Experimenting with New Content Formats: How to Keep Your Instagram Feed Fresh

Instagram is constantly evolving, and if you want to keep your audience engaged, you need to evolve with it. Gone are the days when a perfectly curated grid of static posts was enough. Today, your followers crave variety, interaction, and authenticity.

The good news? Instagram offers a wealth of content formats that can breathe new life into your feed. By experimenting with features like Instagram Lives, takeovers, co-branded posts, and interactive Stories, you can captivate your audience, boost engagement, and build stronger connections.

If you’re ready to shake things up and give your Instagram strategy a refresh, let’s dive into creative ways to diversify your content and keep your followers excited.

1. Go Live and Connect in Real Time

Instagram Live is one of the best ways to engage your audience instantly. Unlike pre-recorded content, Lives allow you to connect with followers in real time, answer their questions, and create a sense of community.

Ways to Use Instagram Live

• Behind-the-Scenes Access: Show a day in the life of your business or the making of a product.

• Live Q&A Sessions: Answer customer questions about your brand, industry, or upcoming launches.

• Product Demos: Show how your product works and why it stands out.

• Expert Interviews: Invite an industry leader or influencer to co-host a session with you.

Pro Tip:

Promote your Live session beforehand to get maximum attendance. Use countdown stickers in Stories, post reminders in your feed, and even send a teaser message to your email list.

2. Host an Instagram Takeover

Want to bring fresh energy to your Instagram? Let someone else take over your account for a day.

An Instagram takeover is when you invite an influencer, team member, or brand partner to post content on your behalf. It’s an exciting way to introduce new perspectives, reach a wider audience, and build trust.

Ideas for Takeovers

• Influencer Takeovers: A trusted influencer in your niche takes over your Instagram Stories, showcasing your product in action.

• Customer Takeovers: Feature a loyal customer or brand ambassador to share their experience.

• Employee Takeovers: Give a behind-the-scenes look at your business through the eyes of your team.

• Event Takeovers: If you’re hosting or attending an event, have someone live-share updates and highlights.

Pro Tip:

Use branded hashtags and a dedicated Story Highlight to archive the takeover so new followers can catch up later.

3. Collaborate with Co-Branded Posts

Partnerships are one of the fastest ways to expand your reach while keeping your content fresh. Instagram’s Collab feature allows two accounts to co-author a post or Reel, meaning the content appears on both profiles and is shared with both audiences.

How to Use Co-Branded Posts

• Partner with a Complementary Brand: If you sell activewear, collaborate with a fitness coach on a workout guide.

• Work with an Influencer: Launch a co-created product or announce an exclusive discount.

• Feature a Joint Giveaway: Encourage engagement by running a contest with another brand.

Pro Tip:

Make sure your collaborator’s audience aligns with yours to maximize engagement and reach.

4. Use Interactive Instagram Stories

Instagram Stories disappear in 24 hours, but their impact can last much longer—especially when they are interactive. Adding engagement-driven elements makes your audience feel like part of the conversation, rather than just passive viewers.

Ways to Make Stories Interactive

• Polls and Quizzes: Ask your audience fun, brand-related questions to encourage participation.

• Question Stickers: Let followers submit their burning questions about your business or industry.

• Slider Stickers: Use emoji sliders to gauge opinions on new products, trends, or ideas.

• Shoppable Stories: Tag your products so viewers can shop directly from your Story.

• Countdown Stickers: Build excitement for upcoming launches, sales, or events.

Pro Tip:

Save your most engaging Stories to Story Highlights so new visitors can see them even after they expire.

5. Experiment with Different Video Formats

Static images still have their place, but video is the future. Instagram provides multiple ways to share video content, so mix it up to keep things fresh.

Types of Video Content to Try

• Instagram Reels: Short, high-energy clips showcasing product benefits, behind-the-scenes moments, or trends.

• Long-Form IGTV Content: Deep dives into topics like tutorials, interviews, or brand storytelling.

• GIF-Style Videos: Quick looping animations that grab attention.

• Stop Motion: A creative way to showcase products in action.

Pro Tip:

If you’re short on time, repurpose content by clipping longer videos into shorter Reels or Stories.

How to Stay Consistent While Experimenting

Trying new content formats is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming. The key to keeping your Instagram feed fresh without burning out is having a solid content plan.

Here’s how to stay consistent:

• Plan Your Content Calendar: Use scheduling tools like Later or Planoly to organize different formats in advance.

• Batch Create Content: Dedicate a few hours per week to creating multiple videos, graphics, and captions at once.

• Analyze What Works: Check Instagram Insights to see which content formats drive the most engagement, then double down on those strategies.

• Stay Open to Trends: Instagram frequently rolls out new features—don’t be afraid to experiment and adapt.

Final Thoughts: Keep Innovating to Keep Engaging

Refreshing your Instagram strategy doesn’t mean reinventing the wheel. It simply means experimenting with new content formats that keep your audience engaged, entertained, and excited to see what you’ll post next.

By incorporating Live videos, takeovers, co-branded posts, interactive Stories, and diverse video formats, you’ll not only boost engagement but also strengthen your connection with your followers.

So, which content format will you try first? Start small, experiment often, and watch your Instagram presence thrive.