and hold on that color to get more variations of that color at the bottom of your screen.

Match your colors.

Use the eyedrop tool to match the color of your brush or text with your background. Maybe you have a photo of your product and would like the color of your caption to match. To find the eyedrop tool, tap the tool on the left of your color palette and drag it to the color you want to match with your text or brush.

Make your text stand out when color blocking.

Color blocking is when you include a colored background with your text overlaid on top in a contrasting color. To add a colored background to your text, tap

at the top left of your screen. Change the color of your text by selecting it all, while keeping the color of the background the same.

Stack your text.

Type out one word, then type out the exact word and just change the color for that word. Then stack it onto one another to give it the word a shadow effect.

Use Create to make gradient backgrounds.

If you want to make a text-based story rather than a photo or video-based story, pick a colorful gradient background for your text with Create, which is at the bottom of your screen.

Step 3: Add playful stickers to your stories with these 3 tips

Add stickers to make your stories more playful. Here are 3 ways you can use stickers in your stories.

Learn more about stickers here.

Express how you feel.

Use mood or emoji stickers to display how you’re feeling. You can even add a selfie sticker if you want to include your real-time feelings by tapping and taking a photo of yourself for a sticker.

Tell people where you are.

Use the location sticker to tag the location of your business, whether that be your city or actual business location. Remember that adding a location sticker will also add your story to that location’s page, which allows people to discover your business. Learn more about location pages here.

To set up a location for your business address, your Instagram account must be connected to a Facebook Page that you manage. Learn how to do that here. The Facebook Page you manage must have a physical location associated with it. After linking accounts, the location will populate on Instagram.

Have fun with GIFs.

Search through the GIPHY library to add an animated GIF sticker to your photo or video. From bouncing letters and twirling hearts to dancing cats and pizza in space, these animated stickers help you make any photo or video funny, interesting or creative.

Step 4: Make your stories more interactive with these 6 tips

Stories’ interactive features allow your community to directly engage with your business. Here are 6 ways you can create interactive stories:

Go live.

Use stories’ Live feature to interact with your customers in real-time. For instance, show a glimpse of what goes on behind-the-scenes at your business or host live tutorials. Don’t forget to announce it ahead of time so your community can tune in.

Create buzz using the countdown sticker.

If you have a product launch or an event coming up, use the countdown sticker in your stories to let your followers count down to the special moment. Your followers can also choose to be reminded when the countdown is over, and join in the celebration.

Host a Q&A session.

Use the question sticker to open it up to your community. Share your responses in following stories for the rest of your community to read. You can also go live to answer questions in real-time.

Poll your community.

Use the poll sticker so you can learn specifically about likes and dislikes in your community. You can even use this sticker in your promoted stories.

Encourage your customers to directly respond to you.

1 in 3 Instagram Stories results in a message on Direct,1 so remind your community that they can easily connect with your business by responding to your stories.

Make quizzes for your community.

Use the quiz sticker to create multiple-choice questions for your followers. You can test your community on industry trivia, or even create questions about your products or services.

Step 5: Take your stories to the next level with 3 advanced tips

Use these creative tools to create stories that surprise and delight your audience – these may take more practice to master. Here are 3 advanced tips you can try to trick people’s minds:

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Add a gradient.

Create a rainbow gradient effect across your text with this hack. This takes two hands and some practice.

1. Tap to select all the text.

2. Finger one: Tap and hold any color

3. Finger two: Tap and hold end of text selector

4. Now move both fingers at the same speed. You’re going to simultaneously deselect all the text while also moving your finger through the gradient.

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Pin floating words and stickers to your stories.

Take a video with movement then add a sticker or text. Tap and hold the object (sticker or text) to pin the object – the video will keep playing, but the objects will stay in place. More contrast between the object and the background is better.

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Record your screen to create animated stories.

Try this trick to really boggle people’s minds. Play around with GIFs and stickers and record your screen while doing it. This trick is only possible with iPhones with iOS 11.

