Guide to Creating On-Brand Graphics for Instagram Stories

Creating on-brand graphics for Instagram Stories is a powerful way to reinforce your brand identity and make a memorable impression on your audience. Since Stories disappear after 24 hours, they offer a fun, low-risk way to engage followers and showcase your brand personality.

Here’s a guide to creating Instagram Story graphics that are cohesive, eye-catching, and distinctly on-brand.

1. Define Your Brand Elements

To make your Instagram Stories instantly recognizable, it’s important to stick with the core elements of your brand’s visual identity.

• Color Palette: Choose a few main colors that represent your brand and use them consistently in your Stories. Stick to 2-3 colors that complement each other and align with your brand’s mood and message.
• Fonts: Pick 1-2 fonts that are easy to read and suit your brand’s tone. If you’re using Instagram’s text options, select styles that match your branding. For example, a luxury brand may use elegant, minimal fonts, while a playful brand might choose bold, colorful fonts.
• Logo: Use your logo strategically—either on the cover slide or as a subtle watermark in a corner. Don’t overdo it, but let it reinforce your brand identity.

Tip: If you have a brand style guide, refer to it while designing your Stories. Keeping consistent visual elements helps your audience recognize your content immediately.

2. Create Branded Templates

Templates streamline your design process and keep your graphics cohesive, saving you time while ensuring consistency.

• Use Design Tools: Apps like Canva, Adobe Spark, and Over have Instagram Story templates that you can customize to fit your brand’s colors, fonts, and logo.
• Create a Set of Templates: Design a set of templates for different types of content, such as announcements, tips, quotes, and product showcases. This way, you can use a cohesive design while varying your content.

Tip: Save your templates so you can quickly edit and reuse them. This allows you to easily create new Story graphics while maintaining a consistent look.

3. Focus on High-Quality Visuals

Eye-catching visuals are crucial for grabbing attention in Stories, so invest in high-quality images and graphics.

• Professional Photos: Use professional, high-resolution images that align with your brand’s style. If your brand is colorful and fun, use vibrant images. If it’s more subdued, opt for soft, neutral-toned photos.
• Consistent Filters and Editing: If you’re using photos in your Stories, apply the same filter or editing style to all your images to keep them consistent. Apps like Lightroom and VSCO let you save custom presets to use repeatedly.

Tip: If you don’t have original photos, stock photo sites like Unsplash and Pexels offer high-quality, free images that you can customize to fit your brand.

4. Use Text Wisely

Text can enhance your Stories but can also clutter them if overused. Keep text minimal and intentional to ensure readability.

• Highlight Key Information: Keep text brief and easy to read. Highlight important information, like announcements or limited-time offers, in bold or with contrasting colors.
• Align Text with Brand Tone: Match your text style to your brand voice. For example, if your brand is energetic, your captions might be bold and playful. For a more refined brand, text can be subtle and elegant.

Tip: Use Instagram’s text alignment and spacing options to position your text clearly, making sure it doesn’t crowd the visuals or appear too close to the edges of the frame.

5. Add Engaging Elements

Instagram offers interactive tools that help make your Stories more engaging, such as polls, questions, and links.

• Polls and Questions: Use these tools to interact with your audience in on-brand ways. For instance, a fitness brand might use polls to ask about favorite workouts, while a beauty brand might ask about favorite products.
• Stickers and GIFs: Use GIFs and stickers that match your brand’s personality. Be selective and don’t overcrowd the frame; just a few carefully chosen stickers can make your Story feel lively without feeling chaotic.
• CTA Buttons: Encourage action with calls-to-action (CTA) like “Swipe Up” (if eligible), “Tap to Learn More,” or “DM Us.” Use CTA buttons in your brand colors to make them noticeable and engaging.

Tip: Stick to a few interactive elements per Story to keep your design clean and focused.

6. Maintain a Flow and Structure

Good Instagram Stories aren’t just individual slides—they tell a cohesive story when viewed in sequence. Plan your slides to keep viewers engaged from beginning to end.

• Start with a Hook: Your first slide should capture attention. Use a powerful image, intriguing question, or bold headline that makes viewers want to see what’s next.
• Organize Your Story: Think of each slide as part of a sequence. Arrange them logically—intro, body, conclusion—and avoid overcrowding each slide with information. Break down details across multiple slides if needed.
• End with a CTA: Give your audience a clear action to take at the end of your Story, whether it’s visiting your website, following your account, or sharing the Story.

Tip: Keep each Story to a manageable length (around 5-7 slides) so viewers stay engaged and don’t swipe away.

7. Test and Analyze Performance

Experiment with different designs and interactive elements, then analyze what resonates best with your audience.

• Instagram Insights: Use Instagram Insights to track how many people viewed, skipped, or engaged with your Stories. This helps identify which designs and content types are most effective.
• A/B Testing: Try variations of your Story designs, such as different color schemes or formats, to see which version performs better. This can help refine your approach to what works best.

Tip: Review Insights weekly or monthly to spot trends in engagement and refine your Stories based on what’s working.

8. Stay Updated with Trends

While keeping an on-brand look is important, following Instagram Story trends can help keep your content fresh.

• Current Design Trends: Look out for trending styles, such as minimalism, animated graphics, or bold typography, and adapt them in a way that aligns with your brand.
• Creative Filters and Effects: Instagram regularly introduces new filters and effects that can add a fun twist to your Stories. Select effects that match your brand’s style for a modern feel.

Tip: Don’t follow every trend—choose trends that fit your brand identity so your Stories stay relevant and recognizable.

By defining your brand elements, using templates, focusing on high-quality visuals, and incorporating interactive features, you’ll create on-brand Instagram Stories that capture attention and build a consistent brand identity. Whether you’re sharing new products, announcing events, or simply engaging with your followers, these steps will help you make a lasting impression with every Story.