How Instagram Stories ads work and how they appear in user feeds

Want to successfully showcase your brand on Instagram? Then Instagram Stories should be a part of your daily work. In our 'Storrito FAQ series' we'll explain everything you need to know about Instagram, Instagram Stories and Instagram Marketing.

Today: how do Instagram Stories ads work?

You've probably noticed them before-maybe you have swiped or clicked on them accidentally, or perhaps on purpose: Instagram Stories ads. This modern type of ad blends seamlessly into your Instagram Story feed.

In order not to disrupt the user experience, the ads are played between the stories of different users, but they are never the first thing that users see. In practice, this means that ads only appear when multiple stories are viewed in succession. The more stories that are viewed, the more ads that will be played.

How are the Stories ads integrated into user feeds?

The natural integration of the ads into the story feed is their biggest advantage. It makes them visually indistinguishable from organic content. Only a small note that says 'Sponsored' in the upper left corner under the profile name reveals that it is advertising content.

Due to the perfect integration of the ads, this format is very interesting for many companies. So, in addition to normal influencer marketing, story ads are a form of advertising that is very popular and growing among many companies. However, the user can skip the story ad at any time by swiping to the left.

How long can Stories ads be?

Companies can use both images and videos in the ads. Images have a maximum duration of 5 seconds, videos a maximum of 60 seconds. If this time is too short for an entire ad, carousels can help.

Carousels combine up to ten images or videos within a Stories ad, giving you a longer sequence to tell your story.

Can I include links within Stories ads?

In order to reach conversion goals, you can include links in your ads. Links can be used to direct users from Instagram to the app store or your own homepage.

In any case, make sure to choose an appropriate link, as this can have a strong impact on the conversion rate. Setting up Stories ads no longer needs a Facebook account, since Instagram lets businesses promote directly from the app.

Conclusion: Instagram Stories are the foundation of a good marketing strategy

Instagram Stories are becoming an increasingly important part of a good marketing strategy. To make it easier to work on Instagram Stories as a team, Storrito can help. You can design, edit and schedule your stories from the comfort of your computer. This way, everyone has access to and an overview of your Instagram Stories.