Instagram stories are slept on. This powerful tool serves as a great way not only to present yourself to customers but also to engage with them. 

It's challenging to appear on someone's Instagram feed due to the number of accounts they follow. You are competing with potentially hundreds of other accounts, which is why it's beneficial to utilize everything at your disposal, including Instagram Stories.

But how?

Keep reading to find out. In this article, we'll discuss how Instagram Stories are powerful tools for small businesses and showcase a few ideas from various industries. 

Why Instagram Stories Matter for Local Engagement

So, why do Instagram Stories matter? What's the big deal with the glowing circles on your screen? Instagram Stories offer your business more potential exposure.

Think about it. About 2 billion people globally actively use Instagram. From this number, over 500 million are daily users, and they constantly watch stories. Approximately 70% of Instagram users watch stories daily.

They are bite-sized shots in the life of a business.

Another reason Instagram Stories matter is that the glowing, colorful circle is hard to ignore. It gives your business top-of-feed visibility, increasing your chances of more frequent engagement. And the more a user engages with your content, the more likely the algorithm will push more stories and posts their way.

Stories are especially important for small businesses that use geotags. These are tags placed on posts, including Stories, that showcase where your business resides. Using geotags can draw more people to visit your business quickly or at least dm to book an appointment.

How the Instagram Story algorithm works in 2025

The Instagram algorithm is more complicated than you'd think. Really, it's not just one algorithm but multiple processes. Still, there are ways to utilize the system for your small business.

There are several factors that Instagram considers, starting with engagement. The more people engage with your posts and stories, the more likely the algorithm is to push your content to other people. 

Engagement, though, is just one small piece of the puzzle. Instagram also rewards relationships, which is closely related to engagement. Not only does the algorithm push your stories to new people if there is interaction, but it also prioritizes the relationship between you and your current followers.

After engagement and relationships, timeliness is a key factor on Instagram. How quickly do you respond to comments or DMs? Interest is next, which once again is all about engagement. For instance, let's say you own a cat cafe. If Instagram users are constantly engaging with cat content, the algorithm may push your Story to their eyes.

This primarily works if you include a geotag of your location.

The last thing the Instagram algorithm prioritises is consistency. This goes for you, the small business, and the user interacting with your content. The more you post, the better your chances are on Instagram of promoting your content.

However, the more an Instagram user interacts with your content consistently, the more likely your stories and posts appear on their feed.

Interestingly, though, what really drives engagement with the Instagram algorithm is authenticity and relatability. People are tired of boring and fake content.

They crave genuine Stories. According to a 2024 report, 63% of Instagram users see authentic content. And they want more!

Creative Instagram Story Ideas by Industry

Now, what you're here for: Instagram Stories content ideas. To make this section easier and more beneficial for you, we are breaking it down by industry. 

Real Estate Social Media Strategy: A Comprehensive Guide & Template

Read the guide

Real Estate

You can accomplish a great deal with a real estate account and business. The sky is the limit with your posts.

A popular Instagram Story idea that many real estate agents utilize is new listings. One image can be used in various ways to advertise. Instead of just posting your listings as posts, also add them to your Story.

You can even share an Instagram post of new listings to your Story, directing users to the original post.

Down below is an example of a real estate agent posting their new listing on their Story.

Neighborhood spotlights are another excellent way to utilize Stories. This is a great way to interact with potential homebuyers by showcasing your credibility and knowledge. Highlight the neighborhoods you work in directly and their unique charms. 

People love authenticity, which is why it's best to introduce yourself and continue posting small tidbits and facts. Staff intros feel personal. Your users can get to know you behind a screen, which helps establish trust.

Open houses are huge in real estate. These are events that allow multiple interested users to attend and view a space simultaneously. To remind people and grow excitement over an open house, you can post open house countdowns to your Story. 

Dental/Vet Clinics

Not everyone is in real estate. For those who work in vet or dental offices, there is a long list of things you can post on your Story to grab a user's attention.

Just like real estate agents, vets and dental offices can establish trust, reliability, and connection by posting staff introductions.

Anyone who is comfortable in your office can be given a spotlight post or two. This doesn't have to be every day, either. Instead, you can create a 'Staff Member of the Week' post with some fun facts.

