30+ Instagram Story Ideas & Prompts For a Monthly Plan to Boost Your Business

Lately, have you found yourself posting less on your Instagram feed but still loving the ease and of Stories? If so, you’re not alone! Many of us are shifting our focus to Stories because they feel more authentic and less pressure-filled than reels or posting to our feed. If that sounds like you, this 30-day Instagram Story plan is exactly what you need.

I’m sharing this plan as a derived version straight from the exclusive monthly content membership from Ivory Mix. I wanted to make this as a guide to offer you a daily strategy to keep your stories engaging, relevant, and aligned with your business goals too. Whether you’re launching a product, sharing behind-the-scenes insights, or interacting with your audience, these ideas will help you maintain a strong Instagram presence from inside your daily Stories.;

Before you get started, you may want to jump ahead and grab a copy of my daily story flashcards:

30+ Story Ideas for a Month Long Instagram Plan

Week 1: Building Connection

The first week of your 30-day Instagram Story plan is all about building a genuine connection with your audience. By sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses of your daily work, engaging your followers with relatable questions, and offering quick, actionable tips, you create a more personal and interactive experience. This week is designed to establish trust, foster engagement, and set the stage for deeper relationships with your audience. Through authentic interactions and consistent presence, you’ll strengthen the bond between your brand and your followers.

1. Personal BTS: Start the week by sharing a behind-the-scenes look at your daily work. Let your audience connect with the real you.
2. Poll or Q/A: Engage your audience by asking them a question that’s relevant to their experiences.
3. Promo/Announce: Share any exciting updates or product launches, linking back to your blog for more details.
4. Quick Tip: Offer a bite-sized tip related to your niche to provide immediate value.

5. Reminder: Use a reminder to keep your audience on track, utilizing engagement stickers for interaction.
6. Sneak Peek: Tease an upcoming launch or content to build anticipation.
7. Testimonial: Wrap up the week by sharing customer testimonials or recapping the week’s highlights.

Week 2: Enhancing Engagement

In Week 2, the focus shifts to boosting engagement through interactive and dynamic content. This week, you’ll continue to connect with your audience by using polls, quizzes, and other engaging prompts that invite participation. By sharing sneak peeks and customer testimonials, you keep the momentum going, while weekly recaps encourage reflection and conversation. These strategies not only increase interaction but also deepen your audience’s involvement with your brand, making them feel more connected and valued.

8. Poll or Q/A: Continue to boost interaction with questions that encourage participation.
9. Quick Tip: Share another actionable tip that aligns with your audience’s goals.
10. Promo/Announce: Provide additional details about your latest product or service.
11. Sneak Peek: Keep the excitement going with more teasers for upcoming releases.
12. Poll: Ask your audience to vote on something related to your industry (e.g., product preferences).

13. Behind-the-Scenes Sneak Peek: Share a short clip or image previewing upcoming content or products.
14. Testimonial: Reinforce your credibility with positive feedback from clients or customers.
15. Weekly Recaps: Summarize the week’s activities, inviting your audience to reflect on their own progress.

Want to skip this list and get 500 poll ideas and questions emailed to you instead?  Download the free ideas here.

Week 3: Showcasing Expertise

Week 3 is all about demonstrating your expertise and building authority within your niche. This week, you’ll share stories of overcoming challenges, offer advanced tips, and highlight upcoming events or features that showcase your knowledge and skills. By providing valuable insights and behind-the-scenes looks at your projects, you position yourself as a trusted expert in your field. This week not only reinforces your credibility but also helps to deepen trust with your audience, setting the stage for long-term engagement and loyalty.

16. Personal BTS: Share a story about overcoming a challenge in your business.
17. Poll or Q/A: Ask your audience about their biggest pain points.
18. Personal BTS: Share a photo of your workspace or a day-in-the-life story.
19. Promo/Announce: Highlight any upcoming events or product features.
20. Quick Tip: Provide a more advanced tip that demonstrates your expertise.
21. Reminder: Use a reminder to keep your audience engaged with an ongoing series.
22. Sneak Peek: Offer a behind-the-scenes look at a new project.

