We all know Instagram, the app that we use to share our vacation pictures, follow content creators we admire and like to learn from, or even use to make money online. Instagram allows us to follow others, like and comment on posts, and send private messages. One of the cool things is that we can edit our content with filters to make the picture you took of your morning coffee look even better.
The Instagram app was launched in October 2010 and now has over 2 billion active users every month. Did you know that the United States is number two on the list of Instagram users by country? Number one is… India! With 400+ users, India has the highest number of Instagram users worldwide. After that, the United States follows with a user count of 170+ million.
Isn’t that just mind-blowing? And we are all looking for the best things to post, so here are some examples for you to try out, including free apps to use and GIF’s and GIPHY’s you can only find here!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to purchase via my links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Please read my disclaimer for more info.
What is Instagram
The IG app is a great place to connect with friends and discover new creators and businesses. Instagram is a free social media platform, so anyone can join easily. Simply create an account and start following other accounts. The most popular content is Funny content, followed by creative, informative, and relaxing content. Let’s be honest, who hasn’t seen funny cat videos? I have to admit I scroll on the app every day, and it just makes me feel good.
I had to look it up, but the most popular accounts on Instagram are people like footballer Cristiano Ronaldo (@cristiano), singer and actress Selena Gomez (@selenagomez), and reality TV star and businesswoman Kylie Jenner (@kyliejenner). But the official Instagram account (@instagram) holds the top spot with over 694 million followers!
Instagram Stories
Stories are my favorite to post! Stories are photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours, and they are perfect to share my breakfast or outfit of the day, without having to post it on my grid as a permanent post.Â
These temporary posts (stories) are displayed in a slideshow format at the top of your followers’ feeds, making them a great tool for sharing quick, informal updates and behind-the-scenes content. I always like to enhance the picture of the video with interactive elements like polls and quizzes, and I always add matching music and text.
If you want, you can also choose to save your stories permanently in your “Highlights”. For example, I have a highlight called “Vacation”, so I can watch all the best stories again at a later time.
What is the difference between Instagram story and post?
Unlike stories, Instagram posts are evergreen. That means they stay in your profile grid forever unless you delete them. This means your vacation pics will be there forever, so you can look them up to remember how your vacation in Europe was 3 years ago. Or that amazing day at your friend’s wedding.
Evergreen posts tend to get more views and likes over time as people check out your profile, so over time, the uptake might be greater. These can also contribute significantly to your web traffic. I found out that when I post just one story (in 24 hours), it gets way more views than when I post 3-5 stories. You can try it out if you like; it also works for you.
Instagram Stories offer interactive features like polls, questions, and quizzes. Right now, Posts don’t have these features. Maybe in the future it will, I don’t know. It’s always changing and improving. Instagram posts can have pretty long captions of up to 2,200 characters. I didn’t say you should write an essay on your posts, but you can if you want to tell more.
Use Canva to make the best stories for Instagram
Here Are The Best Instagram Story Ideas
Now, let’s see if you ever tried these story ideas! Here are the best Instagram story ideas: sharing behind-the-scenes content, running polls and Q&As, creating interactive content like contests and giveaways, posting tutorials, curating user-generated content, and (if you want to make money on Instagram) using branded templates or graphics for visual consistency. So people can recognize your brand.
It’s also mostly appreciated among followers when you share personal insights, ask your followers for advice, repost relevant memes or articles, and use Instagram’s built-in features like GIFs, music, location tags, and interactive stickers. This way, you will increase engagement.Â
GIF’s For Your Story on Instagram
I use Giphy’s library to find and add animated GIFs to my Instagram Stories. If you want to try this, open your Instagram Story, tap the Sticker icon (the square smiley face), and select the GIF button. You can then search Giphy for a specific GIF or browse trending options to add to your story.
You can then resize and place it as you wish. These animated stickers are provided through a partnership with GIPHY and can be used to add fun and personality to your content. Here are a few examples of Giphy’s to try out, that no one knows about: Wamara, Lizmosley, Haley ivers, Cherryrabbit, and Chicayeye.
Best Hashtags for Instagram
Don’t forget to add a hashtag, it can help you grow your Instagram account, and they are used for content categorization. The best and most popular hashtags of this moment are: #insta #instagram #instagood #instadaily #love #instalike #like #follow #photography #happy. You can use 1-3 hashtags if you like.
Happy Birthday Instagram Story template
Many people are looking for original ideas to post in their stories for birthdays, to let the world know that it’s their loved one’s special day today! If you don’t just want to post a picture, you should know there are many free customizable birthday templates available.
You can find these free templates on Canva and also on apps like Story Lab or UniStory. Story Lab is an Instagram story editor for photos and video. They have over 1300+ IG story templates, so you can scroll around and see if there is a template you like to use. This is what Story Lab looks like:
Business Growth
When you are selling something, and you want to grow your business online, social media is a great way to promote your products. And the best part is, you can do it for free! The app is free, and it just takes time to post on Instagram. More followers usually means more sales, so when you do it right, you can build your brand online and connect with like-minded people and entrepreneurs.
When you are ready to take your business to the next level, it would be wise to take a course and learn from someone who made it on IG. Learn how you can grow on Instagram, and find out what suits you best. You can’t just post and hope for the best; you need a strategy. A lot of people made a lot of money using Instagram, so why would you? “Selling in Stories” is a real thing!
Why Instagram Stories Matter
So, whether you’re just sharing a funny cat video, celebrating your best friend’s birthday with a story template, or building a brand to grow your business, Instagram gives you all the tools you need. Stories, posts, hashtags, GIFs, each one helps you connect, express yourself, and even reach new opportunities.
At the end of the day, it’s not just about posting the perfect picture or video; it’s about sharing moments, starting conversations, and being part of a global community. So go ahead, open the app, and start creating your own stories. Who knows? Your next post might just inspire someone else’s scroll.
It’s time to tell your Story
  
 
 
