What to post on Instagram Stories to engage more

Posting on Instagram Stories has become a powerful tool for connecting brands and creating content in a dynamic and immediate way.

With more than 500 million daily active users, according to data from Statista in 2023, posting on Instagram Stories is not just a trend, but an essential strategy for engagement.

But what makes a Story memorable?

How to turn 15 seconds of content into a genuine connection with your audience?

This article explores creative, smart, and authentic strategies for maximizing engagement, with practical examples, an engaging analogy, and answers to frequently asked questions.

The art of creating emotional connection when posting on Instagram Stories

Posting on Instagram Stories is like having a real-time conversation with your audience.

Unlike a feed post, which requires polishing and planning, Stories allow for a raw and authentic approach.

To engage, it is essential to create an emotional connection.

This means understanding what drives your audience: what are their desires, fears or aspirations?

An effective strategy is to share moments that humanize the brand or creator, such as behind-the-scenes footage of a project or a personal reflection.

For example, a cosmetics brand might showcase the process of creating a product.]

In this sense, highlighting the care with sustainable ingredients, which appeals to consumers concerned about the environment.

Furthermore, interactivity is a differentiator.

Tools like polls, questions, and reaction sliders turn the viewer into an active participant.

Imagine a local coffee shop that posts a Story asking, “What’s your favorite coffee: latte or cappuccino?” and uses the results to create a fun narrative in the next Story, like “60% of you are #TeamLatte!

Here’s a quick recipe to make the perfect latte at home.”

This approach not only engages, but also makes the audience feel heard.

Interestingly, according to Hootsuite, Stories with interactive elements, such as polls, have a 30% higher retention rate than those without interaction.

Finally, emotional consistency is crucial.

Post to Instagram Stories with an authentic voice and aligned with the brand or creator’s values strengthen trust.

If each Story feels disjointed or forced, the audience notices.

Think of Stories like chapters in a book: each one should advance the narrative of your digital identity, keeping the reader, or in this case, the viewer, eager for the next one.

How can you use Stories to tell a story that resonates with those on the other side of the screen?

Variety of formats to keep attention

Monotony is the biggest enemy of engagement.

When posting to Instagram Stories, varying the formats is a smart way to capture and retain attention.

Short videos, for example, are highly effective, especially when combined with dynamic captions.

A 10-second video showing a quick tip like “3 ways to fold a t-shirt in 5 seconds” can be more impactful than static text.

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The key is to deliver immediate value, something the viewer can apply or share.

Another underutilized format is the use of boomerangs or timelapses to create dynamism.

Imagine a flower shop that posts a timelapse of a bouquet arrangement, with a caption that says: “We transform flowers into emotions.

What occasion do you want to celebrate today?”

This type of content is visually captivating and encourages responses.

Additionally, Stories can incorporate design elements, such as custom filters or graphic templates, to reinforce the visual identity.

Brands that create their own filters report a 20% increase in Stories sharing, according to an internal Instagram study.

On the other hand, don't underestimate the power of plain text.

A Story with an impactful phrase or a relevant quote, on a minimalist background, can generate reflection.

For example, a career coach might post, “What would you do today if you weren’t afraid to fail?” and invite the audience to respond via DM.

Variety keeps the audience curious, but requires planning.

Create a calendar of formats – videos on Monday, polls on Wednesday, inspirational text on Friday – to ensure that each Story is a surprise, but with purpose.

Format	Advantage	Usage Example
Video	High visual and dynamic impact	Quick tutorial or behind the scenes
Boomerang/Timelapse	Draws attention with movement	Creative process (e.g.: assembling a product)
Text	It provokes thought and is easy to produce	Quote or rhetorical question
Poll/Quiz	Increases direct interaction	Fun question or knowledge test

The power of real-time storytelling

Posting to Instagram Stories is like directing a movie in real time: every frame counts, and the narrative needs to be engaging from the first second.

Storytelling is a powerful tool for engagement, as it transforms ephemeral content into memorable experiences.

One approach is to create short narrative arcs.

For example, a sustainable clothing brand might use three consecutive Stories:

1. The first showing the impact of fast fashion,
2. The second presenting its ecological alternative,
3. The third invites the public to participate in a conscious fashion challenge.

