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Instagram Steals Snapchat's Stories Feature As The Role Of The Photo Evolves
August 2, 2016
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Historically photographs have been used to save important memories, right?
But for many today, pictures are now used for talking. This photo evolution has been accelerated by Snapchat and its 150 million (+ growing) daily users.
Snapchat reports its usage at 10 billion photo/video views daily.
And that's exactly what Instagram wants.
Instagram has a much larger base than Snapchat with 300 million daily users, but it pales in comparison to usage with 'only' 95 million photo/video views daily.
So soon you'll be able to create Stories on Instagram, the same way you may already be doing on Snapchat.
The essence of Snapchat Stories is capturing moments (in 10 seconds or less) and sharing them in a slideshow type of way.
Snapchat Founder and CEO, Evan Spiegel, describes Stories success this way. "Photos are 'instant expressions.' People are using [multiple] photos to show how they feel in the moment."
Once Instagram Stories rolls out for you, you'll notice the look of the feature is similar to Snapchat.
Here is what the feed of Stories looks like on Snapchat:
Where you see names like "MarconiBologna" and "Chadd Callahan" means they have Stories ready for you to tap and view.
This is what Instagram's Stories will look like. As you see, the same Stories cue with friends' photos in circles:
But as weird as it is that Instagram blatantly ripped off Snapchat's main feature - it's less about the swipe and more about understanding where social communication is going.
The days of posting still photos to sit eternally on social platforms are fading.
The key is to start making visual communication fluid - ever changing liquid content, often disappearing, filled with contagious emotions.
It's not about where you are - it's about what it feels like to be there.
Whether it's capturing the awesomeness of live events, as if the sweat of the artist is dripping on you, like WKQX/Chicago routinely does:
Or offering virtual autograph sessions the way KRBE/Houston will often do:
(L to R; Tori Kelly, Charlie Puth)Social connectivity isn't the end in and of itself - meaning just having a social fan base isn't the goal. It's what that connectivity brings to everyone that matters.
Social communication is moving in a very fast, visually fluid direction.
- Work on showing (not telling) people who you are.
- Never stray from the guiding principles that have built your storied brand.
- The end in mind should always be about visually elevating the built in excitement over you and the station.
Seek to resonate - not just to be seen.
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