These days, social media is all about documentation — where you go, what you eat, and who you see. These are the very content we see on Instagram Stories, seconds-long glimpses of people's lives, shared on the platform for only 24 hours.

But why should businesses use Instagram Stories?

Firstly, Instagram Stories are a quick and easy way to engage with followers. According to a new study from Microsoft Corp., the average human attention span is only eight seconds (shorter than a goldfish!) The 15-second limit on Instagram Stories is perfectly crafted to quickly disseminate information and grasp your audience’s attention fast.

Secondly, Instagram Stories gives brands the freedom to press the boundaries of their current content in a low-stakes environment. Want to show POVs of your product being made? Stories are perfect. Want to get customer feedback right from the source? That’s encouraged! 

So, are you ready to take your Instagram Stories game to the next level? From design tricks to engagement-boosting strategies, we’re sharing our go-to hacks:

• Keep it simple. Shoot your Stories content in the vertical format, but you don’t have to get fancy. In fact, Instagram found that Stories ads shot on mobile devices outperformed studio shot ads by 63%.

• Use Adobe’s free online customer IG Story maker for eye-catching content with the help of Adobe Express. Explore templates, upload your photos, or choose from libraries of free images, icons, and graphics to build your story design. It’s as easy as choosing a template, customizing, and sharing.

• Define your brand’s visual identity. Yes, we just said low production value is okay, but that doesn’t mean you should forget the fundamentals of visual branding! For example, use your brand’s colors for text or signature GIFs. Your audience should recognize your style without having to check your username.

• Include a CTA. Like all good marketing creative, your Instagram Stories should include a clear call to action. What do you want viewers to do next? You can even use the new “Swipe Up” sticker to direct traffic directly to a website.

• Get interactive. With millions of brands competing for attention, you need a way to stand out. One way to win that war is to increase the amount of time someone spends on your Stories with interactive elements such as polls, questions, and quizzes. These force the viewer to think, which in turn increases the amount of time spent on your content and leads to greater brand awareness.

• Use location tags. You can include geographic location tags on your Instagram Stories to make your business or brand more discoverable locally and globally.

• Tag other people. Just like how you can tag other users on your Instagram feed posts, you can do the same with Instagram Stories. Tagging other businesses, brands, or influencers, increases the chances of your content being shared and maximizes your reach.

• Repurpose content. Typically, an Instagram story is gone forever after 24 hours. However, that isn’t exactly true. Instagram allows users to view, download and repost their old stories via Archives. After all, why reinvent the wheel?

• Share. Share. Share. Whether it’s sharing Stories that users have tagged you in or sharing a post to your own Stories, brands should constantly fill their feed with user-generated content. This not only creates a sense of community but also inspires customers to post more for a chance to be featured. FOMO is real!