Instagram Case Study: Story Views & Brand Deals
Finding a unique way to stand out and attract brand deals can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. The secret to getting noticed on Instagram often lies in a feature many creators overlook: Stories. This case study explores how consistent story views, strategic content planning, and a high completion rate can be transformative for influencers—regardless of follower count. By the end, you’ll see why stories hold so much promise, and how you can turn them into a profitable channel for authentic brand collaborations.
Instagram Story Views Case Study
Objectives
- Why do consistent, proportional Story Views matter for brand deals?
- Which key metrics—like Completion Rate (CR) and Click-Through Rate (CTR)—drive sponsor decisions?
- How can even nano-influencers turn Story Views into revenue?
- What best practices can optimize Stories, from content strategy to posting frequency?
Definitions
- Story Views: The number of unique accounts that watch your Stories, indicating audience reach and engagement.
- Completion Rate (CR): The percentage of viewers who watch every Story you post in a single sequence.
- Click-Through Rate (CTR): The percentage of viewers who tap a link or sticker within your Stories.
- Conversion Rate: The percentage of viewers who complete a desired action—like clicking a link or making a purchase—after seeing your Story.
The Process
- We began by focusing on Story Views, Completion Rate (CR), and the engagement patterns of nano-influencers.
- Using real Story data, we assessed average view counts, tracked CR, and noted the impact of consistent posting schedules on audience retention.
- We tested a service that evenly distributes boosted views across multiple active Stories, ensuring consistent performance rather than isolated spikes.
- By calculating potential revenue per Story View (ranging from $0.01 to $0.025), we demonstrated how even nano-influencers can achieve a positive ROI.
- Finally, we compared initial and post-boost engagement, revealing a clear link between strong Story metrics—Views, CR—and the likelihood of securing brand deals.
Instagram Stories Matter for Brand Deals
Instagram Stories aren’t just a feature; they’re a marketing opportunity for brands. In fact, ads on Instagram Stories account for 26.7% of the platform’s total ad revenue, a clear indicator of their effectiveness and reliability.
Experts expect ad spending on Stories to keep rising, with revenue growth outpacing in-feed ads.
DataReportal shows that Instagram’s advertising audience reach grew by 12.2% over the last year.
Here are some tangible results that Instagram Story advertisements offer, which brands and marketers find valuable for driving conversions:
The click-through rate (CTR) for Instagram Stories ranges between 0.33% and 0.54% making them more cost-effective than Reels.
58% of Instagram users report being more interested in a brand after seeing it in Stories, driving brands to actively seek creators with strong Story engagement.
Smaller brands see a 35% increase in reach when using Stories, highlighting the platform’s potential for connecting with niche audiences.
Perhaps the most impressive fact is that 50% of users have visited a website to make a purchase after seeing a product in Stories. With numbers like these, it’s no wonder brands are willing to invest heavily in appearing on Stories—whether through ads or collaborations.
Instagram Ad Reach Potential
Instagram Story Views for Brand Partnerships
When it comes to attracting brands, quality and authenticity often outweigh sheer numbers. Here’s a realistic breakdown of what brands look for in terms of Story Views:
For smaller accounts with around 1,000 followers, it’s ideal to aim for Story views close to 100% of your follower count. This demonstrates highly engaged followers, which is far more attractive than a large but inactive audience.
As your page grows it’s a good practice to aim for 20% or more viewership on your Stories since it is unrealistic to expect 100% viewership when the numbers get bigger.
These numbers are not set in stone. Steady growth over time in your Story analytics is just as important as these thresholds. Analytics showing consistent increases in engagement reflect long-term potential.
Aim for consistency. Brands and marketers pay close attention to the average viewership across all your Stories, not just one viral hit. For example, if you post five Stories and only one gets 10,000+ views while the rest sit at 500, this could hurt your credibility.
Our Instagram Story Views service makes sure to distribute the views among all the active stories at the time of delivery. This is the most optimal way of boosting your story views if you are aiming for possible partnerships and want to make your pitch as enticing as possible.
This leads us to the Completion Rate (CR)—the percentage of viewers who watch all your Stories from start to finish. The average monthly story completion rate on Instagram is 86.7% so that’s what you should be aiming for. To calculate your completion rate, use this formula:
Nano Influencers and Instagram Stories
One of the biggest misconceptions is that you need a massive following to secure a brand deal. In reality, nano-influencers (1,000–10,000 followers) account for 65.39% of all Instagram influencer accounts.
Brands recognize the value of nano-influencers because they deliver highly targeted and engaged audiences. This is especially true for smaller brands looking to grow cost-effectively.
A single Story from a nano-influencer can help these brands reach an entirely new audience without breaking their marketing budget.
If you’re a nano-influencer, your size is not a disadvantage. In fact, your ability to connect with your audience on a level that most bigger influencers can’t, makes you an appealing partner for brands. Your focus should be on engagement and consistency, as these are the most valuable metrics for landing a partnership.
Distribution of Instagram Influencers
Expected Revenue from Story Views
Let’s talk numbers. If you’re a nano-influencer, you can expect to earn anywhere from $10 to $100 per sponsored post, depending on your engagement and niche. This breaks down to an average of $0.01–$0.025 per Story View.
While this might seem like a modest amount, the profitability can be significant. For example, investing in boosting your Instagram Story Views is highly affordable, and even at the lowest payout, you can achieve a 500% return on investment.
Not only can you make a profit but since this is such a cost-effective way for brands to advertise, it can also serve as a gateway for future deals if you deliver satisfactory numbers.
Marketing is all about making connections and building trust. By positioning yourself as a creator with consistent engagement and excellent completion rates, you can make Instagram Stories a highly profitable venture.
Expected Influencer Earnings per Post
Average
Conversion Rate
Conclusion
Instagram Stories represent one of the most exciting opportunities for influencers of all sizes. With 26.7% of Instagram’s ad revenue coming from Stories, and growth expected to outpace in-feed ads, it’s clear that Stories are here to stay.
Even as a smaller creator, don’t be discouraged—65.39% of Instagram influencers are nano-influencers, proving that brands value engagement over follower count.
You can successfully attract brand deals by focusing on:
- Maintaining proportional Story Views,
- Demonstrating consistent engagement
- Showcasing a strong completion rate
Ultimately, this case study highlights the immense potential Instagram Stories hold for creators who are ready to leverage them. Start small, stay consistent, and let your Story Views do the talking!