Things to Post on Instagram: 23 Fresh Content Ideas to Skyrocket Engagement 

Did you know that the average engagement rate on Instagram is a measly 5%? With over 2 billion active users worldwide, standing out on this visual wonderland is getting tougher by the day. But don't fret! Just spice up your Instagram feed with fresh, creative content, and you can captivate your audience and turn those double-taps into die-hard fans. 

Sound good? Keep reading as we dive into 23 irresistible ideas for Instagram content that are guaranteed to take your engagement from meh to marvelous.

23 Instagram Post Ideas

Rather than bury the lede, here’s a quick overview of our 23 Instagram content ideas: 

1. Repurpose podcast episodes into engaging Instagram carousels

2. Turn blog posts into digestible Instagram slides

3. Extract key points or quotes from your content to create visually stunning carousels

4. Share how-to posts and tutorial breakdowns to showcase your products or services

5. Post industry insights and trend analysis to position yourself as a thought leader

6. Give your audience behind-the-scenes glimpses into your world

7. Ask questions to spark conversations and gather valuable feedback

8. Use poll-style posts to boost engagement and conduct market research

9. Encourage and feature user-generated content (UGC) to build community

10. Share client success stories to build trust and attract new customers

11. Create infographics to break down complex information into easily digestible chunks

12. Design quote cards with inspiring, thought-provoking, or humorous messages

13. Showcase before-and-after comparisons to highlight your products or services' transformative effects

14. Use process breakdowns to give your audience a behind-the-scenes look

15. Develop case studies to showcase a client's journey and the results you achieved

16. Spotlight your team members to humanize your brand and create personal connections

17. Feature customer journey stories focusing on the emotional aspect of their transformation

18. Share your brand story through a series of posts using visuals, text, and video

19. Create lead magnets, such as ebooks or checklists, and share a sneak peek on Instagram

20. Host a series of "Instagram Takeovers" featuring industry experts or influencers

21. Develop mini-training series to provide value and showcase your expertise

22. Use teaser content to pique your audience's curiosity and drive traffic to your website

23. Share testimonials and strong calls-to-action (CTAs) to convert followers into customers

Now that you have our list, let’s break things down a little further so you can become the rockstar on Instagram you deserve to be! 

1. Repurpose podcast episodes into engaging Instagram carousels

If you have a podcast, you're sitting on a goldmine of content that can be repurposed for Instagram. Use Castmagic's AI-powered tools to break down your episodes into bite-sized, visually appealing carousels. Extract the key takeaways, pair them with eye-catching graphics, and create a swipeable masterpiece that delivers value and keeps your audience hooked.

2. Turn blog posts into digestible Instagram slides

Your blog posts are another excellent source of content for Instagram. Distill the main points into digestible slides, add some visual flair, and you've got yourself an Instagram-ready mini-lesson. By maintaining consistent messaging across platforms, you'll strengthen your brand and keep your followers coming back for more.

3. Extract key points or quotes from your content to create visually stunning carousels

Carousels are perfect for sharing knowledge, telling stories, and keeping your audience engaged. Start by identifying the key points or quotes from your audio and video content, then use Castmagic's AI to extract these golden nuggets from your transcripts.

From there, plug the juicy content into Canva or your favorite graphics app, and turn them into a visually stunning carousel. Play around with the design, layout, and formatting to create a cohesive and compelling narrative.

4. Share how-to posts and tutorial breakdowns to showcase your products or services

How-to posts and tutorial breakdowns are a fantastic way to showcase your products or services in action. Walk your followers through the process, share insider tips, and make it easy for them to achieve their desired results. You can even use Castmagic to repurpose your video tutorials into Instagram-friendly captions that can inspire your graphic design.

5. Post industry insights and trend analysis to position yourself as a thought leader

Establish yourself as an authority in your niche by sharing industry insights and trend analysis. Keep your finger on the pulse of your industry, and share your unique perspective on the latest developments. Your followers will appreciate your keen eye and valuable insights, helping to position you as a thought leader.

6. Give your audience behind-the-scenes glimpses into your world

Behind-the-scenes content is a great way to humanize your brand and create a more personal connection with your audience. Give your followers a glimpse into your world, show them the faces behind your brand, and let your personality shine through. You can do this with a combination of Instagram photo posts, carousels, and even Instagram Reels. People buy from people they know, like, and trust, so don’t sleep on this type of content.

7. Ask questions to spark conversations and gather valuable feedback

Engage your audience by asking questions about their preferences, challenges, or opinions on industry-related topics. For example, your graphic could feature a single question splashed across a fun backdrop. 

This simple yet effective tactic not only sparks conversations but also helps you gather valuable feedback. Showing that you value your followers' input helps you foster a sense of community and build stronger relationships.

