Stories

What are Stories?

Stories are ephemeral 24-hour posts shown in a horizontal bar at the top of the feed. The format is vertical (9:16), full screen, with 15 seconds per slide (or 60s in single video).

Unlike Reels, Stories serve to engage existing followers. Reach mostly comes from your base, and the algorithm decides who appears first in the bar based on historical interaction.

Available formats in 2026

• Simple photo/video
• Poll (2, 3 or 4 options)
• Question box
• Quiz (right answer)
• Emoji slider
• Countdown (event timer)
• Link sticker (clickable)
• Add Yours (response chain)
• Share music
• Highlights (saved to profile)

Metrics that matter

• Views: how many saw it
• Exit rate: percentage who leave at each slide
• Replies: DM responses
• Sticker interactions: votes, poll responses
• Link sticker clicks
• Taps forward: more than 70% = slide too long or uninteresting

Practical example

A bakery posts a sequence of 8 stories one day:

• Story 1: photo of the day → 4,200 views
• Story 2: behind the scenes → 4,000 views
• Story 3: poll "which flavor?" → 3,900 views, 1,800 votes
• Story 4: 14s video → 3,600 views, 45% retention
• Story 5: question box → 3,500 views, 87 questions
• Story 6: offer with link → 3,200 views, 240 clicks
• Story 7: photo → 2,900 views
• Story 8: closing → 2,700 views

Retention through the last (64%) is excellent. The poll and question box build connection, and the link sticker on story 6 converts because it comes after warming up.

Best practices

• Post between 5 and 10 stories per day (overly long sequences tank retention)
• Mix interactive formats every 2 or 3 slides
• Use highlights to preserve important content beyond 24h
• Respond to DMs from stories quickly (boosts priority in the bar)

Common mistakes

• Posting 30 stories in a row, all about selling
• Reusing Reels as stories without trimming duration
• Not using the link sticker on offers (loses direct conversion)
• Forgetting to use Add Yours on key dates