10 Ideas for Instagram Content for When You Feel Stuck

When it comes to your social media strategy, maintaining engagement requires regular posting and interaction. According to the Pew Research Center, roughly 40% of adults use Instagram, with a majority of them visiting the site daily. 

However, generating new ideas in the peak of your season can be a burden to small businesses operating with limited staff. It helps to keep a content calendar scheduled ahead of time as much as possible. A list of themes, ideas, and inspiration is another helpful resource.

Here are ten creative ideas to jumpstart your Instagram account when you're struggling to make creative content.

1: Highlight your values & community

Social media isn't solely for promoting your business and products. It's also an opportunity to show what matters to you. If you are running a local-based business, take time to highlight your favorite companies and what you love about your surroundings. Is there a nearby attraction your audience must-see? Is there a local business that complements your own? Even better than posting about them – team up with them to host a “takeover." Instagram takeovers maximize your exposure and can help you gain new followers.

2: Jump on the bandwagon

Social media algorithms support the latest trends – meaning if you post an Instagram Reel using a popular song, the platform will boost your exposure. Scroll through reels to understand what is trending and grab inspiration. Or choose a song that summarizes the month, like “September" by Earth, Wind, and Fire.

3: Team up with others

Influencer marketing is most common on Instagram. Hootsuite defines a social media influencer as "someone who wields their influence through social media. When you hire an influencer to promote your product or brand, that's influencer marketing." Take time to seek out creative influencers in your area - photographers, filmmakers, travel bloggers, and other artists. You can also invite them to visit your business as a promoter. Costs will vary if you enter a formal agreement.

You may also opt to share your products with partners who can review them on their own channels and help spread the word about your business. Endorsements from other individuals or businesses can help to bolster your following and help you reach new audiences.

4: Check the weather

Talking about the weather is an easy conversation opener, and also works for social media. Is it going to rain this week? Find an old photo related to the weather for reference, or capture the current temperature and talk about how it's impacting you. You may also want to talk about how your products can pair with the current weather.

5: Change the scenery

Step away from your business location. Are products grown or made elsewhere? Take a photo of the process. Photo tip: if a space is messy, use portrait mode on your camera to blur the background. If you can't travel, use crowdsourcing or recruit your friends to send images of your products in use at the beach, on their dining tables, or in local restaurants.

6: Show your expertise

What's your favorite recipe for an in-season crop? Show your audience how it's made and why they should make it too. Are you out in the field harvesting, pruning, or using a new piece of equipment? Provide an educational experience on your process. Your audience will have a deeper appreciation for the skill and care that goes into your products.

7: Find new perspective

Are things looking the same old? Grab a ladder or lie on the ground and see a new angle. Pick up a glass or a leaf and use it in front of your camera to create an effect. Find a pattern or texture you love and use it as the background. Have fun with the colors around you to create different types of images.

8: Turn the camera on yourself

Photos with faces perform 40% better than without faces. We are hard-wired for human connection – so turn on selfie mode and introduce yourself. Feeling camera shy? Introduce your employees. Your customers will feel more connected to your business through your people.

9: Go back in time

Have you been around for 5 or 57 years? Reach back into the vault and drum up some good stories to share about your early years. Or go back and repurpose your older content. This allows you a chance to expand upon an older post, or to revisit a popular post. Recycling your posts also boosts SEO. Use recycling wisely – doing this too much will defeat its purpose.

10: Give a Tour

People love knowing what to expect when they arrive. Show them the latest and greatest, and give them something to look forward to. Take your virtual audience on a walking tour, or focus on an area where you'd like to get more foot traffic. If using Instagram Reels, you can give your post some pep by incorporating fun music as well. 

The possibilities for content within Instagram are vast when you utilize its various content formats including posts, stories, reels, and IGTV. Avoid posting “just to post something."  Give your audience something relevant, thoughtful, educational, entertaining, or novel - something to get them through your door or build loyalty for your brand and product. Once you've used these tips, review your Instagram insights (statistics available from your main profile area) and learn what effectively engages your audience. The results will help guide your future content strategy.

Sources

Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2021

Social Insider, 20 Creative Instagram Post Ideas for Every Business, in 2024

Hootsuite, Social Media Trends, 2024

Social Pilot, 200+ Social Media Statistics And Facts for 2024