8. Use poll-style posts to boost engagement and conduct market research

Poll-style posts are another great option for boosting engagement and conducting market research. Use Instagram's built-in poll feature in your Stories or create a carousel post with multiple-choice questions.  

Encourage people to share their thoughts. If you’re using the carousel post option for example, you could say something like, “Do you prefer slide 1, 2, or 3?” As people answer, ask them why they chose that response. Keep the conversation going for maximum engagement!

You can even use the results to inform your future content strategy or product development. 

9. Encourage and feature user-generated content (UGC) to build community

User-generated content (UGC) is a powerful tool for building community and showcasing your brand's impact. Encourage your followers to share their experiences with your products or services, and feature their posts on your feed. This will make your followers feel valued and appreciated while providing social proof and inspiring others to engage with your brand. 

Note: Always get permission from your followers before sharing their UGC videos and images on your social media feeds! Just because it features you/your brand, doesn’t mean you can share it on your social media profile.

However, the exception is to link to your followers’ content via Instagram Stories. For example, if you find a post one of your followers created that features you/your brand, you can click the share icon and share it to your Stories. This way, your follower maintains ownership, and you still get to share the content with the rest of your followers.

10. Share client success stories to build trust and attract new customers

Don't underestimate the power of sharing client success stories. Highlight the transformations and achievements of your customers, and show how your offerings have made a difference in their lives. These inspiring stories will build trust, foster a sense of community, and attract new customers who want to experience similar results.

Note: If you’re using actual names or any identifying features, be sure to get permission from your clients before sharing anything.

11. Create infographics to break down complex information into easily digestible chunks

Infographics are a fantastic way to break down complex information into easily digestible chunks. Use templates or design your own to share industry stats, step-by-step guides, or helpful tips. Don't forget to incorporate your brand colors and style for a cohesive look.

12. Design quote cards with inspiring, thought-provoking, or humorous messages

Quote cards are a popular visual format that never goes out of style. Choose inspiring, thought-provoking, or humorous quotes that align with your brand's message, and pair them with visually appealing backgrounds. You can even use Castmagic to extract quotes from your podcast episodes or YouTube videos for a never-ending supply of content. 

13. Showcase before-and-after comparisons to highlight your products or services' transformative effects

Before-and-after comparisons are a powerful way to showcase your products or services' transformative effects. Whether you're a fitness coach, beauty brand, or home renovation company, these side-by-side visuals tell a compelling story and provide social proof. 

At the risk of being a broken record, we’ll once again say that any client related materials should only be shared with permission. For example, don’t show a home renovation if your client doesn’t want their home posted online!

14. Use process breakdowns to give your audience a behind-the-scenes look

Process breakdowns are perfect for demystifying your work and giving your audience a behind-the-scenes look. Use a series of images or a carousel post to walk them through your creative process, production stages, or service delivery. This transparency builds trust and appreciation for your expertise.

15. Develop case studies to showcase a client's journey and the results you achieved

Case studies are a goldmine for compelling content. Highlight a specific client's journey, from their initial challenges to the solutions you provided and the results they achieved. Use a mix of visuals, quotes, and data to create a rich, engaging story that resonates with your audience. 

What if your client doesn’t want to be featured in your case study? Remove all identifiable characteristics/attributes. Keep things general, and don’t use their name. This is why plastic surgeons will often only showcase the area of the body they worked on rather than the entire profile of the person in their images.

16. Spotlight your team members to humanize your brand and create personal connections

Team spotlights are a great way to humanize your brand and create a personal connection with your followers. Introduce your team members, share their unique skills and passions, and give a glimpse into your company culture. These posts build trust and make your brand more relatable. 

17. Feature customer journey stories focusing on the emotional aspect of their transformation

Customer journey features are similar to case studies, but focus more on the emotional aspect of a transformation they enjoyed. Showcase how your products or services have impacted your customers' lives, and highlight the joy, relief, or empowerment they experienced. These stories create an emotional bond with your audience and inspire them to seek similar results.

While we often see this type of content for weight loss and nutrition industries, it could also translate well for many other industries. For example, a college showcasing the emotional journey of a student being the first person in their family to earn a degree. Another example could be the sheer joy on a family’s face when they find their forever home - any realtors reading this? Take notes!

18. Share your brand story through a series of posts using visuals, text, and video

Brand story segments are an opportunity to share your company's history, values, and mission. Break your brand story into digestible chunks, and share them over a series of posts. Use a mix of visuals, text, and video to create an immersive experience that draws your audience in and makes them feel part of your journey.