1. Turn Screen Recording on by following this path: Settings > Control Centre > Customize Controls + Screen Recording

2. Tap to record and shoot your screen motion.

3. Edit your story to create the animation you want.

4. Upload the edited clip from your tray and add to your story.

7 Exciting This or That Instagram Story Ideas To Engage Your Audience (+ Free Templates)

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If you’ve been on Instagram any time recently, chances are you’ve seen the influx of “This or That Instagram Story Posts” that have been popping up everywhere.

Not sure what we’re talking about? Here’s an example from @thesundaychapter on Instagram: 

So what makes This or That Instagram Story templates so popular, and why should you consider using them on your Instagram?

This post breaks down everything you need to know about the latest craze, as well as 7 exciting ideas you might like to use to create your own!

‘This or That’ Instagram Story Templates are graphics that you can save (or create!) that pit a series of different choices against each other for the user to pick from. Generally, each template will be based on a theme. Eg. ‘Food’ or ‘Fashion’, with the different choices all relating to that theme.

The goal is for the user to make their choice between the various options (usually by circling the one they would pick or crossing out the one they wouldn’t). Then they share the completed version with their audience via Instagram Stories.

The result? A quick and entertaining glimpse into who you are as a person!

Why Are These Templates So Popular?

At the end of the day, Instagram is a social media platform. People connect with people! The reason the ‘This or That’ Instagram Story Templates have taken over and become so popular is that they’re all about interaction and connection.

They’re essentially a virtual version of a ‘get to know you’ game that the whole world can join in on! It’s a glimpse into who you are and the perfect chance to have a bit of fun with your followers.

Why Should You Consider Using This or That IG Story Templates

Ever since its launching, Instagram Stories have become increasingly popular, with many businesses, bloggers, and influencers effectively utilizing them to build brand awareness, increase engagement and connect with their audience on a more personal level.

When used correctly, Instagram Stories are a fantastic way to build trust and give your audience a glimpse into who the person behind the perfectly curated feed is. ‘This or That’ Instagram Story Templates are just another way to share interesting and original content whilst actively encouraging engagement amongst your followers.

What Templates Can I Create?

When it comes to a This or That Instagram story, the options are virtually endless! If you’re feeling stuck for ideas, we’ve put together 7 potential ideas to help get your creative juices flowing.

7 Exciting This or That Instagram Story Ideas (+ FREE customizable Templates)

Feel inspired by any of the examples below? Click the image to start creating in Easil – it’s free to get started:

1. This or That Food Edition Template

Think pasta vs pizza, sweet vs savory, tea vs coffee. These types of templates are perfect for food bloggers to share their personal preferences as well as get an understanding of the type of content their followers want to see.

Click the image to start using the template (it’s free).

 

2. This or That Fashion Edition Story Template

Have a fashion-based business and wondering what items you should stock next? Why not do a quick poll via a curated template! Maxi skirts vs mini-skirts, casual tees vs work blouses, pants vs dresses. To see their answers, include a blank template and ask them to share their own and tag you in it.

Click the image to start using the template (it’s free).

 

3. This or That Music & Entertainment Edition Template

This is a fun one for any Instagrammer to use! Music is a popular topic with just about everybody, and most people will have their personal preferences so it’s also a great opportunity to get your audience to engage with you. The 80s vs 90s, rock vs pop, Britney vs Madonna, etc. Encourage your followers to send a DM to discuss your choices vs theirs.

Click the image to start using the template (it’s free).

 

4. This or That Holidays Edition Template

Vacation vs Staycation, cruise vs travel tour, budget vs blowout. If you’re a travel blogger, this could be the perfect chance to do a bit of market research and figure out what your next adventure should be! Or if you work within the Travel and Tourism industry selling holidays, use it to gather market research to formulate best performing deals.

Click the image to start using the template (it’s free).

 

5. This or That Weekends Edition Template

Another great one for any Instagrammer to use is a chance for you to share a bit about your activities outside of what you showcase on your feed. Think things such as Netflix vs Stan, drinks on the town vs staying in, dining out vs Uber Eats at home, etc.

Encourage engagement by asking your followers to share their own answers and tag you, or send you a message with recommendations based on one of your answers (best Netflix shows, places to eat, etc).

Click the image to start using the template (it’s free).

