Instagram is the go-to social network for many Australians. In fact, three out of five Australians with internet access use Instagram. That’s a huge audience for your brand to capture.
Stories are your hook to grab Instagrammers’ attention in seconds, pulling them in faster than static posts. But how do you turn those fleeting interactions into impact?
It takes a solid Instagram marketing strategy, cultural relevance and content that sparks action, especially for Australian brands that want to drive results without jumping on every trend.
What are the best Instagram Story ideas for Australian brands in 2025?
If you’re looking for Instagram Story ideas for businesses in Australia that actually deliver, you’re in the right place.
It’s tough going to come up with a constant stream of content, especially since brands with more than 50K followers post over 40 Instagram Stories per week on average.
We have found 39 creative, locally relevant examples to help you boost engagement, build brand awareness and drive results in 2025.
How can Instagram Stories features boost engagement for Australian audiences?
Stories are a great way for brands to boost engagement, especially for smaller businesses that want to stand out against polished, big-brand content.
But how do you capture attention and spark interaction with Stories?
These ideas use built-in features like polls, quizzes and stickers to boost Instagram Stories for brand engagement, helping you stay culturally relevant and top of mind.
1. Run a localised “this or that” poll
Create a playful poll that taps into regional opinions and invites friendly debate around your brand’s niche, like Who Gives a Crap did when they asked their audience to choose between different tile styles. Polls encourage interactions and help you collect information on what your local audiences like.
Source: Instagram
To tap into specific areas, call out your regional audiences directly with a prompt like “Solve this for us, people of Queensland” or “What are your thoughts, Melburnians?”. Then follow this up with a brand-related poll.
Some more industry-specific examples:
- If you’re a café, try “Oat latte or iced long black?”
- If you’re a fashion brand, ask, “Ugg boots: inside only or wear them to Woolies?”
- If you’re a beauty retailer, run “Lip balm must-have: Lucas’ Pawpaw or Blistex?”
2. Share a quiz about regional trivia
Use the quiz sticker to test your audience’s knowledge of iconic Aussie places and events. You can ask questions like “Where’s the Big Lobster?” or “Which state hosts the Elvis Festival?”
Quizzes are a fun way to spark interaction while making your Stories feel uniquely local. Make it industry-relevant and relate it to the regions you operate in to capture your key audiences.
3. Post a sneak peek and ask, “Guess what’s coming?”
Build hype for your next product, event or collab with a teaser Story.
Share a blurred image, a cropped detail or a cryptic emoji combo, and then use the question sticker to ask something like, “Any guesses, legends?” Frank Body recently shared an Instagram story teasing new products with a stylized photo of a pink kettlebell.
Source: Instagram
It’s a fun way to spark curiosity and boost taps while getting early insight into who’s interested in your new products.
4. Use the countdown sticker for a product drop or sale
The countdown sticker adds urgency, so use it to build excitement around an upcoming sale, giveaway or new product line.
For best results, pair it with a Story series that builds context, such as behind-the-scenes clips, early looks or reminders. This approach creates momentum that makes the big moment feel like a major event.
5. Share a “Which Australian icon are you?” meme
Create a meme with a few Aussie icons relevant to your niche. Caption each one with a personality trait your audience might relate to, like “The budget queen,” “The over-planner” or “The barefoot creative.”
Ask your Instagram followers to circle their match, tag a mate and share it in their Story or reply to yours. This tactic offers a great way to boost Instagram engagement rates while getting a better feel for your audience’s tastes and self-perception.
Tagging also encourages user-generated reach, which helps extend your visibility to new audiences.
6. Post a “Did you know?” Story that taps into local insights
Hook viewers with a fun or surprising fact tied to Australian culture or even a surprising general fact, like Time Out Australia did. Its story shared that one of the world’s biggest hotels invented the brownie, successfully capturing audience attention and leading into their Australia-focused feature.
Make it industry or product specific, such as, “Did you know the average Aussie eats 12 meat pies a year?” or “Did you know surfing is more popular in Australia than golf?” Then link to something relevant, such as your new snack range, sustainable surfwear or a blog on weekend rituals.
