6 Tips to Get More Instagram Story views & Engagement

One of the most common questions I get is:"How can I get more views on my Instagram Stories?"

I totally get it—Instagram Stories are where real connections happen. If your views are low, it’s not just a vanity metric—it’s a sign that your audience isn’t engaging, and that’s something worth fixing.

A few years ago, I struggled with this too. I would post great content, but my views stayed low. That’s when I started testing different strategies—and once I cracked the code, my story views (and engagement) skyrocketed.

Here are six simple yet powerful tips that helped me boost my Instagram Story views—and they can help you too.

1. Use Instagram Polls the Right Way

Instagram polls are one of the best ways to boost engagement, but most people use them wrong.

Here’s the trick: Ask easy questions that everyone can answer.

Don’t ask something complex like:

“What’s your biggest life goal?"

Instead, ask “Coffee or tea?” “Morning or night person?” “Dogs or cats?”

These quick-answer polls encourage more people to engage, which signals to the algorithm that your stories are worth showing to more people.

📌 What happened when I did this?

Every time I used simple, fun polls, my story views increased, and my next few stories got even more engagement.

➡ Lesson: Polls create momentum. Use them to warm up your audience and boost your reach.

2. Use Hidden Hashtags for Extra Reach

A secret growth hack I use? Hidden Instagram hashtags.

Instagram allows 10 hashtags per story, but you don’t want them to clutter your content.

Here’s what I do:

1️⃣ Choose 3-5 relevant hashtags (ex: #marketingtips, #smallbusiness, #femaleentrepreneur).

2️⃣ Shrink them down & hide them behind a sticker, emoji, or GIF.

3️⃣ Watch as your reach expands beyond your followers!

📌 Real Example:When I lived in Chicago, I experimented by using #Philadelphia as a hidden hashtag. Surprisingly, I gained views from people in that area who weren’t even following me!

➡ Lesson: Hashtags work—use them smartly to get more exposure.

3. Ask Questions (But Make Them About Your Audience)

People love talking about themselves—so let them!

Instead of only using the Instagram Story question box to talk about you, flip it and ask about them.

Try questions like:

• ✔️ “What inspired you to start your business?”

• ✔️ “What’s the #1 thing you’re struggling with right now?”

• ✔️ “What’s a goal you want to hit this year?”

What happened when I did this?I saw a huge spike in engagement because my audience felt like I actually cared about their experiences—which I do!

➡ Lesson: Make your followers feel heard, and they’ll keep coming back.

4. Keep It to Six Stories Per Day (Yes, Really!)

One of the biggest mistakes I made early on? Posting too many stories.

Here’s the thing: If you post too few stories, Instagram sees your content as low priority. If you post too many, people tap away—and your engagement drops.

The sweet spot? Around 6 stories per day.

Why?

✔️ It keeps people watching all the way through (which boosts your ranking in the algorithm).

✔️ It prevents burnout (for you & your audience).

My experience:When I cut my daily stories from 15+ to just 6, my completion rate went up—meaning more people were watching until the end.

➡ Lesson: Less is more—focus on quality, not just quantity.

5. Tag People & Give Shoutouts

Want more views instantly? Tag people in your stories.

Here’s why this works:

✔️ When you tag someone, they get notified and might reshare your story to their audience.

✔️ This instantly expands your reach to people who don’t follow you yet.

How to use this:

• Give a shoutout to a follower, mentor, or collaborator.

• Tag brands you love (sometimes they reshare your content!).

• Show appreciation for your clients or students by featuring them.

📌 Real Example:I once tagged a bigger creator in a story after shouting out their book. They reshared it, and I got over 200+ new followers in one day.

➡ Lesson: Collaboration > Competition. Use tags to get more exposure.

6. Take a 24-Hour Break to Reset the Algorithm

If your story views suddenly drop, here’s a simple fix: Take a short break.

Here’s why it works:

When you pause for 24 hours, the Instagram algorithm resets your engagement ranking. When you return with a high-engagement post (like a poll or question), it boosts your views back up.

My experience:I tested this when my views dipped—I took a break for a day, then posted a poll first thing the next day. My views jumped back up higher than before!

➡ Lesson: Sometimes, stepping back helps you come back even stronger.

Final Thoughts: Small Tweaks = Big Growth

If your Instagram Story views are struggling, don’t panic—it’s fixable.

By applying these six simple strategies, I was able to double my views, increase engagement, and attract more clients—all without spending extra time on content.

Quick Recap:

✅ Use Instagram polls strategically to boost interaction.

✅ Hide hashtags for extra reach.

✅ Ask engaging questions about your audience.

✅ Keep it to around six stories per day for better retention.

✅ Tag people & brands to get reshared.

✅ Take a short break to reset your engagement.

Try these out, and watch your Instagram Story views & engagement skyrocket.

Got questions? Drop them in my DMs—I’d love to help!

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