Are you on Instagram Stories Yet?

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Wait a minute, I should pause and change that question. Let me start over. Have you heard about Instagram Stories? If you answered no to that question and are still wondering what Instagram Stories is, then this blog post is here to bring you up to speed. I can pretty much sum it all up in one sentence.

Instagram Stories is Snapchat. Period!

Yes, Instagram surprised us yesterday and quietly released it’s latest platform update, simply named INSTAGRAM STORIES. When I say this Instagram Stories is Snapchat. I mean just that. If you have not yet tried out Snapchat, don’t worry, just master Instagram Stories and Voila you have also mastered Snapchat. Killing two birds with one stone. Pretty much.

Instagram Stories vs Snapchat _Thabi Nyoni

Ok to be fair, they are similar. Actually too similar. Similar as in Copy and Paste.

I could not get over how similar they are. But maybe I am being to judgemental here. Why try to reinvent the wheel when you have the power to just add a feature, wait a minute, I’m struggling with my words today to describe this, let me try again and add some figures to back me up. When you have over 500 million active users on Instagram, and you want to keep them active on your platform. And after conducting market research, you give them what they love. All within Instagram, making it the new Bad Ass of Social Media and keep your users engaged and active. Happy active engaged users equals more ad revenue for Instagram. It’s pretty genius if you ask me. But what I would really love to know is what is Snapchat’s next move going to be. Or better yet why Instagram did not just eliminate the competition and buy out Snapchat?

Enough with the questions. Don’t get left behind.

So here is how to get yourself up to speed and not miss out on yet another social media platform that you can use to build a tribe and grow your business.

How to get started with the Instagram Stories Feature:

Introducing Instagram Stories, a new feature that lets you share all the moments of your day, not just the ones you want to keep on your profile. As you share multiple photos and videos, they appear together in a slideshow format: your story.

With Instagram Stories, you don’t have to worry about overposting. Instead, you can share as much as you want throughout the day — with as much creativity as you want. You can bring your story to life in new ways with text and drawing tools. The photos and videos will disappear after 24 hours and won’t appear on your profile grid or in feed.

ThabiNyoni_Instagram StoriesYou’ll see stories from people you follow in a bar at the top of your feed — from your best friends to your favorite popular accounts. When there’s something new to see, their profile photo will have a colorful ring around it.

ThabiNyoni_InstagramstoriesTo view someone’s story, just tap on their profile photo. It’s easy to view stories at your own pace: tap to go back and forward or swipe to jump to another person’s story. If you want to comment on something you see, you can tap and send a private message to that person on Instagram Direct. Unlike regular posts, there are no likes or public comments.

The like and comment option are missing from the IG Stories

Your story follows the privacy settings of your account. If you set your account to private, your story is visible only to your followers. However, you can also easily hide your entire story from anyone you don’t want to see it, even if they follow you. When watching your own story, swipe up to check out who’s seen each photo and video. You can even choose to feature a particular part of your story by posting it on your profile.

Instagram has always been a place to share the moments you want to remember. Now you can share your highlights and everything in between, too.

Don’t see Instagram Stories yet on your profile, hang on tight. Its coming your way as Instagram Stories will be rolling out globally over the next few weeks on iOS and Android.

To learn more, book a Client Strategy Session with me.

Click link to reserve your spot. Only 15 spots available for August 2016.

Follow me on Instagram as I cover more business tips as I discover them using Instagram Stories.

 

 

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How to Leverage Social Media During the Super Bowl Game

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I just sent out a tweet to join in on the Super Bowl action. There are hashtags going around so that is enough to get my attention. Full disclosure alert: I have never ever watched a Super Bowl Game. Not one, but I am making it a point that I do not miss out on this much attention.

Thabi Nyoni SuperBowl 50

As an online business owner, I have to pay attention to this live event. Did you know that the average cost of a commercial that has a spot during the Super Bowl 50 game has paid approximately $5,000,000.00 – repeat after me: FIVE MILLION DOLLARS. They have hired the best of the best to create their ad campaigns and maximize that $5,000,000.00 budget. Facts on the table, I do not have a $5,000,000.00 advertising budget, but what I can leverage is the power of Social Media to participate and engage with Super Bowl Fans.

Social Media Platform + Wifi Connection = Free Targeted Audience at your fingertips. What you do with this Gold mine is what will count.

