When it comes to growing on Instagram, stories are your secret weapon. They’re casual, short-lived, and personal, making them one of the best ways to connect with your audience in real time. Whether you’re a creator, business owner, or educator, your stories can help you show up consistently and stay top of mind.

If you’re ever stuck on what to post, we’ve rounded up fresh Instagram Story ideas organized by niche to help you plan your content more easily.

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For Creators & Influencers

Goal: Build connections and keep your audience engaged between posts.

Your audience follows you for you—your personality, routines, and lifestyle. Stories are the perfect place to pull back the curtain a bit.

Try these ideas:

• “Day in My Life” snippets (morning routine, editing setup, errands)
• “This or That” polls related to your niche or favorite brands
• Weekly Q&A: “Ask me anything about [your topic]”
• Unfiltered, behind-the-scenes clips of your content process 
• Share your favorite tools or apps (like Planoly!)
• Brand collaborations or product shoutouts
• “Things I’m Loving This Week” roundup
• Throwback to old content with a “look how far I’ve come” caption
• Link sticker to your latest video, blog, or affiliate code

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For Small Businesses & Brands

Goal: Drive sales, showcase your products, and build community.

Stories help humanize your brand and make your audience feel like insiders.

Try these ideas:

• Product restock or “back in stock” alerts
• Behind-the-scenes: packaging, shipping, or creative process
• Customer reviews and user-generated content
• “Meet the team” or “Day in the studio”
• Quick tutorials or product demos
• “Guess what’s launching next?” polls
• Founder tips or business insights
• Limited-time offer countdowns
• Product bundles or seasonal highlights

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For Coaches, Educators, & Service Providers

Goal: Build authority and educate your audience.

Stories are a great way to simplify big ideas and show your personality while you teach.

Try these ideas:

• “Did you know?” quick tips or myths in your niche
• 1-minute educational clips or mini-lessons
• Client testimonials or transformations
• Polls: “What do you struggle with most in [topic]?”
• Freebie or resource sneak peek
• “Behind the scenes” of your process or workspace
• Weekly checklist or productivity reminder
• “Office hours” — invite questions or DMs
• Recap your latest podcast or webinar
• Favorite tools or software shoutouts

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For Travel & Lifestyle Creators

Goal: Inspire and visually engage your audience.

Your followers want to experience the world through your lens—make them feel like they’re along for the ride.

Try these ideas:

• Travel recaps or highlight reels
• “Where to next?” polls
• Packing tips or travel hacks
• Food diaries or local restaurant finds
• Itinerary sneak peeks: “24 hours in [city]”
• Location tags + geosticker guides
• Favorite travel photos with “save for inspo” captions
• “Before/After vacation” humor posts
• Plane playlist or outfit flat lays
• Weekend recap stories

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For Health, Fitness & Wellness

Goal: Motivate and inspire your community.

Consistency is key for wellness creators—and Stories help you stay connected daily.

Try these ideas:

• Morning routine or “reset” check-ins
• Workout challenges or progress updates
• Healthy snack or smoothie recipes
• Affirmations or motivational quotes
• Polls: “Did you hit your goal today?”
• “Sunday reset” or weekly prep routines
• Share your top wellness tools or apps
• Mini meditations or mindfulness prompts
• Transformation timelines
• Quick tip of the day

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For Digital Product Creators & Online Sellers

Goal: Showcase your products and drive conversions.

If you sell templates, courses, or guides, use Stories to highlight value and build curiosity.

Try these ideas:

• New product or template drops
• Customer testimonials or screenshots
• “Behind my latest launch” stories
• Quick product tutorials
• “Here’s what I learned creating this” insights
• Bundle or promo countdowns
• Poll: “Would you use this template?”
• Monthly income or business wins
• Highlight FAQs or support messages
• Share a sneak peek of your next digital drop

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Plan Your Stories with Planoly

Once you’ve chosen your favorite Story ideas, schedule them in Planoly to stay consistent (without feeling overwhelmed). With Planoly’s Social Planner, you can upload, organize, and plan your Stories alongside your other posts, making your content workflow more efficient.

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