 

6. This or That Lifestyle Edition Template

Perfect for influencers and bloggers to get an idea of what content their audience is most interested in, these templates can include things such as splurge vs save, summer vs winter, makeup vs skincare, casual style vs high-end fashion, etc.

Click the image to start using the template (it’s free).

 

7. This or That Social Networks Template Edition

Wondering where your audience is most likely to be hanging out and how you can best reach them? These templates may just help you! Ask things such as stories vs feed, live vs recorded, Pinterest vs Instagram, morning vs evening, etc.

Don’t forget to let your users know how to engage: To use templates on your Instagram Stories, simply screenshot the blank version and upload it to your story from your camera roll! Before publishing, circle your choices using the draw tool.

Click the image to start using the template (it’s free).

How Can You Get The Most Out Of Your Templates?

While ‘This or That’ templates are a fun and entertaining way to share tidbits of your life with your audience, they can actually be a powerful tool for businesses, bloggers, and influencers as well!

To get the most out of your templates and encourage as much interaction from your followers as possible, we recommend placing a blank template in your story and asking them to fill out their own version, and tagging you in it so you can see their answers. From here, you can start building relationships with them based on their answers. Find something you have in common and send them back a DM that starts a conversation relating to it.

Remember, it’s all about human connection! You can also encourage your followers to respond via DM or comment providing feedback based on your answers.


While there are plenty of existing templates already out there, we also recommend creating your own that relate directly to your business. This can be a great way to collect information from your followers! You can also easily plan ahead and schedule these types of fun and engaging posts. 

For example, if you have a skincare business, you could create your Instagram Story to ask your followers to choose between various skin pain points. These answers can then help you create content that appeals to your audience (such as a series of skincare tips). It can also help with market research for future products.

Over to you

Want to create your own This or That Instagram Story designs? The good news is that with the help of Easil you can quickly and effectively create your own branded templates!

Simply click on any of the pre-made templates in the Instagram Stories category and customize as you need – all of these are available free!

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The Complete Guide to Instagram Stories

Instagram Stories, aka “stories”, “moments”, “stories” or “stories” appeared in 2016, and since then have gained such popularity that Instagram is constantly updating and improving this format. Instagram Stories appeared thanks to the growing popularity of Snapchat, in which users could send short videos and photos.

Now more than 400 million Instagram users view Stories per day, and this figure continues to grow.

Any content on Instagram can be seen by all users - profile posts and “stories” - this is a very promising media format, moreover, stories are integrated with Facebook, and users can view them from the feed of this social network.

Stories can only be viewed for 24 hours, after which they disappear from the feed and are stored in an archive accessible only to the user. The time of one video clip is no more than 15 seconds.

“Stories” are actively used for advertising, personal brand and business promotion. They help the brand to remind about itself, attract a new audience, talk about promotions and new products. Stories is like your own TV channel.

How to view stories on Instagram?

Instagram Stories appear at the top of the app, to view stories, just click on the profile photo. Stories are rewound with a single tap on the phone screen: on the right - fast forward, on the left - back. Stories are paused by long pressing the screen - this is usually used to read long texts.

To switch stories, swipe from right to left or vice versa.

How to make stories on Instagram

You can create stories through Instagram or third-party applications, upload photos and videos from your computer after editing them. We will tell you about all the ways to create and upload stories.

To add previously captured videos and photos to stories, you need to switch to the Stories shooting mode, click on the leftmost button to go to the gallery, and select the necessary files. Thus, you can shoot stories not only with the camera from the application, but also with any available phone camera that you use.

How to make a story on Instagram?

Instagram allows you to capture and edit your Stories directly from the app. To create a Story, click the camera icon in the top left corner of the app, or open the camera by swiping right.

Instagram camera has several modes and features. Let's get to know each of them.

As soon as you switch to creating stories, the normal camera mode turns on. One short press on the central round button creates a photo, a long press - a video that lasts 15 seconds. If you hold the button and move it up, the camera will move closer to the object.

Below the photo and video button is a menu with other camera modes.

