How To Use Instagram Stories To Grow Your Travel Blog [Ep. 104]
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Want to learn how to use Instagram Stories to grow your blogging business?
Well, you’re in luck, as in this episode of The Profitable Travel Blogger Podcast, we’ll be going over how to use Instagram Stories to grow your travel blogging business!
Our guest for the episode is expert travel creator Christine Lozada, who has successfully used Instagram Stories to land collaborations, get the attention of brands, and connect with the right following. Today, she’ll be sharing her best tips so you can do the same.
By the end of this episode, you’ll understand:
- The goals Instagram Stories can help you reach
- Tips for choosing what to post to Instagram Stories
- How to increase your reach, engagement, and following
- Strategic ways to use Instagram Stories to get the attention of brands
- Tips for streamlining your IG Story content creation process
- And more!
In short, if you’re confused about why you should be using Instagram Stories and how to use them strategically for growth, you won’t want to miss this episode!
How To Use Instagram Stories To Grow [Podcast Episode Audio]
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Free Blogging Resources + IG Story Cheat Sheet
To help you really jumpstart your blogging success, I’ve added 55+ blogging resources like printables, video tutorials, and workbooks into a FREE resource library for travel bloggers.
This includes an Instagram Stories Cheat Sheet based on this episode.
These resources are meant to help you grow your traffic, community, and income faster and with less overwhelm!
➡️ Click here for the free Travel Blogger Resource Library.
See Success With Instagram Stories With These Helpful Tools:
Jasper AI (free trial included). If you’re a blogger feeling stuck on what to share on Instagram Stories or your other social media platforms, this premium AI writing tool can help you come up with ideas, create content, create captivating hooks, and more.
Later (free trial included). This is the social media scheduling tool I use to plan and schedule my content on Instagram, TikTok, and other social platforms.
How To Grow Your Blog With Instagram Stories [Episode Transcript]
The following is a summary of the podcast episode sharing how to use Instagram Stories to grow as a travel blogger. It is transcribed as best as possible, with paraphrasing included. For the full strategy on how to IG Stories to grow your blogging business, make sure to listen to the audio version of the podcast above.
As travel bloggers, one of the best free tools we have at our disposal is social media. And one particularly engaging form of social media is Instagram Stories.
According to Social Pilot, Instagram has over 2 billion monthly active users as of April 2024, with 70% of users watching Instagram Stories daily.
This—along with the top-of-the-feed placement and the ability to add links and interactive elements—makes Instagram Stories a powerful tool for connecting with and engaging your audience.
But, how can you strategically use Instagram Stories to grow your blogging business? That is exactly what we’ll be discussing in this episode!
Our guest is Christine Lozada—or @ChristineLozada on Instagram—who is the queen of social storytelling and one of my favorite travel creators to follow on the platform. I’m so excited for you to learn her expert tips.
🎉 Also, don’t forget to grab access to my FREE Travel Blogger Resource Library. Get access to 55+ resources that can help turn your blog into a profitable business—including an Instagram Stories Cheat Sheet based on today’s episode!
1) Thank you so much for taking the time to share your Instagram Story tips! To start, can you tell us more about yourself, your business, and how you got into Instagram?
Sure! I’m Christine Lozada, a travel creator and YouTuber. I also love flying drones and have a drone-focused YouTube channel.
Additionally, I host a podcast called Everyday Badassery, which shares travel stories and tips on becoming a better travel creator.
I got into Instagram in 2020, when a lot of people started joining the platform. It was an exciting time with many new features being introduced, so I decided to dive in.
2) Let’s talk about Instagram Stories specifically. What makes them so powerful for travel bloggers, and why should we use them?
Instagram Stories are one of the best ways to stay connected with your audience and remain relevant. Think of it like this: when you call an old friend, you realize you haven’t spoken in a while.
But if that friend is consistently popping up in your feed, you’re more likely to remember them.
Stories allow you to show up casually but on-brand, keeping you and your content top of mind for your audience. They’re quick to create compared to traditional blog posts or feed posts, making them powerful for maintaining visibility.
Another key here is that it doesn’t have to be polished. Stories can be raw and unfiltered, which is refreshing for your audience.
3) So we know that posting to Instagram Stories helps travel bloggers get seen. What other goals can they achieve with Instagram Stories?
There’s a lot! I see Instagram Stories as having three key functions.
First, they help you stay visible not just to your audience but also to potential partners and brands you might want to work with.
Second, they serve as a platform for creative practice, allowing you to refine your storytelling techniques.
And lastly, tagging brands and collaborators in your stories can open up opportunities for partnerships.
