How To Double Your Instagram Growth and Engagement Using Stories

Whether you’re just starting out or not, there’s always room to optimize your Instagram growth strategy and boost engagement.

Hollie Campbell

Feb 20, 2025

How To Double Your Instagram Growth and Engagement Using Stories

You’re using Instagram Stories wrong.

Yes, that’s a bold statement – but hear me out. Whether you’re just starting out with Instagram or already have a solid follower base, there’s always room to optimize your Instagram growth strategy and boost your engagement.

With the right approach, you can double (or even triple) your Instagram engagement. Here’s how.

1. Consistency Is Key

First things first: showing up regularly is non-negotiable if you want to grow your Instagram presence. Think of Instagram Stories as your own TV show. If your favorite show aired randomly, you’d lose interest, right? The same logic applies to your followers. Consistent posting helps the Instagram algorithm favor your content, leading to increased organic reach and follower growth.

Aim to post on Stories daily

This may sound daunting, but your Stories don’t need to be polished or professionally edited. Authenticity is what Instagram users crave. Document your daily life, share behind-the-scenes content, or even hop on to say a quick hello. Successful Instagram accounts foster communities by consistently posting engaging content that connects with their audience.

Mix Up Your Content

Keep things fresh by varying the type of content you share. Some ideas:

Quick tips: Share helpful advice related to your niche.

Behind-the-scenes moments: Show your workspace, daily routines, or creative process.

Q&A sessions: Use the question sticker to connect directly with your audience.

Personal updates: Share a funny story or relatable moment from your day.

Creating effective Instagram posts that are optimized with the right keywords and captions is crucial for enhancing SEO visibility. Strategic planning of Instagram posts, including scheduling, audience engagement, and experimenting with various post formats, can maximize interaction and reach.

By consistently showing up and mixing your content, you’ll not only stay at the top of your followers’ feeds but also signal to Instagram’s algorithm that your account is active and worth promoting. And don’t worry about perfection – Instagram Stories thrive on authenticity.

Engage Even On Busy Days

We get it – life happens. On days when you’re too busy or uninspired to create, lean on user-generated content (UGC) or simpler interactions like polls, quotes, or quick shoutouts to engage with your Instagram followers. Sharing content from your followers is a great way to keep your account active without additional effort.

Why Consistency Matters

Consistency builds trust. When your followers know you’ll show up regularly, they’re more likely to engage with your content – which is the foundation for organic Instagram growth.

2. Leverage Interactive Stickers

Instagram Stories offers interactive stickers designed to boost engagement. These include polls, questions, quizzes, and emoji sliders. Here’s how to use them effectively:

Using interactive stickers can help gain more followers by encouraging audience participation and fostering a sense of community.

Polls

Polls are an easy way to encourage participation. For example, ask your followers something like, “Which outfit should I wear today?” or “What’s your favorite travel destination?” Not only do you get instant feedback, but your target audience feels involved.

Questions

Questions allow followers to submit their thoughts, giving you an opportunity to interact directly. For example, post a sticker saying, “Ask me anything about [your niche],” and answer the best questions. It’s a great way to showcase expertise, create meaningful connections, and engage with your Instagram followers.

Quizzes

Quizzes are both fun and educational. If you’re in the fitness space, you might ask, “Which food has the most protein?” or run industry-specific trivia. These gamify your Stories, making them more memorable. Additionally, quizzes can help favor Instagram's algorithm by increasing engagement and leveraging current trends to boost content visibility.

Emoji Sliders

Ask your audience something like, “How excited are you for the weekend?” and use emoji sliders to let followers express themselves visually. It’s a simple, playful way to gauge sentiment.

Every interaction – even small ones – boosts your engagement rate. Instagram’s algorithm prioritizes content that gets interactions, so the more people tap, swipe, or vote, the more visibility you’ll gain.

3. Share User-Generated Content

Instagram accounts are a goldmine for engagement. They show your audience that you value and appreciate them. Plus, they take some pressure off your content creation schedule. Here’s how to do it:

Create A Branded Hashtag

Develop a unique hashtag for your brand or campaign. For instance, if you run a fitness page called “FitLife,” create a hashtag like #FitLifeCommunity. Encourage your audience to use this hashtag whenever they post relevant content. Using relevant hashtags can help your content appear in users' feeds and on the explore page, enhancing visibility and engagement.

