Instagram has significantly transformed how brands and businesses use social media and the internet. It is undoubtedly one of the most influential social media platforms in the words, leveraging images and videos to boost engagement. Businesses are using IG to connect with existing customers and penetrate new markets. Nonetheless, content is king on Instagram and, your presence and interactions on the platform will mainly depend on the type and quality of videos and images that you post. That is why it is critical for every brand and business to have a suite of unique Instagram post ideas to ensure fresh and more engaging content.
This article has curated a detailed list of powerful and creative Instagram post ideas to help brands and businesses to enhance online presence and drive engagement in 2025 and beyond.
Instagram Post Ideas to Build your Brand
Looking for inspiration on how to create more engaging Instagram posts? Then, check out the following list of the best post ideas for Instagram;
1. Behind-the-scenes (BTS) Magic
Giving your audience a glimpse of your creative process or other lesser known facts about your brand can be one of the most effective ways to drive engagement. Give your followers an exclusive look at what goes on behind closed doors. One of the most popular Instagram trends generating lots of traction on the platform is Get Ready With Me or #GRWM.
Get Ready With Me Reels showcase the steps and lengths that influencers go through to achieve those flawless looks. They keep audiences entertained with their make-up routines while offering pep talks around trending topics. They mesmerize and offer great engagement, thereby enabling you to promote your products and services more effectively, especially if you are in the beauty and cosmetics industry.
In the following Instagram post, a photographer in Nairobi takes his audience through the studio set-up, capturing various poses of a model in studio. The behind-the-scenes video gives viewers a glimpse into the photography process and what it takes to deliver the best-quality photos.
Behind-the-scenes posts such as factory tours, studio sneak peeks and ‘how it’s made’ videos bring the human touch into your brand and build trust.
2. Tutorials and Product Demos
Tutorials and product demos are also highly effective Instagram post ideas, with the ability to boost product discovery, brand awareness and even sales. You can start by demonstrating how to use your products and services. Depending on your niche and products, you can share an electronic device tutorial, make-up or hairstyle tutorial or even a simple video of how to fold clothes.
Posting interesting and fun tutorials and product demos will not only highlight your product or industry knowledge but, also provide a great platform for showcasing your offerings. Product demos can also boost product discovery, putting them in front of new customers. Sharing images or videos of engaging tutorials can also enable you to sell more quickly.
Sharing product demos showcases how the products work in real-life action. People tend to connect better when they see brands doing their thing. And, it is not just about flaunting the products but, also showing how they fit into your audience’s world. That can also build customer trust.
In the following Instagram video, Nivea East Africa demonstrates to its audience how to apply sun protection. The video is precise but, quite impactful because it puts the message right across without any exaggerated imagery. It has more than 80,000 views on IG.
Customers always want to see the real-life benefits of the products and services they intend to purchase and, tutorials and product demos can deliver the best version of that.
3. Fun Quizzes and Polls
Ask interactive questions or quizzes to raise brand awareness and drive engagement. Doing so can also help with gathering invaluable insights from your audience. Creative and engaging questions can significantly boost participation.
Ask open-ended quizzes that cannot be answered in a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ you should also blend in humour and creativity in your questions to make them more enjoyable and shareable. Keep things concise and avoid overwhelming your audience with too many questions.
It would also be great to incorporate relevant imagery like graphics and images to make the quizzes more interactive and shareable.
The Instagram post below is a classic example of a fun quiz that can effectively boost engagement on your IG profile. In the post, renowned Kenya comedian and entrepreneur, Mwalimu Churchill asks his followers how often they treat their spouses. The fun video of partners dancing, showcasing different dance moves just makes the post quite hard to miss and engaging.
Besides open-ended quizzes, you can also ask other types of questions to increase engagement on IG including;
- Multiple choice questions
- True or false questions
- Trivia questions
- Personality tests
Integrating Instagram polls into your strategy can significantly boost the reach and engagement rates of your Instagram profile. Polls attract direct interaction, turning passive followers into active participants. They tap into the human desire for voice and participation, giving your audience an easier and quicker way to share their opinions and be heard.
The poll sticker in Instagram story tools can help you to survey followers for their opinions on just about anything. They can be about fun and topical subjects or even product ideas that you are considering. Quizzes and polls can drive engagement by attracting more comments and shares on your posts.
Recommended Read: How to Get More Instagram Comments
4. Before-and-after Imagery
Post before-and-after photos to demonstrate the tangible benefits of using your solutions and give updates on your product offerings. Visual evidence can be effective in promoting engagement around skincare products, website re-design, weight-loss, digital transformation or home renovation projects.
Adding context photos by attaching a compelling narrative is more than just explaining the story behind the transformation. It is about immersing the audience into the journey captured in your imagery. However, you should be keen to avoid overly edited photos that may be misleading to your audience.
Check out the following Instagram post example from skincare and cosmetics brand, Huda Beauty. The video shows the before image with no make-up and less confidence. On the second half of the screen, viewers can also see the after shot with the brand’s new skincare line; no make-up but, so much confidence.
Reports indicate 81% of consumers need to trust brands before purchasing from them. So, make sure that you only post genuine images showing the results that you have achieved by real customers. Transparency is essential to winning your audience’s trust.
5. Influencer Endorsements
Influencer marketing campaigns are an example of brand collabs. A survey found out that 83% of respondents believe influencer campaigns attracts higher quality customers than other marketing initiatives. Many creators have built loyal fan bases over the years and partnering with them on IG allows your brand access to a new world of followers.
A solid influencer marketing strategy introduces your brand to new audiences and reinforces your products’ credibility. Align your brand with established influencers to create a positive perception and impact your audience.
