Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms for sharing engaging content and promoting your brand. Whether you’re looking to increase your following or connect with your audience more meaningfully, there are countless Instagram story ideas to help you achieve your goals.
By incorporating these engaging Instagram stories, you’ll be able to stand out from the crowd and keep your audience coming back for more.
In this blog, we will provide 40 Instagram story ideas that will help you increase engagement and connect with your audience. So, let’s dive in and explore these creative ideas.
1. Behind the Scenes
One of the best Instagram story ideas is showing your audience what goes on behind the scenes of your business or life. It helps to humanize your brand and build trust with your followers.
You can share photos or videos of your work process, brainstorming sessions, or your team’s daily routines. However, keep it authentic and share things your audience would be interested in.
A pro tip: Share things that have performed well on the platform. It can be a photo of your workspace or a video of your editing process.
2. Product Demo
Sharing product demos is a great way to show your product’s features and benefits. It shows how the product works and what it can do. You can also provide some tips and tricks on how to use it effectively.
If you have multiple products, create a series of demos to keep your audience well-engaged. You can also make an Instagram story series and share one story daily.
For Example: Share a video of how your product solves a problem or simplifies a task.
3. Polls and Questions
Instagram’s poll and question features are great for engaging your audience and gaining followers. You can ask questions about your content, products, or anything relevant to your niche. Polls are also used to conduct market research or gauge interest in a new product or service.
For Example: Ask your audience what they want to see more of on your Instagram account.
4. Trivia
Well, who doesn’t love games, right? Trivia games via stories are also a great way to educate your audience on your niche or industry in an engaging, fun way.
You can create a series of questions related to your products or services or use it as an opportunity to showcase your expertise. Ensure the questions are challenging but simple enough, and offer a prize for the winner.
Example: If you’re a fitness influencer, ask your audience to name five types of push-ups.
5. Challenges
Challenges are significant to encourage your audience to engage with your content and build a community around your brand. You can create a challenge related to your niche, like a fitness or cooking challenge, or something more general, like a photo-a-day challenge.
Use a relevant hashtag to track the entries and showcase the winners. You can also try out some interesting Instagram game ideas to create a unique challenge for your followers.
Example: Start a 30-day yoga challenge and share a video of each day’s pose.
6. Start a Countdown for Your Upcoming Product
Countdowns can be an effective way to generate excitement and anticipation for upcoming products or events. Businesses can create positive energy and engage their audience using the countdown sticker on Instagram stories.
It is a helpful idea for various occasions, such as product launches, meetings, holidays like Black Friday or New Year’s Eve, giveaways, business anniversaries, sales announcements, and more. Utilizing this feature will make your content more engaging and memorable.
Example: Start a countdown for the launch of your new beauty product.
7. Testimonials
Another exciting idea is sharing testimonials from happy customers or clients on your Instagram stories. It is a great way to build a more robust social proof identity and increase your brand’s credibility.
Share screenshots of DMs or emails from satisfied customers or even create a video testimonial. Ask for permission first and include a call-to-action for others to leave their reviews.
Example: Share a screenshot of a DM or email from a customer who loved your product or service.
8. Tutorials
Tutorials are a fantastic way to educate your audience on a skill or process related to your niche. You can create a step-by-step guide or share a video tutorial on how to do something.
However, keep it concise and easy to follow and offer tips and tricks to help your audience succeed.
Example: Share a video of how to make a healthy smoothie.
9. Day in the Life
Sharing a day in your life can help your audience connect with you more personally. You can share your morning routine, work process, or evening routine. Keep it exciting and share things that your audience would be interested in.
Example: If you own a company, you can share a “Day in the life of a CEO.”
10. Before and After Photo/Video
Share before and after photos or videos of your product, event, or anything related to your Instagram page. It is a beautiful way to show your progress or the results of your products or services.
This idea works particularly well for fitness, beauty, or home improvement niches. To make it effortless, you can schedule your Instagram stories that have been popular in the past and repost them. It will reshare some of the moments of your journey with your followers and is a great way to boost engagement on the platform.
Example: Share a before and after photo of your client’s transformation after using your fitness program.
11. Answer FAQs
You can use Instagram’s question feature to allow your audience to ask you anything they want. Such Instagram story ideas help you build a stronger connection with your followers and provide them with valuable insights.
Example: Host a Q&A session where you answer questions about your life, business, or industry.
12. Personal Story
Sharing your personal story or experience that your audience can relate to is another way of building a solid connection with your followers. It helps you build empathy with your followers and showcase your authenticity.
