Guess how many people use Instagram Stories on a daily basis? I’ll tell you…

250 million.

It’s hard to think that this feature is only just over one year old, but already, Instagram Stories is proving to be a game changer in the social media world. And if you aren’t using it (or using it to support your online presence), then I highly recommend you start.

Instagram Stories are a fantastic way to humanise your brand and catapult your blog or business. It’s a brilliant opportunity for you to give your audience a front row seat into what your brand is all about and who you are.

But the problem is, people don’t really know how to use Instagram Stories effectively and so end up posting random content.

Not anymore.

Not only is the Instagram Story feature really great for your online presence, it’s also a way for you to get creative and have fun. So without further ado, here are some ideas for what you can post to Instagram Stories (with real life examples!)

I've also made you a free calendar full of 31 days of ideas for your Instagram feed and Story! Download it below.

#1 | SHARE YOUR LOCATION

The location sticker within Instagram Stories allows you to show your followers where you’re located right now. After you take a picture of video, tap the sticky label in the top right, tap the “Location” sticker and input your location.

This is great because it gives people an idea of where you are and what you’re up to. It works really well when you’re at an event or even somewhere like a restaurant, as you can give your audience recommendations. People like to know what you get up to each day, so this gives them a great insight.

#2 | STORYIFY YOUR LIFE

Hannah Gale is THE best example I can give you of someone who uses Instagram Stories to document her life in an authentic (and effective) way.

The best way to get more people to see your Instagram Story is to add to it consistently. I don’t mean every five minutes, but you could try every couple of hours, or every time you do something new (like start a new task, leave the house etc.)

The more you add to your Story, the more people will watch it. The more those people watch it, the more chance you have of appearing at the top of their Stories feed. Simple!

#3 | USE POLLS

Polls are a fairly new feature to come to Instagram Stories. They’re great, because not only are they a lot of fun, but you can also use them to your advantage. Ask questions to find out more about your audience, get feedback on something, the list is endless!

For more ideas of how to use polls in Instagram Stories, this post is for you.

#4 | KEEP IT REAL

My favourite bloggers and business owners who use Instagram Stories, are those that know it doesn’t have to be perfect. It’s not all about creating the perfect flatlay or adding a filter. It’s about how you put together that flatlay, how you created that make-up look.

By keeping your Instagram Story content more real, you can get a real glimpse into someone’s life, behind the business, behind the blog and behind the person. You have free rein to talk about your life. Use your voice, let people in and they will relate to you

#5 | SHARE BEHIND-THE-SCENES

No matter what social media platform we’re using, seeing things from behind-the-scenes really does make people feel special.

We want our audience to feel like they’re getting something exclusive when they view our Instagram Story. You can share a special discount code, or just show them something you’re working on. This really works!

#6 | USE STICKERS

Stickers or emojis are really fun elements to add to your snaps. And what’s great is they usually have themed ones too (right now it’s all about autumn!) You can use as many stickers as you want to add an extra element to your Story.

#7 | PROMOTE SOMETHING

That’s what we’re all here for, right? If you’ve got a new blog post, or you’re selling something new in your shop - whatever it is - you’ve got lots of different options.

If you’ve got the “swipe up” feature, definitely use that. If not, you can direct people to the link in your bio (and use Link.tree for this).

#8 | GIVE A SHOUT OUT

One of the best ways to gain more engagement and views on Snapchat is by tagging other people in your Story.

A great way people do this at the moment is by taking screenshots of the Instagram accounts they’re loving and tagging them in their Story. Simple, but it’ll get people tuning in.

#9 | SEND PEOPLE TO YOUR BLOG

Published a new blog post? Instagram is great for sending people to your website! You can tell your followers about it within your story and then either use the “swipe up” feature or direct them to the link in your bio (just be sure to keep it updated!)

#10 | SEND PEOPLE TO YOUR PROFILE

Want to get more eyes on something you’re promoting on your feed or your latest photo? Tell people about it! Write some text and then use the drawing tool to direct people where to tap if they want to go to your profile.

#11 | SHARE AN EVENT

It’s a really good idea to add lots of your content to your Instagram Story when you’re at an event. You can do a number of the things we’ve just talked about: tag the brand, add your location - they might even have a specific hashtag. Try and post different elements of the event so your audience gets to feel like they’re really there with you.

Don't forget to download your free monthly calendar!

What are some of your favourite things to see on Instagram Stories? Feel free to shout out some of your faves in the comments!