If you’re working at a nonprofit chorus, chances are you’re juggling a lot. Between managing programs, coordinating events, and keeping your community engaged, the pressure to stay on top of social media trends can be overwhelming. And let's be honest, Instagram can feel like a maze of features—Stories, Reels, Posts… which one do you use, and when?
It’s easy to fall behind or feel like you're missing something, especially when you're trying to make the most of every post. Maybe it's 2 PM on a Wednesday, and you've realized it's been days since you last shared something with your followers. Now you're scrambling to figure out what to post—and you're stuck deciding between Instagram Stories and Instagram Reels.
Here's the thing: both are powerful tools, but they serve different purposes. Understanding when to use each can save you time and help you make more of an impact. So, let's break down the differences between Instagram Stories and Instagram Reels, and help you decide when—and how—to use them for your choir’s social media strategy.
Instagram Stories are temporary posts that disappear after 24 hours. Unlike Instagram feed posts (whether they’re Reels or static images), Stories have an expiration date. Once the 24-hour countdown is over, your story is gone—unless you save it to your profile's Highlights. This is different from the posts on your main Instagram feed, which are permanent until you delete or hide them.
You can post multiple Instagram Stories in a single day. Followers can view them by tapping on your profile picture at the top of their Instagram feed (not to be confused with the main scrolling feed). The profile picture gets a colorful, purply-pink gradient ring around it when you have an active Story, drawing users’ attention to click and watch your content.
Each individual Story can be up to 60 seconds long, which means you can upload a minute-long video without having to break it up into smaller segments. You can also upload still images or graphics, which will stay visible for 5 seconds by default.
There are several ways to create Stories. You can upload content from your camera roll, or capture it in the moment directly within the Instagram app. To create a Story from your camera roll, tap the profile icon, swipe right, and choose the photos or videos you want to upload. If you’re feeling spontaneous, simply capture something using the in-app camera. Instagram makes it super easy to get your content up on the fly.
Instagram Stories come with a ton of features that can really elevate your content. The little smiley face sticker button opens up a range of possibilities, such as:
All of these features are part of what makes Instagram Stories unique compared to Reels, which we’ll dive into a little later.
Since Stories disappear after 24 hours, they naturally lend themselves to more fleeting, in-the-moment content. Your audience knows they have to catch it before it’s gone, which gives them an added incentive to tune in regularly. Here are a few content ideas for nonprofit choruses to get the most out of Stories:
Instagram Stories aren’t designed for evergreen content. If you’re looking to share something that needs to be viewed over a long period, you’ll want to post it in your feed (or as a Reel). Stories are perfect for short-term engagement, but once they expire, they’re gone—unless saved to Highlights.
Instagram Reels are short, shareable video clips that can be up to 90 seconds long. They’re similar to TikToks, with the main difference being that Reels have the potential to reach a wider audience through the Explore page. Reels can live on your profile indefinitely, making them a great tool for evergreen content that continues to attract new followers long after it’s posted.
Unlike Stories, which are temporary, Reels are designed for maximum engagement and discovery. The Reels you post can appear on your feed and on the Explore page, helping to expose your content to people who don’t yet follow you but may be interested in what you’re offering.
Reels are created directly in the Instagram app, so you’ll need to open the camera and select the "Reels" option. Here, you can either upload a pre-recorded video or capture one on the spot. Instagram provides you with various editing tools to cut, speed up, or add effects, music, and text. It’s all about creating engaging, highly sharable videos that can grab the attention of your target audience.
Just like Stories, Reels come with a suite of features that can make your content more engaging:
Reels are best for high-energy, engaging content that’s more polished than Stories but still authentic and entertaining. Here are some content ideas for nonprofit choruses:
Reels aren’t meant for quick, casual content—if you’re looking to share something in the moment or behind the scenes, that’s where Stories shine. Reels are better suited for carefully planned, edited, and polished content that has a greater chance of reaching a wider audience.
Now that you know the ins and outs of Instagram Stories and Instagram Reels, you’re ready to tackle these features with confidence! Both are powerful tools for your nonprofit choir’s social media strategy, but they serve different purposes. Stories are great for real-time, behind-the-scenes content, while Reels are perfect for polished, engaging videos with the potential for wider reach.
So, the next time you're scratching your head over which feature to use, just think about what you're trying to accomplish: need to post something fun and fleeting? Go with a Story. Want to make a bigger splash with a shareable video? Try a Reel. Both features can work together to build a dynamic, engaging presence on Instagram that highlights the unique energy of your choir.