Best Questions to Ask on Instagram Story to Engage Followers

If your Instagram Stories feel a little too quiet, you are one good question away from waking them up. The right prompt can spark unexpected replies and bring your followers into the moment.

Think of this guide as your cheat sheet for making Stories people actually want to respond to. You will learn how to ask questions that your audience can answer instantly. These prompts feel natural and easy for followers to reply to rather than skip.

If you are ready to bring more warmth and personality into your Stories, you are in the right place.

How do questions on Instagram Stories work?

There are a couple of ways to ask questions using Instagram stories:

1. Use the ‘Questions’ sticker

When creating your Story, tap the Stickers icon. Use the search bar at the top of the sticker drawer to type ‘question’ or scroll to find the Questions sticker. Tap to add it, then tap the sticker again to edit your prompt before sharing.

After typing your question, select how you want to publish it: tap Your Story, Close Friends, or the Share arrow to access more posting options.

Stickers like Questions or Polls help deepen interaction with your existing audience. Their main benefit is sparking quick replies and keeping your current followers active.

Quick tip: Ask curiosity-driven questions that spark replies. Fun prompts still work, but curiosity and conversational questions tend to perform much better. Avoid sensitive personal topics to stay within Instagram’s updated content guidelines.

2. Create a poll

Polls now support multiple options and anonymous voting. If you need ideas for what to ask, browse these Instagram poll questions. Use them for quick preferences. Reply-based interactions still carry more weight in Instagram’s recommendations.

To create a poll, open the Stickers drawer and search for ‘poll.’ 

Add the sticker, then tap each option field to edit it. Instagram now allows up to four options and includes an anonymous responses toggle you can switch on or off before posting.

Your poll can focus on the tools or features your audience loves most, or the single improvement they’d like to see from your services.

These responses give you a clearer view of what matters to them and why they engage the way they do. With that insight, you can shape your content or offers so they feel more aligned with what your followers genuinely want.

3. Create a quiz

A fun way to ask questions via Instagram Stories is to create a quiz. Using quizzes is a great way to get your followers thinking. Similar to polls, quizzes work by giving your audience multiple choices. The only difference is that quizzes let you add more than two possible options.

To create a Quiz on Instagram Stories, open Instagram, tap the + icon, and choose Story. Add a photo or video, then tap the Stickers icon at the top and search for “quiz.” Select the Quiz sticker, type your question, and edit the answer options. Instagram lets you add up to four options and choose the correct one by tapping the checkmark. When you are ready, post it by tapping Your Story, Close Friends, or the Share arrow at the bottom.

Best questions to ask on Instagram story

Now that you know how to ask questions on Instagram Stories, it’s time for some ideas:

1. Who is your favorite creator right now, on Instagram or anywhere else?

You can’t downplay the importance of influencer marketing. By asking your audience who their favorite Instagram influencers are and studying the posts of the Instagram influencers they’re following, you gain invaluable insights about your audience.

You learn what type of content your audience wants to consume, what’s an effective way to present your content, when and what to post, etc. You can pull these insights into your content pillars for Instagram to create posts that stay consistent with what your audience enjoys.

2. What products would you recommend for…?

Asking your audience about the products they like will help you identify potential improvements in your own offerings. It could even help you discover potential partnerships. You just need to pick a topic that will help you find non-competing brands.

3. What is your favorite video on Instagram?

Do you ever dream of creating a video people can’t stop replaying? You can borrow inspiration from the most-viewed Instagram videos. Simply ask your audience to share their favorite Instagram videos, watch them yourself, then take notes on what stands out.

4. What do you love/hate about our product?

Asking this question is pretty much social media listening on a direct level. If there’s a group of people who can tell you if something’s wrong with your product, it’s your own customers.

You can also ask your audience what they love about your products or services. By identifying what works, you can build on that feature and model future offerings around it.

5. What feature would you like to see implemented next?

Questions on Instagram Stories allow you to leverage customer feedback for product development. A good example is to ask them about the features they want to see in the future.

The mere gesture of asking for your audience’s input is good enough to foster loyalty. Even if you can’t follow through with all requests, let your audience know that they have a voice.

6. Ask about something fun

Your Instagram, your rules. Nothing feels more authentic than a Story question built around something light or entertaining. For example, if you know how to add multiple pictures in one Story, ask your audience to pick a favorite. Use this as a chance to spark playful interaction rather than as part of a giveaway. Strong engagement like this helps you get followers on Instagram without following, since Instagram pushes content with higher activity.

It’s also a good idea to ask questions that will help you get to know your audience better. Some other ideas include:

• What random fact surprised you this week?
• What song have you had on repeat lately?
• What qualities do you admire most in a person?

Quick tip: You can add multiple pictures to a single Instagram Story using grid layouts or photo stickers.

7. Let them ask anything they want

Questions on Instagram Stories can work both ways. Rather than asking your audience questions on social media, you can answer theirs instead.

Brands can do this using the question sticker and typing in “ask me anything” or something similar. In addition to engaging your audience, this also gives you the opportunity to address their most pressing concerns.

Expect to receive inquiries about your products and your brand’s story. If you run an SMM agency, you may also receive Instagram-related questions from other marketers, like:

• How do I get Instagram to recommend my posts more often?
• What helps Reels get more replays and stronger watch time?
• How can I turn Story replies into deeper relationships with followers?
• What can I do to make people save or share my posts more often?
• How do I create Reels that keep viewers watching longer?
• What type of content encourages followers to message me or interact more directly?

