How to Market on Instagram Stories to Book More Clients

With over 500 million daily active users, marketing on Instagram stories offers opportunities for businesses to boost visibility and drive engagement that you just can’t get on other platforms.

Their 24-hour lifespan creates urgency while providing features that make it super easy to engage your audience and lead them to be primed for purchase.

Despite being one of the most powerful tools on social media, Instagram Stories are often underutilized…

And as a business coach, I’ve seen countless product and service providers increase their sales and book more clients by simply using stories to strategically soft sell their offers.

So if you’re wanting to attract more clients and grow your revenue, then you MUST be integrating Instagram Stories into your marketing plan!

So, What Are the Key Benefits of Marketing on Instagram Stories?

• Increased Visibility: Stories appear at the top of the Instagram app, making them one of the first things users see.
• Engagement Tools: Features like polls, quizzes, and sliders encourage interaction.
• Authenticity: Stories allow you to showcase behind-the-scenes moments, making your brand more relatable.

Instagram Stories Tips for Business Owners

1. Use Story Highlights for Long-Term Visibility

While regular Stories disappear after 24 hours, Story Highlights give your content a permanent spot on your profile. You want to treat your highlights like a mini website.

Use them to:

• Showcase your services and their benefits.
• Highlight testimonials from satisfied clients.
• Provide a quick overview of your offers or pricing.

2. Leverage Polls and Questions for Engagement

Interactive features like polls and questions are perfect for engaging your audience while subtly promoting your services. As business owners, it’s important that we put the “social” back into social media. Making your corner of the internet fun & community focused is how you’re going to get your audience excited & eager to engage with your content vs. just another business shoving sales in their face.

Here’s how to do it:

• Use a poll to gauge interest in a specific service (e.g., “Would you be interested in a 1:1 coaching session?”).
• Share a question box to address common concerns about your offers (e.g., “What’s holding you back from investing in your business?”).
• Host a quick Q&A session to showcase your expertise and build trust with your audience.

💡 Pro Tip: Use responses from polls and questions to create follow-up content that addresses your audience’s needs.

3. Showcase Client Wins and Testimonials

Using Instagram for marketing your services is so powerful because it allows you to soft sell in a way that brings your audience to a level of understanding that what YOU have is what THEY need! One way to do that is with social proof. Social proof is a powerful marketing tool, and Instagram Stories are a great way to share it!

Anyone can run a business, but not everyone can show proof that they’re changing lives. Highlight client successes to show potential customers what’s possible when they work with you!

Here’s how:

• Share before-and-after transformations or screenshots of client results.
• Post video testimonials from happy clients.
• Use text overlays to highlight key quotes from written testimonials.

If you’re looking to learn more about how to use testimonials to book more clients when soft selling your services, I have just the article for you!

Here are 3 Instagram Stories Ideas for Small Businesses to Sell Your Services

Content Idea #1: The Driver’s Checklist

Purpose: Speak directly to results-oriented buyers.

✍🏼 Story Selling Flow:

• Lay out 3-5 clear benefits or results.
• Use numbers or data where possible.
• Close with, “Ready to make it happen?”

✨ Example for a Personal Trainer: “If you’ve got 3 months, I’ll help you: (1) Lose 10-15 lbs sustainably, (2) Build strength without spending hours in the gym, and (3) Gain confidence that spills into every part of your life. Let’s make it happen.”

✅ Why It Works: Your audience wants clear, measurable results. A concise list of tangible benefits speaks directly to their goals and decision-making process.

Content Idea #2: The Spontaneous Success Story

Purpose: Build FOMO and inspire action.

✍🏼 Story Selling Flow:

• Share a quick story about a recent client success.
• Highlight how fast the transformation happened.
• Invite them to imagine themselves achieving the same.

✨ Example for a Holistic Health Coach: “Last month, I helped Jess cut her stress levels in half with one small change: a daily 5-minute breath work routine. She said it saved her from burnout during her busiest season. What’s your biggest stressor right now?”

✅ Why It Works: A good portion of your target audience are driven by excitement and immediacy. A quick, relatable success story creates urgency and inspires them to act.

Content Idea #3: The Transformation Timeline

Purpose: Show tangible progress over time.

✍🏼 Story Selling Flow:

• Start with a “before” description.
• Walk them through milestones of transformation.
• End with the end result and what made it possible.

✨ Example for a Wedding Photographer: “Showcasing a text screenshot of your client telling you “we are so awkward in front of the camera, I hope we do okay” then show the amazing results on the story right after with how you helped them through their nerves.

✅ Why It Works: Analytical buyers want logical progression, while drivers want results. This format appeals to both by showing step-by-step progress and a clear outcome.

Now these are just 3 of the 15 FREE story selling prompts I have for you! If you want to get access to all 15 of the prompts so you can know exactly how to market your services using Instagram Stories, click below to get instant access & download your free guide now!

Bonus Tips for Maximizing Story Engagement

• Use Captions: Many users watch Stories without sound, so always include captions or text overlays if you’re posting a video of you talking.
• Incorporate Calls-to-Action (CTAs): Encourage viewers to take action (e.g., “Swipe up to book a call” or “DM me to learn more!”).
• Stay Consistent: Post Stories regularly to stay top-of-mind with your audience.
• Let Your Stories Expire One Day a Week: Sundays are the day I love doing this because most people take a social media break that day, but letting your stories expire is great for resetting your views.

Frequently Asked Questions About Instagram Stories Marketing

What’s the best time to post Instagram Stories?

The ideal time depends on your audience’s habits. Use Instagram Insights to find out when your followers are most active and schedule Stories accordingly.

How can I track the performance of my Stories?

Use Instagram’s analytics to monitor metrics like reach, impressions, and engagement. This will help you refine your strategy over time.

Do I need professional design skills to create engaging Stories?

Not at all! Apps like Canva and templates from Pinterest make it easy to design eye-catching Stories, even if you’re not a designer.

By implementing these strategies, you will be able to book more dream clients and get more sales by using stories to promote your offer on Instagram! Doing so will also allow you to connect with your audience on a deeper level! If you’re unfamiliar with what all you can do using Instagram stories, then I highly recommend checking out this article written by Instagram themselves to learn more!

Don’t forget, I’ve got a free Instagram story selling guide for you! Grab the 15 free plug & play selling prompts to promote your services online without feeling cringey or salesy!