Source: Instagram
These posts grab attention and increase tap-throughs from customers whose interests align with your brand.
7. Share a “spot the difference” image from your store or setup
If you’re a bricks-and-mortar business, use a carousel to show off updates in your physical space. Then ask followers to spot what’s changed.
This is a visual, low-effort way to keep followers engaged while encouraging new customers to drop by and loyal ones to revisit.
8. Post a temperature check: “How hot is it in your city today?”
Scorching days are a shared pain in Australia. Leverage that to connect with your audience.
Try posting a photo of your team melting in 38°C heat and adding both the location and temperature stickers. Caption it something like: “Sydney fam, how are you coping today?”
You can also add a poll sticker: “Cold shower or air con full blast?” or a question sticker: “Drop your heatwave hacks👇” to invite direct engagement.
This gives you a relatable Story that encourages replies, boosts local reach through tags and shows your brand’s human side.
9. Share a funny, location-based industry starter pack
Use memes, emojis or photos to build “starter packs” your audience will relate to. Make them specific to your niche and play on locational relevance to resonate with particular sections of your audience.
A recent Reddit meme went viral for its starter pack collage for twenty-somethings living in Melbourne.
Source: Reddit
Think: “Gold Coast beauty influencer starter pack” with ring lights, acai bowls and fake tan or “Newtown dog parent starter pack” with oat lattes, rescue greyhounds and tote bags.
Encourage people to share it in their Story and tag a friend.
10. Run a “finish the phrase” Story using Australian slang
Post a fill-in-the-blank Story with Aussie slang: “Flat out like a…” or “Chuck a… and head to the servo.”
It’s a fun way to get replies and celebrate regional identity. Bonus points if you can tie the slang back to your products, services or customer lingo to build familiarity and trust.
How can Australian brands use Instagram Stories to drive conversions?
Don’t get stuck simply replicating Instagram trends. You want your Stories to sell, not just entertain. To do this, you need to make it easy for your audience to take action.
From product tags to countdown stickers, below are 10 creative Instagram Story ideas for brands to drive conversions.
11. Post a product demo with a “shop now” sticker
Show how your product works in real life using a quick demo or step-by-step tutorial. Beauty brands especially shine in these demos, just like Ultra Violette’s Future Fluid SPF 50+ sunscreen does in a recent Instagram Story demo.
Source: Instagram
Product demos, like this one from Ultra Violette, build trust fast. Why? Because the Instagram Story shows what their Future Fluid SPF 50 + sunscreen actually looks like on skin.
12. Feature a limited-time offer with a countdown sticker
One of the best Instagram Story ideas for End of Financial Year (EOFY) sales or limited-time discounts is to pair your promotion with a countdown sticker.
The countdown creates urgency, motivating browsers to buy now before they miss the deal.
13. Share a behind-the-scenes Story from a product shoot
Let your audience in on the making-of moment. Show the styling process, location setup or a quick team clip mid-shoot. Inviting your audience backstage like this makes your brand feel human and your product more desirable.
End the series with the final product and a “tap to shop” sticker. This approach builds hype and drives clicks while making your brand feel relatable.
14. Highlight a UGC testimonial with a product tag
Use your customers’ love for your brand as fuel for social proof. Seeing real people rave about your products in your Stories helps to build authentic credibility. Status Anxiety does this artfully with a simple repost of Sara Messy’s photo and a link to the handbag she’s sporting.
Source: Instagram
To do this, repost customer Instagram Reels or quotes and tag the product directly in the Story. Add a CTA like “Seen it. Tried it. Loved it? Tap to shop.” By pairing user-generated content (UGC) with product tags in this way, you can turn uncertain browsers into confident buyers.
15. Post “Top 3 products under $50” with shoppable links
Help your audience make quick, low-stakes buying decisions with a budget-friendly roundup. This is a good tactic for impulse-friendly products, especially during holiday gifting seasons, such as candles, accessories or skincare minis.
You can also tailor the list to a specific audience, like “Mother’s Day gifts under $50 for Melbourne mums” or “Top picks under $40 for gym junkies in Brisbane.”
