Want to grow your email list using Instagram?
Wondering how to generate email leads with an Instagram story?
In this article, you’ll discover a step-by-step plan to drive traffic to your opt-in form using Instagram Stories.
How to Use Instagram Stories to Drive Traffic to an Opt-In Form by Adina Jipa on Social Media Examiner.
#1: Develop an Offer to Exchange for Opt-Ins
Instagram Stories has the power to help convert viewers into leads. Beautifully crafted visuals and real-time storytelling can act as efficient hooks, steering hyper-engaged users to your opt-in pages.
Before you can create your Stories content, you need to decide what your content offering will be to attract sign-ups. When users arrive on your mobile-optimized landing page, you need to give visitors a strong reason to lend you their email address.
Typical offerings include:
- Discount codes to products
- Free eBooks
- Free email courses
- Free product samples
- A chance to win something
#2: Create Instagram Stories Visuals to Promote Your Offer
Once you’ve decided what your content offering will be, you’re ready to create the landing page with an opt-in form. When that’s done, use the same fonts, colors, and elements to create your Instagram story visuals to promote the offer.
Create Images With Canva
To make your story content stand out, you need high-quality visuals. You can customize the look and feel of your images with design tools such as Easil, WordSwag, or Canva. Canva has a collection of 60,000+ templates with a multitude of formats.
To create a customized Instagram story template for free with Canva, click Find Templates on the left and search for “Instagram Your Story.” You then see a variety of pre-designed layouts sized for Instagram Stories (1080 x 1920 px, with an aspect ratio of 9:16).
Click one of the pre-designed layouts to open it in your Canva dashboard. From here, you can select a different layout if you want and modify the design (text, colors, fonts, etc.) as needed.
If you prefer to upload your own photo, click Uploads in the left sidebar, select Upload Your Own Images, and navigate to the image on your computer.
Click the Text tab to add pre-defined content. You can add other design elements such as illustrations or shapes from the Elements tab.
When you’re finished, click Download at the top of the page to download your design.
Create and Add Animated Text to Images With Adobe Spark
To create standout imagery, you can create polished graphics or add animated text to images with a tool like Adobe Spark or Hype Type (iOS and Android).
Adobe Spark is available for free for both desktop and mobile. To create an Instagram story design using Adobe Spark from desktop, log in and tap the + icon to create a new post.
Next, browse through the categories and pick the Instagram story template you want to use for your post.
After the template opens, click the Add button on the right-hand menu to add text and design elements, such as icons or your brand logo. Note that to use your own branding, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan, which start at $7.99/month.
Once you’ve customized your design, click Download to download it.
With the Adobe Spark Post mobile app (iOS and Android), you can add animated text effects to your images. Tap the + button and select an image from your camera roll. On the Choose Size screen, select Instagram Story and then tap Done.
Now double-tap on your image to add your text. Customize the font, color, and style as desired. When you’re happy with the design, the next step is to animate the text.
Tap Effects and then select a Text animation option. You’ll then see a preview of the effect on your image. Tap Done to save your changes.
When you’re finished with your design, tap Share at the top of the screen to post your video or download it to your phone. Note that you can remove the Adobe Spark logo by upgrading to a paid plan for $9.99/month.
#3: Optimize Story Content With CTA Links and Location Stickers
Once your story content design is done, you need to create your story post.
Include a CTA Link
To drive traffic to the email subscription campaign landing page for your offer, you can add a link to your mail opt-in form or simply invite your audience to tap the link in your bio. Note that the Instagram Stories Swipe Up feature works only if you have at least 10,000 followers.
To add a link when creating your story, tap the link icon at the top of the screen and then add the URL that leads to your sign-up page.
When you insert a CTA link in the bio section of your Instagram profile, clearly communicate why users should open it and what they’ll receive as a result. Don’t forget to add a readable URL, as opposed to a series of random characters.
You can also create daily/weekly posts promoting your campaign, with the same CTA.
Add Location and Hashtag Stickers
To get noticed by your target audience, take advantage of trending local or global topics and events.
You can create and post videos on local events, and use geolocation stickers or hashtag stickers in your stories. This tactic helps increase your reach, whether you’re a local business looking to reach nearby customers or a global brand targeting audiences in specific regions.
Explore and Location Stories are two features that allow people to discover your Stories content while searching for a particular location. Location searches might populate with a story icon in addition to regular Instagram posts. If users tap the story icon, they can see recent stories with that location sticker.
To add geotag-based digital stickers when creating a new Instagram story, tap the happy-face icon at the top of the screen.
Then choose the Location sticker from the tray, and on the next screen, select your location. Tap the sticker to customize its visual style and size. That’s it!
To increase visibility with a local audience and spark discussion, add at least three location-based hashtags in your story posts. For instance, if you’re a New York–based Instagram growth marketer hosting a meetup in New York, you might promote the event by using #meetupnewyork.
#4: Amplify Content Reach via Story Ads and Highlights
Instagram story ads and lead generation forms can help you amplify the reach of your Stories content to drive traffic to your offer and boost sign-ups. You can also boost the visibility of relevant Stories content by saving it to your profile as Highlights.
Target Buyer Personas With Instagram Story Ads
Instagram story ads are those that viewers see between stories. The ads can be in photo, video, and carousel formats, where you can add up to three pieces of media.
You can use Facebook Ads Manager, Creative Hub, or the API to start creating ads.
If you’re using Ads Manager, select Reach as your campaign objective.
Then choose your audience based on demographics, interests, and so on. If you opt for automatic placements, your ads will be shown via Instagram Stories by default. Or if you want to manually select where your ad will be shown, select Edit Placements and choose Stories.
After you set the budget and delivery preferences, set up your ad creative.
If you choose single-image ads, you can create as many as six ads with one image in each ad. Every ad resembles a regular Instagram story, but has a Sponsored tag on it. If you opt for video, make sure your video file is in the .MOV, .MP4, or .GIF format, and no longer than 15 seconds.
Add Lead Generation Forms to Ads
Lead forms are an effective way to gather email addresses or contact information that can be used in newsletter sign-ups. Lead ads supporting lead forms can be used across Facebook and Instagram.
To create an ad with a lead form, go to Ads Manager and select the Lead Generation objective for your campaign. Then click Continue.
Next, define your audience, placements, budget, and schedule. Under the Placements section, choose where you want your ads to appear.
After you choose your ad creative, scroll down to build your lead form. Keep in mind that on Instagram, you can only ask users for their email, full name, phone number, and gender. You can also add a link to your privacy policy or website.
Highlight Campaign-Related Stories Content
Instagram’s Highlights feature allows you to group stories with specific themes and permanently place them on your business profile. You can create highlights to group stories promoting your ongoing campaign.
For example, Amy Porterfield created a highlight for Freebies on her profile.
To create a new highlight album, go to your profile and tap the + sign below your username and bio. Then select the stories you want to add to the highlight album. When you’re done, tap Next.
On the next screen, choose a cover and enter a name for your album. Then tap Add. Check out this article for details on how to customize your Instagram story highlights cover.
What do you think? How do you leverage Instagram Stories for lead generation? Do you have any tips to add to this list? Let us know in the comments below!