There are multiple ways you can post your content on Instagram. You can share a post, reel, or an Instagram story. Even though you get all of these options in one platform, they are very different.
Instagram is a handy tool for marketers who want to reach out to their target audience through social media. It is a powerful platform to reach out to the target audience, and you can do that creatively and uniquely.
But how are these options different from one another? What is the difference between post and story on Instagram? Before you use the platform for your business, you must know these basic differences and use them properly to your advantage.
For example, the stories businesses and brands share on Instagram drive a lot of views. However, Instagram posts are more effective for establishing a deeper connection with the audience. Let’s dive deep and know the difference between post and story on Instagram.
A post is a short video or square photo you share on your Instagram. This stays on your profile forever or as long as you have the account. You can add text and music to the image.
These are square photos and appear on the user’s main feed. The image an Instagram profile holds is the total of everything they have shared, which makes the image a brand wishes to convert or create their desired identity.
Instagram stories are vertical videos or photos. However, how long can Instagram stories be? Instagram stories are a maximum of 150 seconds long. Stories are of 9:16 ratio. It can also be like a slideshow, in case you post several photos and videos one after the other.
Also, how long do Instagram stories last? They can be viewed for only 24 hours. Instagram stories are one of the best tools for a business to get its target audience involved. Contrary to posts, they are only visible for a limited period of time and have a more casual approach. Also, take care of the Instagram story dimensions when you post it.
You have to understand that a story can only be viewed for a few seconds, so you must convey the message straightforwardly, so the viewer doesn’t have to rewind it or pause it somewhere. Do not overcrowd the story with text or photos and make the story easy to understand at a glance.
A highlight or a highlight cover is a story or a set of stories that can be permanently seen on an Instagram profile and not just for 24 hours. You can also add different stories together to highlight, and then it will be shown like a slideshow, one after another, like stories.
Highlights are an important tool for brands because, this way, you can share the message in a particular order. It is like watching a movie trailer. They emphasize the main points of the brand.
To add highlights to your Instagram profile, you must share regular stories and then tap on save to keep the image or the video in your library. Tap on the profile’s thumbnail, then click the “New” button to add a new highlight to the story.
From the library, select the images that you want to highlight. You can drag and zoom the highlight to the place where you find fit and then confirm to add the highlight.
There are different kinds of uploads, like reels, stories, and posts. it is important to know when to use and which one to make the most of it. However, before we get to know when to post reels on Instagram, we also need to know the difference between posts and stories on Instagram.
Now that you know the difference between post and story on Instagram, let’s look deeper at both and how they can be used. As posts last forever, their reach is more extensive than stories. They also start up interactions and better conversations with followers over time.
Even if they do not have interactive features like quizzes, polls, and questions, they still offer different content options. These include single images, videos, and carousels. You also have the option to add filters and music to the images and videos.
How would you know when to use a story and when to post content? Here are a few instances where you should post.
Post those videos and images that mark business milestones. It could be some core brand information or significant company events that are worth sharing.
Users who visit your profile will love to see how you perform as a team. They make the company’s presence authentic and add a few faces to the brand as well. However, ensure you get permission from those whose face you post on your company posts.
Product guides and product information, as well as tutorials, should always be included in your posts. It will be helpful for users to find these even after years of posting them. They are evergreen.
As mentioned earlier, you can write up to 2,200 characters as a caption for your post. If you write lengthy captions, make sure that they grab attention or have some sort of lead about the main point so the reader keeps reading.
Every Instagram area has a different algorithm that finds and presents the content differently. The algorithm prioritizes content from the account from which you interact most. It depends on the number of times you see the story of an account, whether you comment, share, or just like the post.
Because of their short lifespan, they are more about instant sales, engagement, and views rather than brand awareness.
When you are thinking about posting Instagram stories, you should know the features and effects they provide. You can try layered videos and photos, change the text and match it with your brand colors, and add a filter or a GIF to the story. You can use stories for various purposes like:
As stories only last for 24 hours, they are best for timely updates and breaking news. If you know that something interesting is coming up that users would take an interest in, those are the things that you should post on Instagram stories. Give a bite and just mention, “tap to read the whole story.”
TV personalities and celebrities often use Instagram stories to reveal some dirt, give a statement, or make a confession. They can be used live from any event to give recent updates to the crowd who are waiting for the updates.
If you wish to get your followers excited about a special offer or a special sale, your Instagram story is the way to do it. Also, fear of missing out or FOMO is a powerful marketing tool. You can add links to the stories with stickers and emphasize the link.
Posts and stories have their own significance, and both have different use cases. For some, stories are best, and for some, posts are.
If you are looking for ways to improve brand awareness, reach out to the audience, or establish your brand, then Instagram posts would be the better option for you. Make an aesthetic Instagram feed and showcase your brand to the audience in the most creative way.
If you want to increase interaction and engagement, stories should be your choice. There are different types of features that you have in stories, like having a poll asking people questions. Also, they can add to their stories from the one you have posted and various others.
Marketing and promotions can also be done through stories. If there is a special offer, then you should post it in the stories to grab the attention of the audience. However, if you are sharing a product guide with some important information, then it is best to share a post about it.
Both personal and business accounts need stories and posts. It actually depends on the purpose of the content that you are sharing. Depending on that you have to choose whether you want to share a post or a story, and this is applicable for both personal and business accounts.
As mentioned earlier, every account needs to share stories and posts depending on the intent and purpose behind the post. For instance, Starbucks made a post sharing their coffee brewing guide. And this is like an evergreen post that they will have in their feed for a long time.
Whereas popular news channels like CNN use stories for breaking their daily news and important daily updates, if there is a solar eclipse that day or there is a massive accident. There are numerous posts in every story sequence, and a user can choose something that they find interesting and read the whole story that they have posted.
Also, many accounts like LibertyLondon show off their product through their stories and keep the stories active so that people can take action through those. People can go to their site or their post and check the exact product that interests them.
If you are a personal influencer and want to reach out to more people than just your followers, then sharing a post would be a better option for you. This is because of the hashtag feature. This increases the profile’s visibility and also brings in new followers.
Moreover, if the content is lengthy, then sharing a post would be a better option and allow you more creativity and flexibility to make your content work. There is also the possibility to combine different media types to make the content more engaging and dynamic.
Also, if there is a sudden need to post short, unscripted content, it is better if you choose an Instagram story for that purpose. When it is time to make people choose between the two, you can share a poll through Instagram stories as well.
Non-profit or cause-based accounts mostly use posts to share their stories with their followers. They mostly share evergreen content showcasing how they work or what their organization is all about and this is best done with the help of a post.
Also, if there is some special event or a special story that the organization wants to share with the followers, they can do it with stories. If the story is long, then they keep an active button, which would take them to the long version of the story that they have on their site.
Now that you know the difference between post and story on instagram, it is time to choose. Stories and posts allow you to share complementary but distinctive content pieces. So, there is no question of choosing one over the other. You have to understand the purpose of sharing the content and then decide the type.
Your Instagram marketing strategy should have a balance of both types, depending on what you want to convey to the audience. You can turn Instagram into a profit-making machine only if you know how to use it.
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A self-proclaimed Swiftian, Instagram-holic, and blogger, Subhasree eats, breathes, and sleeps pop culture. When she is not imagining dates with Iron Man on Stark Tower (yes, she has the biggest crush on RDJ, which she won’t admit), she can be seen tweeting about the latest trends. Always the first one to break viral news, Subhasree is addicted to social media, and leaves out no opportunity of blogging about the same. She is our go-to source for the latest algorithm updates and our resident editor.
