036: How To Use Instagram Stories Quick Guide
Instagram Stories
My first impressions of Instagram Stories is that Instagram nailed it. Scrolling stories up top make it easy to see new stories and as Gary Vee noted, it was a brilliant UI move to inspire people to create content. I find it very convenient to either scroll through the main feeds as usual or glance up and browse the Stories or create your own. Below is more of a cheat sheet, quick off-the-head guide to get you started with Instagram Stories. Unlike Snapchat, Instagram Stories is very intuitive and easy to learn.
For more on Instagram Stories and benefits for podcasters and content creators, check out episode 49 of Mike Murphy Unplugged
Quick Tips
Navigation:
Swipe Left To Create Story
Pull Down To Add From Camera Roll
(Only photos or videos you took in past 24 hours)
App Tip: Hyperlapses and Boomerang app by Instagram will show up in Camera Roll Bin
Swipe Right Once for Home Screen
Swipe Right Twice for Direct Messages
Profile Tip:
When viewing someone’s profile if there is a colored circle around their avatar > click to view story.
Viewing Stories:
Send Message at bottom left will give you option to send a DM to person
Click once to go forward in story
Scroll Right to Advance to Next Person
View Your Own Story:
Click on your profile in far left of Story bar
Click to advance through story
Number at bottom tells you how many people have viewed your story
Swipe Up in bottom center to view who viewed your story
Scroll through your story to see who viewed (can click on profiles)
Download, Upload (share) or Delete any parts of your Story
Click Gear icon in upper left to Hide Story from certain people
Click Gear icon in upper left Turn off replies if you want
Create Story:
Stories expire in 24 hours
Flip camera bottom right (cannot flip while recording…yet)
Press Shutter Button (bottom center) once for photo
Press and Hold Shutter for up to 10-second video
Cancel To the Left of Shutter
Download/Save to Right of Shutter
Flash to left of Shutter
Add Text:
Click Aa to add text (only white for now)
Brush behind text to make it visible on light photos
When done typing, just drag on screen to get back to Story (not sure this is a good UX)
Brushes & Colors:
Brushes located next to text up top
3 styles of brushes (standard, brush pen, outlined/neon)
Change size of brush at bottom left next to color chips
Swipe left for more color chips
Press & Hold Color Chips for full color spectrum
No Erase, but you can undo
My name is Mike Murphy, I’m a one man band and podcaster.
Learn. Create. Move Forward.
