Instagram Story Views are an important metric that many users care about deeply. After all, high view counts signal an engaged audience and help build social proof. So when your IG story views suddenly drop, it can be worrying and prompt the question – why are my Instagram Story Views getting low?

There are several potential reasons your IG story views may be decreasing. The good news is that in most cases, the issue can be identified and resolved with a few simple fixes. This article will explore the most common causes of declining Instagram story views and provide actionable tips to get your view counts back up.

What is Considered Low Instagram Story Views?

Before diving into reasons and solutions, let’s define what is considered “low” when it comes to Instagram story views. The range for low view counts can vary greatly based on the size of your account. For example, 

• For a personal account with 500 followers, 10 views could be low.
• For an influencer account with 50k followers, 500 views could be low.
• For a brand account with 500k followers, 5,000 views could be low.

However, it’s essential to be aware that low IG story views can be relative, and what’s considered low for one account may not be the same for another. As a general rule of thumb, if your story views have dropped by 50% or more compared to your typical count, that signals an issue worth investigating. The larger your follower count, the more variance you may see day to day. But a steep, prolonged decline, like Instagram story views suddenly dropped, likely points to a broader problem.

Reason 1: You Changed Your Instagram Story Posting Habits

You Changed Your Instagram Story Posting Habits, and as a result, you might notice low views or that your Instagram story views suddenly dropped. One of the simplest explanations for decreased Instagram story views is that you changed your posting habits. For example, if you used to post 10 stories per day and now you’re only posting 2, the total views will likely drop. Each story you post gives followers another chance to view your content.

Followers also develop expectations around your story posting frequency. If you suddenly stop posting as often, people may check your stories less regularly and be more likely to miss them. The reverse can happen too – if you overload followers with too many frequent stories, Instagram stories not working, and even not getting views is a risk as engagement can drop.

Solution:

Aim to maintain a relatively consistent daily story posting schedule. Analyze when your top-performing stories tend to be posted and try sticking to that. Posting between 5 to 10 stories per day is ideal for most accounts. Too few stories mean low views. Too many may overwhelm some followers, leading to Instagram views free as they skip through your content.

Reason 2: You Changed Story Content Types or Topics

You Changed Story Content Types or Topics, which can lead to low views and Instagram story views suddenly dropped. Along with posting frequency, the actual content and topics you share with stories can impact views.

For example, if you build your audience by sharing funny videos, and suddenly switch to promoting your new ebook every day, that mismatch will turn some viewers off. This sudden change can result in the Instagram story not getting views as it no longer aligns with your audience’s expectations.

Or if you typically post about fashion, but then share more personal life updates, followers seeking fashion inspiration may lose interest, causing a decline in how to increase story views on Instagram. Any major shift in the type of content you post can disrupt viewing patterns and cause views to drop if it’s misaligned with audience interests.

Solution:

Take time to analyze what story content and topics tend to perform best and resonate most with your audience. Find the right balance of giving followers more of what they love, while also introducing some variety. Gradually introduce new content types rather than doing it abruptly.

And promote new topics intelligently, explaining to your audience why you think they’ll find value in something new. This strategic approach can help you maintain or even increase your Instagram story views.

Reason 3: You Have an Instagram Shadowban 

You Have an Instagram Shadowban, which can lead to low views and Instagram story views down as your content becomes less visible. Getting “shadowbanned” on Instagram essentially means your content gets suppressed in feeds, stories, hashtags, and elsewhere by the algorithm.

There is no official confirmation from Instagram that shadowbanning exists. However, many users and social media experts report telltale signs like plummeting reach and views, and you may even find that you can’t see story views on Instagram as they dwindle.

Shadowbanning can happen if Instagram deems you violated its terms of service. Examples include using banned hashtags, participating in engagement pods, or other perceived manipulative behavior intended to boost your presence artificially. If you suspect an Instagram shadowban, there are steps to appeal it and recover your lost reach.

