Podcast Summary: "How To Get MORE IG Story Views | New Instagram Algorithm 2025 - 824"
Podcast Information:
- Title: Build Your Tribe | Grow Your Business with Social Media
- Host: Chalene Johnson
- Episode: How To Get MORE IG Story Views | New Instagram Algorithm 2025 - 824
- Release Date: March 6, 2025
1. Introduction to Instagram Stories Engagement
In this episode, Chalene Johnson delves deep into optimizing Instagram Stories to maximize views in light of the new 2025 Instagram algorithm. She emphasizes that while Instagram Stories are the most consumed content type on the platform, they primarily engage existing followers rather than attract new ones. This distinction is crucial for shaping strategies aimed at different business goals.
Chalene Johnson [00:30]: "Instagram Stories are the primary place where people go to consume content on Instagram. They are the most diverse form of content, allowing you to accomplish different goals on different days."
2. Understanding the Instagram Stories Algorithm
Chalene breaks down the Instagram Stories algorithm into a simple math equation, weighing positive and negative engagement factors to determine story visibility. Understanding these variables is key to strategically enhancing story performance.
Chalene Johnson [02:45]: "The Instagram stories algorithm considers likes, watch time, story clicks, engagement rates, and exits to decide whether your story gets pushed out to more people or buried down the queue."
3. Negative Engagement Factors: The Story View Killers
Chalene identifies five primary factors that negatively impact Instagram Story views, explaining how each contributes to reduced visibility.
a. Talking Head Stories
Long, unedited videos of a person talking directly to the camera tend to disengage viewers.
Chalene Johnson [09:15]: "Talking head stories are one of the hardest pieces of content for viewers to watch. They often lead to skips, tap forwards, and exits, which hurt your story views."
b. Long Video Stories
Stories exceeding 10 seconds each increase the likelihood of viewer drop-off.
Chalene Johnson [11:30]: "Videos longer than 10 seconds make it easier for viewers to get bored and disengage, leading to fewer views."
c. Using the Link Sticker
Adding link stickers results in approximately a 39% reduction in story views due to increased exits.
Chalene Johnson [14:05]: "Using the link sticker can lead to a significant decrease in views because it prompts viewers to exit Instagram, reducing overall engagement."
d. Sharing Feed Posts to Stories
Reposting feed content to stories does not contribute to story view growth and can actually lower them.
Chalene Johnson [16:58]: "Sharing feed posts to your stories will likely hurt your story views, as users don't engage with stories containing feed content the same way they do original story content."
e. Posting Multiple Stories in a Day
Flooding followers with numerous stories leads to diminished viewership for each individual story.
Chalene Johnson [21:50]: "Posting multiple stories a day inversely correlates with the number of views each story receives. Less is more when it comes to maintaining high engagement."
4. Neutral Engagement Factors
Some factors previously considered beneficial do not significantly impact story views under the new algorithm.
a. Watch Time
Unlike other platforms, Instagram Stories do not prioritize the total watch time.
Chalene Johnson [23:00]: "On Instagram stories, watch time doesn’t really matter as much as how people are interacting with your stories."
b. Engagement Stickers
Polls, sliders, and question stickers no longer significantly boost story views.
Chalene Johnson [23:17]: "Story stickers might not translate to additional views as effectively as they used to. They don't have the same weight in the algorithm as before."
5. Positive Engagement Factors
Chalene outlines three key engagement types that positively influence story visibility, based on insights from Instagram’s CEO and internal experiments.
a. Likes
Receiving likes on stories helps increase their visibility, although it may not make them the top-viewed content.
Chalene Johnson [25:40]: "Likes are the third most effective form of engagement for boosting story views. They show Instagram that your content is appreciated, leading to more visibility."
b. Clicks (Story Selection)
When users choose your story from the story queue, it signals high interest, enhancing visibility.
Chalene Johnson [27:00]: "Clicks, meaning when someone selects your story from the queue, are a strong positive engagement factor, indicating Instagram to prioritize your story."
c. Story Replies
Replies are the pinnacle of engagement, driving significant story visibility by fostering direct interactions.
Chalene Johnson [35:20]: "Story replies are the most powerful form of engagement. They indicate a deep level of interest and interaction, prompting Instagram to show your story to more people."
6. The STD Strategy for Maximizing Story Views
Chalene introduces the STD Strategy, a three-step approach designed to optimize Instagram Story views effectively.
a. Single Story (S)
Limit postings to one story per 24-hour period to maximize engagement per story.
Chalene Johnson [37:04]: "Posting just one story a day ensures that each story gets maximum views without overwhelming your audience."
b. Text Post (T)
Use stories rich in text to engage viewers without relying on videos that might cause disengagement.
Chalene Johnson [37:50]: "Text-heavy stories capture attention and encourage viewers to read and engage, keeping them interested without the risk of long video fatigue."
c. DM Automation (D)
Implement Direct Message automation to foster engagement without using link stickers.
Chalene Johnson [38:30]: "DM automation allows you to guide engaged viewers to take action without reducing your story views through link exits."
Chalene shares that applying the STD Strategy can lead to a 4x increase in story views, with some users experiencing up to 50x growth.
7. Bonus Tips: Leveraging Scheduling Tools
To maintain consistency and ease the implementation of the STD Strategy, Chalene recommends using scheduling tools like Metricool.
Chalene Johnson [40:00]: "Using a scheduling tool like Metricool ensures you consistently post your single, text-based story, maximizing your story views without daily manual effort."
She offers a discount code (BROCK) for a free month of Metricool Pro, emphasizing the importance of consistency in growth strategies.
8. Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Chalene wraps up by encouraging listeners to adopt the STD Strategy, avoid the five identified story view killers, and stay tuned for an exclusive upcoming interview with Instagram’s CEO. She underscores the importance of creating high-quality, engaging stories tailored to audience preferences to drive meaningful engagement and business growth on Instagram.
Chalene Johnson [42:00]: "Give the STD strategy a try, steer clear of the story view killers, and subscribe to Build Your Tribe for more insights, including our upcoming interview with Instagram’s CEO."
Key Takeaways:
- Avoid: Talking head stories, long videos, link stickers, sharing feed posts, and posting multiple stories daily.
- Focus On: Single, text-rich stories complemented by DM automation to foster engagement.
- Utilize Tools: Scheduling tools like Metricool to maintain consistency and effectiveness.
- Engagement is King: Prioritize likes, story clicks, and especially story replies to elevate story visibility.
By implementing these strategies, entrepreneurs and content creators can effectively navigate the evolving Instagram algorithm to grow their business and enhance their online presence.