{Remember|Keep in mind} the {phone book|telephone directory|phonebook}? It wasn't so long ago that when we {needed|required} {a service or product|a product or service}, we 'd {pick up|get} the {phone book|telephone directory|phonebook} and {search for|look for} {a business|a company|a service|an organisation} that {could|might} {help|assist} us.

In those days, {the businesses|business} that {succeeded|was successful|prospered} were the ones that had a name {starting|beginning} with "A". That's {because|since|due to the fact that} they would be at the top of the A-Z listings. {People|Individuals} would be {more likely|most likely} to call A-Plus {Plumbers|Plumbings|Plumbing technicians|Plumbing professionals} {rather than|instead of} W&W {Plumbing|Pipes} {Services|Solutions|Providers}, {for example|for instance}.

{But|However} that's all {changed|altered}. {Phone books|Telephone directory|Phonebook} are {a thing of the past|a distant memory}. Forget A-Z listings - {the businesses|business} that {succeed|are successful|prosper} today are the ones that top {social media|social networks} feeds.

To be {found|discovered}, you {need|require} to be on {social media|social networks}. And {one of|among} the most {powerful|effective} {social media|social networks} platforms is Instagram. It's the {only|just} {social media|social networks} platform that {almost|practically|nearly} {guarantees|ensures} your profile {a spot|an area} at the top of the feed. That's {because|since|due to the fact that} Instagram {has|has actually} {introduced|presented} {a feature|a function} called Stories.

Stories brings your {brand|brand name} to life. It {allows|enables|permits} you to share and {collate|collect|look at} {multiple|several|numerous} {photos|pictures|images} and videos; all the {moments|minutes} of your day that {combine|integrate} to {make up|comprise} your {unique|distinct|special} "story".

Videos are {invaluable|important|indispensable|vital} when it {comes to|concerns|pertains to} {building|developing|constructing} your {personal|individual} {brand|brand name}. Gary Vaynerchuk, {entrepreneur|business owner} and master of {social media|social networks}, {says|states} spontaneous videos are {an effective|an efficient|a reliable} {form|type|kind} of {documentation|paperwork|documents}. They {capture|catch|record} your {thoughts|ideas} as they {happen|occur|take place} and {help|assist} you {collate|collect} your {unique|distinct|special} {content|material} - {vital|important|crucial|essential} for any Influencer.

So, it's {no surprise|not a surprise} that Stories is {proving|showing} to be {a crucial|an essential|an important|a vital} brand-building tool for Influencers. {Recent|Current} {data|information} {shows|reveals} that while Facebook has the {highest|greatest} {number of|variety of} members in Australia, Instagram is the fastest-growing {social network|social media network|social media}. {Since|Because|Considering that|Given that} stories was {launched|introduced|released} in 2016, there's {also|likewise} been {a decline|a decrease} in Snapchat {usage|use} - {previously|formerly} the only {social media|social networks} platform that {allowed|enabled|permitted} users to {post|publish} videos "on the run".

What's more, Instagram is driven by hashtags. This {means|implies|indicates|suggests} it {acts like|imitates} {a search engine|an online search engine}, so you're {more likely|most likely} to {turn up|show up} in {search results|search results page|search engine result} when {someone|somebody} is looking online for {a business|a company|a service|an organisation} like yours. It {also|likewise} {uses|utilizes} {location|place|area} {data|information}, which is {great|fantastic|terrific|excellent} news if you're targeting an audience in {a specific|a particular} {area|location} - {for example|for instance}, if you are {a personal|an individual} {trainer|fitness instructor} in Brisbane.

There are {two|2} {ways|methods} you can {use|utilize} Instagram to your {advantage|benefit}:

1. As {a polished|a refined|a sleek} branding tool.

Stylised images and videos can {give|provide|offer} your {brand|brand name} a refined edge.

2. As a spontaneous capture tool.

Videos {allow|enable|permit} you to share the {moments|minutes} of your day as they {happen|occur|take place}. They {give|provide|offer} your audience {an unique|a distinct|a special} insight into who you are, what you do and how you can {help|assist} them. It {also|likewise} {shows|reveals} them that you're a "{real|genuine}" {person|individual}, not {simply|just|merely} a message.

{Negotiation|Settlement} {expert|professional|specialist} Tony Perzow is {a fantastic|a great|a wonderful} example of {someone|somebody} who {uses|utilizes} Instagram videos in {a powerful|an effective} {way|method}. His videos not {only|just} market his programs, they {inform|notify}, {entertain|captivate|amuse} and {educate|inform} his audience. Wholehearted Studio's Hayley Jenkin is another {entrepreneur|business owner} who {uses|utilizes} Instagram {exceptionally|extremely|remarkably|incredibly} well. Her images and videos are more stylised and {consciously|knowingly|purposely} crafted, {perfect|ideal|best} for {building|developing|constructing} her photography {business|company|service|organisation}' {sophisticated|advanced} {brand|brand name}.

{Be wary|Beware}, {however|nevertheless}, of {striving for|pursuing} {perfection|excellence}. {Entrepreneurs|Business owners} {often|frequently|typically} have {a fear|a worry} of appearing inauthentic or "{showy|flashy|snazzy}". {Social media|Social network} can be {a real|a genuine} {struggle|battle} for them, so they play it safe and {do nothing|not do anything}. {Consequently|As a result|Subsequently}, their {competitors|rivals} appear at the top of their audiences' {social media|social networks} feeds. They're the ones who make {an impact|an effect} and get the leads.

Be {fearless|courageous|brave}. To be an Influencer, you {must|should|need to} {embrace|accept|welcome} {social media|social networks}. {Don't|Do not} get hung up about appearing {perfect|ideal|best} - {people|individuals} {want to|wish to} see the {real|genuine} you. Videos can {give|provide|offer} you {enormous|huge|massive} cut through with your audience. {Better yet|Even better}, you {don't|do not} {need|require} to {spend|invest} {huge|big|substantial} {amounts|quantities} of {money|cash|loan} or have {a professional|an expert} recording studio. In this regard, Instagram {presents|provides} the {perfect|ideal|best} ally.