Boomerang

Boomerang is an analogue of live photos, that is, short looped videos made up of a series of photos. Frames taken one after another are played from beginning to end and in reverse order. Boomerangs are not as popular now as they were when they appeared, but users still love to make short videos and come up with new ideas.

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Posted by Starbucks Coffee ☕ (@starbucks)

Superzoom

Superzoom allows you to shoot dramatic 3-second video music using a special camera close to the subject. Instagram gives you the opportunity to choose several shooting options, from romantic to tragic. It remains only to choose the right one.

Reverse Capture

Reverse Capture creates videos with reverse playback, so you can diversify your content with an interesting idea.

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Posted by ReverX (@reverx.app)

Shooting one video will last 15 seconds.

Text

Text - a mode that allows you to insert text information into stories. There are several font options: modern, neon, typewriter, bold. Fonts are switched by touching the font name at the top of the screen. You can change the background color by touching the button with the current color on the bottom left.

Live

Live allows you to broadcast stories in real time, communicate with subscribers and get instant feedback. The live broadcast cannot last more than one hour, and users see the comments and likes coming at this time on the screen with the broadcast. Starting a live broadcast is very easy. It is enough to select the desired mode, and the “On Air” button will appear. Subscribers who are currently online (they can be seen live) will receive a notification when the broadcast begins.

During the live broadcast, you can write a comment and pin it on the screen. You can turn off the ability to comment for everyone by clicking on the menu item and selecting “Turn off comments”. Live broadcast allows you to broadcast together with another user.

To end the broadcast, you must click “End” and confirm the action. By clicking the "Save" button, you will download the live broadcast without likes and comments. This function is made so that the video material is not lost. The live broadcast can be seen on Instagram in the recording for another 24 hours, like regular stories.

Remember: if you don't save the live broadcast, it will be deleted after 24 hours and you won't be able to restore it.

Instagram masks

Another feature of stories is adding masks. Masks are virtual face filters that make Stories even more colorful and funny.

Masks are available in almost all shooting modes. Just click on the smiley to the right of the record button and select the appropriate one. Masks can change along with the rotation of the camera, the surrounding space or the user's facial expressions.

How to repost stories on Instagram?

You can publish your posts from your Instagram profile to Stories to attract more attention to them. To do this, you need to click on the airplane icon under the post and select “Add to story”.

You can repost the story itself from another person's profile if your account is tagged in it. When this happens, you will receive a notification in private messages about the mention in the story, there is also an active link “Add this to the story”. After clicking on the link, a window with editing stories will open.

How to edit stories on Instagram?

Once you've shot your story, it's time to edit it. Editing is available for both photos and videos.

How to add filters to Instagram?

To view and apply filters, swipe left and select your favorite.

How to add hashtags to Instagram Stories?

A hashtag is a special label that combines user content into one group. On Instagram, hashtags are used not only as a means of navigation and search, but also for promotion. We can say that hashtags are the keywords of your post, story and Instagram profile.

There are several ways to add hashtags to stories.

The first way: click on the sticker icon at the top of the screen and select “#Hashtag”. In this case, you need to enter the hashtag without the pound sign #, Instagram will offer several popular or frequently used hashtags.

Second way: enter the hashtag using the Text tool. In this case, you must enter along with the hashtag #, and Instagram will also offer to select popular or frequently used hashtags.

Some users use tricks to insert more hashtags into stories. They use two methods at once, write more hashtags in text, hide hashtags in a poorly viewed area of ​​​​the screen (at the very bottom or top of the story), fill the text with a hashtag with a background color so that they are not visible to users and do not annoy when viewing.

These hashtags are also included in Instagram searches.

On Onlypult.com, when publishing stories, you can insert up to 9hashtags, while they are not visible in the story itself, but participate in the Instagram search.

How to geotag Instagram?

Instagram geotags are also used to promote and search for publications. Geotags or geotags are data about a specific position that are affixed to a frame as metadata.

Inserting a geotag into an Instagram story is very easy. Just click on the sticker icon and select . Choose from the proposed list or start typing the name of the location.

How to tag a person in an Instagram story?

