When using Instagram Stories, what specific element maximizes visibility for users who don't actively follow the account?

When using Instagram Stories, strategically using relevant and popular hashtag stickers maximizes visibility for users who don't actively follow the account. Hashtag stickers allow your Stories to be discovered by users searching for content related to those hashtags, effectively extending your reach beyond your existing follower base. Unlike hashtags in captions, hashtag stickers are visually integrated into the Story itself, making them more prominent and likely to attract attention. For example, if a travel brand posts a Story about a beach vacation, using hashtag stickers like '#beachlife,' '#travelgram,' and '#vacation' can help the Story appear in searches for those terms, exposing it to a wider audience. Using a mix of broad and niche hashtags can further optimize discoverability. While location stickers also increase visibility, hashtag stickers directly target users interested in specific topics, making them more effective for reaching non-followers interested in your content.