Instagram Story questions about business

1. What are your biggest business struggles and how did you overcome them?
2. What’s the most fulfilling thing about your business?
3. How do you make your office more fun and engaging?
4. What’s the most memorable thing that happened to you while running your business?
5. Where do you want your business to be 10 years from now?
6. What drives you to keep running your business?

Instagram Story questions about achievements and milestones

1. What was the most meaningful achievement you’ve experienced?
2. What post earned the most saves or replays from your audience?
3. What’s the most devastating experience you’ve had running your agency?
4. What’s the next milestone you’re looking to achieve as a social media manager?
5. What are you looking to achieve 5 years from now?

Instagram Story questions about tools and software

1. What tools are part of your daily social media workflow?
2. What software would you create if you had the time and resources to create one?
3. What’s the one thing most social media management tools lack?
4. Have you discovered any new apps that made your life a social media manager so much easier?
5. What is your go-to software for tracking campaign results?

What consider when asking questions on Instagram Story

Consider the following factors when formulating the right questions to ask on Instagram Story to drive engagement. 

Your audience dynamics

Pay attention to how your audience interacts with content, since Instagram values these behavioral signals more than demographics. For example, if your followers often rewatch your Reels about travel tips, Instagram learns that this topic keeps them engaged and will recommend similar content more.

Purpose of the question

Determine what you want to achieve with the question.  Are you looking to gather feedback, spark a conversation, or entertain your audience? 

Each question should have a clear purpose aligning with your Instagram strategy.  For instance, if you want feedback on a new product, ask a question directly asking your audience’s opinions.  If you aim to boost engagement, pose a fun, light-hearted question encouraging followers to share their experiences or preferences.

Keep it simple

Short and straightforward questions are easier for followers to answer quickly.  Avoid overly complex or multi-part questions.  Simplicity is key to encouraging responses, as followers are more likely to engage with questions that require minimal effort.

Instead of asking, “What are your top three favorite travel destinations and why?” you could ask, “What’s your dream travel destination?”  Keeping your Story questions concise and to the point increases the chances of followers participating.

Be relevant

Ensure the questions are relevant to your brand, content, or recent posts. It helps maintain consistency and keeps the conversation on track. 

Relevance is crucial for maintaining your brand’s voice and ensuring your questions contribute to your content strategy.  For example, if you recently posted about a new product launch, ask a related question like, “What’s the feature you’re most excited about?”  It’s a great way to create a cohesive narrative across your Stories. 

Fun idea: Besides asking questions, consider answering your audience’s commonly asked questions, the way Ali Abdaal did in his Instagram Story below. 

Mix conversational and curiosity-driven questions

Blend simple conversation starters with questions that spark curiosity. This mix encourages followers to answer quickly while also pulling them into deeper, more interesting replies.

Some example questions would be:

• What was the highlight of your day so far?
• What is something you learned this week that surprised you?
• If you could instantly master one skill, what would it be?
• What is one small problem you wish an app could solve for you?
• What is a question you have always wanted to ask someone in your field?

Encourage interaction

Consider asking open-ended, simple questions that invite detailed responses rather than simple yes or no answers to encourage more interaction and engagement. 

Open-ended questions encourage followers to share their perspectives, which helps build a deeper sense of community and keeps them engaged.

For example, ask, “How do you stay motivated on tough days?” instead of “Do you like your job?” It invites richer and more engaging responses.

Respond to answers

Show that you value your followers’ responses by acknowledging and interacting with their answers.  Responding to answers demonstrates that you appreciate and value your followers’ input, making them more likely to engage in the future. 

Share some of the responses in your Stories, reply to comments, or even create a follow-up Story based on the answers.  The interaction helps foster a stronger connection with your audience and encourages ongoing participation.

Kim Garst’s Instagram Story below is a classic example.

Turn Story Questions Into Real Instagram Growth

Story questions will not boost discovery, but they help you build deeper relationships with the followers you already have. When people reply to your Stories, you learn what they enjoy and what they expect from you.

This improves retention, which supports better performance for your Reels and Feed posts because Instagram responds to stronger audience activity.

If you want to use these insights more effectively, manage your Instagram workflow inside Vista Social. It helps you stay organized and consistent so your overall strategy feels easier to maintain. Sign up for a free Vista Social account today to simplify the way you work.

FAQS on the best questions to ask on Instagram Story

What makes a good Instagram Story question?

A good Story question should be quick to answer and simple to understand. It works best when it matches what your audience naturally enjoys.

How can I make my Story questions more engaging?

Engagement increases when your prompts reflect what your audience interacts with the most. Keep your wording clear so people can reply without effort. Use topics that fit your usual content style. This makes your questions feel natural to respond to.

What should I focus on when choosing Story prompts?

Choose prompts that encourage fast reactions instead of long explanations. Everyday interests tend to work well because people relate to them quickly.

What types of prompts should I avoid on Instagram Stories?

Avoid prompts that feel intrusive or demand personal details. People skip anything that takes too long to answer. Keep your prompts light so followers stay comfortable. This approach encourages more consistent participation.