In August 2016, Instagram launched Instagram stories. A feature that would change forever the face of the app. The quick pictures and videos enable the viewers to discover their favourite bloggers and brands in a more spontaneous way. And it has become so popular now than instead of going to someone’s profile, we just spend time going from a story to another. A real rabbit hole we all enjoy diving in.
If we previously gave you some tips and tricks on how to use Instagram stories and network through the app, we didn’t talk yet about live videos on Instagram. It is a powerful feature because it enables followers to interact in real time with a blogger or a brand and creates even more intimacy with them. People can see you, ask you questions and have an immediate answer. Another advantage is that when you are live people who missed it can still watch it when it is finished and if you have a Youtube channel, you can maximise it by putting it there.
While you are already familiar with Instagram stories, let’s have a look at some ways to use its live video at your advantage and this, whether you are a blogger or a brand.
Create regular appointments
It is an idea I got from Italian influencer Paolo Stella. Each week, he shows his followers the gifts brands sent him and unpack them. More than the unpacking, what I want you to notice is the fact that he made it an appointment. Like that not only his followers but also new comers know he does this on a given day at a given time. And you can tune in just like you would do for your favourite Netflix show :). It is a way to create audience loyalty, always be on the radar of your followers – a notification is sent each time someone is doing an Instagram live – and be found by new people. Have you noticed? In the search page, there are now a lot more videos, so to announce your live session, you can create a video post talking about it and you might appear in the search page  of people following profiles similar to yours.
Do lives that matter
I love those Q&A sessions some bloggers do, but I like even more when Instagram live sessions are teaching me something. And people like Soulful PR’s Janet Murray and Julie Solomon are the best when it comes to this. Don’t let the 5k followers of Janet fool you, she is great at driving engagement on Instagram, especially through her live sessions. Before them she will do a post asking a question about what her followers would like her to talk about for her next live sessions or if they have questions regarding PR – her domain of expertise. Like that she can come prepared to her live sessions and actually do a live people want to see because they know they will learn something important. Julie Solomon does the same but also uses the live sessions as a little news broadcast where she tells her followers what they missed or what is next. Â So whether you are blogger with knowledge to share or a brand with some exciting news, a live session is a great outlet to create a ‘show’ around what you need to announce.
 Bring exclusivity to your followers
I have watched fashion shows on Instagram live sessions and it wasn’t a problem. Thinking of it, if you are a fashion entrepreneur, you could show your store opening on Instagram. Like a small show you could have a host we could follow during the opening. If you work in an office, showing its behind-the-scenes introducing your staff could also be another option. I am well aware you can do it just using the quick videos but I feel a live session is way more exclusive because in the end the pictures and the videos you post on your Insta stories are not necessarily live. You can save them and share them whenever you want, whereas a live is what happens on the moment, and that per se is exclusive.
Don’t underestimate the power of live sessions. On every platform, videos are the type of content favoured by algorithms. On top of offering the possibility to your followers to know you better, a live session offers a different way to consume content. It looks similar to Instagram stories but it is also subtly different as there is a stronger feeling of immediacy, intimacy and exclusivity.
Have you ever used Instagram live sessions? For which purpose? Let us know in the comments below.
