If rising engagement is your aim, the correct Instagram Story concepts will get you there.
Instagram is the most-used social media platform for Gen Z (ages 16-26) and continues to quickly rise in recognition amongst all ages, now rating third with 50% of U.S. adults.
Plus, Instagram customers of all ages spend essentially the most, being twice as prone to spend over $1,000 in comparison with customers on different social media platforms.
Instagram Tales is a singular format that helps construct belief, attain new individuals, and nurture your current viewers. These are the highest content material concepts to develop proper now.
Bonus: Declare your free pack of 30 Instagram Story background templates created by Hootsuite’s skilled graphic designers. Simply customise them in Canva, and take your Story recreation to the subsequent degree right this moment.
11 Instagram Story concepts for inexperienced persons
1. Share a product picture
Video is nice for Instagram Tales, however a easy picture works wonders too. You don’t want a flowery photoshoot. Maintain up a product, snap a pic, identify it, and share.
Supply: @sacheu on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
- Share a latest shot from a photoshoot or product picture and add a hyperlink sticker.
- Bonus: Add a hyperlink sticker to buy that product in your web site.
2. Function a evaluate
Share buyer testimonials to your Instagram Story as a part of your Instagram advertising and marketing technique, both straight from a buyer’s Instagram feed submit or create your personal with a photograph, the shopper’s evaluate, and their identify (if relevant).
Supply: @getsproutsocial on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
- Pair a evaluate with a hyperlink to the product or one other name to motion.
3. Share new Reels and posts in a Story
Add a contact of thriller to your Instagram Story and direct individuals to your newest content material.
Personally, I discover a considerable enhance in likes, feedback, and shares once I share one in every of my Reels or Instagram posts to my Instagram Story.
It’s a fundamental concept, however extremely efficient at boosting engagement. Bonus tip: add trending music or a enjoyable sound to make it much more participating and vibey.
Add a contact of thriller to your Instagram Story and tease your newest submit or Reel, sort of like how individuals tease a full TikTok in Tales.
Supply: @vavadesignercakes on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
- Share new Reels, carousels, and posts to your Story and slap a “New Publish” sticker over prime so viewers need to faucet on it to see your full submit.
4. Share user-generated content material
Much like the above, repost content material the place your viewers mentions you to your Story — it’s a easy strategy to spotlight community-driven content material creation and nice social proof!
Supply: @lumierecafe_broadway on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
5. Ballot your viewers
Nobody can resist a one-tap, a number of alternative ballot sticker. Nobody!
It solely takes somebody a second to reply your ballot and every click on counts as engagement. Plus, it’s a terrific alternative to subtly drop product options to teach your viewers.
Supply: @thelocalspace on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
- Ask for suggestions out of your viewers about what merchandise they wish to see, or different precious insights.
- Use a ballot to teach your viewers by posting it alongside “Do you know” type questions along with your product options because the solutions.
6. Quiz your viewers
Quiz stickers are interactive and a enjoyable strategy to gamify your Instagram Tales.
Ask your viewers trivia questions on your model or merchandise, or have them try to guess what’s arising at your upcoming launch.
Supply: @wiseguytriviayyc on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
- Mega engagement Instagram Story concept: Hyperlink to a product web page, then use a quiz to ask questions. Enter those that bought the proper solutions into giveaways.
7. Rejoice milestones
Reached 50,000 Instagram followers? 100,000? Offered your a hundredth or 10,000th order? Thank your viewers with a fast Instagram Story to commemorate the event and specific your gratitude.
Supply: @trexorobotics on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
- Host a celebration double whammy by having a employees social gathering. That approach each your workers and viewers really feel appreciated.
8. Use hashtags
Identical to hashtags on posts and Reels, Instagram Story hashtags are searchable and will help increase attain and model consciousness.
Supply: @aircanada on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
- For those who’re posting about an occasion, remember to use that occasion’s hashtag to be added to the content material individuals are discovering for it.
