Still Sleeping on Stories? Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Be
Most creators think about TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts when it comes to growth. And it’s true: these platforms are incredible top-of-funnel tools. They’re built to get your content in front of strangers and help new people discover your brand.
But here’s the catch: reach doesn’t always equal conversion.
It’s one thing to get someone to watch a 20-second video. It’s another to get them to subscribe to your email list, buy your course, or register for your next workshop. That leap requires trust — and trust takes time.
This is where Instagram Stories shine.
First, the Basics
How often should you post Stories?
Every day, if you can. Stories are most powerful when they’re part of your daily rhythm — they’re how you stay top of mind with the people who’ve already chosen to follow you.
How many frames should you include?
A good sweet spot is 4–5 frames per day. That’s usually enough to tell a story and build connection without overwhelming your audience. But the truth is, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all rule — you’ll need to experiment and see what resonates best with your community.
The Power of Text-Based Stories
One of the most effective approaches I’ve tested — both for myself and with clients — is text-based Stories.
By this, I mean posting a paragraph of text on a blank background: storytelling, sharing knowledge, or offering insights in written form.
These kinds of Stories often double my reach. They’re simple, but they stop people in their tracks. Instead of quickly tapping past, people pause to read — which signals to Instagram that your content is engaging.
Sometimes, posting just one slide of text can massively boost your views (for a while, that strategy alone consistently doubled mine).
Other times, layering a short story or teaching point across 3–5 text slides builds momentum and creates a narrative people want to follow.
It’s also an incredible way to establish authority or deepen connection. Sharing in your own words — unpolished, direct, personal — builds intimacy in a way that polished graphics sometimes can’t.
The only problem? For a long time, people worried that if they posted more than one slide, their reach would tank. That’s where Adam Mosseri’s update comes in.
The Instagram Story Reach Fix
Recently, Instagram Head Adam Mosseri addressed a big concern around Stories. Creators had noticed that posting too many Stories in one day seemed to hurt their reach. Turns out, it was a bug.
Instagram has now fixed it. Posting multiple Stories in a day will no longer decrease your overall reach, especially on your first Story.
It’s still normal for some viewers to drop off the further they swipe, but posting volume won’t actively work against you anymore.
What this means for you: If you’ve been holding back on posting Stories because you were afraid of hurting your reach, you don’t have to anymore.
Testing the Strategy
One of my clients, Colette, put this into practice:
She started sharing simple, text-only Stories — a blank white background with short storytelling written directly on top.
Each one included a clear call-to-action driving people to her Substack.
The results? In just five days, her average Story views jumped from 150–300 to 2,000–3,000 views per Story. Even better, she saw a flood of new Substack subscribers, all directly from Instagram.
Why Instagram Stories Work
Stories are where you nurture. They give your audience quick, authentic glimpses into your world. Then, moving them over to Substack (or any email list) lets you go deeper — sharing longer stories, building trust, and showing sides of yourself that don’t always fit into Reels or TikTok.
And once someone’s on your email list, they’re far more likely to buy your book, sign up for your course, or join your coaching program.
Try It Yourself
If you want more conversions:
Use Reels and TikToks to grow.
Use Stories to nurture.
Use Substack (or email) to convert.
Try posting text-based Stories with clear calls-to-action. Pay attention to your views, clicks, and conversions. Over time, you’ll see how powerful Stories can be in moving people from curious followers to loyal customers.
Want to take this even further?
Inside Personal Brand Accelerator (PBA), we break down strategies like this every week — from how to structure your Instagram Stories, to how to turn views into subscribers, to building a personal brand that actually converts.
You don’t have to figure this all out alone. Join a community of creators testing, tweaking, and growing together.
Start your free trial today and see what PBA can do for your brand.