After all, personalisation boosts clicks because it speaks directly to the viewer’s identity, location or lifestyle. This relatability makes the content feel more relevant and worth tapping.
16. Share limited-edition products for local holidays
Use holidays like Father’s Day to frame product launches or seasonal specials. This is the perfect time to share limited-edition colours, themed packaging or gift bundles in your Stories.
Strong Australian holiday Instagram Story ideas make your seasonal drops feel timely and relevant. They give your audience a clear reason to buy by tying your product to a specific occasion or moment that matters.
17. Show a real-time restock update
Got a product that sells out quickly? Your IG Story is the perfect place to let buyers know it’s back in stock. Post a restock Story with a bold image, “Just Landed” sticker and link to drive clicks.
Add urgency with hooks like “Last time this sold out in 24 hours!” This tactic encourages previous buyers to come back, while re-engaging warm leads who missed out last time.
18. Post before-and-after results using your product
Visual proof is powerful, and that’s where before-and-after content comes in. It works well for skincare, fitness or cleaning brands or any product with visible results. It shows value at a glance and gives followers an immediate next step.
Use a two-frame Story or a split-screen to add an image of before and after using your product. Add a “Tap to try” sticker or link to the product to encourage conversions.
19. Post shipping cut-off reminders for major Australian holidays
Avoid lost sales by reminding followers of order cut-off dates for events and holidays such as Christmas.
Use a clear CTA: “Order by Friday for on-time delivery” and pair it with a link to your shop. This tactic reduces abandoned carts while speaking directly to the last-minute-gift-panic crowd that needs a nudge.
20. Show unboxing reactions from Australian influencers
When influencers unbox your products, it builds hype, adds instant credibility and lets you tap into their engaged audience, expanding your reach beyond your existing followers. Even large products can join in the unboxing fun, like Ecossa Sleep did with its mattresses.
Source: Instagram
As soon as an unboxing Reel drops, repost it to your Story, tag them and add tappable links to the featured product. This tactic combines reach, trust and conversion in one swipe.
Pro tip: To encourage more unboxing videos, send products in camera-ready packaging, include a thank-you note with your handle and hashtag and let creators know you’ll repost their video.
What are the best Instagram Story ideas for building community?
Build community through your Stories by showing up often and inviting two-way interaction. When people feel part of a community, they connect with your brand on a deeper level. They trust your recommendations, talk about you to friends and keep coming back to buy.
Strengthen relationships with your followers with these Story ideas to build that sense of belonging.
21. Spotlight a customer of the week
Invite happy customers to share a photo with your product. Reshare it, tag them and say thanks. This shows that real people love your brand, while encouraging others to engage for a chance to be featured.
Sharing customer love offers an easy win for small businesses, service brands or product-based accounts trying to grow a loyal, connected audience.
22. Re-share local UGC
Reposting UGC from Aussie followers boosts trust and reach while showing off your product in real-life settings.
Source: Instagram
Share tagged Stories of customers using your product at the beach, unboxing at home or styling it for a local event. Add an emoji, sticker or shoutout and tag the creator.
Sharing UGC proves you’re paying attention and builds credibility with your local audience—especially when the content reflects your audience’s lifestyle and voice.
23. Introduce your team with candid videos
People connect with people. So humanise your brand by showing the people behind it.
Source: Instagram
Share short Stories of your team saying “hi”, packing orders or answering questions. Keep it casual and light to put a face to your brand and show you’re trustworthy and relatable.
24. Use Q&A Stories to answer FAQs in real time
The Q&A sticker lets you crowdsource questions and answer them live, similar to Reddit’s “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) threads. It builds transparency, encourages two-way conversation and gives you a chance to tackle common queries.
This is a great community-building tactic for brands that get a lot of product questions, like tech or beauty companies.
25. Share “A day in the life” Stories from staff or customers
Follow a team member or loyal customer through a typical day using your product.
Whether it’s a tradie on site or a mum at school drop-off, “a day in the life of” content helps followers see how your brand relates to their lives, which builds familiarity.
