How to Use Instagram Stories for Small Business Growth

By Val Razo

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In the last decade, when social media platforms have become one of the main channels for brand communication, the idea of using social media marketing for small business growth isn't new and Instagram is high on this list.

 

With over 2 billion monthly users and 200 million businesses that choose Instagram for promotion, it's no wonder that small businesses also see potential in Instagram. But just a few small businesses decide to invest time and effort into implementing Instagram Stories in their marketing strategies. 

 

At first glance, creating short-form content that disappears within 24 hours isn't the best fit for small businesses with the limited budget. But when done right, Instagram Stories are great for small business growth.



Why Should Small Businesses Give Instagram Stories a Try?

 

Instagram introduced its version of Snapchat Stories in 2016 when users got an opportunity to publish short-lived vertical images or short videos to the separate feed, called Instagram Stories.

 

Despite the fact that Instagram Stories are limited in their lifespan and disappear after 24 hours automatically, this content format is engaging and fun, so it has quickly gained in popularity among users.

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As a small business owner, you may doubt if you should jump on the bandwagon and create Instagram Stories, but here five solid reasons for you to consider using Instagram Stories for small business growth:

 

  • Beat the algorithm. It's no secret that Instagram prioritizes content from friends and family, but Instagram Stories appear on the separate feed and when users interact with your ephemeral content, Instagram gets a sign to push your feed content, too.
  • Meet customers' expectations. Instagram Stories have quickly become popular among users and your customers are more likely to have interest in this content type, so it helps to satisfy their needs and wants. 
  • Reach more followers. When you publish Stories with geotags or hashtags, your content gets a chance to get in front of a wider audience as it appears on the Explore Page when people are searching for something specific on the platform. As a result, you can interact not only with followers but with potential customers too.
  • Be authentic. Since Instagram Stories disappear quickly, neither creators nor consumers bother about the perfect image and therefore this content type brings the sense of authenticity and makes a deeper connection with your audience.
  • Keep your feed cohesive. The idea of Stories is to focus on authenticity which means you can move all 'not so perfect' content to Stories without sacrificing the look and feel of your profile and therefore keep it well-organized.

 

As you can see, vertical short-form content on Instagram can do wonders for businesses of all sizes and niches. So, let's take a look at practical ways on how to use Instagram Stories for small business growth.

Tell More About Your Small Business with Behind-the-Scenes Content

Modern customers have high demand for brand authenticity and they opt for companies who invest in building an emotional connection with their potential customers. That's why behind-the-scenes content which doesn't require much polishing is a great option to present your small business and get it in front of your target audience and short-lived Stories are here to help.

 

There are many ways on how to tell more about your business with behind-the-scenes content, published on Instagram Stories:

 

  • Interviews with CEO or employees
  • Give your followers exclusive access to events
  • Showcase workplace culture
  • Tell more about the product/service creation process
  • Share your company values

 

Alternatively, you can also make a series of vertical videos that show a typical day at your office, just like in the example below.

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Source: @littlemisshijabee

Show Off Your Products or Services with All the Details

It's no secret that social selling has great potential as social media users discover and research new products on social media. And Instagram Stories have all important in-built features to help small businesses show off their products and provide interested followers with product information or even complete a purchase.

 

When posting Instagram Stories, you can add as many details about your products as you want as ephemeral content disappears quickly and therefore keep your Instagram feed cohesive. From announcing new collections to showing off customers and featuring reviews, there are many ways to present your products. Moreover, you can make the most out of the right features (product tags and clickable links work best) that can convert viewers into paying customers.

 

To achieve small business growth with showcasing products via Instagram Stories, it's a good idea to announce a new product launch with the countdown sticker that allows interested followers to sign up for the update and once your product is available for purchase, create a series of Stories that show off all details and organize these Stories into dedicated Story Highlights so that visitors could check out your products even after ephemeral content has gone.

 

Engage Followers in Meaningful Conversations

 

One of the biggest struggles for small businesses is a lack of brand awareness. When you're just starting out and you have a limited budget, it takes a lot of work to make sure your brand reaches the right audience. However, common people are the best advertisers as they always recommend businesses they love.

 

Another way to utilize Instagram Stories for small business growth is to make sure your audience knows everything they want about your business. When you engage them in meaningful conversations, not only do you make a stronger bond with people but you also give them a reason to spread the word about your business. 

 

With question stickers, it's easier than ever. Let's take a look at how it can look:

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Source: @littlemisshijabee

Sometimes, followers may be shy to ask questions especially if you're a small business owner and you don't receive many questions from others that may serve as samples for others. Thus, it can be a good idea to encourage followers to ask their questions so that they can understand your business better. The best way to do it is to give them in return for it - give away branded gifts, share discounts for the best questions, give access to events, etc.

