HOW TO BOOST YOUR STORIES REACH?
What to Do If Your Stories Reach Has Dropped, or How to Boost It 7-10 Times with Just One Story? (Results of Our Test)
Recently, we conducted a test (and if you are reading this text, you most likely participated in it). We were testing how reactions in Stories can boost Instagram Reach compared to other types of interactions (like Link Clicks, Watch-Through-Rate, Clicks on Stickers).
If a year ago we actively used Stickers in our clients’ Stories Strategy to boost Reach, starting in 2024, Stickers stopped affecting Reach as much as direct engagement – DMs through the message field at the bottom of your Stories.
So, if you feel that your Reach has dropped significantly, you can temporarily increase it 5-10 times by making people send you a reaction!
Here is our test:
We asked our followers to send a "+" or any emoji as a reply to this Story.
Result:
Our Story Reach grew from 1,800-2,000 (which is 5% of the total audience) to 14K on the first Story (x7). But the interesting thing is that only 301 followers actually sent us a "+" (or emoji). So the activity of only 301 followers boosted our Reach by 7 times!
Why?
Because most of them were followers who usually watch our Stories without any reaction or do not watch our Stories at all (the Story was shown to them because of its higher than usual Reach) – this small amount of interaction from less-loyal followers was so important that IG boosted the Reach significantly.
You will immediately see that this method works when you start receiving reactions to Message Requests (not the Primary Inbox). IG places DMs in Message Requests when they are from people who have not sent you anything before.
Here is what you need to do with this info:
Ask your followers to send you a reaction. But do not be too straightforward. Be strategic like we did – we said it’s a test of new mechanics (which was the truth, in fact). People love to be helpful when you ask for help (and that’s why we still believe in human beings).
Here are 10 possible ways to get reactions from your audience:
- Ask for their inputs: "We need your input on [XXXX]. React to this Story with 👎 or 👍 if you like/don’t like it."
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- Behind-the-Scenes Decision Making: "Help me make a decision! React to this Story if you think I should [enter anything, from price change to outfit pick]."
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- Story Collaboration: "Want to collab with us and be featured in our next Story? React to this Story and we will contact you!"
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- Giveaway: "We've put together a mystery box for one lucky follower/launched a giveaway with the prize of [XXXX]. React to this Story for a chance to win!" (The only rule to enter should be through a Story reaction.)
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- Intrigue (beloved by bloggers) or Mysterious Teaser: “Guys, you can't believe what just happened. I’m so happy/mad/upset/etc. Please send a reaction if you want me to share.” "Something exciting is happening soon... Can you guess what it is? React to this Story with your guess!"
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- Offer/Discount: “Send me your 🔥 if you want me to send [XXXX] discount code on [XXXX].”
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- Support Needed: Share some sad experiences (with your client, family member, or other company). Be as honest as possible. Tell what you feel and ask followers to send ❤️ to DM to support you. Your loyal followers and even random people are kind by default. All you need is to be honest and ASK.
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- Challenge: "We challenge you to [XXXX]! React to this Story if you're in, and we'll send you the details." This is a good way to collect reactions without cheating/manipulation if you have an interesting challenge idea.
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- Cheat (the favorite trick of ALL bloggers): “It looks like IG shadowbanned me. Please send a reaction if you see this message 🥲.” Another favorite way for bloggers to cheat and boost their Stories' Reach: Make a mistake in your Stories and let followers correct you. Trust us, people love correcting others! What mistakes would work? Any! From a funny typo in your Stories' text (like when we wrote “Our Ass Service” instead of “Our Ads Service”) to the wrong caption for a photo (for example, a photo of Kylie Jenner with the caption “Kendall Jenner”).
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- Reveal Sticker: This method is for lazy asses, as you do not need to reinvent the wheel. Simply use the sticker called Reveal. Instagram developed it because they know how important DMs (reactions) are to the current algorithm. Just make sure you have clickbait text on the sticker – offer them something they can't resist wanting to see.
But what will happen afterward?
Your next Stories that you post (please do not post before the Booster-Story disappears, so no earlier than 24 hours later) will get higher Reach than your average. Not as high as the Booster-Story, but at least 2-3 times more than your average before. Your main target will be to
KEEP THE INTEREST.
So do not kill it with selling/promotion Stories right away. Be helpful and valuable, so all those people who finally started seeing your Stories after the Booster-Story see that your Stories are, in fact, useful and stay with you longer.
Want us to manage your Instagram account and use other tricks we know?
Your next Stories that you post (please do not post before the Booster-Story disappears, so no earlier than 24 hours later) will get higher Reach than your average. Not as high as the Booster-Story, but at least 2-3 times more than your average before. Your main target will be to
KEEP THE INTEREST.
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