Run Contests or Challenges to Engage Your Target Audience

Launch a fun challenge, such as “Share your favorite workout routine,” and ask participants to tag your account and use your branded hashtag. Offering small prizes or features can generate excitement and participation. Running contests like these can help you gain more Instagram followers by encouraging organic engagement and fostering a sense of community.

Share and Acknowledge Contributions

Regularly check your mentions and tagged posts. Share high-quality content on your Stories with a personalized note, such as, “Thanks for sharing!” or “We love this!” Acknowledgment fosters a sense of community.

Sharing UGC not only strengthens relationships with your existing followers but also inspires potential followers to engage with your account.

4. Use Story Highlights Strategically

Story Highlights allow you to keep your Stories permanently visible on your Instagram profile. They’re like curated playlists for your best content—a great way to make an impact on new followers.

Incorporating Story Highlights into your Instagram marketing strategy can help you achieve business goals by engaging your audience with consistent and relevant content.

Create Highlight Categories

Organize your Highlights based on themes that align with your brand. For example:

FAQs: Answer common questions about your products or services.

Tutorials: Step-by-step guides related to your niche.

Customer Testimonials: Showcase positive feedback from your followers.

Behind-the-Scenes: Give a sneak peek into your creative process.

Product Features: Highlight your products and their unique benefits.

Design Custom Covers

Create visually cohesive covers for your Highlights using tools like Canva. These make your profile look polished and professional.

Highlights ensure that your Stories live beyond their 24-hour expiration, giving both new and returning followers a chance to revisit key content.

5. Maximize Hashtags and Location Tags

Don’t underestimate the power of hashtags and location tags for improving your reach and engagement.

Additionally, schedule Instagram posts in advance to optimize engagement by posting at the best times, thus maximizing visibility in the Instagram algorithm.

Hashtags

Adding hashtags to your Stories makes them discoverable to more Instagram users. Use a combination of broad and niche hashtags – for example, #Travel (broad) and #SoloTravelTips (niche).

Instagram allows up to 10 hashtags per Story. Use them wisely, and if you’re worried about clutter, hide them by resizing or covering them with stickers.

Location Tags

Location tags work like hashtags but target a geographic audience. If you’re running a local business or travel blog, tagging locations can help you connect with nearby Instagram users or those searching for content from specific places.

For example, a coffee shop in New York might tag “Brooklyn Café” to attract local followers. The added visibility can lead to more organic Instagram growth.

Bonus Tips

Track Your Performance

To know what works best for your audience, use Instagram’s built-in analytics. Check which Stories get the most views, replies, or sticker interactions. Adjust your social media strategy based on these insights to keep improving your engagement rate.

Avoid Fake Followers

While growing your follower count might seem appealing, avoid fake followers or bots. These accounts hurt your engagement rate and don’t interact with your content. Focus instead on gaining real followers who are genuinely interested in your brand.

Why Instagram Stories Matter

Instagram Stories aren’t just a fun feature – they’re a powerful tool for growing your follower base, increasing engagement, and building a loyal Instagram community. By posting consistently, using interactive features, and sharing user-generated content, you can take your Instagram account to the next level as part of a comprehensive Instagram growth strategy.

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Create Instagram-Ready Videos With Klippyo

Want to make videos specifically designed for Instagram? Try Klippyo. It’s a simple, user-friendly platform that helps you create eye-catching videos in minutes. Perfect for Instagram Stories, reels, or feed posts, Klippyo offers:

Vertical Video Templates: Tailor-made for Stories and reels.

Customizable Text Overlays: Add captions, subtitles, or bold callouts to grab attention.

Stock Footage and Music: Access a library of visuals and sounds to make your videos stand out.

Drag-and-Drop Editor: No tech skills required – just upload, edit, and share.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re promoting a product, sharing tips, or just connecting with your followers, Klippyo makes video creation a breeze.

Start turning your Instagram strategy into a visually stunning experience today.

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