19. Create lead magnets, such as ebooks or checklists, and share a sneak peek on Instagram

Lead magnets are irresistible freebies that entice your audience to exchange their contact information for valuable content. Using Castmagic, you can easily create lead magnets from your existing audio and video content. Transform your long form content into an ebook, checklist, or template in minutes. Then, share a sneak peek of the lead magnet on Instagram. Don’t forget to direct your followers to a landing page where they can access the full resource.

Related: Learn the Best Way to Create an Email Newsletter 

20. Host a series of "Instagram Takeovers" featuring industry experts or influencers

Collaborate with industry experts, influencers, or even your own team members to create a series of "Instagram Takeovers." During these takeovers, your guest will temporarily "take over" your Instagram account, sharing their unique perspective, insights, and experiences with your audience. 

If you’re concerned about someone actually logging into your Instagram account, you can instead have them submit their images/videos and captions ahead of time. Then, when it’s time for their “takeover,” post the content on their behalf attributing it to them.

21. Develop mini-training series to provide value and showcase your expertise

Mini-training series are a fantastic way to provide value, showcase your expertise, and generate leads. Break down a complex topic into bite-sized lessons, and share them over a series of Instagram posts or Stories. Use a mix of visuals, text, and video to keep your audience engaged, and include a call-to-action at the end of each post to guide them towards your offer.

22. Use teaser content to pique your audience's curiosity and drive traffic to your website

Teaser content is designed to pique your audience's curiosity and leave them wanting more. Share a snippet of your latest blog post, podcast episode, or video, and direct your followers to the full content on your website. You can also use teasers to build anticipation for an upcoming product launch or event, creating a sense of exclusivity and urgency.

23. Share testimonials and strong calls-to-action (CTAs) to convert followers into customers

Testimonials are powerful social proof that can sway potential customers in your favor. Share quotes, screenshots, or video clips of your satisfied clients raving about your products or services. Use a mix of text and visuals to create an engaging testimonial post, and include a call-to-action for viewers to experience the same results. Additionally, use strong, action-oriented CTAs to encourage your audience to take the next step and convert them into customers.

Turn These Instagram Post Ideas Into Engagement Powerhouses

The first step in increasing engagement on these Instagram post ideas is adding the right hashtags. Hashtags increase visibility on your post and will bring new audiences to your Instagram profile. We'd recommend including 3-5 really good hashtags in your caption. If you need more, make sure not to exceed 11 or you could risk getting shadowbanned/flagged for spam.

Share every Instagram post and Reel to your Instagram stories. Instagram likes content that encourages people to stay on their platform, so you're a lot more likely to get eyeballs on your content if you're linking all of your posts in your Stories.

Tag relevant accounts in your captions and Instagram Stories to drive even more attention and engagement. If you have permission to use someone's testimonial or user generated content, mention them in your caption to drive more people to your page.

Finally, share something to your Instagram feed at least 3-5 times per week. According to Hootsuite, this is the optimal number for businesses.  

How Castmagic Can Help You Create Engaging Instagram Content

To close things out, we wanted to share a little bit more about how Castmagic can help you efficiently create a lot of these Instagram content ideas without spending countless hours on it. Here’s a peek at what our platform can do: 

Transform Your Audio and Video Content into Instagram Gold

Castmagic is an AI-powered tool that helps you repurpose your existing audio and video content into engaging Instagram posts. Whether you have a podcast, YouTube channel, or webinar recordings, Castmagic can quickly turn your long-form content into bite-sized, visually appealing pieces perfect for Instagram. 

Extract Key Insights and Quotes with Ease

One of the most powerful features of Castmagic is its ability to extract key insights, quotes, and takeaways from your content. Simply upload your audio or video file, and Castmagic's AI will analyze it and highlight the most valuable nuggets of information. You can then use these insights to create engaging carousel posts, quote cards, or informative captions.

Create Multiple Posts from a Single Piece of Content

With Castmagic, you can create multiple Instagram posts from a single piece of long-form content. For example, you can upload a podcast episode, get the transcript, and quickly find the timestamps of the best moments in your show. Take those highlights and create a series of quote cards, a carousel post highlighting the main takeaways, or even an Instagram Reel featuring the most engaging snippets. Castmagic’s podcasting presets even generate Instagram Reel scripts from your content automatically! 

Streamline Your Instagram Content Creation Process

Using Castmagic to repurpose your audio and video content helps you streamline your Instagram content creation process and save valuable time. Instead of starting from scratch for each post, you can leverage your existing content and transform it into various formats suitable for Instagram. This allows you to maintain a consistent posting schedule and keep your audience engaged without burning yourself out. 

Try Castmagic for Free and Elevate Your Instagram Game

Ready to take your Instagram content to the next level? Sign up for Castmagic's free trial, and experience the power of AI-driven content repurposing for yourself. With Castmagic, you'll be able to create engaging, visually stunning Instagram posts in a fraction of the time it would take you to do it manually. Get started now!