Example: Share a personal story about a challenge and how you overcame it.
13. Mini Blog Post
Now, this one is awesome for users who have a blog too. You can use Instagram’s text feature to share mini-blog posts or tips related to your niche. It helps you establish yourself as an authority in your industry.
Example: Share a post with tips on how to improve your photography skills.
14. Flash Sale
Are you going to have a flash sale soon? Well, then you will surely love this idea. You can use Instagram stories to announce a flash sale or promotion. It helps you drive sales and increase your revenue.
Example: Share a story with a coupon code or discount for your product or service.
15. Throwback
Another idea is to share a throwback photo or video from your past. It helps your audience to get to know you better and is a fun way to remember some incredible moments of your journey.
Example: Share a throwback photo of you as a child or an image from your first job.
16. Ask Me Anything
You can host an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session where your audience can ask you anything they want. It helps you build a stronger connection with your followers and provide them with valuable insights.
Example: Host an AMA session where you answer questions about your life, business, or industry.
17. Contests and Giveaways
Contests are one thing that Instagram’s user base has received well. You can use Instagram stories to announce fun contests and giveaways. It helps you increase your engagement rate and grow your following as well.
Example: Host a photo contest where your audience submits photos related to your niche, and the winner receives a prize.
18. Live Stream
Use Instagram’s live streaming feature to connect with your followers instantly. It helps build a stronger connection and is one of the fun Instagram story ideas you don’t need a lot of preparation for.
Example: Host a live Q&A session or a live workout.
19. Ask for Feedback
Feedback plays a considerable role in creating a brand’s trustworthy image. You can utilize Instagram stories and ask your audience for feedback on your content, products, or services. By doing this, you can provide better value to your followers.
Example: Ask your audience for feedback on your latest product or service by creating a poll with options for “Love it,” “Like it,” “Neutral,” and “Don’t like it.” In the following story, share the overall results and thank your audience for their input.
20. Share Your Favourites
You must provide a personal touch to your page to build loyal followership. To do this effectively, you can share your favorite products, books, or websites related to your niche.
It helps your audience discover new things about you or your brand and build trust with your followers.
Example: Share your favorite healthy snack by posting a photo or video of you enjoying it with a caption explaining why you like it and how it fits into your healthy lifestyle. Tag the brand or creator of the snack and use relevant hashtags to reach a larger audience.
21. Polls
Use Instagram’s poll feature to ask your audience questions about your niche. It is one of the best Instagram story ideas because by asking questions about your niche, you gain insights into your audience’s preferences, interests, and needs.
It helps you tailor your content and offerings to meet your audience’s expectations and increase engagement. In addition, you can use polls to get feedback on new product ideas, promotions, or marketing campaigns.
Example: Ask your audience which type of content they prefer to see more of on your Instagram page.
22. Share a Recipe
If you’re in the food or wellness niche, sharing a fun and unique recipe with your audience is among the great Instagram story ideas. It provides value to your followers and shows your expertise as well.
Example: Share a recipe for a healthy smoothie or a vegan dish.
23. Share a Tutorial
Sharing a useful tutorial related to your niche or product is helpful as it educates your followers. It also helps you establish yourself as a well-trusted authority in your industry.
Example: Share a tutorial on how to create a DIY home decor item.
24. Instagram Takeover
Collaborate with another influencer or brand and do an Instagram takeover. It will help you reach a new audience effortlessly.
Example: Collaborate with a makeup artist and do an Instagram takeover where they showcase their skills using your makeup products.
25. Behind the Scenes
Share behind-the-scenes footage or photos of your work or business. Showcase your process and give your followers a glimpse into making their favorite products or what goes on in your office. It is a fun way to share some moments with your followers personally.
Example: Share a behind-the-scenes photo of your office or team working on a project.
26. Share a Quote
Inspiration is something that everyone needs to utilize Instagram stories to share. You can share a motivational or inspiring quote related to your niche. Provide value to your followers and build engagement as well.
A pro tip is to schedule a few stories with inspirational quotes weekly. This way, your followers will have something to look forward to and even reshare each week. The best part is that you can be worry-free about posting these stories each week, as you can schedule Instagram stories for free with SocialBu.
Sounds incredible, right?
Example: Share a quote on self-love or self-improvement.
27. Share a Fun Fact
One of the unique Instagram story ideas is to share a fun fact related to your niche that your audience might find interesting. It provides value to your followers and creates engagement.
