If you’ve ever gotten lost in the rabbit hole of swiping through Instagram Stories, you know how compelling (and dare I say addictive) they can be. I’ve broken down their main benefits below:
- Increased engagement
- Simple setup and quick sharing
- Flexible creative tools
The good news is that stories are incredibly easy to use. The challenge: that same ease-of-use means that you need to grab the attention of your viewer quickly because, as easy as it is to reach people, it’s just as easy to lose them.
Thanks to Instagram Story Highlights (which are at the top of every profile), you can turn your temporary stories into evergreen content.
Here are some genius story ideas (with examples!) that you can apply to your next story. Let’s dig in!
1. Guide your audience to the right products for them
Instagram can be a great tool for discovery, and many people find new products there. Consider adding helpful product highlights or behind-the-scenes peeks to engage potential customers.
Brand examples
Plantmade, a UK hair-care brand (@weareplantmade), shared the different results customers can expect to see by using their various hair oils.
Hers (@hers on Instagram) uses their ‘skin care’ Instagram Story Highlight to explain what each of their products does for the skin.
2. Take your followers behind the scenes
Authenticity is a big part of what helps audiences connect to brands, and your stories are a great place to do that.
Showing the behind-the-scenes of your business doesn’t have to be limited to what goes into making a product. You can showcase different employees in different contexts – doing their jobs, showing what they do outside of work, answering prompts or frequently asked questions, and more.
Brand examples
Djerf Avenue, a Swedish fashion label (@djerfavenue on Instagram): In the story I caught, the employees at Djerf Avenue shared what made them happy.
Youth Marketing Connection (YMC), a youth marketing agency (@youthmarketing on Instagram): ‘YMC Team’ stories throw a spotlight on different employees, showing who they are and what they like to do outside of work.
3. Build anticipation for your launch
If you’re in the process of creating and launching a new product, service, or publishing a new resource, stories are a great way to create anticipation.
You can also add stickers to your story to engage your audience, like the countdown sticker showing how long till your launch, or a link for your customers to preorder or join a waitlist.
Brand example
Good Molecules, a skincare brand (@goodmolecules on Instagram): Ahead of the launch of their new product, X, Good Molecules shared a series of stories that explained the product and encouraged users to sign up for early access.
4. Share tutorials and how-to guides
If you want to keep your audience coming back to your stories, it’s important to create content that adds value. This means providing your audience with something that they would find helpful in their day-to-day lives or their work – all while integrating your product or brand values.
Brand examples
Caraway, a cookware brand (@caraway_home on Instagram): Using Instagram Story Highlights, Caraway keeps a ‘Care & Cleaning’ guide forever pinned to the top of their profile.
Fur, a body care brand (@fur_you on Instagram), communicates its views on sustainability in this story, encouraging and showing viewers how to reuse their empty containers.
5. Showcase social proof
Seeing regular people talk about a product for free is a massive trust-builder. You can use your Instagram Stories to quickly highlight posts from customers and content creators that talk about your brand. Keep an eye on your tags so you can highlight those who mention you in their posts.
Brand example
Cookie brand Maxine’s Heavenly (@maxinesheavenly) has an Instagram Story highlight called ‘Latest Loves’ where they repost content from users who tag the account.
6. Highlight key dates and events
Creating stories centered on events that your followers care about is a great way to strengthen your connection with them. You can use Instagram Stories to put a spotlight on people, businesses, and products themed around month-long observances like Black History Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, Pride Month, and so on.
Try different ideas to see what sticks
Instagram Stories offer nearly endless ways to connect with your audience. Experiment with different formats, track which ones perform best, and keep refining your strategy to see continued growth.
The brands and great stories I’ve shared didn’t happen overnight — they’re the result of experimentation and feedback. Keep testing new approaches to see what resonates with your audience.
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FAQs about Instagram Story ideas
What are some creative Instagram Story ideas?
- Share behind-the-scenes moments
- Host quick polls or quizzes
- Showcase customer testimonials
- Announce limited-time offers
- Share user-generated content
How do I make my Instagram Stories more engaging?
- Add captions to every story
- Use interactive stickers (polls, questions, sliders)
- Include clear calls-to-action
- Keep branding consistent
- Post regularly and at optimal times
Where can I find inspiration for Instagram Story content?
- Answer customer questions
- Share user-generated content
- Tap into seasonal trends and holidays
- Look at what peers in your industry are doing
- Review your analytics for top-performing topics
