Make Money With Instagram Stories: Learn How To Turn Your Content Into Cash
As an entrepreneur, deciding where to begin with Instagram Stories can be slightly overwhelming. Should you focus solely on business-related content or include personal elements? How many stories should you post, and when is the optimal time to share them? These questions and more likely come to mind, on top of the plethora of other ideas we juggle while running a business.
Here at The Social Snippet, we've been asked these questions countless times, so rest assured, you're not alone! While we can provide actionable tips and recommendations, it's essential to remember that every Instagram account is unique, just like your business. This means there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to Instagram monetization through stories. However, we'll share as much information as possible to help you get started and explore various strategies.
Understand Your Audience
Even if two audiences appear similar at first glance, upon closer inspection, you'll find differences that make each group unique. You might argue that your target audience consists of "mom bloggers," just like another entrepreneur you know, but the way you communicate with your audience, connect with them, and provide valuable content to address their specific needs sets your approach apart.
Our first tip is to develop a deep understanding of your target audience on Instagram. What are their interests, and what pain points or challenges are they seeking help with? How can you provide value, and what do they appreciate most about your offerings? Maria and Kristina discussed this in Episode 152 of Community, which you can learn more about here. Remember that your audience is made up of individuals who want to be welcomed into your business community and share in your journey—not just be seen as Instagram followers who are supposed to give you money.
4 Questions to ask yourself before posting
Here are 4 simple questions to ask if you're feeling unsure of what to share with your Instagram Stories:
Is the content relevant to my target audience?: Ensure the content aligns with your audience's interests, needs, or preferences. This way, you can maintain their engagement and build a loyal following.
Does it provide value or solve a problem?: Assess whether the content offers helpful information, addresses a pain point, or provides a solution to a common challenge faced by your audience. Valuable content strengthens trust and credibility.
Does it contribute to my overall brand image and messaging?: Consider if the content aligns with your brand's values, mission, and tone. Maintaining consistency in your messaging helps shape a strong, recognizable brand identity.
Will it encourage engagement or spark conversation?: Ask yourself if the content invites interaction, feedback, or discussion. Encouraging active participation helps forge deeper connections with your audience and boosts your content's visibility.
Building Momentum and Engaging your Audience
Your number of Instagram followers doesn't necessarily dictate the amount of business you can generate from Instagram. Kristina and Maria discussed on their podcast how High Vibe Women had only a couple of thousand followers yet managed to sell out their live event in under two weeks! Their success didn't hinge on their follower count but rather on effectively engaging their community and creating captivating Instagram stories.
One of their key strategies was to take their community along for the ride as they prepared for the event. Before tickets were even available, they shared their genuine excitement and behind-the-scenes glimpses with their Instagram audience through strategically planned videos. Want to know the best part? These videos were no more than 10 seconds of live video content sharing their excitement, and what they were planning. This approach can be applied to connecting and resonating with your audience, even if you're not launching an event.
It doesn't have to be complicated; you can post about your morning cup of tea or your current workspace in your Instagram stories. The goal is to build an emotional connection—not to put your entire life on social media, but to share personal content that fosters a deeper bond over time. Learn more about building an emotional connection within your branding here on the podcast!
These are two simple ways without a larger audience to really start to connect and build momentum within your digital community. Here is 20 simple Instagram story ideas for 2024 to check out if you need some inspiration!
AI & Instagram Stories
We’ll be honest—there's no perfect strategy when it comes to social media. Most of it involves testing, experimenting, and discovering what works best for your audience. The same can be said for incorporating AI into your marketing efforts. AI has been transforming the marketing landscape over the past year, but remember that AI itself isn't a strategy.
It's essential to practice, experiment, and use it as a tool in your business as outlined in Community Episode 155. For example, you can utilize tools like Many Chat to automate lead generation and nurture potential customers through email marketing. AI can also help generate ideas for your Instagram stories, provided you give specific instructions or prompts to ensure relevance to your audience and business.
Value based Instagram Stories
One of our top recommendations is to be authentic and social in your Instagram stories. If you're constantly selling, you might be turning away potential customers who want to get to know you better. They might not make a purchase today, but they could become buyers tomorrow as mentioned by Kristina in Community episode 176.
Don't approach your stories with the sole intent of making sales and how much money you can make today. Instead, focus on serving your audience by providing immense value, often for free. No, we're not suggesting you give away free products (although you can if you want to), but rather share your knowledge, expertise, and resources with your community. This approach doesn't have to be a lot of work. Just use your Instagram stories to connect, engage, and serve your audience.
As they grow to trust, like, and understand you, they'll be more likely to support you in return. Welcome new followers with open arms of how you can serve them, this is the best place to start. Still feeling lost? Check out our 31 FREE story starter guide!
10 Story Ideas that can lead to more money!
1. Share one of your services (who it helps, how it helps and the transformation clients see)
2. Display your own products being used (example a tea company making a warm cup of tea in the morning to start their day)
3. Becoming a brand ambassador / brand collaborations
4. Tease an upcoming launch/ service offering!
5. Affiliate marketing links (or your affiliate program)
6. Provide a limited time bonus/ discount (flash sale)
5. Hosting a giveaway
7. Take your audience behind the scenes (share exclusive content)
8. Create how-to videos about your audiences pain points (simple ways they can solve their problems)
9. Use story stickers such as polls, quizzes and reactions to understand your audience's needs
10. Question and Answer / FAQ
Networking with IG Stories
Traditionally, growing your network includes using niche-specific hashtags and tailoring your social media marketing strategy to engage with others in your field. While these are the most common methods that come to mind, some smart ways to expand your network are often overlooked by entrepreneurs.
Kristina and Maria discussed the importance of involving others in your Instagram stories to grow your social network. You can do this by asking them to record a video discussing your services, how you met, or why they appreciate you. Another approach is to repost each other's stories and content, effectively sharing audiences.
Additionally, hosting joint Instagram Live sessions can help promote collaborations and build excitement among your combined followers. Lastly, simply supporting one another by sharing genuine appreciation and encouraging your audience to follow those you admire can foster a supportive network.
At the end of the day expanding your network not only introduces you to amazing individuals but also presents more opportunities to monetize your Instagram presence through this new, engaged audience.
Should I just be using Instagram Stories for making money?
While we believe Instagram Stories is a FANTASTIC tool for growing your business's income, it shouldn't be the only method you rely on. You can apply similar strategies to your Instagram feed as well. For example, you can transform an Instagram story into Instagram Reels or connect your Instagram posts to your stories, offering additional insights about your high-quality content.
As mentioned earlier, each account is unique. Some businesses thrive with Instagram feed posts and product tags, while others find success using affiliate links in their stories (which we highly encourage!). Ultimately, your stories are an ideal space to showcase your authenticity, build personal connections, and foster a strong community (which, in case you didn't know, we're all about). One of the most effective ways to engage your audience and eventually convert them into customers (when they're ready) is by creating captivating and engaging Instagram stories.
Conclusion
In conclusion, leveraging Instagram Stories to grow your business isn't just about traditional tactics; it's about cultivating a strong community. By bringing others into your stories, collaborating, and mutually sharing content, you not only expand your network but also create opportunities for monetization.
Remember, building trust with your audience is key, so ensure your content aligns with their needs and interests. When you focus on serving your community and nurturing genuine connections, the financial benefits will naturally follow as your engaged and l