To mark another Instagram profile in your story, you need to select the “Text” tool and enter the user's nickname, starting with the @ symbol. In this way, you can enter up to 10 profiles in one History. If you click on the sticker and select “Mention” from the menu that appears, you can add one profile without using the @ symbol.

In both cases, Instagram will prompt you to select a profile corresponding to the characters you enter, it remains to choose the one you need.

The user will be notified that they have been mentioned. He will not be able to remove the mark, but it will be possible to share this Story in his account.

After affixing such a mark, subscribers will be able to go to the specified profile by clicking on it in the story.

How to insert a link in an Instagram story?

This feature is only available to business accounts with more than 10,000 subscribers. A few days after reaching the required threshold, a link button appears at the top of the screen in the interface for adding stories.

With this tool, discounts and promotions are announced, Instagram users are directed to the site or a separate page of the site, links are added to blog articles, online and offline events, and so on. By clicking on the button, enter the desired link and create a story. When viewing your Story, users only need to swipe up to follow the link.

If after reaching 10,000 followers the link button still does not appear, try restarting your phone or updating the app, you can also contact Instagram support.

How to draw on Instagram stories?

Instagram Stories has a drawing tool. To use it, you need to click on the pencil icon at the top of the screen.

Several modes or brushes are available for painting. They differ in overlay style and line thickness.

Use the drawing tool to fill a photo with a solid color. Just select the desired color at the bottom of the screen and pinch the photo anywhere.

To fill with a translucent solid tone, choose a brush with a thick nib or a “marker”.

There is another secret to this tool. You can choose not only the standard colors indicated in the palette. If you press and hold the colors of the palette, a panel with a choice of an arbitrary color will appear. Without lifting your finger from the screen, move to the desired color to select.

How to add a selfie to Instagram stories?

You can add a selfie to the finished photo or video. To do this, click on the camera sticker. If you click on the finished selfie, the design will change: blurry edges or a white frame.

What else to add to stories?

Questions.

A form is attached to the story in which you can enter your question. Subscribers will be able to ask you any questions.

To insert a form, select the “Questions” widget while editing stories. You can choose the color and size of the published form.

Enter your appeal in the form. For example, “I will answer your questions. Ask!”.

Responses can be viewed by clicking in the lower left corner in the story. You can share responses with subscribers, to do this, open the desired response and click "Share response". You can choose the color of the form, add a comment and publish to stories.

Polls

The "Polls" widget allows you to conduct a small survey among subscribers, where only two answers are available. The standard form is “Yes” and “No”, but you can enter your own question and short answers. After the survey is published, you will see the responses as a percentage.

In the story statistics, you can see which user clicked on which answer, and the total number of viewed stories.

Voting

Voting in stories is done using a scale. By selecting the appropriate widget, you can assign the color of the scale and emoji for the answer. Ask a question, and to answer it, subscribers will move the slider, expressing the degree of their reaction to the question.

Statistics will show exactly how users voted, as well as the average answer on the scale.

Quiz

This widget is also called “Test” because you enter the correct answer, and users, having chosen an option, immediately see whether it is correct or not. To insert a widget, click on the sticker icons and select "Quiz" in the story. In the form that appears, you can enter your question and several answers.

There can only be four answers. Enter the answers in order and press “Next” on the phone keypad for new options to appear next.

The color is changed using the setting at the top of the screen.

Do not forget to indicate the correct answer. To do this, click on the letter of one of the options, it will be highlighted in green.

To see user responses, go to your story statistics or swipe up. You will see the number of correct and incorrect answers, as well as the total number of viewed stories.

How to add music to Instagram stories?

Adding music to Stories has been available since 2018, but not in all countries. Therefore, if it is not possible to add music directly through Instagram, you need to use third-party applications. But we will tell you about all the ways.

How to add music through the Instagram app?

If you can add music through the Instagram app, click on the sticker icon and select “Music” from the menu. The application has a search by mood, genre and popularity. After selecting a song, you can rewind to the desired moment, and the track will be played from a given point while the story continues.

You can add a track before selecting a video. Open the camera, swipe the menu under the record button to the right and select "Music". Find the song and the right moment, and record a video while the song is playing.

How to add music to Instagram?