Solution:

Thoroughly review Instagram’s terms of service and community guidelines. Ensure you haven’t engaged in any prohibited practices that may have triggered a shadowban, leading to low views. Then, appeal the ban by maintaining strictly compliant behavior for 1-2 weeks, limiting your posting, and avoiding banned hashtags.

You can also submit an Instagram support request asking for a manual review of your account status, which can help restore your IG story viewer numbers.

Reason 4: You Use Problematic Hashtags

Using banned or spammy hashtags in your stories can also suppress their visibility in hashtag pages and story trays where users browse content. Instagram regularly updates its list of prohibited hashtags that are known to be associated with objectionable or dangerous content.

Hashtag stuffing your stories with excessive irrelevant tags is also considered spam behavior under Instagram’s guidelines. Even if you use “safe” generic hashtags, overloading your story captions with them can backfire by tripping spam filters.

Solution:

Review hashtags you commonly use and check whether any are on Instagram’s current list of banned tags. Delete these from your saved hashtag lists. In general, only use a modest number of relevant, non-controversial hashtags in your stories – 5 to 10 maximum as a guideline. Prioritize quality over quantity for best results and use effective hashtag strategies for your IG stories.

Reason 5: Your Follower Growth Has Stalled

It stands to reason that if your follower count is stagnant or declining, your overall Instagram story views will decrease too. Each new follower you gain is a potential viewer for all your future stories. But if that influx of new viewers slows to a trickle, you can expect declining story views.

Anemic follower growth is usually tied to a drop in account visibility and discoverability on Instagram. The causes can include shifting interests among your target audience, inactive account management, algorithmic suppression, or strong competition from similar accounts.

Solution:

To reignite follower growth, post more Instagram Reels that have a strong reach in the Explore tab. Use all available story features like polls and questions. Hop on new trends and challenges with timely, creative posts. Collaborate with compatible influencers in your niche. And ensure you use relevant captions and hashtags that connect with your audience.

You can also Read: The Best Instagram Reel Length to Increase IG Reel Likes & Views

Reason 6: Issues With Instagram Algorithm and App

Like any software platform, Instagram has its bugs and glitches. Sometimes app updates introduce new algorithm issues or problems with visibility. System failures can also cause temporary outages impacting views. For example, stories may not load and viewers can’t see them.

If you notice an unusual single-day drop across all stories, an Instagram technical issue could be the cause. You may be able to confirm this if you see similar reports from others within a short timeframe.

However, most Instagram issues get resolved relatively quickly, so prolonged view count declines typically have other root causes. Still, app bugs are worth considering if views instantly plummet and then return to normal levels.

Solution:

If you experience an isolated, severe single-day drop in Instagram story views, it may just be a temporary app or algorithm problem. Check third-party sites to look for other user reports about Instagram issues. Avoid reading too much into the one-day anomaly and continue monitoring your story performance over the next several days.

Reason 7: Your Audience’s Interests Have Shifted

As an influencer or brand, staying atop the ever-changing interests of your target audience is crucial. What was hot and trendy 6 months ago may have faded in popularity among your followers.

For example, if you built your audience by creating BookTok videos, but young viewers have now moved on to new platforms and genres, that shift can tank your views. Failing to adapt your content to align with your audience’s evolving interests will gradually erode engagement.

Solution:

Regularly analyze Instagram trends, competitor content, and your own analytics to identify shifts in your niche and viewers’ tastes. Stay active in your industry’s online communities to keep a pulse on emerging topics and platforms. Survey your audience directly and monitor comments to learn what they want to see more of from you.

Pro Tip: Learn the Best time to post Instagram Stories

Reason 8: Your Competitors Are Making Better Content

The Instagram influencer and creator space gets more competitive every day. If similar accounts in your niche are posting higher-quality, more compelling stories than yours, some of your audience may split their viewing time – or shift it entirely.

