If your business is like the majority of companies today, social media marketing plays an integral role in your overall success—and Instagram remains one of the leading platforms in that space. As a result, Instagram marketing techniques are continuously evolving and being refined.
One of the most talked-about comparisons right now is Reels vs. Stories. However, instead of viewing them as competing features, it’s more strategic to explore how each can be leveraged effectively as part of a tailored Instagram marketing strategy.
Key components of Reels:
- The format is more polished and edited than Stories content, which makes this a good spot for tutorials and demos.
- Because Reels are prioritized by the site’s algorithm, they show up in the “Explore” tab, which means this content has a higher probability of reaching a new audience.
- Unlike Stories content that disappears after 24 hours, Reels do not expire.
- If you’re tracking what’s going viral at the moment and want to build content around that, Reels is for you.
Key components of Stories:
- The format is more casual, informal and a good place to do Q&As, publish updates to your followers or run a poll.
- When you want to push content out to your existing followers, Stories is where you should do it.
- You can save your Stories as “Highlights,” which will prevent them from disappearing in 24 hours. But when you’re just trying to be timely with specific types of content that isn’t meant to “age,” it’s okay to let it simply go away.
- Do you want to push a promotion or something that is going to be available for a very short amount of time? Stories is your go-to.
In a nutshell, Instagram marketing experts lean on Reels to boost engagement and reach new audiences, showcase their brand culture, create more conversions and build their identity. Stories is where showing personality, boosting brand awareness, drawing attention to promotions and driving traffic are the focal points. There is a high likelihood that your company can take advantage of both options.
Need assistance with your Instagram marketing? Let SJC give you the upper hand with our team of experts at your side. Contact us and let’s discuss the ways in which we can enhance your social media marketing efforts.