With the ever-growing number of Instagram stories, it can be challenging to know where you should start. We’ve compiled these creative Instagram story ideas for your feed so that your followers will always have something fresh and engaging on tap!

Why Instagram Stories are so important? 

The concept of Instagram Stories may not be new, as it was originally created by Snapchat and then copied by Instagram. However, on Instagram, the function has become extremely popular, making it a vital tool for both individuals as well as businesses. Instagram stories can drastically increase your visibility. 

When you publish a story on Instagram, your profile will immediately show at the top of the screen of your followers. Instagram ranks those accounts that users are more likely to engage with first on that list. As a result, if you use IG stories effectively by posting interesting stories on a regular basis, you’ll have a better chance of being seen.

The possibilities are endless with Stories. You can post different kinds of content and enhance your posts in a number of ways, thanks to the various stickers, text options, or filters that are available on Instagram! From photos, all the way up to short video clips can make for some creative and cute Instagram story ideas.

And the best part about stories is that they disappear after 24 hours, which means you can post guilt-free! You won’t have to worry anymore because posting too much content or clogging up users’ feeds with irrelevant updates will no longer be an issue.

10 Instagram story ideas to increase your reach and attract followers

1. Promote your new Instagram posts

When you put out something new on Instagram, it’s possible that it won’t show up on everyone’s feeds. As a result, the ideal approach to ensure as many people as feasible see your most recent Instagram post is with an interactive story. This approach allows you to connect with all of those followers who may have missed your latest post while also keeping people engaged enough that they’ll come back for more! All you have to do is share your newest post through a story on your page. You might also use stickers or text to conceal some parts of it in order to teas people’s interest and encourage them to go check out the entire thing on your page.

2. Use polls

The polls in Instagram stories allow you to ask your followers questions and get their input. This is an excellent way of engaging with them, as well as building up the page! You can easily conduct polls in your Instagram Story, and all you need to do is ask your audience a question with options they might enjoy choosing from! There are tons of ways that you can use this feature – some may be more fun and cutesy, while others can help you gain serious input from your followers about the content, service, or products you have on offer.

3. Countdowns

You can use Instagram Stories as a way of promoting your events. The countdown sticker is one great feature you have that will help with this! Using the countdown sticker, you can set the duration and let people know what event or occasion they should look forward to. You could use it to promote the release of a new product, upcoming sales, or any other events your followers might be interested in. Another excellent feature of the countdown sticker is that your followers may click it on your Story to set an alert for when the countdown is over to keep them in touch.

4. Share quotes

How many quotes have you seen on social media lately? I’m sure it’s a lot. Although they can be anything from motivational to funny, one thing is certain: people love sharing their favorite sayings! If this sounds like something that would interest your followers and help build up the community around your page, then consider sharing a story with some short inspirational phrases or witty thoughts. Especially when you combine those stories with popular and trending hashtags, you can easily increase your visibility and discoverability even further and even draw in new followers!

5. Share DMs from followers

Direct messages are a great way to show your engagement with your followers. As an influencer or a brand, you might get tons of positive feedback from followers about how much they love what it is that you offer. In this case, it can be a great and simple idea to take a screenshot of those and share them on your Instagram story. This is a fantastic approach to earn a positive testimonial for your page, product, or service in general. It provides social proof and motivates other followers to do the same.

6. Ask questions

The Instagram question sticker is a great way to engage your followers and get them involved in the conversation. You can use these questions as an opportunity for new content ideas or just ask whatever comes into mind! The possibilities are endless when using this interactive feature of Instagram. You might get really creative or use this feature to allow your followers to give you valuable feedback on your content or brand. You may also include some of your favorite replies to the question in your story, allowing followers to feel more involved in your Instagram page.

7. Post a shoppable story

Instagram’s shoppable Story stickers are a game-changer for entrepreneurs and businesses looking to sell their products. The feature allows users to sell their products directly on Instagram Stories without having them navigate away from the app, making it easier than ever before! There are some requirements, though. You need to have a business profile on Instagram to be able to use this feature, and only physical products can be sold through this Instagram sticker. Furthermore, the shoppable Story stickers aren’t available in all countries, which can be a significant limiting factor.

8. Organize Contests and Giveaways

To really boost engagement numbers, you can hold a giveaway or contest on your Instagram story for your followers to engage with them in new ways. You might offer something of value to one lucky winner. It could be a free trial of a service, samples from a product line, etcetera! You decide what would work best for your page but make sure there are some prizes available that your followers will find attractive getting more people involved. You may require your followers to take action in order to participate in the giveaway. Requiring people to share, comment, or like is one of the most popular options.

9. Promote your products

If you’re looking for a new way to promote your products, Instagram Stories are the perfect place. You can announce updates or release events with an interactive story that invites feedback from followers! That way, you can keep your followers updated or even show them some behind the scene shots of the production process. Stories also make great promotional tools because they lead people towards purchasing what’s being offered with the use of swipe-up links. 

10. Live videos

With the rise in popularity, Instagram has allowed users to broadcast themselves live. This provides a fantastic opportunity for those who want their audience involved and engaged with them while they are broadcasting! When you start your broadcasts, it will notify your followers so that no one misses out on what’s happening. You can even comment during these videos or ask questions if needed. After the live video is over, it will immediately go on your Instagram Story. It will be accessible for 24 hours before disappearing, just like any other Instagram Story does.

 Instagram stories vs reels vs posts: Which is better

Instagram has lots of different features that you can share your content with. You might think it’s hard to decide which is best, but we’re here to help! You can share your content as a Post, Story, or Reel. But which one will work best.

Story

Stories may be seen on your profile or in the main feed of your followers, in a little circle at the top. Each Story can be only 15 seconds long, but you can post multiple stories in a sequence. They’ll only appear on your site for 24 hours before disappearing. A Story is ideal for content that is more laid-back or casual. They can be an excellent way to give your fans a look behind the scenes.

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Another great example of a Story use case is when you want to share time-sensitive information, such as announcing a giveaway or counting down to the release of a new product since this type of content might appear out of place later on.

Reel

Reels are quite similar to TikTok’s videos, allowing for up to 60 seconds of video content. You can add music, on-screen text, and closed captions right within the app, just like on TikTok; this is perfect if you’re looking to get your work in front of a large audience who wants something engaging! Reels are a fantastic way to reach a new audience with your content. If you create Reel content, you may be able to attract new followers and even gain new consumers.

[Later]

Post

A Post is a video or photo that you post to your profile, which appears in the feeds of your followers. A Post may be used for pictures or videos under a minute long that you wish to have on your page permanently. Unlike with stories, comments and likes of your posts will be visible to your whole audience allowing your community to engage with each other as well. When someone goes through your profile, your post will be there for them to view and engage with. Posts are excellent when you want to connect with your current audience rather than target a new one.

The best way to grow your page and follower count on Instagram is by sharing content. And stories are a great tool for doing just that! You’ll be able to create an engaging experience while still getting all of those important updates out there in one go. The power of stories is vast and can be used in many ways. Instagram has made it easier than ever to engage your audience through this fun feature! If you feel overwhelmed and unsure what content to create, these Instagram Story ideas we presented should get you started. Make sure to give them a try and see which ones work best for your particular page.