If you make Instagram content, you want your followers to stay engaged. They should get excited when they see your icon at the top of their Stories queue – and get through the whole thing when they start tapping through. But it’s easier said than done.

Below, we’ll spark your creativity with some Instagram Story ideas and explain to engage your followers. We’ll also share some tips on how to take and post high-quality images for your Stories. Here’s how to make engaging (even addictive) content your followers can’t get enough of.

What are Instagram Stories?

For anyone new to Instagram, welcome. We’re glad you’re here. Before we start explaining how to use Instagram Stories, let’s define what they are.

Instagram Stories are ephemeral (fleeting) content slides. They’re up for 24 hours – unlike Instagram posts, which are permanent – and they live at the top of the Instagram homepage. Stories can be photos, video clips or other interactive features like surveys and polls. There are lots of tools out there like Instagram Story templates and business account stats that can save you time and improve your IG Stories.

What to post on Instagram Stories

Whether you’re making your first Story or your 500th, you can use some Instagram Story inspiration. Pictures of your coffee can get boring, and there are tons of other creative ways to use Stories. These suggestions cover hot topics and types of content for this medium that your followers will love.

Popular topics for Instagram Stories

For individuals:

• Your routine: Yes, that’s right. Watching people’s everyday actions is surprisingly entertaining. Whether you show your Instagram followers your date-night makeup tutorial or the chaos of getting your kids to school in the morning, relatable content is engaging.
• Location sights and sounds: Post videos of the sights you see throughout the day – from the mountains you pass on the highway to that flower blooming in your kitchen window. Your followers get to know you better if you share a tidbit about your favorite flower or a funny story about a past commute.
• Share your OOTD: OOTD stands for outfit of the day, and people want to see it. Show the world your work-from-home fit or use Instagram Polls to help choose your outfit for a date night.

For businesses:

• Before and after pictures: If you’re in a creative industry – like hairstyling or interior design – post before and after photos. Showing your followers a glow-up promotes your business and keeps your followers engaged. You can compile these images in an Instagram Story highlight so that people can check out various projects later.
• Behind the scenes: Give your followers a sneak peek into how you make that delicious chocolate cake your restaurant sells (without giving away your secret ingredient, of course) or the careful processes that go into manufacturing a new product.
• A quote or a fact: Hit your followers with some industry knowledge. If you run a dog training business, post something viewers might not know about their fur babies. If you’re an entrepreneur, share an inspirational quote that speaks to the mission of your business.
• Video testimonials: Get virtual word-of-mouth marketing by inviting satisfied customers or clients to leave a positive video review. This promotes your business and gets people excited about ending up on your Story.

Interactive Instagram Story post ideas to boost engagement

Whether you’re posting as an individual or a small business trying to foster brand awareness, increasing engagement is the name of the game. By increasing engagement, we mean getting more people to interact with your posts more often. This is what happens when your followers can’t get enough of your content. Here are some fun ways to hook your Story viewers.

• Poll stickers: Have your followers vote on a giveaway or makeup look. You can also survey them on what kind of content they want from you. These interactive Instagram Stories invite people to return to see survey results. A quiz sticker or countdown sticker has the same effect.
• Question stickers: Use question stickers to do an AMA (ask me anything) so your followers can learn more about your personality. Ask for their opinion about a trending topic or something mundane, like what you should eat for lunch. People enjoy getting involved – no matter how high (or low) the stakes.
• “Add Yours” stickers: Invite your viewers to participate in a trend, like posting baby pictures or vacation throwbacks. These pass-it-on-style trends encourage users to engage with your Story and create their own.

Tips for designing the perfect Instagram Story

Captivating Instagram content should mix visual appeal and interactive elements. Now that you’ve got ideas to get your followers to interact, you need to make your Stories grab their attention. Here are some tips on how to make a creative Story design.

• Have fun with fonts: Instagram offers several font styles and colors, highlight options, and text animation. You can find these tools at the top of the page when you’re creating a Story.
• Layer your photos: Need innovative Instagram Story ideas for photos? Don’t just stop at one image. Make a collage, or use the grid feature if you prefer a clean look.
• Include GIFs: Use the sticker tool to add a GIF to your Story. To find the perfect one, search with related keywords and have fun filtering through the results.

Apps for editing and designing your Instagram Stories

You’re a pro at posting engaging content. If you’re ready to take your posts to the next level, consider familiarizing yourself with some popular and powerful photo editing apps. These can help you make collages, upgrade your lighting, or make it look like you’re using a film camera. These Instagram Story tools include:

• VSCO
• Snapseed
• Adobe Photoshop Lightroom
• InFrame
• Later
• A Color Story
• FaceTune
• Darkroom
• Canva
• Photoleap by Lightricks
• Lensa
• AirBrush
• Prequel
• PicCollage

Capitalize on engagement

You’re posting engaging Stories, and your follower account is increasing. Now it’s time to jump in and make the most of your success. Social media marketing strategy is easier than you think.

One of the best ways to grow your internet presence is to cross-promote yourself. Use your Instagram bio to direct people to your TikTok account, LinkedIn, podcast, or business landing page. If you want to add multiple links to your Instagram bio, you can get a Linktree URL, which can branch out to several places on the web and social media.