Story

Definition

Stories are the daily-touch format on Instagram. They appear at the top of the feed and expire after 24 hours (unless saved as a Highlight). Best for behind-the-scenes, polls, questions and re-shares.

How to use it

Keep the tap-through rhythm quick — 3–7 seconds per Story. Use stickers (poll, quiz, questions) to earn DM replies, which the algorithm reads as strong signal.

Common mistakes

• Sequences of 15+ Stories in a row — completion rate drops off a cliff
• Text in the bottom 250 px where the reply bar covers it
• External links without a clear reason to tap