Instagram is all about fostering connections and driving engagement.
To keep creators and brands connected with their audiences, Instagram continuously rolls out new interactive tools that make it easier—and more fun—to connect.
From stickers to story highlights, these features offer unique ways to increase user interaction, enhance engagement, and ultimately grow your following.
In this article, we’ll cover the latest interactive tools Instagram has rolled out, show you how to use them effectively, and dive into recent numbers and analysis on how they impact engagement.
Why Interactive Tools Are Key to Engagement
Interactive tools transform passive viewing into active participation.
According to a 2024 report by Social Media Examiner, posts and stories featuring interactive elements, such as polls, stickers, and questions, have shown an increase in engagement by up to 30%.
These features keep your audience clicking, swiping, and responding, which signals to Instagram’s algorithm that your content is worth promoting.
Leveraging Instagram’s Latest Interactive Tools
1. Polls, Quizzes, and Emoji Sliders in Stories
Why it works: These tools are quick and fun, prompting immediate feedback. They’re perfect for building audience relationships and gaining insights into their preferences.
- Statistics: Stories with polls or quizzes have an average completion rate of 85%, significantly higher than stories without interaction features, according to Hootsuite’s 2024 analysis.
- How to do it: Ask a question related to your content, use a poll to gauge opinions, or try an emoji slider for a quick pulse check. For instance, if you’re a travel blogger, you might post a poll asking, “Which destination should I visit next?” with a choice between two cities.
- User Tip: Use these features to crowdsource content ideas! Ask your audience what topics they want to see, and use their responses to guide your upcoming posts. Not only does this engage them, but it also makes them feel valued and involved in your content creation process.
2. Stickers for Call-to-Action (CTA) Enhancement
Why it works: Stickers allow you to customize CTAs in ways that fit your brand personality. You can guide viewers to take specific actions—like visiting a link, following an account, or sharing a post.
- Statistics: A recent report by Later found that stories with CTA stickers saw 40% more engagement compared to those without.
- How to do it: Use the “Link” sticker to drive traffic to your website or other social platforms. Pair it with engaging text like, “Tap here to learn more!” or “Check out the details!” to boost click-through rates.
- User Tip: Make CTAs visually appealing by combining them with GIFs and color-themed stickers that align with your brand’s palette. Highlight your CTAs by pinning the sticker in a spot that draws attention, such as near the center of the screen.
3. Add Yours Sticker for Community Building
Why it works: The “Add Yours” sticker is a powerful tool for building community. This sticker lets your audience add their own content to a shared thread, helping you create a series of stories centered around a common theme.
- Statistics: Stories using the “Add Yours” sticker are 5 times more likely to be shared, according to Instagram’s recent user data.
- How to do it: Post an “Add Yours” sticker with a prompt relevant to your niche. For instance, a fitness influencer could use the prompt, “Share your workout wins!” which encourages followers to share their own success stories.
- User Tip: Engage with the people who contribute by reposting their stories or sending direct messages to thank them for participating. This makes the interaction more personal and strengthens the sense of community around your brand.
4. Story Highlights to Showcase Evergreen Content
Why it works: Story Highlights let you save and categorize stories for longer-term viewing. This makes them a great way to keep important content—like product demos, FAQs, or customer testimonials—easily accessible.
- Statistics: Brands that use Highlights on their profile see an increase in profile visits by 20%, as per a 2024 survey by Sprout Social.
- How to do it: Organize Highlights by theme or content type. Use covers to make them visually appealing and consistent with your brand’s aesthetic.
- User Tip: Add a CTA within your Highlights by saying, “Tap here to see more!” Use a mix of story types within each Highlight to keep viewers engaged and encourage them to explore more.
The Impact of Interactive Tools on Engagement Metrics
Instagram’s algorithm favors accounts that keep users engaged. By using these interactive features, you increase the likelihood that your stories, posts, and profile will be shown to a wider audience.
Here’s how these tools are making a difference in 2024:
- Increased Engagement Time: Users spend up to 33% more time on content with interactive elements than on passive content, as per HubSpot’s 2024 analysis.
- More Reach and Visibility: Interactive stories are 25% more likely to be featured on the Explore page and have a higher chance of reaching new followers.
- Enhanced Community Building: Accounts that regularly use features like the “Add Yours” sticker and polls have 50% higher follower loyalty and retention rates.
Experimenting and Analyzing Results
To make the most of Instagram’s interactive tools, monitor your analytics regularly:
- Story Engagement Rate: Measure the drop-off rate on interactive stories. If users stick around longer on stories with quizzes or polls, consider incorporating more of them.
- Link Click-through Rate: For stories with link stickers, track how many viewers clicked through. Experiment with placement, language, and the design of the sticker to optimize for higher clicks.
- Content Shares: Track the number of shares for stories with the “Add Yours” sticker. High shares indicate that you’re resonating with your audience and that they’re excited to participate.
Take Your Engagement to New Levels
Instagram’s interactive tools offer countless ways to increase engagement, build community, and enhance visibility.
With polls, stickers, story highlights, and more, you can create content that not only entertains but also builds stronger connections with your audience.
Ready to elevate your Instagram strategy?
Dive into these tools, and watch your engagement grow!