26. Use Stories to run a “Tag a mate who’d love this” challenge
Post a funny meme or product close-up and caption it: “Tag a mate who needs this in their life.”
For instance, a candle brand might try “For your mate who always burns toast.” Or a pet supply brand might post “Tag the mate whose dog runs the house.”
This tactic helps build community by sparking friendly interactions and inside jokes between followers. It also naturally expands your reach through tagging.
27. Share real-time responses from a sticker prompt like “What’s your fave thing about [brand/product]?”
Use the question sticker to ask for honest feedback or favourite moments, then re-share the best ones.
This builds credibility and gives you high-quality UGC without having to trawl through mentions and tags. Keep it casual and customer-led so the responses feel authentic.
28. Celebrate milestones by thanking your audience
Use Stories to mark key moments with gratitude. Screenshot your follower count and add a caption like “1,000 legends following us!”. Or add a picture of your team celebrating your brand’s anniversary and caption it “1 year since our first launch!”.
Tag your most engaged followers and team members. This makes your community feel like they’re part of your journey, strengthening brand loyalty.
29. Highlight active community conversations
Got a great message from a customer? Share a screenshot (with permission) and respond to it in Stories.
For example, if someone DMs to say your candles made their home smell amazing, repost it with a quick “So glad you loved it, Sarah!” and tag your product.
This shows you’re active and responsive to customers, encouraging others to reach out.
30. Create a “like and share” giveaway
Run a quick giveaway by asking followers to like your latest Story or post and share it on their own with a tag. This boosts reach, builds visibility and keeps your most loyal followers engaged.
Remember, though, you need to keep the prize relevant and make the rules clear. If it’s too confusing, nobody will join in.
How can Australian brands use Instagram Stories to celebrate culture?
The best Instagram Story strategy for Australian brands is to reflect the culture your audience knows and loves. Highlight national events, local sports and nostalgic references. Done right, you build relevance and drive emotional connection.
These Instagram Story ideas will help your brand show up in local, culturally relevant ways.
31. Spotlight Australian creators during National Reconciliation Week
Use Stories to highlight Aussie creators, artists or businesses. For example, T2 Tea let Sydney artist Kate Banazi take center stage in a recent Instagram Story.
Source: Instagram
Tag their Instagram account and share their work with permission.
This approach lets your business support community voices and demonstrate your brand’s cultural awareness.
32. Share culturally respectful content from community voices
Co-create Stories with people who shape your community. It could be a local maker who crafts your packaging, an Indigenous artist you’ve partnered with or a small café that stocks your products.
Share a behind-the-scenes clip, a voiceover from their perspective or a day-in-the-life Story that shows how your brand uplifts local talent and partners all year round.
33. Celebrate local sports finals
Big games are a huge part of Aussie culture. And with the right AFL Grand Final, NRL State of Origin or Melbourne Cup Instagram content ideas, it’s the prime opportunity to connect. Dubbed the “Official Pie of the AFL,” Four’N Twenty hyped up its audience with a pre-season Story.
Source: Instagram
Try sharing a behind-the-scenes Story of your team’s footy tips or run a poll: “Who’s winning this arvo?”. You could even post a limited-time “Game Day Deal” for orders placed before kick-off.
These options offer an easy way to stay relevant and connect with local audiences where they’re already invested.
34. Share festive content for Australian summer holidays
Christmas in the sun, New Year’s at the beach. Australia’s weather gives you the ideal opportunity to create summer Instagram Story ideas that Australians truly connect with. And what’s summer without sunscreen? Naked Sundays took advantage of Australia’s hot summer days by sharing a Story about its subtly coloured SPF protection.
Source: Instagram
Share summer outfits, road trip must-haves or iced coffee rituals.
Seasonal Stories that you tailor to your niche feel timely, relatable and emotionally resonant, so your brand stays relevant during peak holiday scroll time.
35. Run a Story-only giveaway at a festival or major event
Got a food truck at the Ridin’ Hearts Festival? Got a stall at Harbourlife? Supporting a local gig?
