1. Create a Memorable Content Series

Start a memorable, weekly content series to your list of content buckets. Think of things like a weekly ask-me-anything on Instagram Stories or a Reels showcasing your product. Having a  content series is a surefire way to regularly and consistently keep your audience engaged and knowing what to expect next. For example, every Tuesday, PLANOLY shares a marketing tip on Instagram as a part of a weekly content series. Content series can be any type of content posted consistently on the same day for how often you want. Make sure it aligns with your business, brand, or industry.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CRjQrv_Msbi/

2. Instagram Story Polls

Instagram has a wide variety of features to help its users create content without ever having to leave the app. One of our favorite features is Instagram Polls. Instagram Polls are spontaneous, meaning they don’t have to be as curated as your Instagram feed. Ask your followers anything like what they think about a specific product of yours or if they’re on the latest social media app.

In general, Instagram Stories is a good place to share quick and easy content without a lot of effort. And adding Instagram Stickers like the music sticker, the emoji slider sticker, countdown sticker, quiz sticker are simple ways to engage your followers without much brainpower.

Related: How to Use Instagram Polls to Grow Your Engagement

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3. Instagram Story Q&A

As mentioned in the section about Instagram Polls, Instagram Stories has a question sticker that allows followers to ask questions through Stories. You can look at your responses by swiping up on your story. Pick the responses you want to answer by tapping and clicking ‘Share Your Response.’ Sharing will automatically add the question to your Story where you can type or film your response. For example, Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, hosts Story Q&A’s answering his followers’ burning questions about Instagram. The latest one was on the Instagram Algorithm, where he shared a little more transparency into how it worked. You can tailor this approach towards your industry or brand. After the Story Q&A, you can pin it to your Story Highlights for your followers to refer back to.

https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17923716604659674/

4. Tutorials on Reels

Followers are always interested in educating themselves about new industry-related topics or products. By sharing tutorials or how-tos via Reels, you can easily break down your educational content. Reels allows you to add text and transitions and edit your video content, so it’s more accessible and digestible for your audience. Heyday Skincare shares Reels tutorials for skincare routine tips.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CMYQxszh06r/

‍5.  Branded Memes

There’s nothing quite like a well-conceived brand meme or, in this case, a meme that directly ties back to your industry, business, or product & service. Taking popular viral memes and making them your own is an easily relatable, shareable, and likable way to approach content creation. The bonus is that memes maintain your cultural relevance for your followers.

And if you’re worried about a meme format not fitting your grid aesthetic, we have a blog dedicated to incorporating memes into your content strategy. Hint: Keep it simple by sticking to a text format using your brand colors.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CRfIguXrDOx/

Related: We Meme Business: How to Leverage Memes in Your Content Strategy

6. User-Generated Content (UGC)

Adding user-generated content to your content mix is a way to add a trustworthy and community-driven element or “Instagrammable moment” to your grid or Story. Start by resharing posts or Stories you’re tagged in by loyal customers or followers. Not only can this expand your reach, but it can turn more followers into customers.  

Regramming share-worthy content from other creators like beautiful photography or anything that will make your followers stop scrolling and feel good when they see it adds variety to your grid.

Note: Make sure you’re asking for permission to reshare on your grid and always credit the original creator by tagging them or giving them a shout-out in your caption.  

7. Share Recaps of your Instagram Lives or In-Person Events  

Hosting Instagram Lives can increase discoverability, connect to your followers, and broaden your audience by hosting discussions, sharing and demonstrating new products, or answering questions from your followers in real-time. But in case your followers missed your Live, you can recap it on your feed. Create a summary of everything discussed. You can even save your Live session and post it to your story or Instagram TV for followers who weren’t able to attend. In your recap, you can link to the video to learn more in-depth than your recap slides.

8. Behind-The-Scenes (BTS)

Followers love a behind-the-scenes look into your brand or company. Share BTS content on your grid or Story. Former Special Projects Editor for Instyle, Peyton Dix, shared a BTS look for a photoshoot she pitched and helped direct. Try this out with your product photoshoots.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CRg_nBXjjO3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link