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These ready-to-copy creative Instagram story ideas will help you fill up your content calendar and delight your audience.
If growing engagement is your goal, the right Instagram Story ideas will get you there.
Instagram is the most-used social media platform for Gen Z (ages 16-26) and continues to rapidly rise in popularity among all ages, now ranking third with 50% of U.S. adults. Plus, Instagram shoppers of all ages spend the most, being twice as likely to spend over $1,000 compared to users on other social media platforms.
Instagram Stories is a unique format that helps build trust, reach new people, and nurture your existing audience. These are the top content ideas to grow right now.
Bonus: Claim your free pack of 30 Instagram Story background templates created by Hootsuite’s professional graphic designers. Easily customize them in Canva, and take your Story game to the next level today.
Video is great for Instagram Stories, but a simple photo works wonders too. You don’t need a fancy photoshoot. Hold up a product, snap a pic, name it, and share.
Source: @winners on Instagram
Share customer testimonials to your Instagram Story, either one directly from a customer’s Instagram feed post or create your own with a photo, the customer’s review, and their name (if applicable).
Source: @getsproutsocial on Instagram
Add a touch of mystery to your Instagram Story and direct people to your latest content.
Personally, I notice a substantial increase in likes, comments, and shares when I share one of my Reels or Instagram posts to my Instagram Story. It’s a basic idea, but highly effective at boosting engagement.
Source: @wulfsnacks on Instagram
Similar to the above, repost content where your audience mentions you to your Story — it’s great social proof!
Source: @vsp.consignment on Instagram
No one can resist a one-tap, multiple choice poll sticker. No one!
It only takes someone a moment to answer your poll and each click counts as engagement. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to subtly drop product features to educate your audience.
Source: @thelocalspace on Instagram
Quiz stickers are interactive and a fun way to gamify your Instagram Stories.
Ask your audience trivia questions about your brand or products, or have them try and guess what’s coming up at your upcoming launch.
Source: @wiseguytriviayyc on Instagram
Reached 50,000 Instagram followers? 100,000? Sold your 100th or 10,000th order? Thank your audience with a quick Instagram Story to commemorate the occasion and express your gratitude.
Source: @trexorobotics on Instagram
Just like hashtags on posts and Reels, Instagram Story hashtags are searchable and can help boost reach and brand awareness.
Source: @aircanada on Instagram
Start a weekly or monthly series to highlight your V.I.P. customers, or as Tourism Kelowna does here, members of their business community. It’s a great way to share your values without being self-promotional.
Source: @tourismkelowna on Instagram
Use question stickers, polls, or even ask people to message you to gather opinions. The information you gather could help make merchandising decisions, identify upcoming trends, or crowdsource new product ideas.
Source: @designmehair on Instagram
Along with your Story’s content, the Instagram algorithm uses location tags to target who it thinks will be interested in your content to expand reach.
People can also search Insta posts and IG Stories by location tag. Tags can be cities, businesses, public areas like parks, and more.
Source: @nhljets on Instagram
You’re not limited to the default text or brush colors Instagram gives you. When adding text to your Story, tap the eyedropper icon at the bottom left. Drag it around your image to use that color for the text or drawing tools.
Source: @photoallison on Instagram
Font colors help your Stories appear on-brand, but as Instagram expert and travel blogger Helene Sula says, authenticity is much more important:
“To create a truly powerful Instagram I believe in creating an Instagram theme or aesthetic. But sometimes your content doesn’t always fit your theme. That’s why you can use IG Stories to share. You also have the opportunity to share your personality.”
Generate buzz about an upcoming event with the countdown sticker.
Source: @wandrd on Instagram
No matter what industry you’re in, you have some kind of “behind the scenes” teasers to show your audience. You can show everything from your warehouse and the team members who keep your deliveries going out or the creative processes of the people crucial to your success, such as this feature on the prop master of a TV show.
Source: @cbc on Instagram
Use the Instagram Stories question sticker to get your audience to submit questions that you can answer in Stories. Answer questions about your products AMA style, or “Ask Me Anything.” Or bring in an expert for a special Q&A, such as Truly’s example below. The skincare brand had a dermatologist answer audience questions.
Source: @trulylifestylebrand on Instagram
Build bridges and potential collaborative relationships with other brands by tagging them in your IG Stories. This can encourage the other brand to share your Story to their own, and even potentially reach out to collaborate further on campaigns.
