Creative Storytelling Strategies for Instagram Videos
As one of the most-used social media platforms, Instagram is critical to reaching your audience. According to Statista, Instagram has nearly 160 million users in the U.S. alone, and with seemingly endless users and posts, standing out from the crowd can feel overwhelming.
But don’t worry! With the right creative storytelling strategies, you can reach your audience, and we’re here to give you some inspiration.
While Instagram was once known as the most popular photo-centered social media platform, it officially entered the video-first revolution in 2022. Let’s explore some ways you can use video content to help your business stand out on Instagram.
Why Is Creative Storytelling So Important?
Storytelling can boost conversion rates by 30%, so crafting a narrative with your video content is critical. Plus, compelling storytelling also gives customers more faith in your business. If customers love a brand story, 55% are more likely to buy the product in the future, 44% will share the story, and 15% will buy the product immediately.
How To Share Videos on Instagram
There are now three ways to share videos on Instagram:
Reels
While there used to be several different kinds of videos on Instagram, most in-feed video types have been consolidated into Instagram Reels. These can now be up to 90 seconds, encouraging users to showcase their short-form video content.
Instagram Stories
Instagram Stories are ephemeral photos or videos that will disappear after 24 hours. But, if you want them to last longer, you can save them in the Highlights section of your Instagram profile.
As a business, now is a great time to pay a little extra attention to Instagram Stories. Hootsuite reported, “58% of users say they’re more interested in a brand after seeing it in a[n Instagram] Story.”
Instagram Live
As the name suggests, Instagram Live allows you to share live coverage of an event, interview, or other events. Now, many businesses are using live video to promote their products — and even hosting live shopping events.
No matter which formats you use to share your video content, make sure you keep entertainment in mind. In our often overwhelming world, many people use social media to escape the difficulties of their day. According to Statista, 47% of Instagram users are on the platform for entertainment, so provide them with creative, fun, and entertaining content.
Creative Storytelling Strategies and Examples for Instagram
Share User-Generated Content
Social proof is critical to creating consumer trust in your brand, making user-generated content (UGC) so successful.
If your potential customers know other people who have used and enjoyed your product, they’re more likely to try it. Through videos, on-website reviews, social posts, and more, potential customers are looking to existing customers to understand your brand, the value of your products, and why they should shop with you.
While UGC is, by definition, created by users, many brands are now leading the production process. So whether you use textbook UGC or produce UGC-like content, you can still convey authority to increase feelings of trust — all while often making your videos more affordable than other concepts.
How Once Upon a Farm Uses UGC on Instagram
In this Once Upon a Farm example, the brand focuses on highlighting a happy customer using their products. By showing how these products make breakfast (and life in general) easier for busy families, the brand solves a significant pain point for their audience.
They also use specific language to hook their intended audience at the beginning of the video production. By ensuring viewers understand this product is for parents and other caregivers, they can refine their audience and truly engage with people searching for their products.
Keep User Interests in Mind
While you can’t know what’s important to every person, you can find common threads in your audience. According to Statista, Instagram users have several common interests:
- 57% of users are interested in movies, TV shows, and music
- 48% of users are interested in food and dining
- 42% of users are interested in cooking and baking
- 38% of users are interested in health and fitness
- 36% of users are interested in travel
Whether your business is in one of these industries or not, you can use these interests to inform your content and more effectively engage with your audience.
How Royal Caribbean Uses Their Audience’s Interests In Video Content on Instagram
Royal Caribbean knows many of their current and potential customers are on Instagram, so they use this opportunity to showcase some fun and creative travel content.
Plus, this unique content allows them to showcase their customers while still promoting certain activities and amenities. With a fun, relatable format and user-generated content, travelers get the opportunity to feel like they’re connecting with a real person through the video, rather than just a brand.
Showcase Your Products and Services
Many people begin (and end) their shopping journeys on Instagram. To make it easier for both consumers and brands, Instagram even introduced in-platform shopping experiences. Now, customers can buy their favorite products without ever leaving the app — a real win-win-win situation.
But don’t worry, Instagram is still effective without an in-app store. According to Insider Intelligence, 15% of all consumers begin online shopping searches with Instagram. Whether it’s to gather inspiration or do in-depth research on products, many consumers are turning to Instagram.
When you specifically take a look at younger audiences, showcasing your brand becomes even more important. Gen Z is searching for just about everything on Instagram, including places like restaurants and coffee shops. Business Insider found, “Nearly 40% of Gen Z prefers using TikTok and Instagram for search over Google, according to Google’s internal data.”
No matter your industry, showing off your products and services is critical as more users begin turning to Instagram to purchase clothing, research the best holiday gifts, and even simply decide where to have lunch.
How Zaxby’s Showcases Their Products In Video Content on Instagram
Zaxby’s worked with QuickFrame to create an ad filled with promo footage of their different sauces. Instead of just telling people about their products, they use this video content to showcase their food and the different options available, allowing them to connect with their audience in a more engaging way.
They also plan to implement this video where their audience is already spending time — on Instagram! As mentioned before, 48% of users are interested in food and dining. If your business is in the industry, you have an incredible opportunity to connect with plenty of people who are hungry for your content.
Who’s Your Audience? Explore the Guide to User Demographics by Social Media Platform.
Use Instagram Video Content To Connect With Your Audience
According to Statista, 34% of Instagram users engage with the platform so they can connect with brands just like yours — so be sure to give them the video marketing content they want!
At QuickFrame, we believe businesses of all sizes should have the opportunity to create Living Room Quality video content for every objective. That’s why we created an end-to-end video production platform to connect businesses like yours with the world’s best video makers.
Whether you’re looking to showcase your products or connect with your customers based on their interests, we can help. Contact us to get started today!
Need more Instagram Help? Read our Instagram Video Ad Specs & Placements Guide
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