If there is no choice of music in the Instagram application, it is possible to add it to the story through third-party video editors.

You can download the video editor from the App Store or Google Play, here are some of them:

Storybeat - allows you to add not only music, but also small effects on photos and videos, you can record your voice or slow down the video.

InShot - can remove unwanted frames, suppress noise, add text and stickers. Music is added only from the device library.

PicMusic - photo and video editor, you can add music, voice, text.

How to publish a story on Instagram

When a story is ready and edited, it can be published. To do this, just click the “Your story” button in the lower left corner, and the story will be published on your profile and will be available to everyone. You can limit your viewers by clicking the "Best Friends" button when posting. Then only those whom you add to your friends list will see the Story.

Stories can be sent to selected contacts if you click on the "Publish" button and select the desired profiles.

Within 24 hours, while the published History is available, it can be deleted, edited and adjusted. To do this, click on the three dots in the lower right corner and select the desired menu item.

To customize your story, select "Story Settings". By moving the sliders and checking the checkboxes, you can customize the display of stories for yourself. Here you can hide Stories from certain accounts, allow or block comments on stories, and create a list of best friends.

You can post multiple stories at the same time. To do this, select the story camera and click on the gallery icon. The latest photos and videos taken by the device will be shown. Click the pages icon at the top right and select all the photos and videos you want in the order in which they should be posted. Each story can be edited before publication.

To publish stories from a computer, you need to use third-party services. For example, the Onlypult.com deferred posting service, with which you can select the date and time of publication.

Go to the service website, click "Stories", edit the publication card and set the time. Ready!

How to delete stories on Instagram?

Already published stories can be deleted. To do this, you need to open the Stories and at the moment the unnecessary file is displayed, click “More” in the lower right corner. When the additional menu of stories comes out, click “Delete” and confirm the deletion.

To delete the entire history, you must delete each file in it.

Actual stories on Instagram

Stories Highlights or Actual Stories - albums or sections with archived Stories that users can save in their profile. Thus, all saved stories can be sorted or the main ones can be selected - as it is more convenient for anyone.

How to add stories to the Topical?

Actual stories you create yourself. They will appear on your profile above your photos. You can add to Topical those stories that have already been published. To do this, in the profile, click on the plus sign “+”, select the desired stories and click “Next”. Give a name to the new collection of "Actual", select the cover (initially it will be one of the stories) and click "Done".

Here you can save promotions, portfolios, products, case studies, workshops and much more. This will make it easier to navigate through your account and allow you to highlight the information you need.

When creating Actual Stories, it is important to remember:

  • The title of the section with Actual Stories cannot be more than 16 characters;
  • In order for stories to be added to Highlights, it is necessary to enable saving stories to archive in the settings;
  • you can create any number of stories, but the last 4 will be visible in the profile without scrolling;
  • One story can be added to several sections.

How to make icons for relevant Stories?

For the latest, you can create and upload your own icons. This will emphasize individuality.

There are several ways to create a story icon.

The easiest option is to use a pre-made Story and select it as the cover.

Click on the “+” in the Instagram profile, select the necessary stories and click “Next”. After that, give a name to the new album and click "Edit Cover". In this step, you can choose any story for the cover, zoom in or out, or select a specific part of the photo.

Click "Done" and your new album will appear on your profile.

Another way to create an icon is to make it in third-party applications and services. For example, in Canva or Photoshop. It is better to create regular square images, where the icon will be located in the center. The optimal image resolution is 1080x1080 pixels.

The finished picture can be uploaded as a story and selected as a cover according to an already known option. Or, when editing a cover in Actual, click on the gallery icon and select from phone files.

To insert a cover into an already created album, you need to open it through your Instagram profile. In the lower right corner, click on the three dots with the words “More”, and then “Edit current”.

Click “Edit Cover” and select the desired icon.

How to view Instagram story statistics?

Stories statistics can be viewed by connecting a business account.

To view statistics, go to your Instagram profile, click on the menu icon in the upper right corner and select "Statistics". You will have access to account statistics and publications.

The “Stories” section displays statistics of stories posted in the last 24 hours. But you can find out the statistics of publications made in the last 14 days. To do this, click "All" in the "Stories" section.

