10 Proven Tips to Boost Your Instagram Story Engagement
- Alex Freitas
- Oct 19, 2024
- 4 min read
Why do we care about Instagram stories??
Because Instagram Stories are a powerful way to connect with your audience, build relationships, and boost your overall engagement.
However, standing out in a sea of content can be tough.
So, how do you increase engagement on Instagram Stories and keep your viewers coming back for more?
In this post, I’m sharing 10 actionable tips that will help you skyrocket your Instagram Story engagement.
Whether you're a content creator, small business owner, or online entrepreneur, these strategies will elevate your Instagram presence and foster a more engaged audience.
1. Post Consistently to Increase Instagram Story Engagment
Instagram rewards users who stay active. By posting Stories regularly, you’ll stay top of mind and more visible in your followers' feeds. Aim for 3-5 Stories a day, spread out to keep viewers coming back throughout the day. Consistency builds anticipation and trust with your audience.
2. Use Polls, Quizzes, and Questions Stickers
Interactive stickers such as polls, quizzes, and question boxes are engagement magnets. Not only do they invite your audience to participate, but they also provide valuable insights into their preferences. This creates a sense of community, making viewers feel connected and valued.
Pro Tip: Ask questions that align with your niche or business. For example, if you're a fitness coach, try “What’s your go-to workout music?” or “What’s your biggest health goal this month?”
3. Incorporate Story Highlights
Use Instagram Highlights to keep your best-performing Stories accessible beyond the 24-hour window. By curating your Highlights effectively, you’ll allow new followers to dive deeper into your content, increasing engagement on older Stories that still hold value.
SEO Tip: Optimize the names of your Highlights with relevant keywords such as “Client Testimonials,” “Tips & Tricks,” or “Product Reviews.”
4. Leverage User-Generated Content
Sharing content from your followers (with permission) is an excellent way to build community and trust. Whether it's a review, a shoutout, or a repost of someone using your product, user-generated content (UGC) makes your audience feel seen, which boosts engagement and creates more loyalty.
Pro Tip: Make sure to share every positive shout-out to your stories so that your audience builds trusts around your offers and is more inspired to convert. (No shoutout is too small).
5. Add Captions to Your Videos
Not everyone watches Instagram Stories with the sound on. By adding captions or using Instagram’s auto-caption feature, you ensure that viewers can engage with your content even without audio. Captions make your content more accessible and increase viewer retention, which is critical for engagement.
Pro Tip: Keep story videos short and to the point, but add a little personality to match your brand's tone.
6. Tease Upcoming Content or Events
Use your Stories to build excitement around upcoming launches, events, or new content. Teasing what’s coming next creates curiosity and encourages followers to stay tuned. You can also pair this with Tip 2 and have people vote on what they think the new release will be or times for an event that work best for them.
Whether it’s a new product drop or a sneak peek of your next YouTube video, use Stories to generate anticipation.
7. Collaborate with Other Creators
Collaborating with other Instagram users, whether through shoutouts, Story takeovers, or co-created content, is an excellent way to reach a wider audience organically. By partnering with influencers, fellow creators, or complementary businesses, you introduce your profile to new followers who are likely to engage with your Stories.
Pro Tip: When collaborating, make sure your values align with the person or brand, and create content that feels natural for both of your audiences. This helps ensure that the engagement you receive is meaningful and long-lasting.
Bonus Tip: The "Collaborate" feature for feed posts is also a great way to partner with other creators and get more exposure on your content on both of your feeds.
8. Run Contests or Giveaways
One surefire way to increase engagement is by running a contest or giveaway. Encourage viewers to participate by answering questions, tagging friends, or sharing your content. These actions boost your engagement metrics and increase your visibility on the platform.
Pro Tip: Create simple, clear rules and emphasize urgency, such as “Only 24 hours left to enter!”
9. Share Behind-the-Scenes Content
Behind-the-scenes content helps humanize your brand and makes it relatable. Show your audience the process behind your work, a day in your life, or even some fun bloopers. This type of content builds authenticity and trust, encouraging viewers to engage on a more personal level.
Pro Tip: While showcasing your life might not feel like a sales-focused post, it actually is critical in your journey of standing out as people build like, know, and trust around YOU as a business owner and tap into that "I want what they have" energy that inspires them to take action and convert.
10. Always Include a Call to Action (CTA)
Don’t forget to tell your viewers what to do next! Whether it’s “Check the link to explore more,” “DM me for details,” or “Share your thoughts in the poll,” clear CTAs guide your audience toward the action you want them to take.
Without a CTA, engagement can drop as followers aren’t sure how to engage further.
Pro Tip: You can also use Manychat automations to have your viewers reply to your story with a keyword which will then kick off an automated DM conversation.
Final Thoughts
Mastering Instagram Stories takes a blend of creativity, consistency, and strategy. By implementing these 10 tips, you’ll be well on your way to increasing your story engagement and building a more engaged, loyal audience on Instagram.
Remember, success on Instagram isn’t just about the number of followers—it’s about creating meaningful interactions that lead to deeper connections and conversions.
Try out these tactics, track your performance, and keep refining your strategy to see the best results.
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