Instagram Story ideas can help you find ways to keep creating. From follower shoutouts to sneak peaks, these 11 ideas will keep your followers watching.

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TikTok might be the new kid on the block, but Instagram Stories (or IG Stories) are kicking butt, too. As a content creator, you need to grow your presence by posting relevant, compelling Instagram Stories on the regular. 

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Even if your Instagram Story gets a lot of views, that doesn’t necessarily translate into dollar signs. You want people to engage. That means posting content that’s more than yet another selfie (not that you don’t look amazing, friend). 

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In this guide, we’ll look at why Instagram Stories are such a boon to influencers. We’ll also give you 11 creative Instagram Story ideas to keep your Instagram feed fresh.

Why Are Instagram Stories Such a Big Deal?

Instagram Stories work with their very own algorithm that decides which Stories to prioritize, so even if you’re killing it with your feed posts, you still need to figure out what the Stories algorithm likes. According to Instagram, whether viewers see your Story is based on: 

• Your post information
• Whether you’re friends with them
• Whether they interact with similar content

Stories have been around since 2016, so while they aren’t as new as TikTok, they have promise for influencers. In fact, over 500 million people use Stories every day, which gives you plenty of opportunities to connect with more followers. 

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On average, nano-influencers earn $43 per sponsored Instagram Story, while micro-influencers earn an average of $73 — so there are definitely monetization opportunities with the right Instagram marketing strategy.

11 Instagram Story Ideas to Try This Week

How do you keep your Instagram Stories fresh? We’ve got you covered. Here are 11 creative and captivating Instagram Story ideas to grow your audience.

1. Do Free Giveaways

Did you know that posts for Instagram contests get 3.5 times more likes and 64 times more comments than regular posts? Contests, giveaways, and sweepstakes are fun Instagram Story ideas that build excitement and boost your reach. After all, who doesn’t want free stuff?

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Try to make your giveaway as engaging as possible. Challenge Instagram followers to tag or follow you in exchange for a context entry. And, as always, follow Federal Trade Commission lottery and sweepstakes guidelines.

2. Repost Popular Content

We’ll let you in on a little secret: Influencers don’t make 100% original content for their posts. It’s common for creators to repurpose their past content. If you want to post something on Stories but aren’t sure what, repost by using these Instagram Story ideas: 

• Reposting: You’re already getting traction on your Instagram posts, right? Reshare your feed posts to a Story to get more engagement and ensure your followers see your awesome content.
• Resharing other creators’ content: If you love another creator’s content, you can always repost it to your Instagram account. Always get their permission before posting, and you need to tag them and give credit in the post. The last thing you want is for someone to think you’re a copycat.
• Bragging about media mentions: If you got a media feature, shout about it. Repost the feature on your IG Stories.
• Instagram Story highlights: Compile several posts or videos into one Story to tell a cohesive narrative. Do a “year in review” Story or a “before and after” Story to keep viewers on their toes.
• Screenshots: Did you have a funny text exchange with a friend? Or maybe you found a Tweet that really resonated with you? Turn that into a hilarious Instagram Story with captions and stickers. 

3. Do Your Own Version of a Meme

One of the best (and easiest) Instagram Story ideas is doing your own rendition of a popular meme. For one account, the creator saw a 1.4% engagement rate on their regular content while meme content got 3.47%.

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Open up the Instagram app every day to see which memes are trending right now. Quickly do your own rendition within a week; trends come and go, so you’ll need to move fast to avoid looking out of touch.

4. Answer FAQs

Your followers trust your opinion as an expert in your niche. Why not share your expertise? Look for common questions via: 

• Comments
• Quora
• Question stickers
• Other creators’ comment sections

You get the idea. Compile a list of frequently asked questions in your niche and answer one question per Instagram Story.

5. Do a Follower Shoutout

This is one of the easiest Instagram Story ideas because it’s just you gushing about your followers. Shoutouts put your customers front and center in your content, which makes them feel special. Don’t be afraid to praise followers from time to time — there’s a good chance they’ll reciprocate. 

6. Share Testimonials

Did you know that 49% of consumers get product recommendations from influencers? If you have a brand sponsorship, share new product testimonials in your Instagram Stories. Video testimonials are informative for your followers, and they’re great social proof for your brand partners.

7. Offer Sneak Peeks

Is something exciting on the horizon? Since Instagram Stories disappear after 24 hours, try offering your followers a sneak peek into your next big announcement on Stories. That might mean teasing: 

• An upcoming sale
• An exciting brand ambassadorship
• Big announcements about you or your content

You can even make a game out of it. Ask your followers to guess what the announcement is, and give freebies to the first person to guess the right answer. 

8. Add Your Links to Instagram Stories

Here’s another fun, not-so-secret Instagram hack: Instagram Stories allows you to share a link, which followers will see when they swipe up. Some creators say that links boost engagement. 

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You don’t have to choose between your favorite promo links, either. With a link-in-bio microsite from Hype, you can: 

• Feature your favorite content
• Promote affiliate links
• Link to other social media accounts
• Gather follower data in a CRM

If you want to convert your followers more easily, see how a Hype microsite can work for your brand.

9. Try Different Instagram Story Templates

Content creation is all about building a brand that stands out.  While you’re free to use your graphic design skills to build a template of your own, Canva has plenty of free Instagram story templates. You can try “This or That” templates, countdown templates, or even quote templates. 

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Whichever layout you pick, remember to stick with a 9:16 aspect ratio and use a resolution of at least 1080 X 1080 pixels to keep the visuals crisp. 

10. Encourage Engagement With Stickers

If you haven’t used them before, Instagram stickers are little animations that add some sparkle to your Stories. If you’re looking for Instagram Story ideas, pre-loaded stickers on Instagram provide a ton of inspiration. 

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Use these stickers to jazz up your feed:

• Quiz stickers: Quiz stickers allow you to quickly quiz your followers on their knowledge, personality, and a lot more. 
• Emoji sliders: Select the emoji slider option, type in your question, and pick an emoji. When your Story goes live, viewers can reply to a question with a sliding scale of emojis. For example, you could ask, “How much do you love this outfit?” and fans would pick the heart eyes emoji (😍).
• Link stickers: Link stickers allow you to add links to your Instagram Stories. When people tap on the sticker, it will redirect them to the link of your choice.
• Poll stickers: We love this Instagram Story idea because it can help you learn about your followers’ habits and preferences. Ask for their opinions on what content they want to see, product preferences, and everything in between.
• Countdown stickers: These stickers will count down to a specific time that you set. This is the perfect way to build excitement before a product launch or a big event. 
• New post stickers: Did you pour your heart into your latest blog, podcast, or Instagram post? Let your followers know by adding the “new post” sticker to a Story about the content.

11. Film Quick Tutorials

People are clearly clamoring for video-based educational content, like tutorials, so if you need Instagram Story ideas, use the tried-and-true “how-to” format. Remember, you only get 15 seconds, so keep it short and helpful.

Use Instagram Stories to Stand Out

Thanks to follower FOMO, you can get a lot of traction on Instagram Stories if you play your cards right. It isn’t the only content format you should use, but Stories offer plenty of engagement and even conversion opportunities. 

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But if you’re in an Instagram Story rut, don’t sweat it. Use these fun Instagram Story ideas to revitalize your feed: 

• Giveaways 
• Reposts
• Memes
• Answering FAQs
• Shoutouts
• Testimonials
• Sneak peeks
• Story links
• Story templates
• Stickers
• Tutorials

Need more advice? Subscribe to Hype’s blog to get actionable tips for monetizing your Instagram content.