Instagram Stories & Videos Cheat Sheet

Getting Started with Instagram Stories

1. Creating a Story:

• Open Instagram: Tap on your profile picture or swipe right from your feed.
• Capture or Upload Content: Use the camera to take a photo/video, or swipe up to upload from your gallery.
• Edit Your Story:
• Text: Tap ‘Aa’ to add text. Customize with different fonts, sizes, and colors.
• Stickers: Tap the smiley face icon to add stickers, GIFs, polls, questions, and more.
• Draw: Tap the squiggly line to draw on your story with various brush types and colors.
• Filters: Swipe left or right on the screen to apply filters.
• Post Your Story: Tap “Your Story” to share, or “Close Friends” for a more private audience.

2. Enhancing Engagement:

• Polls & Questions: Use interactive stickers to engage your audience with polls, questions, and quizzes.
• Countdowns: Add countdowns for events to build anticipation.
• Location & Hashtags: Increase discoverability by adding location stickers and hashtags.

Creating Instagram Videos

1. Types of Videos:

• Feed Videos: Up to 60 seconds. Captured directly through the app or uploaded from your device.
• Reels: Up to 60 seconds. Short, entertaining clips with music, effects, and editing tools.
• IGTV (Instagram TV): Longer-form videos up to 60 minutes (or 15 minutes if uploaded from a mobile device).

2. Shooting and Uploading:

• Feed Videos:
• Capture: Open Instagram, swipe left, and choose “Video” mode.
• Edit: Apply filters, trim, and select a cover frame.
• Post: Add a caption, tags, and location, then share.
• Reels:
• Open Reels: Swipe right on your feed, then tap “Reels” at the bottom.
• Record/Edit: Use music, AR effects, timer, and speed controls.
• Post: Add a caption, hashtags, and share.
• IGTV:
• Create a Channel: If not done already, create an IGTV channel.
• Upload: Tap the IGTV icon, then the “+” icon to upload a video.
• Details: Add a title, description, and cover photo. Share a preview to your feed if desired.

Best Practices

1. Consistency:

• Post regularly to keep your audience engaged and maintain visibility.

2. Quality Content:

• Ensure videos are well-lit, clear, and visually appealing.
• Use relevant music and effects to enhance your content.

3. Engagement:

• Respond to comments and messages to build community.
• Use call-to-actions (CTAs) like “Swipe Up” (if eligible) or “DM me” to drive interactions.

4. Analytics:

• Use Instagram Insights to track performance.
• Analyze metrics like views, reach, and engagement to refine your strategy.

Additional Tips

1. Cross-Promotion:

• Share your Instagram stories and videos across other social media platforms.

2. Collaborations:

• Partner with influencers or other brands for co-branded content.

3. Stay Updated:

• Keep up with Instagram’s latest features and trends to stay relevant.

By following these steps and best practices, you can effectively use Instagram Stories and Videos to engage your audience and enhance your social media presence.