Patient confidentiality is tricky. However, there are ways to showcase your work without revealing your clients. Dentists can take pictures and post their surgeries, dental cleanings, and overall work as proof of their quality of care.

Vets have it easier. Pets don't need as much privacy as humans. To engage with your audience (if you work in a vet office), you can create Pet of the Week posts and competitions.

Whichever winner receives a gift card, treat, or discount and a highlight on your Stories.

Educational content thrives on Instagram. People love to learn. In between posting about your staff, you can also include tips on oral and pet care. To keep people engaging and going through your Stories, post multiple pages that users need to click through. 

The example below shows a local dentist office posting a credible news source on their Story!

Promotions should also go on your stories. Are you running a special on teeth whitening? Or do you have a vet referral program? Post them on your Story. 

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Car Dealerships

Car dealerships can also utilize Instagram Stories to keep their place thriving. In the UK, car enthusiasts check out cars as many as 15 times a day.

Cars are very visual products, meaning you have a lot of room to play with posting Instagram Stories. One way to use Stories is to update users on new inventory.

When your car dealership receives a new car, post reels showcasing the inside and outside, highlighting the vehicle's pros.

Images also work. The car dealership below frequently posts their new inventory with a CTA.

The same content can be cross-posted as a main post on your account to reach a wider audience.

How can social media users trust that your car is as good as it looks? Apart from just showcasing new inventory, also make demos.

Highlight the speakers, the smooth seats, and any SMART technology features the car comes with.

Trust is a significant component of social media for small business owners. To get your customers to trust your dealership, you can post Stories with service tips. These tips can include things like information on when to complete an oil change and how to check if your car needs an alignment.

Lastly, focus on the positive stories that emerge from your dealership. With permission, when a client leaves with a new car, take pictures and videos of the pick-up. You can also include information like the price and similar vehicles currently in stock.

Restaurants

Restaurant content is similar to cars, where there are so many ideas to choose from. 

One thing to focus on when posting on your Stories is the daily, weekly, or seasonal specials. What's your lunch special of the day? And for how many hours does it run? Posting a quick Story can lead to walk-in customers excited for a deal.

Behind-the-scenes content is pretty popular online. Social media users want to know about where they are shopping and how their dishes are made. This doesn't mean just posting a quick snap of your clean kitchen, but instead a reel plating your most popular dish or of a cook prepping veggies for the next day.

A perfect example of this is down below, where a bakery reposted a user’s Story about the restaurant. It featured behind-the-scenes shots.

Teasing content is also engaging. Is there an event happening at your restaurant? Tease it by posting a countdown starting 7 days before. This keeps the event fresh in a user's mind while also driving up interest and anticipation.

Bonus: Tips To Increase Engagement

While there is nothing wrong with adding a simple picture or video to your Story, there are better ways to draw engagement.

Instagram Stories allows you to create polls and quizzes. Let's say you post your lunch specials on your Story. Instead of including the menu and leaving it at that, create a poll. 

Ask your audience which lunch special they are most excited about.

Quizzes are fun. Test your audience with this Story feature to further engage with them. After a few hours or a day, post the results of the quiz or poll!

Consistent posting is also super important. It's okay if you only post once a day, but it has to stay that way. The more you post, though, the more chances you have at grabbing a new user's attention.

You aren’t alone when posting content. Posting so much content can feel overwhelming and exhausting. Using a social media scheduling tool, like Sendible, can make your life easier. 

CTAs (calls to action) aren't used enough, but they are essential when posting anywhere. While a picture might grab someone's attention, is it enough to keep them there? What do they do after? Add a CTA urging the user to do something.

If you're a dealership, this would be checking out their website and inventory. For restaurants, you can link to your menu.

Finally, repurpose content from customers. This adds credibility and boosts trust. If a customer tagged your business in their Story with the product/service, repost it to your account!

FAQ Section

• Are Stories better than Reels for engagement?

Although Instagram Reels and Stories are both important, Reels are better for engagement. They have a larger reach compared to Stories, which are almost entirely limited to those who follow you.

• Do location tags boost reach?

Location tags boost reach on Instagram because they target a specific audience. Adding location tags as a small business is super important, so your content doesn't spread to a location it isn't offered in.

• How often should businesses post Stories?

Businesses should post Stories as many as 1 - 7 times a day.