Reach a Wider Audience with the Support Small Business Sticker

Word-of-mouth marketing always works best. When satisfied customers recommend your business to their friends and family, your small business gets a chance to acquire new customers who are ready to spend their money on your products and services.

 

And if you have a loyal customer base who follow you on Instagram, make the most out of it and ask them to do a favor and promote your business on their profiles with the support small business sticker - a feature for Instagram Stories that allow people to spread a word about selected companies so that they could reach a wider audience. Check out this sticker below:

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Source: @littlemisshijabee

Obviously, just a few small business customers realize the importance of supporting your company so they need to get motivation and the best way is to tell them that you need their support. For example, you can repost Instagram Stories in which loyal customers tag your company to set an example for other customers who want to support your company. After all, people want to be a part of a community so they feel special when companies share their images with other followers.

Optimize Your Instagram Stories for Local Search

Another great way to use Instagram Stories, especially if your small business operates within a certain local area, is to optimize your ephemeral content for local search and therefore allow local customers to discover your business when they are searching for a particular city or country.

 

When done right, this strategy results in more social media leads who convert into customers and your small business flourishes both online and offline.

 

Here are several examples on how it looks like:

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Source: @littlemisshijabee

To optimize your Instagram Stories for local search do the following:

 

  • Include geo hashtags like #NewYork and #NYC if your small business operates in New York City
  • Add a detailed geotag

Provide Followers with Social Proof

Social proof is one of the most important things that make your followers want to try your product. Why? People trust reviews and recommendations and when someone is satisfied with your company and shares his or her positive thoughts on social media, it increases brand loyalty and trust.

 

Damian Grabarczyk, the co-founder and growth marketer of PetLab Co., says, “In the pet care industry, building trust with our audience is crucial, and we found that the most effective way to do this was by showcasing the voices of our customers. Through Instagram Stories, we feature genuine reviews from pet owners who share their real experiences with our products. These stories aren’t polished ads—they’re authentic moments that resonate with our followers because they reflect real results from people just like them. By putting these customer stories front and center, we’ve seen our community grow organically, with more engagement and trust building over time. This subtle form of social proof quietly strengthens our credibility and keeps our audience coming back, not just to buy, but to be part of a trusted community.”

 

Here are several ideas on how to provide followers with social proof via Stories:

  • Repost user-generated content
  • Publish customer reviews and testimonials
  • Share successful case studies
  • Feature Instagram influencer endorsements
  • Repurpose customer feedback

 

Invite Micro-Influencers for Collaboration and Brand Endorsements

Many small business owners have a lack of resources for content production and it's the reason why most of them don't want to invest time and effort into creating short-lived content like Instagram Stories. But if you know the right tactics, not only can you get more Stories for your feed, but you can also promote your business among a larger audience who has loyalty towards your business.

 

The secret? Consider working with influencers who have built their communities on social media. And if you believe that celebrities and mega-influencers are expensive, you can always invite micro-influencers who have smaller yet engaged following.

Aspiring influencers are happy to work with different brands, so it gives you an opportunity for your small business growth.

 

If you want to make the most out of influencer endorsements when working with opinion leaders, consider sending them branded merchandise. Moreover, you can rely on direct to film printing services and create different items with your logo on different fabrics which selected influencers can then use on their profiles for more exposure.

Run Instagram Story Ad Campaigns that Meet Your Business Goals

The potential of Instagram Stories is huge, so the platform has rolled out its ad type that allows marketers to run Instagram Story ad campaigns and therefore push ephemeral content to the feeds of people who scroll their friends' Stories.

 

These ads appear naturally and look like someone else's content so more people keep on watching them, bringing better results. Moreover, you can select your business goal like driving awareness, generating leads, or boosting sales.

 

Moreover, Instagram Story ad campaigns give advertisers and marketers an opportunity to make the most out of in-built features like product tags, clickable links, or carousel Story ads and therefore provide viewers with more information about your company or business in a native and engaging way.

 

If you want to understand better what works best for your audience and make sure your Story ads bring good results, it's a good idea to check out the variety of Instagram tools and find a platform that gives insights on your ad campaigns.

In Short


Having an Instagram presence, it's a must to use Instagram Stories for your small business growth as this content type is popular among modern users and it offers all important in-built features to help your business achieve its goals. If you haven't used Stories for your small business, it's high time to jump on the bandwagon and make the most out of this trend.



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