In the filter above statistics, you can switch data and view statistics on impressions, reach, clicks, scrolls, responses, and so on.

Impressions - the total number of views of stories.

Reach is the number of people who viewed your stories. Impressions for the same account do not count here.

Scroll forward and backward - how many times users have moved to your next post or returned to the previous one. So you can understand whether the audience was interested or not, they were intrigued by the continuation of the viewing, they understood what you wanted to tell in the story.

Next story - transitions to the stories of other accounts. The data shows how many people moved from your story to the next without being interested in the content.

Exits - shows how many times users clicked the cross to exit your Story.

Replies - how many people have responded to your stories.

Reposts - how many other accounts reposted your story.

Clicks on the link - how many people followed the link published in the story.

Stories statistics provide detailed metrics and help you determine how engaged your viewers are when viewing Stories.

Useful

Where can I find ready-made templates and layouts for Instagram Stories?

Instagram stories can be created on third-party resources and use not only the standard tools that Instagram offers.

Here are a few services where you can create stories from ready-made templates, upload your photos or use ready-made backgrounds and fonts:

Easil is a platform with a number of ready-made templates that you can change. Templates already have the correct dimensions for stories, but in the paid version it is possible to change them.

Another popular platform for creating marketing materials, including Instagram Stories, is Canva. All templates you create will be stored on the platform and you can download them at any time.

Answers to questions about Instagram Stories

Is the list of viewed Stories displayed in order?

Instagram uses different ranking methods, and users sort differently. Moreover, it can change every few months. Therefore, for some users, lists can be shown by viewing time, for others by the frequency of interaction with the profile, and so on.

How is the list of unviewed Stories formed?

Usually shows actual stories made in the last 4 hours. Then they are mixed with the earlier ones. But Instagram pays more attention to real people, so the stories of ordinary accounts are shown first, and then commercial or impersonal ones.

Viewing History will count as a profile visit?

No. According to Instagram, visits are the number of clicks on a username to go to a profile.

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How to use Instagram* Stories: a comprehensive guide

July 11, 2017 Technologies

The Instagram* Stories interface is intuitive for everyone, but some features are not so obvious. A detailed guide will help you publish your first story on Instagram*, as well as reveal some useful tricks for experienced users of the service.

The Basics

Creating a Story

Swipe from left to right on the Instagram homepage* (where you follow your feed) to start posting stories. To take a photo or shoot a video, you need to click on the circle at the bottom of the screen, and by swiping down you can open the media selection window from your library. There is another way to create a story: select your account tab (where your photos are shown) and click on the + next to your profile photo.

Shooting modes

Instagram* Stories supports five shooting modes.

  • Live. By selecting this mode, you can broadcast from your smartphone's camera. After the broadcast is over, the video can be shared on Instagram*.
  • Normal mode. A quick tap takes a photo, a long press takes a video.
  • Boomerang. Boomerangs are short looping animations. This mode is suitable for shooting dynamic videos.
  • Write back. With this mode, you can shoot video in reverse.
  • Hands free. In this mode, a quick tap will start a 15-second recording without you having to hold down the record button.

Filters

The choice of filters in Instagram* Stories is small, but usually enough. Filters can be changed by swiping left or right.

Supported photo and video format

Photos and videos in Instagram* Stories are vertical. Horizontal media files are cut off when imported. To select the desired area of ​​the photo to be published in the story, you can use the frame crop in the standard photo editor. The maximum video length is 15 seconds. Keep in mind that a longer video clip will be shortened when imported. You can upload to history only those pictures and videos that were taken in the last 24 hours.

Masks

Another borrowing of Instagram* Stories from Snapchat. To go to the masks, you need to tap on the icon to the right of the camera change icon.

Stickers

To attach a sticker to a story, you need to click on the corresponding icon after shooting or simply swipe up on the screen.

Location, temperature, and time stickers

On the first line of the sticker selection screen, you can choose to add location data, the current temperature at your location, and the time of publication to your history.