Source: @reapercustoms_ on Instagram
If you’re specifically looking for creative Instagram Story ideas to grow engagement on Stories, there’s no better way than offering an exclusive discount in Stories.
Source: @experienceflyover on Instagram
If you use Instagram Stories highlights to communicate information, keep them updated.
Source: @tsa on Instagram
Punch up your Stories with one of Instagram’s built-in interactive stickers. They are quick and easy for people to engage with. For example, this “emoji slider” sticker only takes one tap and drag for viewers to respond to.
Source: @michelle.lynn.martin on Instagram
Post a sneak peek of something exciting and ask your audience to guess what it is. This is one of the best Instagram Story hacks for saving time because you can publicly share the responses in Stories for great content all day.
Source: @scienceworldca on Instagram
Give your audience a glimpse into how your product is made with this Instagram Story idea for product-based organizations of all sizes. People love knowing what goes into making the items they buy, especially when those are hand-crafted or made by small businesses.
Source: @dbldesigns3 on Instagram
What’s better than one photo? More than one photo. Collages offer you an opportunity to creatively show off your products.
Source: @bikepackingcom on Instagram
Create an eye-catching visual by selecting a photo for your Story’s background as usual, then layering another photo on top using the photo sticker.
Source: @nhlflames on Instagram
This Instagram Story idea needs no introduction.
Source: @oddbunchcanada on Instagram
If you sell online, tagging your products in Instagram Stories is a huge opportunity to convert attention into sales. With one tap, a viewer can checkout without leaving Instagram.
Source: @nataliemariejewellery on Instagram
Your Instagram Stories highlights are a great place to communicate key policies or programs, including your rewards program.
Source: @threeshipsbeauty on Instagram
Show your audience how to use your product or tips for the best experience. Or educate them on something related to your business, such as this hair tutorial from a hairstylist.
Source: @nicolepommehair on Instagram
Finding top quality employees is a challenge for all organizations. Whether you’re hiring for specific positions or always on the lookout for talent, social media is a great place to get the word out. Share careers-related news on your Stories and save those as a highlight on your profile to make it easy for applicants to find.
Source: @cherrypick.vtg on Instagram
Instagram Stories has countless options for creative text, from color options to drop shadows, outlines, mixing fonts and sizes, add emphasis with stickers, and more.
Source: @theapartmentlife on Instagram
Always having active Instagram Stories means you’ll keep showing up near the top of your followers’ Instagram feeds when they open the app. That means you’ll have a higher chance every day of reaching your audience.
You don’t need to spend hours per day on Stories either. Our recent experiment found that posting just 1-2 Instagram Stories per day yielded the best engagement results. That said, find what works for you. Don’t be afraid to test out posting more.
Source: @shopgoodboy on Instagram
If you’re a coffee shop, restaurant, or other business where your products or services change often, consider using Instagram Stories as a main way to communicate those changes.
Source: @oldtownbakeryladysmith on Instagram
Instagram Story ads can be very effective and are easy to get started with (especially if you create an Instagram ad campaign in Hootsuite). Story ads appear periodically as users browse organic Stories and blend in very well, distinguishable only by the small “Sponsored” text under the Instagram account name.
Source: @fablehome on Instagram
The types of social media content people actually want can be simplified into two categories: educational and entertainment, as we found in our Social Trends 2025 report.
Source: @nikonusa on Instagram
Meme humor isn’t the best fit for all brands, but if memes resonate with your audience, add them to your Instagram Stories strategy.
Source: @customcatcribs on Instagram
Partnering with a creator is a great way to get exclusive, custom content without having to make it yourself.
Source: @travelandleisure on Instagram
Don’t be shy! For a personal touch, get in front of the camera for authentically on-brand videos, whether you’re a solo business or large company. Instagram Stories are all about authenticity, and nothing is as powerful for building trust with your audience.
Source: @evolutionstudios on Instagram
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As an ex-agency strategist turned freelance WFH fashion icon, Michelle is passionate about putting the sass in SaaS content. She’s known for quickly understanding and distilling complicated technical topics into conversational copy that gets results. She has written for Fortune 500 companies and startups, and her clients have earned features in Forbes, Strategy Magazine and Entrepreneur.
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