Stories remain a highly popular form of communication. More and more companies are choosing to share updates on platforms like Instagram and Facebook, so it's worth making the most of the available features.

Instagram Stories is an excellent tool for engaging with your audience and promoting your brand effectively. However, to achieve success, you need to approach it thoughtfully. Here are eight Instagram mistakes to avoid:

Ignoring the video format

Video dominates the internet, so it's time to take a closer look at it. The statistics clearly show that it's worth investing more time in short promotional videos for your brand.

Suggested change: Don't be afraid to experiment.

If you're just starting out with video for your brand, Instagram Stories is a great place to begin. Especially since most such videos are created using smartphones. Even well-known companies use phones to produce Instagram Stories, which adds a touch of spontaneity and authenticity to their updates.

The wrong format

Instagram Stories displays vertically, so your content should be adapted to this format as well.

Suggested change: Publish photos and graphics in portrait mode or create collages.

Landscape content uses only about 1/3 of the available space and shows details less effectively. For the best results, it's worth adapting to the vertical format.

Poor photo/video quality

If your Instagram Stories appear blurry or lose quality after publishing, it may be due to incorrect proportions or file compression. Instagram compresses files larger than 1 MB.
Suggested change: Publish files under 1 MB in a 9:16 ratio.

To maintain the quality of your published Instagram Stories, make sure your photos or videos are smaller than 1 MB and keep the correct proportions (1080 by 1920 pixels).

Too many similar Stories

Nobody wants to see the same or similar content over and over again.

Suggested change: Focus on variety.

To avoid monotony and predictability, experiment with different content formats, such as videos, photos, or polls. Stay up to date with Instagram's new features so your Stories continue to grab attention. You can also use templates to visually diversify your content.

No hashtags or location

Which Instagram Stories mistakes should you avoid to increase your reach?

Hashtags and locations are excellent tools for increasing your content's reach and boosting your brand's visibility.

Suggested change: Add hashtags and locations.

By using hashtags in Instagram Stories, you increase the chances of your Story being found by people interested in a given topic. Keep in mind that your profile must be public and your community engaged for Instagram to display your Story with a hashtag.

Using watermarks from other platforms

Putting a TikTok logo or other platforms' watermarks on your content may put users off. Although TikTok is popular, that doesn't necessarily mean you should promote that platform in your Instagram Stories.

Suggested change: Avoid using other platforms' logos.

Instagram has its own community, and there's no need to copy content from other social media. Using another platform's logo can make your brand seem unprofessional.

No captions for people watching without sound

Nearly half of Instagram Stories are viewed without sound. That's why it's worth adding captions to your videos so your message reaches more viewers.

Suggested change: Add captions to your videos.

Thanks to captions, even people watching Stories without sound will be able to understand the message of your content.

Content that's too formal

Instagram Stories is an excellent tool for showing a more authentic side of your brand. They don't have to be as formal as content on other platforms.

Suggested change: Let your authenticity show.

You can show your workplace, share fun facts about your employees, show a typical workday, or ask your audience for their opinion. Instagram Stories lets you build a better connection with your audience and show your personality.

By applying these simple steps and avoiding the Instagram mistakes mentioned above, you will certainly increase the effectiveness of your account on this social platform. With greater engagement in your Stories, you'll gain more followers, promote your products or services more effectively, and your company will enjoy growing success.