How to Use Instagram Story Templates (1/2)

Want your brand’s Instagram Stories to look clear, polished, and persistently stylish? Instagram Story templates are the best way to go.

The truth is, most of your favorite brands probably already use this strategy. It’s no doubt that they want to make their Story look good: half a billion users interact with Instagram Story every day. And 58% of people say their interest in a brand or product went up after watching it in Stories.

If you’re not utilizing this Insta feature to bring your stories to a higher level, you’re going to miss out.

In this post, we’ll show you the way to use Instagram Stories templates to wow your viewers. And showcase your greatest content.

Table of Contents

Why use Instagram Story templates?

Though Stories may disappear after 24 hours, they’re still going to reach tons of audiences, as we all know from those impressive Instagram Stories stats.

Plus, you can create “Highlights” on your Instagram profile and add Stories in there, that temporary content has the potential for a much longer shelf life.

Might as well make it look good, right?

However, there are tons of different reasons to make use of Instagram Story templates, too.

Look professional

Instagram Stories are famous for their charmingly unpolished execution. However, as with all social networks, the level of professionalism that users expect from brands is increasing.

Brands typically use Instagram Story templates to create a constant aesthetic on their Stories: one that’s related to their bigger visual identity or brand voice. The subtle (aesthetically pleasing) inclusions of branded fonts, colors, and logos all help to construct familiarity and belief with a brand.

Jewelry design studio Melanie Auld Jewelry uses templates to share editorial content on its Stories, like this profile of wellness and travel blogger Julianne Barbas. With photographs laid out artfully and stylish text, it’s nearly like a digital magazine feature. Profesh!

Save time (and money)

Because most content on Stories will disappear after 24 hours (unless you add them into your Highlights), it doesn’t make sense to professionally design every single shot or video.

But when you realize you’re going to be frequently posting certain kinds of content, designing a template to accompany each one will save you time (and the cost of hiring a pro) in the future.

Make non-visual content pop

Instagram is a visual platform where brands put money on high-quality photographs. However, not everybody on Instagram is promoting something visually exciting like optical illusion makeup or horrifying ‘80s living rooms.

The Washington Post gets people to swipe up on their information stories by utilizing eye-catching animated text and simple illustrative graphics. Even though it’s less flashy than glitter eyeshadow, it catches the attention in a Stories feed filled with bright visuals.

Or, maybe you simply need to post a Story that doesn’t essentially call for {a photograph}, such as an intro page for a slideshow of scrumptious treats, à la Minimalist Baker.

Stand out from the competitors

This one’s simple. Instagram Stories templates are a fast and easy method for your brand to differentiate itself as viewers are flipping via a sea of Stories.

A striking graphic design will (hopefully!) capture their attention and reinforce your brand’s style in the process. It’s also a way to show that you’ve spent time and thought into your content.

Brit and Co.’s stories are instantly recognizable when they show up in your feed: images and videos are always on a splashy backdrop that features brand-appropriate colors, shapes, and textures. They’re distinct from the standard look you get from crafting a Story straight in the Instagram app: definitely, attention capturing.

Stunning Instagram Stories templates

Here are some Instagram Stories templates that you should take a look at to get inspiration.

Select the format that most closely fits your purposes and customize it in Photoshop to match your brand—or just use it as is. The chances are endless!