- Encourage your viewers to share UGC content material utilizing a particular hashtag to make it simple so that you can discover.
9. Function a buyer
Begin a weekly or month-to-month sequence to spotlight your V.I.P. prospects, or as Tourism Kelowna does right here, members of their enterprise group. It’s an effective way to share your values with out being self-promotional.
Supply: @tourismkelowna on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
10. Ask for suggestions
Use query stickers, polls, and even ask individuals to message you to assemble opinions. The data you collect might assist make merchandising selections, determine upcoming developments, or crowdsource new product concepts.
Supply: @designmehair on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
- Undecided what to ask? Begin with asking for product evaluations or your viewers’s opinion on present developments, then department out into particular questions designed to get prospects concerned in your inventive course of.
- Save the Story as a spotlight as a digital “suggestion field” individuals can use anytime.
11. Use location tags
Alongside along with your Story’s content material, the Instagram algorithm makes use of location tags to focus on who it thinks shall be enthusiastic about your content material to develop attain.
Individuals may search Insta posts and IG Tales by location tag. Tags might be cities, companies, public areas like parks, and extra.
Supply: @livestock on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
- Internet hosting an organization dinner? Assembly a shopper for espresso? Touring to a brand new metropolis? Tag the locations you go to be added to the Instagram Tales of these areas within the app’s map.
- If in case you have a bodily enterprise location, tag it typically in Tales.
18 extra inventive Instagram Story concepts
12. Use customized font colours
You’re not restricted to the default textual content or brush colours Instagram provides you. When including textual content to your Story, faucet the eyedropper icon on the backside left. Drag it round your picture to make use of that coloration for the textual content or drawing instruments.
Supply: @photoallison on Instagram
Font colours assist your Tales seem on-brand, however as Instagram professional and journey blogger Helene Sula says, authenticity is far more necessary:
“To create a very highly effective Instagram I consider in creating an Instagram theme or aesthetic. However typically your content material doesn’t at all times suit your theme. That’s why you need to use IG Tales to share. You even have the chance to share your character.”
Swipe this concept:
- Stand out with just a few seconds of effort by matching your Story textual content to your model coloration(s), or to colours throughout the picture.
13. Add a countdown
Generate buzz about an upcoming occasion with the countdown sticker.
Supply: @styll.ca on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
- Countdown to a product launch, sale, or different occasion.
- Pair it with a sneak peek video for extra pleasure.
14. Share behind-the-scenes content material
It doesn’t matter what trade you’re in, you will have some sort of “behind the scenes” teasers to point out your viewers. You’ll be able to present the whole lot out of your warehouse and the group members who hold your deliveries going out or the inventive processes of the individuals essential to your success, resembling this characteristic on the prop grasp of a TV present.
Supply: @cbc on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
- Curiosity will get engagement: sure, even essentially the most boring-seeming behind the scenes content material might be attention-grabbing to your prospects.
15. Host a Q&A
Use the Instagram Tales query sticker to get your viewers to submit questions you could reply in Tales. Reply questions on your merchandise AMA type, or “Ask Me Something.” Or usher in an professional for a particular Q&A, resembling Really’s instance beneath. The skincare model had a dermatologist reply viewers questions.
Supply: @trulylifestylebrand on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
- After the Q&A is completed, put it aside as a spotlight so your viewers can entry the precious data anytime.
- Share generally requested questions in a FAQs spotlight.
16. Tag different manufacturers
Construct bridges and potential collaborative relationships with different manufacturers by tagging them in your IG Tales. This could encourage the opposite model to share your Story to their very own, and even doubtlessly attain out to collaborate additional on campaigns.
Supply: @reapercustoms_ on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
- Begin with manufacturers you employ in your small business, resembling one of many paint manufacturers you employ on your work.
- Share your trustworthy evaluate of the model’s product or the way it contributes to your personal success.
