Is Instagram Stories the "New" Snapchat?

Well, it's official. Instagram Stories launched today and even Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom admits it looks exactly like Snapchat.  

According to Instagram, this new feature allows you to share all the moments of your day, not just the ones you want to keep on your profile. As you share multiple photos and videos, they appear together in a slideshow format: your story.

When you launch Instagram, now you’ll see stories from people you follow in a bar at the top of your feed — from your friends to your favorite popular accounts. These videos and photos from all of your favorite accounts will disappear after 24 hours, and one plus side to Instagram Stories is that you don't have to worry about overposting. Instead, you can share as much as you want throughout the day. Of course, you'll find similar Snapchat features like the ability to add text and drawings to your photos. 

Instagram Stories will be rolling out globally over the next few weeks on iOS and Android. But what does this mean for your business' Instagram account moving forward? It's definitely a great tool for businesses to use who have already built a strong following on Instagram. Instead of creating a Snapchat account, Instagram Stories will allow businesses to embrace launching new and engaging content that is essentially meant to "disappear." Another positive is that you don't have to worry about spamming your followers from your business account. Your restaurant is launching a new summer menu, for instance, instead of posting 15 photos of new menu items, include these posts in your restaurant's Instagram Story. 

What are some ways your business or you personally plan to use Instagram Stories, or will you just stick to Snapchat? Comment below and let us know what you think!

Blog post written by Kristen Baughman, founder of Tabletop Media Group.