Instagram is testing direct response advertising opportunities for Stories.
Direct response ads are already available for content posted to the main feed of the Instagram app, but they are yet to be introduced to Stories.
This may change however, as Instagram is said to be testing direct response ads for Stories, which will enable marketers to encourage people to do things like install apps or sign up to websites.
The first company to trial the feature is e-payment device company SumUp, which recently posted an Instagram Story encouraging viewers to subscribe to its services by swiping up.
Although the photo-sharing platform has not given details about the new offering, Instagram has confirmed that it is testing direct response ads for Stories.
This week, Instagram also announced that it has introduced location and hashtag Stories to the app.
Now, when users go into the Explore tab on the app they will see a string of Stories that have been location tagged to where they currently are.
People will also be able to search for different locations within Explore to see a compilation of the ephemeral posts in that area, and Instagram also has a hashtag option which will show a selection of the stories that have been labelled with a specific hashtag.
If a person’s post is added to a larger Story, they will be able to see how many users have viewed their post.
Instagrammers will also be able to opt out of having their posts added to larger stories.
Instagram said: “From discovering new parts of your own city to jogging alongside the #fromwhereirun community all around the world, location and hashtag stories help you share these experiences as they unfold.”
Find out more about the new Stories here.