Instagram stories are nearly as important as the content you post to the feed itself! Here are all the tips you need to take them to the next level.
I really love using Instagram stories to connect with my friends and followers. In fact, I sometimes enjoy stories way more than my feed because they allow me to be more candid, goofy, and vulnerable. This part of the app has allowed me to open up in ways a static photo never can, and typically my stories are viewed more frequently than my feed – so it’s a great space for me to share what’s on my mind.
Instagram has provided plenty of great in-app options to make your stories look fantastic, and I utilize them all on a regular basis! However, I also enjoy upping my game with outside apps to create cool templates, fun filters, or intriguing text designs. I want to give you a run-through of the best uses for both in-app content as well as alternative programs!
Mix and match styles and sizes, add symbols, utilize backgrounds, and play with colors for the best story!
You can use the eyedropper tool for text and marker color-choosing within the photo itself. You can also press down on one of the rainbow colors along the bottom of the screen to see the entire color palette.
Highlight any text, bring up the color palette, and undo your highlight with one hand while scrolling along the colors with the other to create an ombré effect!
Place your text in the most aesthetically-pleasing spot, and use text backgrounds or the marker tool to make it visible.
Always add your location (you can search for a specific spot if you’re posting at a later time). Tag the spot if you please. This helps you reach a larger audience – and tagging the location, product, or otherwise allows the person running that account to repost you!
Use hashtags that relate to the post. You can also utilize plain text for your hashtags and “hide” them by pinching with your fingers and making the text incredibly small, then using the color dropper to pick a color within the photo and placing the text over that location to “blend” it in.
Gifs are fun too! Relate them to your photo or video, make them playful or sarcastic, and grab peoples’ attention by having them be extra bold or wordy!
Along the sides of your Instagram story screen are grid-lines. These light up in blue when you move text, gifs, or otherwise towards the outer edges of your screen. Don’t pass them! If you do, your content will be hidden by the top bar, bottom text bar, or sides when people are swiping through. Be mindful!
Take advantage of Instagram’s options. Polls, questions, ratings, and quizzes allow you to engage with your audience. Get sassy and fun with these, and add them whenever you can! The more people engage with your stories, the more you’ll show up at the top of their feed!
Music is awesome, but make sure to actually choose something specific, rather than just always opting for the top picks the app suggests for you. I like to search for songs that relate to the content, or use music that I’d like for my audience to discover!
The Top 10 Apps to Take Your Instagram Stories to the Next Level
Unfold //
This app is my absolute favorite outside of Instagram itself when it comes to quality IG story content. There are tons of templates, fonts, and styles to choose from when it comes to curating something especially beautiful and aesthetically-pleasing on your story.
Canva //
You can use this program for way more than just Instagram stories. I create all my Pinterest headers, infographics, and more with the desktop version – but it’s also fabulous for fun story templates and even story highlight covers!
StoriesEdit //
This is an app created by Planoly and I love how you can really brand all your stories by using it regularly. I tend to pick and choose and not stick to a certain branding style for my stories, but it really is an excellent option for a modern look.
8mm //
I downloaded this after seeing a couple of my favorite bloggers use a beautiful, film-like filter across their stories. I discovered it wasn’t a filter, but an app that allows you to capture professional video in an old-timey style.
SNOW //
This is basically an alternative version of Snapchat that’s really popular in Asia, but I only use it for the filters. It makes your skin look really nice but gives you the option to turn up or down the intensity of the filters, unlike Snapchat or Instagram.
HUJI //
This app was really popular for a while, letting you snap photos that look like they were taken on a Fujifilm Instax or Polaroid camera. I like it for the occasional artsy photo.
Storyluxe //
Similar to Unfold, this app has templates that are incredibly aesthetically-pleasing. The only downside is that you can’t move the photos around or zoom them in the same way you can on Unfold – but there are way more template options.
Nichi //
I just discovered this app recently and have yet to discover every fabulous thing about it, but I do know that it’s a lot of fun if you enjoy adding stickers to your stories (rather than just gifs). It also has some really cool font options and the styling is very ethereal and bohemian.