Adding a selfie to the story

On the next line of the sticker selection screen, there is a camera icon. Choosing such a sticker will allow you to take a selfie and embed it in the story. Moreover, the borders of the photo can be either blurred or emphasized with a white frame. With this feature, you can create fun collages or express your opinion about what is depicted in the story with the help of a joyful or condemning grimace.

Change sticker size

Use two fingers to make the sticker larger or smaller. Once you've selected a sticker, pinch your fingers together to make it smaller, or move your fingers apart to make it bigger.

Attaching a sticker to a video element

Select any of the stickers, press and hold your finger for a couple of seconds. A time slider will appear in front of you. Select the second with the element to which you want to attach the sticker, set the desired location and size of the "sticker" and click "Attach". Now the sticker will be attached to the selected video subject.

Adding hashtags

To assign a hashtag to a story, you can use the tag in the text, but it's easier to select the appropriate sticker. Tapping on it will change the display style of the hashtag. When your friends see the tag, they can jump to posts with the same tag with one click.

Quick sticker selection

To avoid having to scroll the screen every time to find your favorite sticker, swipe right when you select it. You will see a list of recently used stickers. There is a separate group of stickers that fit especially well on portraits. To access them, swipe left.

Deleting stickers

To delete a sticker you accidentally added, press and hold your finger. A trash can icon will appear at the bottom of the screen, and you need to move the extra “sticker” there.

Drawing

To start drawing, click on the corresponding icon between the sticker and text icons in the story editing window.

Types of brushes

Four brushes are available to the user.

  • Regular brush. The same basic brush from any graphic editor.
  • Marker. Differs in the shape of the brush and the degree of transparency.
  • Brush with neon stroke. Similar to a regular brush, but with a choice of stroke color. The main color remains white.
  • Rainbow brush. One brush - seven colors.

A choice of erasers is also available.

Brush size

Brush size is adjusted using a special slider that opens by clicking on the icon with three dots at the bottom left of the screen.

Color selection

You can also choose brush colors when drawing: they are located at the bottom. You can move between the three standard palettes by swiping left or right. To choose your color, hold your finger on one of the circles.

Fill

To fill a frame with a single color, select a brush, then tap and hold anywhere on the screen. After uploading, you can open part of the photo or video using the eraser tool.

Text

Select the Aa icon to the right of the draw icon to start typing.

Styles and alignment

To adjust the color and size of text, follow the same steps as when painting with a brush. The scale of writing can also be changed using two fingers.

A button with indent adjustment appears in the upper left corner when typing. You can position the label on the left, right, or middle. The second functional button when typing is the letter A in a square. By clicking on it, you can switch between three label display styles.

3D text effect

To give text a 3D effect, create two identical labels but in different colors. Place them almost on top of each other, with a slight shift: you get 3D text.

User mark

To mark a user in your story, type the @ symbol when creating a note. Start typing a nickname and Instagram* will suggest options from among your friends. You can attach hashtags in approximately the same way: use the # symbol for this.

Other

Save Stories

Click on the three dots in the top right corner when you are on your Instagram profile*. To automatically save your stories, go to the story settings and move the "Save published photos" slider to the active position.

Add music to Instagram* Stories

There is no function to add music to video in Instagram* Stories. But there is still a way to add audio to a story. Many may have noticed that the music playing on your smartphone is not interrupted when viewing other people's stories. The same thing works when creating a video: just turn on the song on a streaming service or, for example, on the VKontakte social network and start shooting a story.

Video rotation

You can avoid cropping the edges of videos when publishing to stories using special applications that rotate videos by 90 degrees.

Upload

Price: Free

Publication of old photos and videos in the story

If you are late with the publication and 24 hours have already passed since the shooting, a little trick will help you upload a photo or video. Just send the desired pictures or videos to yourself on WhatsApp and save. There is an easier way - using special applications.

appbox fallback https://apps.apple.com/ru/app/id1049894654

appbox fallback https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tregue.inst&hl=ru&gl=ru

Posting long videos

Use any video editor to post videos longer than 15 seconds to your story. You can remove some segments, split the video into several parts, or increase its speed. For iOS device users, the App Store offers an app that automatically splits a long video into multiple 15-second segments.


Learn more