--- title: How Your Business Can Use Instagram Stories description: Find out how your business can utilise Instagram Stories to aid in brand awareness, drive traffic to your site and encourage engagement. image: https://www.thriveability.co.uk/hubfs/Blog_Featured-Images/instagram-social-media-iphone.png --- [![Thrive Logo](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/hubfs/thrive-logo-pink-1.svg)](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/) - [What We Do](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/what-we-do) - [About](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/about-us) - [Approach](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/approach) - [Work](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/work) - [Blog](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/blog) - [Contact](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/contact) Blog # How Your Business Can Use Instagram Stories September 25, 2017 6 Minute Read By Rachael Farley #### As Instagram Stories celebrates its first successful year, you may be wondering what all the fuss is about. Instagram Stories was heavily criticised when it was first released in 2016 due to its similarity to Snapchat Stories. However, this update has benefited them in the long run as a recent [Instagram blog](https://instagram-press.com/blog/2017/08/31/bringing-instagram-stories-to-mobile-web/) has stated… > “Stories has quickly become an important part of the Instagram experience — over 250 million people use it every day to see what their friends are doing in the moment.” With this type of statistic, it would be foolish not to consider sharing your business’ content in this way. The tech giant have also announced that they will be **introducing Stories to mobile web, ultimately expanding reach even further.** ### So how can I use Instagram Stories? A study by [Klear](https://klear.com/) looks at how big brands have used this social media tool to their advantage. The following graphs display what type of Stories marketers are creating and which is the most popular in terms of industry type.   ![A graph representing what type of Instagram Stories different industries are creating.](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/klear%20ig4.png?width=1024&name=klear%20ig4.png "A graph representing what type of Instagram Stories different industries are creating.") Now let's take a look at how other businesses are using Instagram Stories... #### **01. Let your audience experience a "day in the life of..."** Going behind the scenes can humanise your business and emphasise your brand values depending on what you decide to share. ![Behind the scenes Instagram story with Quest Nutrition](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/nutrition.png?width=1024&name=nutrition.png "Behind the scenes Instagram story with Quest Nutrition") #### **02. Share exclusive or timely offers** Due to each post in your Story only lasting for 24 hours, it’s a great way to get your audience to take action on last minute sales or promotions.  ![In the Style Activewear exclusive offer](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_4695.png?width=1024&name=IMG_4695.png "In the Style Activewear exclusive offer") #### **03. Drive traffic to other content** Stories has integrated a fantastic element in which you can ‘swipe to see more’. Ultimately, you could send your audience to a recent blog post or to a specific page on your website.  ![W Mag Story leading to an article on their site](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_4699.png?width=1024&name=IMG_4699.png "W Mag Story leading to an article on their site") #### **04. Create competitions ** Whether you want to use a branded hashtag like Pretty Little Thing or send customers to a specific post, competitions are a great way to get people talking about your business. ![Pretty Little Thing hashtag competition offer](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_4696.png?width=1024&name=IMG_4696.png "Pretty Little Thing hashtag competition offer") **Find more via [Social Media](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/blog/topic/social-media).** #### Share this post... [mailto:?Subject=Check%20out%20this%20post&Body=https://www.thriveability.co.uk//blog/how-your-business-can-use-instagram-stories](mailto:?Subject=Check%20out%20this%20post&Body=https://www.thriveability.co.uk//blog/how-your-business-can-use-instagram-stories) Ready to talk? ## Whether you need a new website, a branding refresh, or a marketing strategy, the first step is a conversation. We'll give you an honest view of where you are and what's worth doing next. ## You may also like to read... October 27, 2017 #### [Your Last Minute Halloween Sorted](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/blog/your-last-minute-halloween-sorted) Be very afraid... Halloween is only four days away, but that doesn't mean your office can't get involved in the festivities. March 27, 2015 #### [How to Enjoy the First Bank Holiday of the Year](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/blog/enjoy-your-first-bank-holiday-of-the-year-prepare-plan-do-something-or-do-nothing) The first bank holiday weekend of the year always feels momentous - unless you're still working, in which case we imagine it would be sad... January 2, 2017 #### [How to Use Twitter Polls Effectively](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/blog/how-to-use-twitter-polls-effectively) Twitter Polls are an easy and fun way to engage a wide range of people while gaining invaluable insight into any topic. ![hubspot-logo-white](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/hubfs/2021%20Assets/Partner%20Logos/hubspot-logo-white.svg "hubspot-logo-white") ![google-partner-logo-white](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/hubfs/2021%20Assets/Partner%20Logos/google-partner-logo-white.svg "google-partner-logo-white") Copyright © Thrive Marketing Limited 2026 [Linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/company/thrivehq?trk=top_nav_home/) [hello@thriveability.co.uk](mailto:hello@thriveability.co.uk) [01325 778 786](tel:01325%20778%20786)