Let me show you how to use this Gold mine to convert to our bank account. Click here to get started.

There is going to be a lot of noise so the key is to stand out from the rest. Be different or be very entertaining with your meme. You never know, yours could be the one that gets shared over and over and over again. Make sure you brand it with either your website or logo.

Here is my strategy for tomorrow:

Thabi Nyoni SuperBowl 50 Hashtag

I have created my meme for my Social Media Platforms, that I am going to post strategically.  I have also curated the Hashtags I will use. I have also read up a bit, did a little research so that I can follow along in conversations and comment authentically in a non spammy kind of way.

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Multiple Instagram Account Login Now Possible

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Thabi Nyoni Instagram Multiple Accounts FunctionalityBreaking News!

That’s right in Social Media World, this is news worthy. What is it? You wonder.

It is one thing everyone with more than one Instagram account has been anxiously waiting for. Some got it earlier than others. Those are the android users! How could Instagram betray us iOS users and keep us waiting. You see as iOS users we are not used to waiting. We are used to getting first dibs. So we will just assume Instagram wanted to make sure we are not dissappointed and kept test and test for our ULTIMATE satisfaction.

Instagram has done it again. They have finally released this functionality to iOS users too. Ok, wait before you rush off and pull out your app to check it out, there is a little disclaimer: They are releasing it slowly in phases. I’m just excited because finally it is here and I can save time on Instagram.

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5 Reasons Why You Should Start Using Instagram Today

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5 Reasons to Start Using Intagram TodayInstagram has been around for since October 2010 and has over 500 MILLION active users each day. This is an ever growing platform that allows for one on one engagement with your idea customers.

Here are 5 reason’s why you should also be engaging more on your Instagram Account.

Before I begin here is a BONUS tip.

Remember there are 500 MILLION active users and other accounts your idea client can visit. Why must they knock first and wait for access. This turns customers away before they ever see what you are all about. Take a moment NOW and change your INSTAGRAM privacy settings to PUBLIC. Are your still uncomfortable about this?! Imagine you have a BRICK and Mo-tar store on a very popular street in your city, with a good amount of walk in traffic. In Montreal this would be a store on St. Catherine, Downtown. And your door is locked but there is a sign at the door that reads;

Knock first and wait to be granted access before you can walk into my store and spend your hard earned money.

This can be a turn off to some and therefore you are missing on sales opportunities.

Now that your PRIVACY settings are no longer in the way, it is time to AUDIT your existing account. Remove all those ever so adorable photos of your children or your pet. Those random food shots that you posted while you where on date night with bad lighting.

How many likes did you get for that picture? How much engagement did you get out of it? How man times did it result in someone saying oh that is so great let me also go and check out her website and oh wait look I can also join her mailing list.

If the picture is not relevant to your target customer that you want to attract to your account on Instagram – then I urge you once again DELETE it! You can always open a personal account and post all the pictures you like. But if it for business purposes you will have to complete this AUDIT.

Here  are the 5 Reason’s Why your Business should be on Instagram:

  1. Build Engagement with your Customers Online.

    Instagram does this very well. If your posts are well planned and posted with a hashtag strategy you will begin to attract your ideal audience who will want to engage with you.

  2. Attract new customers

    Each time you post a new photo, you are marketing your business for free on Instagram and attracting new customers to your product or service. Give value constantly to gain trust and attract our ideal customers.

  3. Ideal for a Product Launch

    Build awareness on your upcoming launch. It could be a pre-sale to your book release. Generating a buzz before the book becomes available , creating a demand before our official launch date. Once the product is ready announce the release date and offer an added bonus for purchasing the book in advance. It could be access to your closed Facebook Group or a discount coupon they can use to save on free shipping.

  4. Creates brand awareness for your product to a global market

    When more people know and like your product, this means that more people can purchase your product. The more the purchase the more revenue you are generating from free Instagram traffic.

  5. Engage with your customers

When your customers who buy and like your product use your custom hashtag to post pictures on Instagram and show how the are using your product with a caption about it, you can feature these posts on your account as customer testimonials and give the customer a shout out to show that you have noticed their post. This drives engagement and sales as customers like to see social proof that someone else has bought it too.

These are my Instagram tips. Visit our Shop Page to order our INSTAGRAM MAKEOVER™ MINI EBOOK to begin your Instagram journey.

Instagram Makeover Mini Ebook

 

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