Instagram is a social media platform that allows your business to advertise its products in a variety of formats, from reels to carousels. And one such low-effort format that you can leverage is Instagram stories. They are easy to make, quick to publish, and quick to disappear. In such short-duration ads, you still need a stellar Call to action for Instagram stories to ensure your message reaches your audience and they respond accordingly. So, how do you do that? Let us dive in in detail!
Instagram Story Ads – Why is CTA Important?
Instagram stories are short, quick on the mind, and blink, and your brand vanishes. To turn your viewers from being passive consumers to active members of your audience, you need a way to lock them in. This can be anything from making them sign up for your newsletter, hitting follow on your profile, and so on.,
But how do you take them from an ad creative to your newsletter? Where is the bridge between these two? This is where a CTA comes in!
A Good CTA lets your users know the value of becoming a part of your community and gently encourages them to do so. It drives conversions and establishes a relationship between you and your audience. And from a numbers point of view, a CTA can help you find out how effective your ads were and how likely they are to convert your viewers.
So, having a CTA in your Instagram story is non-negotiable, to say the least.
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Instagram Story CTA vs Instagram Other Formats CTAs:
If you have placed ads on Instagram, then you are aware of the different formats available for you to choose from. For example, you have Reels Ads, Carousel Ads, Single Image ads, Explore ads, and so on.,
All these formats possess a CTA too, so how are Instagram story CTAs different from them? Why the narrow focus on Instagram stories?
Simple! It is because of its fleeting nature.
Your average Instagram Reels Ads can be up to 90 seconds long, and viewers have to consciously try to swipe to move on to the next reel. If they don’t swipe, your ad could run on a loop indefinitely.
But an average Instagram story is only around 15 seconds long. Although you can split your ad and bring it in consecutive 15-second stories, the effect is disrupted. So, you have 15 seconds to engage your audience, or your story gets moved and you lose your viewer.
Thus, your Instagram story CTA has to work extra hard and charm your target users in a few seconds, whereas other ad formats get a slightly higher attention span.
Why Instagram Story Ads In That Case?
We hear you wondering why you should bother with Instagram stories when it is this hard to convert an audience.
But let us assure you, it is absolutely worth it!
Even with all of its obstacles, Instagram stories come with their own set of advantages that cannot be overlooked. Such as:
- Instagram users mostly prefer mobiles. And stories are extremely compatible with mobile devices, making them a perfect fit for a mobile-first strategy.
- They are full-screen and offer a captivating experience, and they are more engaging than other ad formats.
- Instagram stories come with a lot of interactive features such as polls, stickers, swipe-up features, and so on. Thus, making stories feel like a two-way conversation between you and your user.
Taking these points under consideration, it is a good idea to sprinkle Instagram stories in your content strategy from time to time.
Coming To Instagram Story CTAs..
Now that we know why Instagram stories are important and how engaging its CTAs should be, it is time. The next step is to know how to write a CTA that will convert your story viewers. And here’s how:
1. Place CTA within safe zones
Instagram stories have their own set of safe zones. Any important elements placed outside these safe zones might get cropped when users view the content on some devices.
And since your Call to Action for Instagram stories is the link stickers, its placement is entirely dependent on your preference. In such cases, if you place the sticker anywhere outside the safe zones, you risk losing your CTA.
To avoid this, educate yourself on where the safe zones are and make sure to place your CTA within the recommended area.
2. Provide Incentives
Since Instagram stories are short in span, using elements that will get you a few extra seconds of attention is always welcome. And this is where Incentives come into play.
Rename your links in the stickers to something like “Get $5 off” to incentivize your user to click on the link. But remember to keep the CTA short and sweet. Nobody has time to read an essay, and using one is not going to help you.
Check out the screenshots above to see how you can convert a link sticker into a CTA.
3. Place CTAs Intuitively
Instagram Stories allows you to have free rein over your CTA placement. You can even place it under your logo for all Instagram cares. But should you do it?
No!
Your CTA should be placed where it will receive maximum visibility and attention. This can be anywhere, like in the middle of your creative or at the bottom. But make sure to place them in a clutter-free space so as not to divide your user’s attention between two contrasting elements.
4. Write Action-Oriented CTAs
At the end of the day, CTAs are all about making people engage with them. To ensure that, your CTA text should match that intent. To write such CTAs, here are a few tips that you need to keep in mind:
- Start with a strong action word such as Shop, Buy etc.,
- Try to induce an emotion with your CTA such as FOMO, Enthusiasm, Excitement, and so on.,
- Since most stories are mobile-centric, you can also pick CTAs that are relevant to phones. For example, you can use a “Call now” CTA, which will work less efficiently in the case of laptops.
- Experiment with different CTAs to find ones that resonate with your audience.
- A lot of users view the headline first, then head straight to the CTAs. So, make sure your CTAs make sense with the headline of your ad.
If you are having trouble writing a Call to action for Instagram stories, then this free CTA generator can come in handy for you. All you have to do is enter basic details about your business, and you can get your CTA generated in a matter of seconds.
Examples Of Instagram Story CTAs
We saw what makes a good Call to action for Instagram stories. Now, to put that into perspective, let us see what kind of CTAs you can use for your Instagram stories:
- Join the journey!
- Avail the offer!
- Tap for exclusive access!
- Download a free PDF.
- Book Consultation
- Find your X
- Become a member
- Get Quote
- Sign me up!
- Get the plan!
Final Thoughts
Writing a CTA for any kind of posts or ads is a tough process. Because an effective CTA can take your post from normal to a lead-generating machine. But on the other hand, having a poor CTA can effectively discourage your users from taking that final step. Therefore, taking care when choosing your CTA is essential.
Another crucial aspect of a post that plays a major role in converting your audience is the creative itself. But unlike CTAs, making a great ad design comes with a lot of variables in play. From choosing high-quality images to writing a good ad copy, an ad has many elements that have to work in harmony.
But thankfully, with Predis AI, you can create such amazing creatives without having to experiment. Our AI generative capabilities and library of templates allow you to create the perfect ad and social media posts within a matter of minutes.
So, sign up today to get your free account and get started!
FAQ:
To add a Call to Action for an Instagram story, you can choose the link sticker from the pull-up menu and rename it. You can add your CTA text as the name for the link.
Interactive CTA, such as polls, quizzes, and link stickers that start with a clear action verb, such as “Shop now” or “Get offer”, work best in Instagram stories.
Certain metrics, such as sticker taps, link clicks, exits, and replies, can give you an understanding of how effective your CTAs are.