Filmm //
Another recent download of mine, but I’ve been loving it for filming on IGTV especially (something I’m just now diving into). It gives you filters, effects, and tons more options for video and makes your content look really neat!
Splice //
If you’ve filmed an especially long video and want to chop it up, add transitions, feature music, or include captioning – this is an awesome app option. Instagram stories seem to sometimes glitch and only allows you to upload 4 videos at a time, so this gives you the freedom to “splice” everything into 15-second intervals to upload in series!
Related Posts: 25 Instagram Accounts You Should Be Following // 20 Products That Help You Slay Flatlay Photography
What do you use to spice up your Instagram stories?
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Hillary Conheady says
This is such a great guide! I need to remember to use hashtags!
Summer says
This is so good, Stephanie! I LOVE how you did the examples with the Story screenshots – so creative, girly! Love, love that. I have some new apps I need to download 🙂
Hillary Conheady says
This is such a great guide! I need to remember to use hashtags!
Maggie says
This guide is amazinggggg! I never thought of a lot of these, so I’m going to start doing them!
Summer says
This is so good, Stephanie! I LOVE how you did the examples with the Story screenshots – so creative, girly! Love, love that. I have some new apps I need to download 🙂
Donna says
Fantastic info!!!
Kasey Holloway says
I use a lot of these apps and really enjoy them! I love using Unfold especially! Also, I always forget to put hashtags in my story, but I need to remember how important they are!
Lizzie says
Okay, this is seriously the best post ever! Stories are not my strong point so I’m really excited to start implementing some of your tips!
Lizzie
http://www.lizzieinlace.com
Donna says
Fantastic info!!!
Lee says
These are such great tips! I had no idea you could create ombre text like that- definitely going to try that!!
Kasey Holloway says
I use a lot of these apps and really enjoy them! I love using Unfold especially! Also, I always forget to put hashtags in my story, but I need to remember how important they are!
Tanvi Rastogi says
So many new apps to check out. Thanks lady!!! I didn’t know about a lot of them.
❥ tanvii.com
Alix Maza says
Oooh so many IGS apps! I tend to just use Unfold, I’ll check the others out.
Azanique S Rawl says
I totally need to up my story game! I currently use Canva but had no idea about these other apps. Thanks for sharing babe 🙂
-xo, Azanique | https://www.lotsofsass.com
Candace Hampton says
This is really useful. Thanks you so much for such a detailed post. By reading I realized that there’s a lot of tools that I’m not using. Thanks for sharing your secrets<3
Candace Hampton
http://www.thebeautybeau.com
Lee says
These are such great tips! I had no idea you could create ombre text like that- definitely going to try that!!
Lecy | A Simpler Grace says
These are such fun tips! I have noticed that some people are spending more time on their stories rather than the pictures on their main feed. There are so many neat features to try!
Alix Maza says
Oooh so many IGS apps! I tend to just use Unfold, I’ll check the others out.
Azanique S Rawl says
I totally need to up my story game! I currently use Canva but had no idea about these other apps. Thanks for sharing babe 🙂
-xo, Azanique | https://www.lotsofsass.com
Kileen says
I love this post babe, definitely need to check out and download all of these apps!! So helpful, thanks for sharing!
Kileen
cute & little
Erin says
I really suck at stories. I never use them. Your tips rock!
Candace Hampton says
This is really useful. Thanks you so much for such a detailed post. By reading I realized that there’s a lot of tools that I’m not using. Thanks for sharing your secrets<3
Candace Hampton
http://www.thebeautybeau.com
Lecy | A Simpler Grace says
These are such fun tips! I have noticed that some people are spending more time on their stories rather than the pictures on their main feed. There are so many neat features to try!
Greta says
I have the worst time with Instagram stories. Your tips are so helpful!