Post a Story inviting followers to find your stall or team, show the Story and score a freebie, like a cold drink, limited-edition merch or mini sample. Film short clips of people who show up (with permission) and tag them.
Giveaways provide a fun way to drive foot traffic, boost your local brand presence and create event-based content your audience wants to engage with and share.
36. Run “Your favourite Australian movie?” polls
Add a fun poll like “The Castle or Muriel’s Wedding?” or “Red Dog or Happy Feet?” It’s nostalgic, highly relatable and prompts followers to tap, comment or share.
These micro-engagements help Stories stay visible and give you ideas for themed products that appeal to your audience.
37. Post recipes featuring local favourites
Share Stories that feature recipes for Aussie dishes, like lamingtons, fairy bread and meat pies. Create a branded hashtag, invite others to post their family recipes and share them. Bega Cheese tagged in Tim Tams by sharing this recipe for Tim Tam Balls on its Instagram page.
Source: Instagram
Recipes work well for hospitality or lifestyle brands that want to show their ties to local culture.
38. Celebrate local school holidays with family-friendly product ideas
Post Stories with activities, kits or services ideal for school holidays.
Whether you’re offering ideas for a screen-free weekend getaway or a snack pack for kids on the go, you can highlight your offerings as a solution and tag locations to reach nearby families.
39. Post Stories live from local events
Attending a local market, festival or sports match? Share the scene as it unfolds.
Use geo-tags, music stickers and short interviews to create FOMO and show that your brand is part of important cultural moments.
What are the best practices for turning Instagram Story ideas into real engagement?
To turn views into real results, your Instagram Stories need more than creativity. They need structure, timing and data.
Learn how to use Instagram Stories for marketing and make every post count.
Create on-brand visuals
Your visuals should reflect your brand’s values, tone and personality, whether it’s bold and playful or clean and minimal. With a consistent visual identity, you build recognition and trust over time.
To make sure your visuals are consistently on-brand, use Sprout’s approval workflows to review and sign off on content before it goes live.
Even better, approve a bunch of assets at once and store them in the Asset Library—your central hub for ready-to-use, brand-approved Instagram Story templates, images and fonts. That way, your team can quickly grab what they need and stay on-brand every time.
Build a content calendar around key Australian moments
Seasonal relevance drives engagement, so post on Australia’s big holidays.
But don’t leave it until the last moment. Plan ahead for events like State of Origin by using Sprout’s Campaign Planner and custom tags to schedule Stories by date and region.
Save evergreen assets in the Asset Library so your team can reuse them each year. Need Instagram Story ideas for Canberra Day? You can simply pull from the library without starting from scratch.
Add clickable calls to action
Use the link sticker to add simple CTAs like “Tap to shop” or “Read more.”
Clear, tappable links guide your audience down the funnel by showing them exactly what to do next.
Time posts for peak viewer traffic
The best time to post Stories is when your audience is most engaged.
You can figure this out by sifting through Instagram data or you can use Sprout’s ViralPost® technology. It uses AI to schedule your Stories to publish automatically when your audience is most active.
Use location tags and relevant hashtags
Tags and hashtags help Stories appear in local discovery feeds and attract regional audiences who share your vibe.
Use Sprout’s social media listening tools to discover Aussie trends, conversations and hashtags and leverage those to join the conversation.
Track top-performing content
Unsure what to post next? Track your content to work out what performs best and then double down. You can monitor basic metrics with Instagram Stories analytics, or dive deeper using third-party tools like Sprout Social.
To understand what followers want to see more of, use Sprout’s Premium Analytics, Smart Inbox and listening tools to measure reach, reactions and ROI.
Create Stories that connect, convert and grow
The best Instagram Stories ideas for Australian audiences feel local, timely and purposeful.
But don’t be afraid to experiment. Just remember to track your Instagram posts to understand which performs the best so you can create more winning content in your next campaign.
With Sprout Social, it’s easy. You get the tools to plan, publish and analyse Instagram Stories all in one place so you can understand what fuels engagement and plan smarter next time. Start your free trial now.
The post 39 Instagram Story examples and ideas for Australian brands appeared first on Sprout Social.