Example: Share a fun fact about the history of your industry.
28. Share a Product Review
Share a review of a product or service related to your niche. It helps you better establish your authority on the platform while providing value to your followers.
Example: Share a review of a new beauty product you’ve tried.
29. Share a Book Recommendation
Share a book recommendation related to your niche. Provide value to your followers and showcase your expertise.
Example: Share a book on personal finance or entrepreneurship.
30. Share a Travel Destination
Sharing a travel destination related to your niche is also one of the best Instagram story ideas. It helps your audience see your human side and connect to it. Usually, influencers use this idea to promote places they love to visit, like their favorite city’s famous place, a cute cafe they usually have coffee at, etc.
Example: Share a travel destination for outdoor adventures or wellness retreats.
31. Give a virtual tour of your workplace or studio
It is a great idea to give your audience an up-and-close look at where you work and create a more personal connection with your brand. For example, if you’re a fashion designer and have a studio. Start your Instagram Story by introducing yourself and your brand, then show the outside of your studio space.
Walking inside, you could showcase different areas of your studio, like your workstations, materials, sketches, and other exciting features or tools. Along the way, you could give insights into your creative process, explaining how you develop your designs, what inspires you, and any challenges you face.
Example: Give a 360 tour of your studio.
32. Host a Q&A
Hosting a Q&A session can be very valuable and beneficial for you, especially if you are on the platform to market your brand. You can answer all the necessary and frequently asked questions from your followers. It can help you build engagement and establish credibility.
Example: Host a Q&A session where you answer questions related to your industry or personal life.
33. Share a Personal Story
You can share a story about your journey or how you started your brand that your audience might find interesting or inspiring. It helps you build a connection with your followers and showcase your personality.
Example: Share a personal story about overcoming a challenge in your business or personal life.
34. Share a Throwback Song
Sharing a throwback song helps you connect with your audience personally. You can share the story behind why that song is meaningful to you. It might spark a conversation among your followers and create a sense of community.
Example: Share a throwback song that was popular when you first started your business or career.
35. Share a Pet Photo
Sharing a photo or video of your pet on your story can also help you humanize your brand or profile. Pets are always a popular topic; sharing a pet photo will show your followers a different side of your personality. You can also use this opportunity to share some fun facts or anecdotes about your pet.
Example: Share a photo of your dog or cat and ask your audience to share pictures of their pets.
36. Share a DIY Project
Another creative idea for an Instagram story is sharing a DIY project. It showcases your creativity and encourages your followers to share their DIY projects. You can also ask for suggestions if they want to see more of it in the future.
Example: Share a DIY project for creating a home office or a skincare recipe.
37. Share a Meme
Memes are ever-green on Instagram, so share memes on your story that your audience might find funny or relatable. Memes are a great way to inject humor into your content and engage your audience.
Sharing memes lets your followers see you have a good sense of humor and don’t always take yourself too seriously. Memes are also great for getting viral and reaching a wider audience.
Example: Share a meme related to the struggles of entrepreneurship or working from home.
38. Share a Podcast Recommendation
Podcasts have become increasingly popular, so share a podcast episode you found informative or engaging, or you can share a podcast series you think your followers might enjoy. By sharing valuable content, you build a trusting relationship with your audience.
Example: Share a podcast on personal growth or marketing strategies.
39. Share a Product Launch
Sharing a new product or service launch on your Instagram story can create excitement and buzz among your followers. Use features like countdown stickers to build anticipation or provide a sneak peek of the product to generate interest. Sharing a product launch will also help you promote the business and increase sales effectively.
Example: Share a new beauty product launch or a new online course.
40. Share a Collaboration
Announce a collaboration with another brand or influencer related to your niche. It helps you reach a new audience and expand your following. Sharing collaboration on your Instagram story promotes the partnership and increases visibility.
Collaboration allows you to create unique content that resonates with your followers and builds engagement. Additionally, it can help you establish valuable connections in your industry, leading to more opportunities in the future.
Example: Collaborate with a fashion brand and share a post featuring their products.
Remember to stay true to your brand and share authentic and valuable content with your followers.
Conclusion
In conclusion, incorporating these 40 Instagram story ideas into your content strategy can create engaging and dynamic stories that keep your followers coming back for more. Experiment with different formats, styles, and features to find what works best for your brand.
Also, use Socialbu to schedule Instagram stories, save time, and focus on other aspects of your business. With some creativity and the right tools, you’ll be well on your way to creating compelling Instagram stories to help you achieve your goals in 2024.
