You know that feeling when you open Instagram Stories and just… freeze?
Like everyone else has this whole content thing figured out while you’re over here wondering if anyone actually cares that you had oatmeal for breakfast (again).
I’ve been there. Staring at my phone, finger hovering over the camera button, cycling through the same three thoughts: “What do I even post? Will this look stupid? Do I really need to do this?”
The secret isn’t having perfect content or a fancy setup. It’s showing up consistently with stuff that actually matters to your people. And after testing literally hundreds of story ideas, I’ve figured out exactly which ones work (and which ones fall completely flat).
Ready to never stare at a blank story screen again?
Let’s fix that content block once and for all.
Behind-the-Scenes Magic
1. Morning routine reveal – Show your actual morning (coffee disasters and all).
2. Workspace tour – Even if it’s your kitchen table, people love seeing where the magic happens.
3. Process videos – Film yourself doing literally anything work-related. Trust me, it’s more interesting than you think.
4. Day-in-the-life snippets – Share 3–4 moments throughout your day.
5. Team introductions – Introduce your team members (or your dog if you work solo!).
6. Before/after transformations – Your desk, your outfit, your project progress.
7. Fail moments – That time you spilled coffee on your laptop or sent an email to the wrong person.
Quick Polls and Questions
8. This or that polls – Coffee vs tea, early bird vs night owl, you name it.
9. Rate my outfit – Use the poll sticker for instant feedback.
10. Guess the location – Post a photo and let followers guess where you are.
11. Ask me anything sessions – The classic that never gets old.
12. Would you rather questions – Fun and engaging every time.
13. Guess the price – Show a product and let people guess the cost.
14. True or false trivia – Share interesting facts about your industry.
Educational Content That Don’t Feel Boring
15. Quick tips carousel – 3–5 slides of actionable advice.
16. Myth busting – Address common misconceptions in your field.
17. Tool recommendations – Share your favorite apps, books, or resources.
18. Step-by-step tutorials – Break down a process into simple steps.
19. Mistake lessons – What you learned from your biggest business blunders.
20. Industry insights – Share trends or news in bite-sized pieces.
21. Before you buy advice – Help followers make smarter purchasing decisions.
Get Personal (But Keep It Professional)
22. Throwback moments – Share old photos with lessons learned.
23. Current mood check-ins – Be real about your day (within reason).
24. Weekend plans reveals – Show your human side.
25. Favorite things lists – Books, podcasts, snacks, whatever you’re loving.
26. Pet cameos – Because everyone loves animals (and they boost engagement like crazy).
27. Travel content – Even if it’s just your local coffee shop.
28. Food adventures – What you’re eating, cooking, or craving.
Interactive Content That Actually Works
29. Fill-in-the-blank stories – “The best part of my day was ____.”
30. Emoji reactions – Ask followers to react with emojis to different options.
31. Story takeovers – Let team members or friends take over for a day.
32. Challenges or contests – Create something simple and fun.
33. Countdown stickers – Build anticipation for launches or events.
34. Temperature checks – Use the slider sticker for feedback.
35. Multiple choice questions – More detailed than yes/no polls.
Showcase Your Expertise
36. Client success stories – Share wins (with permission, obviously).
37. Problem-solving in real-time – Show how you tackle challenges.
38. Industry event coverage – Share insights from conferences or workshops.
39. Book or podcast reviews – Quick thoughts on what you’re consuming.
40. Trend commentary – Your take on what’s happening in your space.
41. Resource roundups – Curate helpful links or tools.
42. Quote graphics with your twist – Add your own commentary to inspiring quotes.
Fun and Light Content
43. Playlist shares – What you’re listening to while working.
44. Random facts – Share something interesting you just learned.
45. Photo dumps – Multiple images from your week.
46. Repost user-generated content – Share customer photos or mentions.
47. Holiday or seasonal content – Tie into what’s happening in the world.
48. Gratitude posts – Share what you’re thankful for.
49. Goal check-ins – Update followers on your progress.
50. Celebration moments – Big wins, small wins, all the wins!
Start Creating Stories That Actually Get Results
Consistency beats perfection every single time. Pick 5-7 ideas from this list that feel natural to you and start there. You don’t need to use all 50 tomorrow (please don’t try to use all 50 tomorrow).
Start with these three this week:
- One behind-the-scenes moment
- One poll or question
- One piece of helpful content
The goal isn’t to become an Instagram influencer overnight. It’s to show up authentically and give your audience a reason to stick around. And remember, even if your first few stories feel awkward, you’re already ahead of everyone who’s still overthinking it.
What if this time next month, you had a bunch of engaged followers who actually looked forward to your stories? That’s totally possible, and it starts with posting your first story today.
You’ve got this – now go create something that’s uniquely you!
