Instagram has rapidly become a major platform for the sharing of photo and video content. As with most platforms, the size of photos and videos is an important factor for users who want to create content that looks great and stands out. The following article will discuss the size requirements for Instagram stories and the importance of getting this right.
1. Introduction to Instagram Stories
Instagram Stories are an innovative way to share snippets of your life with your friends and followers. Stories appear at the top of your feed and viewers can navigate through them by swiping left. Unlike with normal posts, Stories will disappear after 24 hours, giving you the freedom to share fun and spontaneous moments without worrying about it lasting forever.
Benefits of Instagram Stories
- They disappear after 24 hours, making it the perfect place for spontaneous content without any pressure to be perfect.
- You can save and archive content on your profile if you choose.
- You can reach and engage with a different audience who may not have seen your other posts.
- They can be used to build relationships with your followers.
Tips to Help Create Engaging Instagram Stories
- Focus on one idea per story: you want your viewers to stay interested and get a clear message.
- Be creative with content you share: try out different filters, stickers and polls to keep your viewers coming back for more.
- Engage with your audience: ask questions and respond to comments.
- Take advantage of tagging and hashtags: this can help you reach new audiences.
2. What Are the Photo Size Requirements for Instagram Stories?
When you want to post on Instagram Stories, there are two size requirements for images: portrait and square.
- Portrait images must be 1080 x 1920 pixels. This is the same aspect ratio used for posts – 4:5.
- Square images should be 1080 x 1080 pixels. This is the same aspect ratio used for posts – 1:1.
It’s important to make sure your photo content is within the specific size requirements of an Instagram Story. If you post content that is too small, it will look grainy and pixelated. If your content is too large, it will appear stretched or distorted.
It’s not a bad idea to use a photo-editing app to make sure your photos are in the right size dimensions before you post them. There are a lot of free editing apps that can help you adjust size, brighten colors, sharpen focus, and other basic photo setup.
3. Maximum Size Requirements for High-Quality Instagram Stories
Nothing captures an audience’s attention and reinforces a brand’s story like an eye-catching Instagram story. To ensure that stories look great across all devices, Instagram has strict maximum size requirements for photos and videos.
Photos: Maximum width 1080px, maximum height 1920px, maximum file size 30MB, aspect ratio of 9:16 recommended.
Videos: Maximum width of a video is 1080px, maximum frame rate is 30fps, maximum length of 15 seconds, maximum file size 4GB, aspect ratio of 9:16 recommended.
Bear in mind, the optimal size for images and videos can be different across different devices due to varying aspect ratios and pixel density. So, it is better to have images and videos of higher resolutions and compress them to get the right size. Here are some tips:
- Always double-check the requirements, just in case they change.
- Keep images with an aspect ratio of 9:16.
- Compress large images, especially if they are in PNG format – a good option is to save as JPEG.
4. Creating Your Photos to Fit the Instagram Stories Format
Instagram Stories lets you share moments from your day, even if it’s just what you’re up to during lunch. To make sure that your content looks great, you’ll want to follow a few basic rules for creating photos for Instagram Stories.
Crop for the 9:16 Ratio: Instagram Stories use a specific aspect ratio that is taller and narrower than the normal square format. Instagram Stories calls for a 9:16 ratio, so make sure to crop your photo so that it looks great when shared.
Use a Basic Background: If you’re looking to add text to your Story, you’ll want to use a basic background color or pattern behind your text. This makes it easier to read and ensures that your text and graphic elements don’t get lost in a busy photo.
Choose Balanced Colors: To make sure that your Instagram Stories design looks great, you should use balanced colors with a great deal of contrast. Choose contrasty colors, like yellow and blue, to bring out elements in your photos.
- Avoid using overly saturated colors
- Choose a range of hues and shades for your Story
- Keep your photos simple by sticking to a basic color palette
By following these simple tips, you can create photos that look great when shared on Instagram Stories. These tips will help you create a cohesive and dynamic design that will draw viewers in and engage them with your content.
5. Tips for Optimal Instagram Stories Content
Utilize Quality Visuals
The visuals used in Stories should be aesthetically pleasing and follow a cohesive layout. Engaging visuals are likely to garner more followers and viewers. High-quality images are more likely to grab attention and motivate viewers to engage. Aim to use High-Resolution photos and videos, including some boomerangs and GIFs, to further engage followers. Also, including some short videos are great for breaking up photos and adding more visual interest.
Use Humor and Creative Copy
Using witty captions and adding humor to your content can be a great way to make your Stories stand out. If a humorous approach isn’t the best fit, then make sure to keep your content clear and concise. It’s also important to utilize some good copywriting techniques, such as strong action words and phrases. Keep the messaging succinct and to the point about the content you are promoting.
Include Calls To Action
Including a Call-To-Action (CTA) in your stories is a great way to increase readership and engagement. Here are some CTA suggestions to help drive readers to other content:
- Click the link in bio
- Write a comment & tag 3 friends
- Share to your Story
- Follow us now
Make sure that the CTA is relevant to the content in the Story and written in an engaging way. This will help drive readers to take action.
In conclusion, it is evident that size is important when creating an Instagram story. Selecting the correct size to display your content in an eye-catching format is essential to the success of your story. Instagram stories are an effective way to engage with your followers and understanding the size requirements is a key aspect of getting the most out of your stories.
