So many accounts focus on the grid and on reels (not a bad thing, we all know they are the platform's current favourite feature) but Instagram stories shouldn't be overlooked.

Here are 5 tips on making the most of them:

1 .They can be posted at any time They will be live for 24 hours (longer if you choose to add them to a highlight) so it doesn't matter what time of day you post them. The stories feed will always put new stories to the front, so post when it suits and they'll be shown to your most engaged audience (which leads on to tip 2...

2. They are shown to your most engaged audience first If you feel you're always seeing stories from the same accounts, that's because you are. The more you view a profiel's stories, the more instagram will show you their stories first. Stories are shown to a profile's most engaged and loyal audience. And this is why they are important. Use them to grow that audience and take them on your journey, make them feel like they are part of your business.

3. Experiment! Stories disappear and this means you can have fun with them. Don't panic about having polished content. Post spontaneously or test out different ideas. They will disappear after 24 hours, giving you the perfect opportunity to try different things with your audience.

4. Use the stickers

They are there for a reason. Tag other businesses. Use the location sticker, especially if you're a local business. Interactive stickers like "add yours" are a great way to reach new audiences through stories

5. Join in trends

There is an awareness day for everything, and there always seems to be a trend or event you can join in with. But you shouldn't do this on the grid, if it's just for the sake of it or to jump on a bandwagon. It can come across as shallow and likely won't resonate with your audience. However, you can use stories to have a bit of fun, show behind the scenes, join in with a fun trend or show support for a cause. Stories are perfect for this, because they are "in the moment" .

If you're struggling for ideas on what to share in stories, take a look at this Instagram post by clicking here. Have fun with stories, and get in touch if you'd like to know more about using them.