23. Testimonial: Share a success story from a customer who used your product.

Week 4: Driving Action

In the final week of your 30-day plan, the focus is on driving meaningful action from your audience. This is where all your efforts come together to inspire your followers to take the next step—whether it’s making a purchase, signing up for your service, or engaging with your latest promotion. Through strategic prompts, special offers, and compelling calls to action, you’ll encourage your audience to move from passive observers to active participants, ultimately driving growth and results for your business.

24. Personal BTS: Reflect on what drives your business forward.
25. Poll or Q/A: Ask a question that encourages your audience to take action.
26. Promo/Announce: Offer a special promotion or limited-time offer.
27. Quick Tip: Share a final tip that encourages immediate implementation.
28. Reminder: Remind your audience of an important deadline or event.
29. Sneak Peek: Tease what’s coming next in your content lineup.
30. Testimonial: Close the month with a powerful testimonial that inspires action.

before diving into the details of how you can batch-create your Instagram Stories, I want to remind you of the incredible value you get by joining our content membership. With access to exclusive templates, story ideas, and a comprehensive monthly plan, you can streamline your content creation and focus on what you do best—growing your business.

Batching Your Instagram Stories with Canva

If you’re into doing things more DIY instead of using templates there are a few things that could help you.

First, you can batch make your Instagram Stories using Canva. This process allows you to create multiple stories in one session, saving you time and ensuring consistency in your branding. By following the steps in our guide on How to Batch Make Instagram Stories on Canva, you’ll learn how to efficiently plan, design, and schedule your stories.

This method is perfect for those who want to stay organized and maintain a consistent presence on Instagram.

POV (Point of View) Instagram Story Ideas & Prompts

If you’re looking for a creative alternative to templates, try using POV (Point of View) prompts in your Instagram Stories. These prompts allow you to create relatable, immersive content that puts your audience directly in the experience. Here are some ideas:

• POV: You’re working from your cozy home office, sipping coffee and tackling the day’s tasks.
• POV: You’re commuting to work, brainstorming your next big idea in the car.
• POV: You’re setting up your workspace for a productive day, organizing your to-do list.
• POV: You’re taking a break, enjoying the view from your home window.

These prompts give your audience a personal glimpse into your world, fostering a deeper connection.

The Story Flashcard Method

One of the keys to keeping your Instagram Stories fresh and organized is using a method I call the “Story Flashcard Method.” By breaking down your story ideas into flashcards, you can quickly pull from a variety of content themes without the stress of last-minute planning.

If you’re a member, you can skip the story creation and use my templates proven story templates that sell! I’ve created 14 sets of canva templates you can use for engaging stories to share with your audience and get them buying and signing up straight from your stories!

But, sometimes templates don’t work for everyone when it comes to creating stories, which is why I’ve also developed this system into a personal app of story prompts that allows you to plan and schedule your story content efficiently from your phone’s home screen.

To get a copy of my flashcard method, click here.

I outline this plan in a recent post on Instagram you should checkout:

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A post shared by Kayla Butler • Ivory Mix • Business Content Ideas (@the_ivorymix)

Or Watch the Video Tutorial:

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A post shared by Kayla Butler • Ivory Mix • Business Content Ideas (@the_ivorymix)

Get more results with a content membership

if you’re ready to start posting more frequently and effectively to your stories, bogs, and social media, but need help, then it’s time to join us in the content membership from Ivory Mix for exclusive access to all the content plans, templates, captions, and strategies you need to succeed.

What Next?

Check out these posts will help you dive deeper into your Instagram Story strategy::

• How to Use Instagram Stories for a Successful Product Launch
• Instagram Stories That Convert
• How to Batch Make Instagram Stories on Canva
• 120 Poll ideas for Instagram Stories