10 Instagram Story Ideas for Personal Service-Based Businesses: Turn Views into Followers and Leads

If you have a personal service-based business and want to attract organic leads that turn into customers, Instagram is the best platform to build a new brand or reinvigorate an established one. Today, I’m sharing 10 Instagram story ideas that will help you turn views into followers and followers into warm leads.

Why Instagram Stories Are Key for Service-Based Businesses

To attract organic leads, you need consistency and engagement. Instagram Stories are a powerful way to achieve both, helping you connect with your audience regularly. When done right, stories are like road signs that guide viewers back to your profile and transform them into potential clients.

For personal service businesses like event planning, wedding planning, personal chefs, hairstylists, designers, fitness trainers, beauty experts, and performers, Instagram Stories offer a dedicated space to provide value, showcase your work, and direct traffic back to your page.

How Instagram Stories Work

Instagram highlights your profile picture whenever you post a story, making it more visible to your followers. Consistently posting will keep your profile on their radar, and engaging content will encourage them to click through, learn more about you, and, ultimately, become a customer.

Now, let’s dive into the 10 Instagram Story ideas that will help you grow your personal service-based business.

1. Share Your Work Tips

Your work is more interesting to others than you might realize. Whether you’re a hairstylist, chef, or personal trainer, there’s someone out there fascinated by what you do. Share tips about your work processes, behind-the-scenes glimpses, or little-known tricks of your trade. This not only builds your credibility but also provides value to your followers.

2. Host an "Ask Me Anything" (AMA)

People are curious about your business! Hosting an AMA is a fantastic way to engage with your audience and answer their burning questions. This not only builds trust but also allows potential clients to learn more about your expertise in a fun and interactive way.

3. Ask a Question and Post the Results

Questions are a great way to engage with your followers. When you ask a question, and people respond, you can repost their answers, creating double the content with minimal effort. This interactive approach encourages more engagement and keeps your audience interested.

4. Post a Poll and Share the Results

Polls are similar to questions but typically involve a simple "yes" or "no" answer. They’re easy for your audience to engage with and provide valuable insights. Plus, you can share the results, which adds another layer of interaction and engagement.

5. Share an Inspirational Quote and Tag Other Accounts

Everyone loves an inspirational quote, and it’s a great way to increase visibility. Tag a few relevant accounts in your story, and they might share it with their followers, giving you exposure to a broader audience. This strategy is brilliant for attracting new followers who resonate with your message.

6. Create a Top 10 List About Your Business

People love lists! Whether it’s "Top 10 Cooking Tools" for chefs, "Top 10 Hairstyles" for stylists, or "Top 10 Fitness Tips" for trainers, these lists are engaging and informative. They showcase your expertise and provide quick, digestible content that’s easy to share.

7. Share a Checklist

Checklists are incredibly helpful and offer a clear path for your audience to follow. Share checklists related to your industry, like a "Wedding Day Checklist" for planners or a "Self-Care Checklist" for beauty experts. Checklists provide value and inspire your followers to take action.

8. Play "This or That"

"This or That" is a fun and simple way to engage your audience. Post two options—whether text, images, or both—and ask your followers to choose. It’s an effortless way to start a conversation, gain insights, and keep your audience entertained.

9. Share a Gratitude List

Everyone loves a little positivity! Create a list of things you're grateful for and share it with your followers. This not only shows a personal side of your business but also encourages others to reflect on what they're grateful for, creating a sense of community and connection.

10. Do a Daily Vlog

People love seeing the behind-the-scenes of a business, and a daily vlog is a great way to let them in. Share snippets of your day—whether it's how you start your morning, your work process, or how you wind down in the evening. This personal touch helps followers feel more connected to you and your brand.

Bonus Ninja Tip: Tag a Follower in Your Story

Tagging a follower in your story is a quick and easy way to double your engagement. It helps to build relationships and increases the chances of your content being shared, reaching even more potential leads.

Quick Tool Recommendation: Use Canva for Story Creation

Creating all this content might sound overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. I use Canva for everything, and it’s a fantastic tool for quickly designing Instagram Stories. They offer a free version, and you can create content right from your phone, making it easy to produce and post consistently.

Ready to Get Started?

We've covered a lot today! Remember, you don’t have to do everything at once. Start with one or two of these story ideas and build from there. Consistency is key, so keep experimenting and see what works best for your audience.

And if you want to make your social media work for you instead of just creating more work for you, be sure to download my Social Media Strategy Planner. It’s designed to help you jumpstart your social media strategy while saving tons of time.