September 2, 2025

6 Steps to Better Brand Exposure On Instagram Stories

Catherine White

Instagram Stories remain one of the most effective ways to capture attention quickly. They sit right at the top of the app, they’re immersive, and they let you connect in real time. In 2025, Stories are still driving growth for brands of all sizes because they blend fun, creativity, and strategy in a format people can’t resist tapping through.

If you want more eyes on your brand, here are six simple steps to get there.

Why Instagram Stories Are Still a Game-Changer for Brands

How Stories Took Over Social Media

When Stories first appeared, they seemed like a quick way to share fleeting content. Today, they’re a cornerstone of social media. Billions of Stories are posted daily, and people expect brands to be part of the mix.

What Makes Stories So Effective at Getting Attention

Stories are built for immediacy. They create urgency because they disappear after 24 hours, which means viewers don’t want to miss out. Add in features like stickers, polls, and questions, and Stories become interactive in ways that standard posts can’t match.

Step 1: Make Your Stories Stand Out

If your Stories blend into the crowd, viewers will swipe past them without a second thought. Strong visuals and clear messaging are what stop the scroll.

Tips for Eye-Catching Visuals

Use high-quality images or video instead of blurry, low-resolution shots.
Stick to consistent brand colors and fonts.
Add motion with GIFs, music, or quick cuts to keep attention.

Experimenting with style is key. Many creators find inspiration by playing with Instagram Story Color settings. Changing backgrounds or adjusting shades can give your Stories a fresh, branded look that matches your feed.

Keeping Your Message Short and Sweet

Viewers scroll quickly, so every second counts. Keep text short, snappy, and easy to read. Instead of long explanations, break things into multiple slides. Think of each Story as one part of a bigger conversation.

Step 2: Get Your Audience Involved with Interactive Features

Stories are most powerful when they’re two-way. Viewers want to engage, not just watch.

How to Use Polls and Questions to Spark Engagement

Polls, quizzes, and question stickers make participation fun and easy. They’re also excellent tools for feedback. You can ask:

“Which new product color do you prefer?”
“What kind of content do you want to see next week?”
“Vote for your favorite design!”

These small actions add up, keeping people tapping and engaging. Brands that consistently use Instagram polls often see a boost in reach because engagement tells the algorithm their content is worth showing to more people.

Why People Love Participating

Audiences enjoy being part of the process. It makes them feel closer to the brand when their opinions are asked and valued. Even playful polls—like “Pizza or burgers?”—give your followers an easy reason to join in.

Step 3: Stay Consistent Without Overdoing It

Consistency builds recognition, but posting too often can overwhelm your audience. The trick is finding the right balance.

Finding the Right Posting Rhythm

Aim for daily Stories to stay top of mind.
Post at times when your audience is most active.
Spread posts throughout the day instead of dumping them all at once.

A steady rhythm helps followers know when to expect updates without feeling spammed.

Developing a Voice Your Followers Recognize

Your Stories should sound like you. Whether it’s playful, motivational, or professional, keeping a consistent voice builds trust. It also makes your brand feel familiar. For example, brands that maintain a casual, chatty style often see more replies and Instagram comments because people feel like they’re talking to a friend, not a faceless business.

Step 4: Use Hashtags and Location Tags to Reach More People

Hashtags and location tags might seem small, but they’re powerful tools for discovery. Adding them to Stories gives you a chance to appear in broader feeds and attract new followers outside your usual audience.

Choosing Hashtags That Actually Work

Stick to hashtags that are specific to your niche rather than generic ones like #love or #happy.
Rotate your hashtags so you’re not using the same ones every time.
Test different sets to see which get the most impressions.

Including a mix of trending, niche, and branded Instagram hashtags can expand your reach while still keeping things relevant.

How Location Tags Help You Connect Locally

For small businesses or events, location tags are especially helpful. A café, gym, or boutique that adds a city or neighborhood tag can show up in local discovery feeds. That means people who aren’t following you yet but are nearby can discover your brand naturally.

Step 5: Team Up and Cross-Promote

Stories aren’t just about what you create—they’re about the community you build. Partnering with others helps expand your audience and strengthen connections.

Working with Influencers and Other Brands

Cross-promotions introduce your brand to new people. For example:

Do a Story swap with another account where you each share the other’s content.
Collaborate with influencers in your niche to showcase your products or services.
Run short campaigns together, like showcasing each other’s products in themed Stories.

These partnerships are a simple way to double exposure without doubling effort.

The Power of Sharing Content from Your Fans

User-generated content (UGC) builds trust like nothing else. When you reshare your fans’ Stories, you show appreciation while encouraging others to join in. A fun way to spark more UGC is to run a mini Instagram giveaway tied to Stories. For example: “Share your favorite photo using our product and tag us for a chance to win.” This gets people posting about your brand while creating more content for you to share.

Step 6: Keep Track and Improve Your Stories

The key to growing your reach through Stories is paying attention to what works—and what doesn’t.

What Metrics Really Matter

Focus on these core numbers:

Views: How many people saw your Story.
Completion rate: How many watched through to the last slide.
Taps forward or exits: Indicators of whether your content is engaging or too long.
Replies and sticker interactions: Signs of strong audience involvement.

Using What You Learn to Make Better Stories Next Time

Look for patterns. If polls always get more interaction, add them regularly. If drop-offs happen after long text slides, shorten your messaging. Tools that track Live Instagram Statistics can give extra context, especially if you combine them with your Stories Insights for a clearer picture of engagement.

Repurposing Stories for More Reach

Don’t let good content vanish after 24 hours. Repurpose it into Reels, highlights, or even posts on other platforms. Some creators use Instagram video downloaders to save and edit their Stories for YouTube Shorts, TikTok, or Facebook. This way, a single Story can continue working for your brand long after it expires.

Why Instagram Stories Still Work in 2025

Instagram Stories remain one of the best ways to get eyes on your brand. They’re quick, interactive, and sit right at the top of the app where people can’t miss them. By focusing on standout visuals, encouraging participation, keeping a steady rhythm, and using features like hashtags, location tags, and collaborations, you’ll grow both your reach and your connection with followers.

Most importantly, track your performance. Learn from the data, make small improvements, and keep experimenting. The brands that thrive on Stories aren’t the ones who post the most—they’re the ones who post with intention and creativity.

So the next time you open Instagram, think beyond just sharing a snapshot. Build a Story that makes people stop, engage, and come back for more.