If you’ve been feeling like your Instagram Stories have hit a plateau, this blog post is going to change everything. Lately, I’ve completely shifted the way I approach IG Stories — and the results have been insane. I’m talking about going from just a couple hundred views to consistently 1,500, 2,000, even 2,600+ views on individual story slides. And the best part? It’s not just reach. I’m getting replies. Lots of them. Like 50, 100, even nearly 200 replies on a single story.
Today, I’m breaking down exactly what I’ve been doing differently, what’s working right now on Stories, and how you can use this strategy to turn your warmest followers into email subscribers, course buyers, and long-term customers.
LINKS MENTIONED:
• 10 Day Instagram Plan: https://stephaniekase.com/instagramplan
• Free Passive Income Guide: https://stephaniekase.com/passiveincomeguide
• ManyChat Setup Tutorial: https://youtu.be/EeatkaBqoN8?si=O-jfo6-DTVKfeNaG
• Instagram Story Highlights with Examples – View my highlight “FREE” on my profile: https://www.instagram.com/stephanielynnkase/
Why I Completely Changed My Story Strategy
I’ve been on Instagram for a decade now — from the days of using it to book photography clients back in 2014 to now running an online business that brings in six figures on part-time hours. And while some things have stayed the same (hello, personal brand!), a lot has changed. Especially when it comes to Instagram Stories.
For a long time, I leaned heavily into sharing my life on Stories — behind the scenes, family updates, lattes, day-in-the-life stuff. But as time went on, I realized something was missing. I wasn’t fully leveraging the power of Stories to convert.
And once I did? Everything changed.
Instead of posting randomly or only for connection, I started using Story content more intentionally. Specifically: using DM automation with Manychat as the call-to-action, paired with juicy hooks and strong offers people actually want.
The result? A snowball of reach and replies that feeds itself. More replies = more engagement = more views = more replies… you get the idea.
Why Story Engagement = Story Reach
Here’s the truth: your Instagram Story viewers are your warmest leads. They’re the people already watching, already curious, already interested. When they engage (by replying to a DM automation keyword, for example), the algorithm boosts your reach across your other story slides too.
So even if you want to mix in more personal, just-for-fun stories later on, the engagement from your call-to-action stories helps boost those, too.
I used to think I had to constantly be “on” — showing every part of my life in real-time to connect with my audience. But now? My new strategy is so much simpler and more effective. I can post one intentional story slide and have it generate dozens or even hundreds of replies.
Let’s Talk Strategy: Here’s What I’m Doing Now
It’s not complicated, but it is intentional. Here are the key things I’ve changed:
1. I Lead with a Juicy Hook
Your first story slide should stop the scroll. I’m talking bold, high-contrast text that immediately makes your audience want to know more. Think headlines like:
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“Just published: My 34-page passive income guide”
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“How to blow up your leads on Instagram (without going viral)”
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“I wish someone had told me this sooner…”
These aren’t vague or fluffy. They’re direct, specific, and attention-grabbing.
2. I Use a Keyword-Based Call to Action
At the end of the story, I give one clear instruction: “Reply with [keyword] for the link.” That keyword is then connected to a Manychat automation that delivers the freebie, resource, or offer. Easy for them, automated for me.
For example:
“Reply ‘Guide’ to get the 34-page passive income breakdown.”
“Reply ‘Leads’ for the exact shifts I made to double my DM opt-ins last month.”
“Reply ‘Breakdown’ for my 5 must-haves for a viral course.”
3. I Make the Freebie Irresistible (But Keep It Simple)
The “freebie” doesn’t have to be fancy. One of mine was literally a series of DMs inside Manychat. Others are Google Docs. No designed PDFs or polished slides required. The content just needs to actually help them.
The more valuable it feels, the more people will reply.
Real Results from Real Story Slides
Let’s look at a few actual story slides and the numbers they pulled:
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Passive Income Guide Slide:
→ 2,615 views
→ 142 replies
→ 20 story likes
→ 70-80% of people who replied gave their email address
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“How to Blow Up Your Leads” Slide:
→ 943 views
→ 63 replies
(This was after I had already shared it to my feed, so that’s from my hottest audience seeing it again.)
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“I Wish Someone Told Me This Sooner” Slide (Course Freebie):
→ 2,243 views
→ 97 replies
Keep in mind: before this strategy, I was lucky to get five replies on a story.
Now, with bold headlines, irresistible freebies, and a strategic Manychat CTA, I regularly see 50 to 150+ replies per slide. That’s a massive difference in both reach and conversions.
Why This Strategy Works So Well (And Is So Easy to Repeat)
You don’t need to post 10 stories a day. There are days where this is the only story I post — and that’s more than enough.
The reason it works is because it’s built around what Instagram wants: engagement.
And even more importantly, it’s what your audience wants: quick access to real value.
By combining those two things — engagement for the algorithm and value for the user — your reach grows and your list grows. Win-win.
Plus, when you use tools like Manychat to automate responses, it becomes scalable. You’re not manually sending links or following up with everyone. You set it up once, and it runs on autopilot.
Start Using This Strategy Today (Even If You Don’t Have a Freebie Yet)
You don’t need a 50-page lead magnet to try this. Start with something simple:
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A mini breakdown of what’s working for you right now
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A list of tools you use
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A short tip or strategy you haven’t shared elsewhere
Then craft one juicy headline, one clear CTA, and pop it onto a story slide.
Seriously — that’s it.
Inside my 10-Day Instagram Story Plan, I actually give you 10 ready-to-use plug-and-play story prompts just like these. They’re the exact ones I’ve used to get hundreds of DMs and email subscribers — and you can grab them HERE if you want a head start.
Final Thoughts: The Simpler You Make It, the Better It Works
Gone are the days of posting every moment of your life to stay relevant. You don’t need to share your coffee or daily outfits (unless you want to!).
What you do need? A clear strategy that makes your stories work for your business — not just your personal brand.
This approach has not only freed up my time, but it’s brought in more views, more DMs, and more conversions than ever before. And honestly? It feels so much easier and more aligned.
You can absolutely do this too — even if you’re starting small.
Ready to Plug and Play This Strategy?
Grab my 10-Day Instagram Story Plan here. You’ll get 10 story slide prompts designed to increase your story views, boost replies, and grow your email list — all without overthinking your content or spending hours creating stories.
You’ve got this — and I’m cheering you on every step of the way.