Indya | The Small Adventurer says
I have also fallen in love with Instagram Stories! I LOVE watching other people’s; it’s one of the first things I do when I come home from work 😂 I’m trying to make my Stories are aesthetically pleasing as my feed is though, as so far it really hasn’t been, so I’m downloading some of these apps now! Hope they help.
Carolyn says
Wow, what a very helpful post! I learned about a lot of new apps that I didn’t know about before. I agree on that sometimes I love stories more, but I can get a bit lazy with it. Though being able to add fun gifs and polls is really cool!
Yolanda says
This is such a fantastic resource and so helpful! I’ll be referring back to for sure. Instagram hasn’t been a big focus for me just yet, but I know that it will help secure more relationships, opportunities and engagement over time.
Sarah Lindner says
Thanks so much for sharing this! I am always looking for new apps to try out!
xoxo Sarah
Caila Quinn says
Wait… this blog post was so helpful. Love how you combined fonts and made text stand out! Truly inspired 😀
rebecca says
you always have the best tips!!!! so important
xx reb
Becky says
I am so bad at instagram stories. I’m never sure what to put on my feed and what to put in stories!
Em says
This is such a fun post filled with helpful info!
Crystal // Dreams, etc. says
Love these app suggestions! I really need to use them more when putting together Stories!
Anna English says
Okay, I love this post! I’m heading on vacation tomorrow, so I just downloaded a few of these to create some fun new content! Thanks for sharing your secrets with us girl.
Taylor Mobley says
Uhm ok story queen. I am the worst with pretty stories.
Deborah says
These are such great tips! I tend to just share what I’m reading on Stories but I really need to get on that IG Stories game!
I LOVE using Unfold for my stories!
Kristen says
I love these tips. I always forget to add my location, such a great idea to do it and reach more of an audience.
Laura S says
I LOVE this! As someone who is just jumping back in the game of IG stories, I definitely needed to read this today!
Lily says
This was SO helpful! I tend to be a bit “boring” with my stories — but I rarely have the time to make everything look super pretty like you. I definitely need to amp up my game.
Carmen Edelson says
Okay it’s good to know that Unfold is your favorite! I downloaded it recently and have been using that so far so good 🙂
Laura Leigh says
You rock Instagram stories lady! And absolutely rocked it with this post. I love all of your advice and how you styled your Instagram stories.
xo Laura Leigh
http://www.louellareese.com
Jasmine Vargas says
I just downloaded a few of these apps. I can’t wait to use them.
Kenzi - Life of a Sister says
I just downloaded Nichi! I have some of these apps and I love them! I love “hiding” the hashtags so they don’t clog up the picture, I also hide them behind tags too.
Morgan says
You’re an Insta story pro!! I only use Unfold to help me “up my game” but need to check out the other apps you mentioned!
-Morgan
How 2 Wear It [] http://how2wearit.com
Tonya Morris says
These are awesome tips! I love the stories you created as examples!
Deanie says
These are such great tips!! I hate doing videos on Instagram stories 😂 Bookmarking this to reference when I need it.
Xo, Deanie
Julia Comil says
This is such a great post! IG story is so complicated with all its amazing functionalities!
Laura says
Absolutely loved reading this post! I love your tips for utilizing Instastories to their full potential! And love the stories you created to help show what you’re talking about!
xo, Laura
Denise Kokinis says
This was seriously so helpful! So many good tips and tricks for stories! I love how you showed examples of how to do these, especially to show how you eliminate negative space. These tips are some I need to start using for my account and get a little bit better at.
Denise | Fashion Love Letters
lyn says
This is such an awesome guide! I have to try to remember these tips. Thank you so much for sharing!
Nailil says
This is an awesome IG Story guide. So many good points.
Xx, Nailil
http://thirtyminusone.com
Tanvi Rastogi says
So many new apps to check out. Thanks lady!!! I didn’t know about a lot of them.
❥ tanvii.com
Kileen says
I love this post babe, definitely need to check out and download all of these apps!! So helpful, thanks for sharing!
Kileen
cute & little
Erin says
I really suck at stories. I never use them. Your tips rock!