[FAQ]

G’day all,

I manage the social media for a few local businesses here in Australia, and I’ve been trying to figure out if there’s a legitimate marketing use for Instagram Notes. I see it all the time with personal accounts, but I’m struggling to see how it fits into a professional content strategy.

Has anyone experimented with using Notes for business? I’m thinking of things like announcing a daily special for a cafe client or a flash discount code for a retail shop. My main concern is whether it’s actually effective. Do people pay attention to them, or would the effort be better spent on a Story?

Just trying to work out if it’s a genuinely useful tool for quick engagement or just a gimmick that’s best left for personal accounts.

[Jeff Bullas]

Questioning the business value of a new feature is exactly the right mindset.

Short Answer: Yes, businesses can use Notes effectively for quick, informal text-based messages like flash sales or content teasers, as long as you understand its limited visibility.

Think of this text-based format not as a replacement for Stories, but as a low-effort way to engage the most active segment of your community.

The most important thing to realise about Notes is that they are not a broadcast tool for all your followers. Your Note is only visible to two groups: followers that you also follow back, and your ‘Close Friends’ list. This makes it a tool for your inner circle, not for mass communication.

Because of its 24-hour lifespan and this limited audience, it’s perfect for the exact use cases you mentioned. Announcing a daily special or a limited-time discount code in a Note is a brilliant way to reward your most loyal community members. It’s not meant to replace a visually rich Story announcement, which reaches a broader audience. Instead, it’s a quick, low-effort nudge that creates a sense of insider info. Keep the tone conversational and the offer simple, and it can be a surprisingly effective tool for driving immediate action from your best customers.

Cheers,
Jeff

[Author]

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