In the post below, popular Kenyan digital creator and influencer, Kendi Q explains to her followers how the chatbot, Wazzii.ke gives her a safe space to explore and be herself. Her post paints a vivid picture of how the chatbot can also empower others to be the best version of themselves, with a captivating and high-quality imagery to put the story into perspective.
Partnering with influencers can enable you to significantly drive engagements and get more Instagram followers quickly. Try building solid relationships with your partners. However, your priority should be to deliver value to your audience instead of solely focusing on the promotion of your products and services.
Related Read: Influencer Marketing Trends and Stats for 2025 and beyond
6. Reviews and Testimonials
Reviews and testimonials give your brand the feeling of authenticity, showing the audience that your offerings make real impact. They can also go a long way in building credibility and trust in your target audience. Positive reviews from satisfied customers can boost confidence in your brand and encourage others to try what you are offering.
Such endorsements simplify the decision-making process for your potential customers. They give your brand the much needed social proof to drive awareness and engagement.
In the following Instagram post, Kenya’s fragrance brand, Albait Aldimashqi Perfumes shares a customer review video from one of their clients, Joanna Kinuthia. In the video, the customer describes how she is so in love with the brand’s perfume that she just bought randomly the other day. By replying to and sharing the review, the brand shows that they value their customer’s honest opinions and input, boosting visibility and engagement.
Here are essential tips to effectively feature testimonials and feedback from your customers;
- Get customer feedback regularly through social media listings, review requests and surveys.
- Publish the reviews on your marketing materials, social media accounts and website.
- Use videos and images of your customers with permission, alongside their testimonials to validate authenticity.
- Reply to testimonials and reviews to show that you appreciate and value your customers’ input, thereby building positive relationships.
Posting customer reviews and testimonials on your Instagram profile gives solid proof that your products actually work. Sharing success stories is not just about blowing your own horn; it presents your customers as the real heroes.
7. Q&A or AMA Sessions
Q&A or ask-me-anything sessions are also quite interactive and engaging Instagram post ideas to connect with audiences in real-time directly. The sessions allow you to address your audience’s queries, offer valuable insights, and cultivate a sense of trust and community.
Let your audience know about the session and ask them to submit their queries in advance. Review the questions and arrange them into themes and categories. Your responses should be ready once the session starts. Come prepared and remain transparent when answering spontaneous questions during live Q&A or AMA sessions.
Here’s an example of Ask Me Anything videos on Instagram. In the video, Kenyan content creator and influencer, Judy Nyawira takes a moment to open up and answer questions from her followers and fans. The video is eye-opening and revealing, giving the audience a closer look into the influencer’s life.
You can also focus on answering your customers’ Frequently Asked Questions in your Instagram posts. Answering common questions shows your customers that you are tuned in to their needs, adding a layer of customer care to your online presence. It makes it easy for your followers to get the information they need.
8. Giveaways and Rewards
Social media contest-linked giveaways and rewards are among the most effective Instagram post ideas for attracting new followers and boosting engagement. Offer prizes that appeal to your audience to incentivize participation. The prize could be a service, product or something else that resonates with your audience.
Decide on how you want the participants to enter your giveaway contests. Most brands usually ask the audience to like the giveaway posts, tag their friends in the comments, follow their IG accounts or repost the giveaway alerts.
The following Instagram reel is a good example of an Instagram giveaway. In the video, Jumia Kenya partnered with one of its suppliers, Visionplus Kenya to reward their followers and customers with a premium sound bar. The post clearly lists down the steps on how to win the prize. The giveaway is relevant to the two brands and, also resonates with their audiences.
Make the giveaway attractive with captivating visuals. Exercise transparency in communicating the selection criteria for winners, the entry submission deadline and giveaway requirements.
9. Brand Partnerships
Plan strategic partnerships with other brands to increase your reach and target each other’s audiences. Choose a brand whose identity and values resonate with the type of content that you create, your audience demographics and business objectives. Collaborate with partners who complement your products and have the same target audience as your brand. You could also partner on worthy and shared causes with global impact.
In the Instagram post below, Java House Africa partnered with the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) to support school feeding in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid regions.
Partnering with other brands is a win-win for all the parties involved. You get to share the spotlight, cross-promote your brands and bring a sense of community to your Instagram feed. It is a great way to foster relationships and support each other for mutual benefits.
10. User-generated content (UGC)
User-generated content is a must-have in your Instagram content strategy for organic community building. UGC acknowledges and celebrates your audience’s content, making them highly likely to make your Instagram posts go viral. User-generated posts can help you to build a strong army of loyal brand advocates, driving organic growth.
UGC allows you to turn your followers and customers into the stars of your show. Sharing their photos and videos give your brand a sense of authenticity and community. It tells them that they are not just followers or customers but, part of your story and something greater.
In the Instagram video below, Nivea East Africa shares a post from Terembe Cherono, a Kenyan-based creator and curator. In the video, Terembe highlights how she uses Nivea Radiant & Beauty body lotion after sunbathing and, even the product’s unique benefits. The user-generated content showcases how brands can leverage their followers and customers to boost engagement on social media.
Drive Instagram Engagement with Superior Social Boost!
With its pool of more than 1 billion active monthly users, Instagram can work magic for your brand or business. And, the Instagram post ideas shared in this post are tailored to help you strategize your marketing approach. However, maintaining an effective social media presence and engagement is no simple task.
At Superior Social Boost, we help brands and businesses to drive social media presence and growth. We provide customized packages to enable you increase your visibility and interactions on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, X and Google Business.