This sequence keeps the viewer engaged until the end.

Another technique is to use Stories to share micro-stories of everyday life.

A restaurant, for example, could post a series of Stories showing the chef choosing fresh ingredients from the market, preparing a special dish, and finally interacting with satisfied customers.

This narrative humanizes the brand and creates closeness.

Instagram data shows that 581% of users feel more connected to brands that share authentic stories on Stories, which reinforces the importance of this strategy.

Furthermore, storytelling in Stories can be gamified.

Consider an original example: a beauty brand launches a “scavenger hunt” on Stories, where each Story reveals a clue about a new product.

Viewers who get the final answer right via DM will get a discount.

This approach not only increases viewing time, but also creates a sense of community.

The secret is to align the narrative with the brand's purpose, ensuring that each Story is a reflection of its essence.

Practical example 1: The artisanal confectionery campaign

Imagine an artisanal bakery called “Doce Raiz” that wants to increase engagement on Instagram.

To post strategically on Instagram Stories, they created a campaign called “A Sweet a Day”.

Each day of the week, they post a Story with a different theme:

On Monday, they show the process of making a vegan cake; on Tuesday, a poll asks which cupcake flavor followers want on the menu; on Wednesday, they share a testimonial from a happy customer; and so on.

Each Story uses vibrant colors, typography aligned with the visual identity and clear calls to action, such as “Swipe to order yours!”.

To make the campaign even more interactive, Doce Raiz is launching a challenge: followers who share a photo with a sweet from the bakery on their Stories will receive a discount coupon.

On the last day of the week, they post a video compiling the best photos sent in, thanking everyone for their participation. Result?

The campaign increases Stories views by 40% and generates a spike in online orders.

This example shows how combining authenticity, interaction, and consistency can make Stories a powerful connection tool.

Practical example 2: The engaging personal trainer

Now, consider a personal trainer, Lucas, who uses Stories to engage his fitness audience.

He decides to post on Instagram Stories with an approach called “5 Minutes to Feel Alive”.

Every day, Lucas shares a quick 5-minute workout, filmed in different locations: a square, his gym, or even his living room.

Each video starts with a motivational phrase, like “Today is the day to push your limits!” and ends with a poll: “Did you do the workout?

Tell me!”

For a change, Lucas also posts Stories with nutritional tips in text format, such as “Replace soda with water with lemon and mint. Your body will thank you!”

He creates a custom filter with his brand logo, encouraging followers to use it when sharing their workouts.

The result is an engaged community, with followers uploading videos of their workouts and interacting regularly.

This example highlights how combining actionable content, motivation, and interactive tools can elevate the impact of Stories.

The conductor's analogy

Posting on Instagram Stories is like being a conductor conducting an orchestra.

Each instrument – videos, polls, texts, filters – has its moment to shine, but success depends on the harmony between them.

A conductor does not repeat the same note over and over; he varies the rhythm, explores different tones and creates crescendos that capture attention.

Likewise, a content creator must balance formats, emotions, and messages to keep the audience engaged.

Just like an unforgettable symphony, Stories should leave the viewer wanting to hear or watch more.

Frequently asked questions about posting to Instagram Stories

Question	Response
What is the ideal frequency for posting Stories?	It depends on the audience, but 3 to 7 Stories per day maintain engagement without saturation.
Should I use Stories every day?	Yes, consistency is key, but prioritize quality over quantity.
How do I prevent my Stories from being ignored?	Vary formats, use interactivity and align content with audience interests.
Are custom filters worth the investment?	Yes, they increase sharing and reinforce brand identity.
Can I reuse feed content in Stories?	Yes, but adapt the format to be more dynamic and direct.

Posting to Instagram Stories: Conclusion

Posting to Instagram Stories is more than just sharing moments; it’s an opportunity to create connections, inspire action, and build community.

By combining emotional connection, variety of formats, engaging storytelling and interactive strategies, you transform ephemeral content into memorable experiences.

The examples of the Doce Raiz bakery and the personal trainer Lucas show that authenticity and creativity are at the heart of engagement.

Like a conductor, lead your audience with purpose and harmony.

What will be the next Story that will make your audience stop, watch and interact?