17. Supply Tales-only reductions
For those who’re particularly on the lookout for inventive Instagram Story concepts to develop engagement on Tales, there’s no higher approach than providing an unique low cost in Tales.
Supply: @experienceflyover on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
- Publish in regards to the low cost in your Instagram feed however make individuals watch your Tales for the code.
18. Maintain Tales highlights up to date
For those who use Instagram Tales highlights to speak data, hold them up to date.
Supply: @tsa on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
- Begin a sequence on IG Tales it can save you as a spotlight and hold updating, such because the TSA’s prohibited gadgets one above which is informative and infrequently humorous.
19. Use interactive stickers
Punch up your Tales with one in every of Instagram’s built-in interactive stickers. They’re fast and straightforward for individuals to have interaction with. For instance, this “emoji slider” sticker solely takes one faucet and drag for viewers to answer.
Supply: @michelle.lynn.martin on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
- Query stickers are nice, however require extra effort for somebody to fill out. Make life simple for them (and make it extra seemingly they’ll have interaction with you) by swapping a “lengthy reply” ask to an emoji slider.
20. Supply a sneak peek
Publish a sneak peek of one thing thrilling and ask your viewers to guess what it’s. This is likely one of the finest Instagram Story hacks for saving time as a result of you may publicly share the responses in Tales for nice content material all day.
Supply: @scienceworldca on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
- Use a query sticker to gather guesses, or use different interactive components just like the emoji slider or a ballot.
21. Present your course of
Give your viewers a glimpse into how your product is made with this IG Story concept for product-based organizations of all sizes. Individuals love understanding what goes into making the gadgets they purchase, particularly when these are hand-crafted or made by small companies.
Supply: @dbldesigns3 on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
- Create a video, GIF, animations, or picture slides exhibiting how your product is made, or the step-by-step strategy of delivering your companies. Infuse your ardour for what you do into it.
22. Share a collage
What’s higher than one picture? Multiple picture. Collages provide you a chance to creatively showcase your merchandise.
Supply: @bikepackingcom on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
- Present your product from completely different angles, or sandwich a video between two images for a scrumptious engagement sandwich.
- Function a number of buyer posts in a single Story, or snaps of a latest occasion as a recap.
- Create a collage of selfies along with your product to highlight your group and increase credibility.
23. Layer a picture on prime of a photograph
Create an attention grabbing visible by choosing a photograph on your Story’s background as normal, then layering one other picture on prime utilizing the picture sticker.
Supply: @nhlflames on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
- Take a screenshot of buyer testimonials and layer that on prime of a product picture for a simple Instagram Story concept.
- Mimic this impact by sharing a brand new feed submit and layering it on prime of a photograph.
24. Use emojis
This Instagram Story concept wants no introduction.
Supply: @oddbunchcanada on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
- Utilizing both common emojis or Instagram’s emoji-style stickers can flip a fundamental picture into one thing hilariously memorable.
25. Make your Story shoppable
For those who promote on-line, tagging your merchandise in Instagram Tales is a big alternative to transform consideration into gross sales. With one faucet, a viewer can checkout with out leaving Instagram.
Supply: @nataliemariejewellery on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
- For those who haven’t already, arrange your Instagram Store to have the ability to tag merchandise.
- Ask influencers you companion with to tag the product they speak about of their Instagram Tales too.
26. Maintain a Story spotlight on your rewards program
Your Instagram Tales highlights are a terrific place to speak key insurance policies or packages, together with your rewards program.
Supply: @threeshipsbeauty on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
- Summarize this system, add a hyperlink sticker to enroll, and put it aside as a spotlight.
27. Share a tutorial
Present your viewers use your product or suggestions for the very best expertise. Or educate them on one thing associated to your small business, resembling this hair tutorial from a hairstylist.
Supply: @nicolepommehair on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
- For those who’re undecided what you could possibly create a tutorial about, ask your viewers what they wish to study.