Take an honest inventory of your recent story content compared to competitors. Does their video production value far exceed yours? Are their captions wittier and more engaging? Do they take followers behind the scenes in a more intimate, authentic way? Any differentiator where they are outshining you can siphon away views.

Solution:

Regularly check competitor stories in your space for inspiration and insight into their success. Step up your production value with editing tools, better equipment, and more skillful content creation. Craft entertaining captions and utilize interactive story features. Show more of your personality and unique access to build a deeper connection and stand out.

Reason 9: Your Account Has Stale or Boring Content

One of the most common reasons any Instagram account can experience sagging views is stale, uninspiring content. It’s easy to get stuck in a creative rut, defaulting to the same static image format and topics over and over again. When every story and post starts to blur together, even your most loyal fans may lose interest.

Lackluster content also means you’re likely missing out on Instagram’s engagement-boosting algorithms. Instagram favors fresh, high-quality posts that spark reactions and shares with continually new visuals and perspectives.

Solution:

Take time to purposefully refresh your content strategy and social media calendar. Look for ways to showcase new angles of your brand or life. Follow and get inspired by different Instagram accounts outside your own niche. Brainstorm interactive content formats to truly engage viewers, like polls, AMAs, challenges, and live sessions.

Reason 10: Your Followers Have Become Less Active

A final potential factor in declining Instagram story views that depend less on your own content is having an overall less active follower base. Over time, some of the followers you’ve accumulated will naturally become less engaged on Instagram for various reasons.

Their own posting frequency drops, they spend less time in the app daily, or they grow busier with life and have less free time to scroll through Instagram Stories. Regardless of why, having a higher proportion of inactive followers means stories will get fewer views.

Solution:

The best way to combat less active followers dragging down your view count is to continually attract new, engaged followers. Aim to gain at least 5-10% new followers monthly. Post regularly, engage your audience, network with partners, and use relevant hashtags and locations to get found by fresh eyes. Stay on top of emerging trends and features that help expand your reach and impressions.

Also Read: How To get 1K followers on Instagram in 5 minutes?

Conclusion

In summary, there are a wide variety of potential factors that could cause your Instagram story view count to decrease, from shifts in posting habits to competition to stale content and more. The most important thing is to critically assess your own account’s situation and patterns to pinpoint what is likely causing your decline.

Once identified, you can create and execute a tailored solution to get your Instagram story views back on an upward growth trajectory. Just remain patient and consistent, as it may take some time to undo established issues and algorithm penalties. Stick with best practices, and your high-quality, engaging story content will once again attract the attention it deserves.

Now that you know why your Instagram story isn’t receiving many views, check out our blog post for 10 Strategies for Increasing Instagram Story Views in 2023 that you can implement immediately to start seeing an increase in your story’s exposure.

FAQs

1. Why are my Instagram story views so low all of a sudden? 

A sudden drop in Instagram story views could be due to changes in the algorithm, posting at different times, or content that’s not resonating as well lately. Keep optimizing your content and remain consistent.

2. How to increase story views on Instagram?

Ways to increase Instagram story views include creating engaging visual content, using interactive features like polls, posting consistently, engaging your audience, optimizing timing, promoting your account, and buying free reel views from buyautolikes.io where all organic views will be provided.

3. What does the order of Instagram story viewers mean?

The order of viewers on your Instagram story shows who has most recently watched your story, with engaged followers and friends near the top. Older views tend to be further down the list.

4. What affects Instagram story views?

Factors affecting Instagram story views are your follower count, post frequency, use of interactive features, timing, relevant content, and audience engagement. Stories that generate interest get more views.

5. Does Instagram refresh story views?

Yes, Instagram appears to refresh the list of story viewers periodically to show a more updated view of recent viewers. The exact refresh rate is not publicly known.

6. What is the algorithm for Instagram story views?

While Instagram has not revealed the exact story views algorithm, it involves factors like timeliness, user engagement, and interests. More views signal to Instagram that a story has appealing content.