4) How do you decide what to post? Do you have any specific content planning strategies for Instagram Stories?
I think about content in three buckets.
First, I focus on brand loyalty, which means deepening relationships with my existing followers by consistently sharing content that aligns with my pillars—travel tips, drone footage, and authentic experiences.
Second, I use stories to share my content, not just as a dumping ground for links but by telling the story behind my posts.
Lastly, I think about growth, which involves tagging brands and collaborators to reach new audiences.
5) Is it more about starting with an end goal and working backward, or do you find inspiration first and then add a call to action?
It’s a bit of both. I often capture moments throughout the day, which gives me material to work with later.
I store these in a dedicated album on my phone labeled “Stories Today” or something similar. When I’m ready to post, I glance through the folder and pick out what fits the narrative I want to share that day.
6) Analytics are important too! What tips do you have for increasing reach, interactions, and followers through Instagram Stories?
First, consistency is key. Your analytics won’t skyrocket overnight, but over time, you’ll find what works for you and your audience.
To maximize reach, ensure your first story is engaging enough to encourage viewers to watch the next. Aim for a finish rate of around 70%, meaning if you post 10 stories, 7 should be watched all the way through.
For interactions, use polls, questions, or other interactive stickers to engage viewers.
And for followers, being social is crucial—tag relevant brands and collaborators, as their re-shares can expose you to new audiences.
7) Along with helping us grow your visibility and following, Instagram Stories can also be a powerful tool for working with brands. How have you used Instagram Stories to leverage brand partnerships?
You might laugh, but I’ll share an example involving pickleball, which has become a new passion of mine.
I started posting about my experiences, sharing photos and videos while tagging the brands I was using.
Consistently doing this opened doors for me—I ended up securing a hotel partnership and receiving gear worth thousands from brands.
Tagging these brands not only gets their attention but also shows genuine excitement about the products you’re using, which can lead to collaboration opportunities.
8) Along with brands, you regularly feature other creators in your Instagram Stories. Do you plan out these creator content collaborations, or does that just happen naturally?
It can be a mix. Sometimes, when I know I’ll be traveling with other creators, we’ll plan ahead to ensure everyone’s handles are shared.
But I also tag creators naturally when sharing content, and I encourage them to do the same. If they see my tag, they might choose to share it, helping both of us gain visibility.
9) One pain point that holds many creators back from posting to Instagram Stories is time. Do you have any tips or tools you use to streamline your process for planning, creating, or scheduling story content?
I try to keep my posting time minimal—around 10 to 15 minutes each day. I capture photos and videos throughout the day and drop them into a dedicated folder on my phone.
I also prefer to tell multiple stories at once instead of trickling them throughout the day.
This way, my audience can engage with a complete narrative rather than scattered content. Having everything organized helps me post quickly and efficiently.
10) Can you share some common mistakes you see creators make with Instagram Stories?
One major mistake is overcomplicating things. Many creators think posting on stories needs to be perfect or take a lot of time. In reality, it should be quick and casual.
Another mistake is not showing up enough; followers want to see the real you, even when you’re not at your best.
Also, trickling out stories can hurt your engagement; it’s better to post them all at once.
Lastly, make sure your content stays on brand. Avoid posting random things that don’t align with your niche.
11) Thank you so much for sharing your Instagram Story tips! Before we sign off, can you let everyone know where they can find you?
- ChristineLozada.com (website)
- @ChristineLozada (Instagram)
- Everyday Badassery (Creator Podcast Series)
Thank you!
Alright, now I hope you enjoyed this episode. I hope you feel inspired and empowered to utilize the powers of Instagram Stories to grow your blogging business.
Don’t forget to grab access to my free travel blogging resource library. There are a ton of resources in there on growing your community and increasing your blogging profits—including an Instagram Story Cheat Sheet.
And of course, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes sharing these bite-sized strategies for bloggers who want to turn their blogs into profitable full-time businesses.
Happy blogging!
See Social Media Success With These Helpful Past Episodes:
How To Create Content That Sells & Converts On Social Media
How To Enjoy Social Media – Strategy Included
Why You Need A Drone & How It Can Help You Grow
How To Grow A YouTube Channel & Make Money
How To Start, Grow & Monetize A Successful Facebook Group
How To Use LinkedIn To Grow & Monetize Your Blog
How To Grow & Monetize On Instagram As A Blogger
How To Grow On Threads As A Blogger
How To Grow Your TikTok Account & Make Money
How To Become A Successful Travel Vlogger
Click here for all profitable blogging podcast episodes.
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