There is no denying that Instagram, with roughly one billion monthly active users, is one of the hottest social media apps out there. We live in a world where almost everyone has an Instagram account. An IG for business, blogs, collections, pets, plants, or simple photos. And now it even has an Instagram story feature!
Whether you’re a blogger or someone who just loves showing off their life on Instagram, posting an Instagram Story is as necessary as eating breakfast. You may be wondering—why bother when I can just upload photos? Well, the answer is simple. Sharing a story gives you more freedom for creativity than uploading an image ever could!
Let’s dig a little deeper.
Why Do Instagram Stories Matter?
Instagram stories matter because they provide a way for people to connect more personally and intimately. Stories are a way for people to share their lives and experiences with others in a highly engaging and visual way. Unlike traditional posts, stories often feel more authentic and immediate, which can help create a deeper connection between the storyteller and the audience.
For many people, Instagram stories are a key part of their social media strategy. They offer a way to share timely and relevant content while also allowing brands and businesses to connect with their audiences more personally. Stories can be used to highlight products, services, or events or give your followers a behind-the-scenes look at what you’re up to.
Ultimately, Instagram Stories are a valuable marketing tool, and it’s essential to use them to their full potential. If you can create interesting and engaging stories that capture your followers’ attention, you’ll be able to reach and engage with more people than ever before. So don’t be afraid to experiment with different types of content and see what works best for you and your audience.
10 Fresh Instagram Story Ideas
If you’re looking for some inspiration for your next Instagram story, check out this list of ideas!
Share Advice
Sharing advice on Instagram It’s a great way to connect with your followers and give them something valuable. But how do you make sure that your advice is helpful and not a waste of time?
1. Keep it short and sweet. No one wants to read a long, drawn-out message. Get to the point quickly and be concise.
2. Be specific. When you’re giving advice, make sure it’s relevant and valuable. Generic tips are often ignored.
3. Be personal. Share your own experiences and stories to illustrate your points. This will make your advice more relatable and trustworthy.
4. Use examples. Whenever possible, use specific examples to back up your advice. This will help your followers understand and apply your tips.
5. Be positive. Avoid coming across as negative or preachy. Instead, focus on the positive aspects of your advice.
6. Encourage discussion. Ask questions and encourage feedback from your followers. This will help create a more interactive and engaging experience for everyone involved.
Try an “Ask Me Anything”
Instagram Stories are a fun, quick way to ask your followers questions and get feedback. They’re especially great for AMAs (ask me anything) sessions because they allow your followers to ask questions anonymously. Plus, you can reply to questions as they come in, so it’s a great way to get a conversation going.
To do an AMA on Instagram Stories, start by creating a new story and selecting the “Ask me anything” sticker. Type out your question, then share it with your followers. You can reply to them directly in your story as questions come in.
If you want to get more interactive with your followers, you can use the poll sticker to create quick polls. Just add the sticker to your story and type out your question. Your followers can then vote on their answer, and you can see the results in real-time. Polls are a great way to get feedback from your followers on anything from what kind of content they want to see more of to what they think about a new product or service.
Promote a Brand, Yours or One You Love
Instagram stories present an excellent opportunity for brands to connect with their followers in a more personal way. By sharing behind-the-scenes footage, sneak peeks of new products, or just giving a little taste of what life is like at your company, you can create a more relatable and engaging brand persona that followers will be more likely to remember and appreciate. Additionally, because stories disappear after 24 hours, it’s a clever way to create urgency and encourage customers to act quickly if they see something they like.
Offer a Tutorial
Tutorials are a great way to share your knowledge with others and can be done through images, short video clips, or full tutorial videos on Instagram Stories. By providing helpful instructions, you can show people how to do things they may be interested in but don’t know how to get started with. Why not help others learn new skills and pursue their interests by offering your expertise.
You can also add affiliate links to products you use and love in your tutorials. This allows you to monetize your skills and knowledge while helping others learn new things!
Shoutout Your Friends or Favorite Accounts
There are a few reasons people shout out or tag other influencers on their Instagram stories. One reason is to build relationships with other influencers. When you shout out someone on your story, you’re basically giving them a shout-out and telling your followers to check them out. This can help introduce your followers to new content creators that they may like, and it can also help build a relationship with the person you’re tagging.
By tagging other influencers in your stories, you’re helping to create a network of people associated with you and your brand. This can make you more visible and credible in the eyes of potential collaborators or customers.
Create a Poll or Quiz
There are a few different ways to create a quiz on Instagram Stories. The first way is to use the poll sticker. To do this, simply create a new story and select the poll sticker from the list of options. When your followers view your story, they’ll be able to vote on their answer by swiping up or down.
You can also create a quiz using the questions sticker. Again, start by creating a new story and selecting the questions sticker. Then, ask your question and provide two answer choices. If you want to get a little creative, you can also create a quiz using the slider sticker.
MEMES
Who doesn’t love a good meme? Memes are a fun way to share information and get people engaged. People love to share memes because they’re funny, thought-provoking, or #relatable. When more people are exposed to your meme, you have a better chance of getting your message across and increasing engagement.
Do A Product Review
Product reviews on Instagram Stories can be a helpful way for potential customers to learn more about a product before they purchase it. Reviews can also help build trust between you and your audience. If you’re thinking about adding product reviews to your Stories, here are a few tips to get you started:
1. Keep it short and sweet: Since Stories are limited to 15 seconds, you’ll want to keep your product review concise. Provide a brief overview of the product and what you think of it.
2. Use engaging visuals: Make sure your product review is visually interesting by using photos or videos of the product in use. This will help capture people’s attention and make them more likely to watch your review.
3. Provide a call-to-action: Encourage people to learn more about the product by providing a link to where they can purchase it. You can also include a discount code to sweeten the deal!
4. Be genuine: Honesty is the most important thing to remember when creating a product review. Share your true thoughts and feelings about the product with your audience. If you’re not genuinely interested in the product, it will show, and people will be less likely to listen to your review.
Ask People To Share Their Favorite Music
Don’t be afraid to ask for recommendations, whether you’re looking for new music to listen to or just want to connect with others who share your taste. It’s a great way to engage with your audience and build stronger relationships. Who knows, you might just discover your new favorite artist.
Take Part In A Story Trend Or Challenge
Some people take part in challenges on Instagram to connect with others who have similar interests. For example, if you’re passionate about photography, you might enter a challenge that asks participants to submit their best shots. This gives you the chance to share your work with others, see what other photographers are doing, and get feedback.
Another reason people might take part in challenges is to showcase their talent or creativity. Challenges offer an excellent platform for people to share their work with a large audience and potentially earn new followers. Some challenges offer prizes or other incentives for participants.
Check Out Publer’s Social Media Holiday Calendar
Social media holidays are a great way to connect with your customers or followers. They allow you to show your appreciation for them and strengthen the bond between you and your online community.
For example, one small business owner celebrated National Cheese Day by giving away free cheesecakes to her social media followers. This simple gesture created a lot of goodwill and strengthened the relationship between the business and its customers.
Whether it’s your brand or you personally, you should be aware of upcoming holidays and make an effort to celebrate them on social media.
Not sure when the next holiday is? Good thing you have a social media superhero on your side. Check out our easy-to-use social media holiday calendars.
Key Takeaways
An Instagram Story is one of the best ways to promote, sell, or connect. With various functions, you can let out your creativity while drawing attention in.
To recap:
- Share what you love and topics you’re passionate about
- Try offering tutorials, and show off your expertise!
- Host an AMAs
- Everybody loves a good meme
- Product reviews are valuable content
- Get involved in trends and challenges, or you can start your own
Ervin Kalemi