28. Have a careers Story spotlight
Discovering high-quality workers is a problem for all organizations. Whether or not you’re hiring for particular positions or at all times looking out for expertise, social media is a superb place to get the phrase out. Share careers-related information in your Tales and save these as a spotlight in your profile to make it simple for candidates to search out.
Supply: @cherrypick.vtg on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
- Create Instagram Tales for open positions and save them to a careers spotlight.
29. Attempt inventive textual content
Instagram Tales has numerous choices for inventive textual content, from coloration choices to drop shadows, outlines, mixing fonts and sizes, add emphasis with stickers, and extra.
Supply: @theapartmentlife on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
7 experimental Instagram Story concepts for daring entrepreneurs
30. At all times have lively Tales
At all times having lively Instagram Tales means you’ll hold exhibiting up close to the highest of your followers’ Instagram feeds after they open the app. Which means you’ll have the next likelihood daily of reaching your viewers.
You don’t must spend hours per day on Tales both. Our latest experiment discovered that posting simply 1-2 Instagram Tales per day yielded the very best engagement outcomes. That stated, discover what works for you. Don’t be afraid to check out posting extra.
Supply: @shopgoodboy on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
- No must reinvent the wheel seven days every week. Combine easy-to-create content material with extra concerned Tales to make sure you don’t run out of Tales to submit.
- Additionally no must personally submit each day: schedule Instagram Tales with Hootsuite for automated publishing.
31. Use Instagram Tales as a menu
For those who’re a espresso store, restaurant, or different enterprise the place your services or products change typically, think about using Instagram Tales as a principal strategy to talk these adjustments.
Supply: @oldtownbakeryladysmith on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
- Record your each day menu, class schedule, or appointment availability in a each day Instagram Story.
- Save your Story template in Canva on your favourite Instagram modifying app.
32. Attempt Instagram Story Adverts
Instagram Story advertisements might be very efficient and are simple to get began with (particularly should you create an Instagram advert marketing campaign in Hootsuite). Story advertisements seem periodically as customers browse natural Tales and mix in very effectively, distinguishable solely by the small “Sponsored” textual content beneath the Instagram account identify.
Supply: @fablehome on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
33. Educate your viewers
The varieties of social media content material individuals really need might be simplified into two classes: instructional and leisure, as we present in our Social Developments 2025 report.
Supply: @nikonusa on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
- Whereas instructional content material is necessary, it’s equally necessary to make it entertaining. Contemplate making a video to speak your data (and repurposing it for different channels).
- Save tutorials as Story highlights to increase the lifetime of them previous twenty-four hours.
34. Share memes
Meme humor isn’t the very best match for all manufacturers, but when memes resonate along with your viewers, add them to your Instagram Tales advertising and marketing technique.
Supply: @customcatcribs on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
- Sharing memes from different accounts is an effective way to construct relationships and save time with content material curation.
35. Associate with a creator for a Tales takeover
Partnering with a creator is an effective way to get unique, customized content material with out having to make it your self.
Supply: @travelandleisure on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
- Have an influencer companion with you for a full day of Tales content material centred round their expertise along with your model and distinctive viewpoint.
- Cross-promote the Instagram takeover on each accounts for max engagement potential.
36. Get on digital camera
Don’t be shy! For a private contact, get in entrance of the digital camera for authentically on-brand movies, whether or not you’re a solo enterprise or massive firm. Instagram Tales are all about authenticity, and nothing is as highly effective for constructing belief along with your viewers.
Supply: @evolutionstudios on Instagram
Swipe this concept:
- As a substitute of posting a photograph of a brand new product, movie a brief video of you speaking in regards to the product as you maintain it. Or, speak about why you began your small business or classes discovered alongside the best way.
- Repurpose video utilized in IG Tales for Instagram Reels, advertisements, and extra.
Plan and schedule Instagram Tales, Reels, and posts—and all of your different social platforms—from a single dashboard. Attempt Hootsuite free right this moment.
