8 Little Known Things You Can Do In Instagram Stories post image

Indeed, some would say that Instagram Stories is a “copy” of Snapchat. The content consists of videos or images shown with a maximum viewing time of 10 seconds, only available for 24 hours. All these can be edited by adding text, emoticons, stickers, etc.

Although they may seem similar, Instagram Stories and Snapchat do not function in the same way. The main features are the same, but the tools are quite different.

When it seemed that 2016 was going to be The Year of Snapchat, Instagram arrived and on August 2, launched its Stories just in time to catch up with the social media platform of the moment. To what extent will Instagram Stories continue to evolve in order to retain users, snatch its competitor’s members and increase its popularity? Only time will tell.

With that in mind, which app do you favor?

In favor of Instagram Stories:

  • Publishing content in Instagram Stories significantly increases the user’s relevance and popularity in this social network. Your avatar or profile photo prominently appears on the top portion of your Instagram feed which makes recognition quite easy.  On Snapchat, you will need to go to the second screen to find out who has posted content in the last 24 hours. In Instagram Stories, the stories appear prominently in line with IG’s recent decision to scrap the chronological order of news in our feeds. For getting ahead through brand recall, we recommend using Instagram Stories.
  • You do not necessarily need to be a follower to view a profile’s Instagram Stories. When you go to a person or brand’s account, you will see that there is a pink circle around their profile picture. You can tap on that circle to view the stories they have posted in the last 24 hours. On Snapchat, you can only see the posts of users you have added as friends. In a nutshell, it’s easier to view stories on Instagram than in Snapchat.
  • Instagram Stories garner a higher number of views. In fact, content published in Instagram Stories generate at least three times more views than posts on Snapchat. This estimate is not based on any official statistics, but in my own experience as a social media user. Obviously, this can also be attributed to the fact that Instagram has 500 million active users compared to Snapchat’s 150 million.

In favor of Snapchat:

  • Snapchat offers more options to edit and play with images. It has more filter selections, more text editing features and has a multitude of stickers for just about anything. In fact, it also has the option to create your own custom sticker through Bitmoji, or to include the ambient temperature or the speed at which you are moving in a video. In my opinion, it is more fun and more versatile.
  • Has a loyal customer base. In recent days, I’ve seen Twitter messages from users who have decided to uninstall the Snapchat app and proclaim their unconditional preference for Instagram Stories. However, I think that Snapchat still has a very active audience out there. I am a huge fan of this platform and I use it for completely different purposes.

And what do brands use? Some brands are very active on Snapchat, and have not yet published anything on Instagram Stories. There are some that have begun to replicate in Instagram Stories what they have previously done in Snapchat. And lastly, there are some who have never used Snapchat, but have started to be active in Instagram Stories.

In any case, Instagram Stories is here to stay. While you’re exploring all of its possibilities, you are also welcome to sign up for a free trial of Simplygram. If you are serious about growing your account organically and gaining 30,000 Instagram followers in under a year, this Instagram growth service is perfect for you. And to help you maximize your use of IG Stories, here are some tips and features I thought you should know:

1. Post pre-recorded photos and videos

Not only can you publish the images and videos that you capture real time, you can also post media that has already been saved in your gallery. To do this, you just need to swipe down on your Instagram Stories home screen, and you will see the photos and videos you have made in the last 24 hours. This includes creations from your Boomerang or Hyperlapse apps. How about a photo that you’ve taken a very long time ago? Take a screenshot using your mobile so that it appears as a recent item, then you can use it for your stories. You posted on Snapchat and want to use that as an Instagram story? Save your Snapchat story on your mobile and select it from your gallery once you go into IG Stories. It’s that simple.

2. Move forward or back while viewing

When you view content on Instagram Stories, you can stop the video or see the photo by simply pressing your finger onto the screen. If the profile has published several photos or videos, and you want to go back to see the previous content again, just tap on the left side of the screen. If you want to move faster, press anywhere on the screen (except on the left) to move to the next image. And if you want to stop watching the story, click on the “X” icon on the upper right hand corner. It will close Instagram Stories. Or, you can always move your finger from left to right on the screen. This will open the stories published by the next user. The stripes at the top of the screen will show you the length of each story.

3. Decide who can see the content of your Instagram Stories and respond with a message

You have two options in this regard: 1) To be selective in each story.  When you have published the content, click on the three points on the lower right hand corner and in the “History Settings” menu, you can select who you want to hide the story from. You can also decide who can respond to your story with a message. It could be everyone, only the people you follow or nobody. 2) To configure all your Instagram Stories in general. Go to the “Settings” tab of your profile and in the “History settings” option, proceed to mark your preferences.

4. Create your own color palette

When you press the pencil icon, the circles with the available colors are displayed at the bottom of the screen. If you hold your finger on the color, it will give you the option to change the hue to your liking.

color palette

5. Choose the thickness of the strokes

On the lower left hand corner of the same place where you have your color options, there is a circle with three points. When you click on it, a vertical line will be displayed. If you go up or down over it, you can choose the thickness of the lines for drawing. Remember that you have three types of strokes, and one of them comes with a phosphorite effect.

6. Find out who has seen your story (Not just how many)

You can open your story and move your finger up on the screen. The names and avatars will appear. And beware! Remember that when you view a story, the person who posted it will be able to know that you viewed their story.

7. Add filters to your photo or video

Move you finger from left to right, or from right to left on the screen. You will see color filters, black and white options, and so on. There are seven in total.

8. Post the story in your feed

You can also share your story as a conventional post. Just click on the three buttons on the lower right hand corner, and choose “Share as a Publication”. Of course, you will have to crop the image. You can also save the story on your mobile.
With that said, you can decide on using both apps, but it looks like Instagram Stories has taken the lead. If your main goal is to grow your business and become Instagram famous, you can also check out Simplygram.com where you can sign up for a free trial of our Instagram growth service to help you find your way.

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