How to Use Instagram Stories to Create a Feeling of Urgency

If you want to turn your followers into actual buyers without being pushy, creating a feeling of urgency is an effective way to do so. When you make your audience act quickly to take advantage of an offer or deal, your conversion rate will increase. If you offer an exclusive deal for short periods, it can create a feeling of the fear of missing out (FOMO) and make your audience rush it.

In this article, we'll provide you with actionable tips on using Instagram Stories to create a feeling of urgency.

What Are Instagram Stories?

Instagram stories refer to a feed of photos or videos that last for 24 hours before disappearing from your profile. This isn't the same thing as your traditional feed. Stories are usually slideshows where each video or photo is uploaded to the feed as a new slide. The images appear for seven seconds, but videos can last up to 15 seconds. 

When an Instagram user publishes a news story, an orange or purple mark appears around their profile picture, signalling their followers to check out their new content. After the stories expire, the best slideshows can be saved as Story Highlights, which appear above the regular feed.

If Instagram users want to respond to your stories, they can use direct messages (DMs) or interactive elements, such as stickers and polls. To increase the engagement rate of your Instagram stories, you can use unique captions, overlays, custom overlays, and more. Therefore, stories are an exclusive feed where your most dedicated followers can engage with your content. 

Why Instagram Stories Are Good For Creating a Sense of Urgency

Instagram stories can be a great feature for building relationships with followers and encouraging them to take action, which can boost sales during a product launch. With Instagram stories lasting 24 hours, this can be an excellent tool for creating a sense of urgency, if done well. Whether you want to highlight a special offer, share some quick tips, or offer behind-the-scenes images, Instagram Stories can help you connect with your target audience in real-time.

Since Instagram stories are visible to your most dedicated followers, they can be a good choice for putting your brand in front of the right audience. According to recent Instagram statistics, 50% of users have visited a site after seeing it on Stories. On top of helping you create a feeling of urgency, Instagram stories can be an essential part of your content strategy. Let us highlight the reasons:

Appear Front and Centre on Followers' Feeds

After you post a story on the Instagram feed, you appear in the priority line of your followers’ feeds. The Stories feed is prominently displayed on the Instagram home screen. 

Therefore, if you consistently publish stories, you can easily remain in your customers’ minds. This can be a significant advantage for your brand in an ever-changing Instagram algorithm. You can increase the visibility of your content without worrying about its reach.

Showing the Human Side of Your Brand

In most cases, Instagram stories are informal and off-the-cuff, a significant break from the more sales-oriented and optimized posts appearing on the main feed. From a selfie of your team to a quick anecdote, Stories are a great place to show off your brand’s personality and voice.

Endless Opportunity for Engagement

Stickers are rich in features, making them ideal for brands that want to connect with their followers in a fun and engaging way. From the quizzes and poll, custom music and stickers, @mentions, and #Hashtags, so many features can increase your stories' engagement rate. With a bit of creativity, you can use stories to engage followers in creative ways.

How to Create a Sense of Urgency in Instagram Stories Marketing

If you don’t create a feeling of urgency, your Instagram followers will drag their feet in making a buying decision. Here are tips to develop a sense of urgency in Instagram marketing: 

Use Countdown Stickers

Countdown stickers can be an excellent tool for putting your business at the top of your followers' notification pages. You can, therefore, use them for different actions, from promoting your upcoming event to counting down for the forthcoming launch. They can be an effective tool for creating a sense of urgency and driving sales. Once you remind your followers that there are only a few days left until your product's launch or the discount's end, they are more likely to act quickly.

The countdown stickers can be added to new photos or ones captured from the photo library. This is then set as the background. To add to your Instagram story, tap the smiley button and add other elements like stickers and GIFs. You can access the menu at the top of your screen or by swiping up. When you publish a countdown on Instagram, it will be saved, and you can use it again.

Stock or Photo Countdown

Assume you're promoting a weight loss program and have only three spots left. You can let your followers know that the spots are running out. Doing that can help you create a feeling of urgency. You can easily make a simple graph of 4 squares to share on Instagram stories, and even cross them every day.

Posting Upcoming Products or Teasers

Stories can also be a good tool to tease your audience about the upcoming products in your pipeline. You may be excited about an upcoming collaboration or about to launch a new product. You can use Stories to spread the word. When you combine the countdown and the creativity sticker, you can add a sense of anticipation and urgency.

Promoting Time-sensitive Offers

Instagram stories allow you to promote your offers as on the regular feed. Stories lasting 24 hours can be an excellent choice for creating a feeling of urgency around limited deals or spreading the word about a current sale.

Tips For Using Instagram Stories For Creating a Feeling of Urgency

As you use Instagram stories to create a sense of urgency, there are other tips to help you improve your conversion. These include:

• Understand your audience. This can help you tailor your content to the specific needs of your audience, ensuring they find it valuable and engaging.
• Be consistent. To keep your brand in the minds of your followers, you should remain consistent with your posting.
• Encourage interactivity. Leverage features such as questions, polls, and quizzes to encourage active interaction among members.
• Stay authentic. While you might be tempted to post only polished content, social media users increasingly prefer authentic content over polished content.
• Continue to track, analyze, and improve. Observe what is working and use the insights to improve your strategy.

Conclusion

Urgency is a psychological trigger that encourages people to act fast. Overcome any existing doubt and avoid missing out. With features such as countdown timers, Instagram stories create a visual and emotional impact that encourages users to take action to avoid missing out. You can, therefore, use them to promote flash sales, limited-time deals, and more on stories. It should be part of your Instagram content marketing strategy.