Instagram Story Ad examples show how brands use short, engaging videos or images to grab attention and drive action. These ads appear between Instagram Stories, making them a great way to reach potential customers without interrupting their experience.
Businesses use Instagram Story Ads to increase brand awareness, engagement, and sales. Since Instagram Stories disappear in 24 hours, people tend to watch them quickly, making them perfect for fast and effective advertising. With features like swipe-up links, stickers, and interactive elements, brands can easily connect with their audience and encourage them to take action.
In this blog, we’ll share 20 of the best Instagram Story Ad examples that have successfully captured the attention and driven results. You’ll also learn key takeaways from each example to create high-performing Story Ads for your business. Let’s dive in!
What Makes a Great Instagram Story Ad?
If you look at Instagram Story Ad examples, you’ll notice they all share certain features that make them successful. A well-designed Instagram Story Ad grabs attention, delivers a clear message, and encourages action. Here are some key factors that make a great Instagram Story Ad:
1. Visual Appeal
A strong Instagram Story Ad uses high-quality images and videos to catch the viewer’s eye. Bright colors, smooth animations, and clear visuals help brands stand out as people quickly tap through Instagram Stories viewer.
2. Clear Messaging
People scroll fast, so your ad should have short and simple text. A strong call-to-action (CTA) like “Swipe Up,” “Shop Now,” or “Learn More” tells viewers exactly what to do next.
3. Engaging Elements
Adding stickers, polls, countdowns, and swipe-up links makes your ad interactive and fun. This keeps viewers engaged and increases the chances they’ll take action. Some people also wonder how to know if someone screenshots your Instagram Story, showing how interactive ads grab attention.
4. Brand Consistency
Your ad should match your brand’s colors, fonts, and style so people recognize it instantly. When a brand stays consistent, it builds trust and makes a lasting impression on the audience.
5. Mobile Optimization
Since Instagram is a mobile-first platform, your ad must be in a vertical format so it looks perfect on phone screens. A well-optimized ad is easy to watch without turning the phone or zooming in.
Top 20 Instagram Story Ad Examples That Work
If you want to create a powerful Instagram Story Ad, learning from top brands can help. The best Instagram Story Ad examples use strong visuals, clear messaging, and engaging features to grab attention. These ads appear in the Instagram Stories viewer and encourage users to take action.
Here are 20 great examples from different industries:
1. E-commerce & Retail Ads
Boost sales and engagement with these top-performing e-commerce & retail Instagram Story ads!
- Nike – Uses motion graphics and storytelling to show how products perform. Their ads feature athletes in action, making them exciting and inspiring.
- Sephora – Shares user-generated content (videos from real customers) to make their ads feel more personal and trustworthy.
- Zara – Uses a minimalist design with stylish visuals and a simple “Swipe Up Link” button to encourage shopping.
- H&M – Promotes sales and discounts with moving text, bold colors, and engaging animations.
2. Tech & Apps Ads
Explore the best Instagram Story ads that drive downloads and engagement for tech & apps
- Spotify – Shows personalized music recommendations with eye-catching animations, making users want to listen right away.
- TikTok – Uses real videos from popular creators to show how fun the app is, making people want to join and create their own content.
- Canva – Shares short tutorials on how to design graphics easily, helping people see the app’s value.
- Duolingo – Uses a fun and playful tone with humor to promote language learning in a gamified way.
3. Food & Beverage Ads
Feast your eyes on the most enticing Instagram Story ads for food & beverage brands!
- McDonald’s – Creates a sense of urgency by showing limited-time offers with a countdown sticker, making people want to order fast.
- Starbucks – Uses interactive polls to let customers vote on their favorite seasonal drinks, keeping them engaged.
- Coca-Cola – Tells emotional stories through lifestyle videos, showing happy moments where people enjoy their drinks.
- Domino’s – Uses fast-paced animations to show how quickly they deliver hot, fresh pizza.
4. Fashion & Beauty Ads
Unveil the most stylish and captivating Instagram Story ads for fashion & beauty brands!
- Fenty Beauty – Highlights diverse models and product demonstrations, making beauty more inclusive.
- Dior – Creates a luxury feel with high-quality, cinematic ads that showcase their fashion and beauty products.
- Glossier – Features influencers and behind-the-scenes clips, making their ads feel personal and authentic.
5. Health & Fitness Ads
Get inspired by the most impactful Instagram Story ads for health & fitness brands!
- Nike Training Club – Shows real workout clips to encourage users to download their fitness app.
- MyFitnessPal – Highlights success stories from real users, inspiring people to track their health and nutrition.
6. Other Industries & Unique Examples
Explore unique Instagram Story ad examples from top brands like Airbnb, Netflix, and Mercedes-Benz that captivate and convert!
- Airbnb – Uses real travel experiences to inspire people to book unique stays.
- Netflix – Shows exciting trailer snippets with a “Watch Now” button to promote new shows and movies.
- Mercedes-Benz – Uses high-quality storytelling hashtags to highlight their cars’ luxury and performance.
Best Practices for Creating High-Converting Instagram Story Ads
If you want your Instagram Story Ad to grab attention and drive results, you need to make it short, engaging, and optimized for mobile users. The best Instagram Story Ad examples use smart strategies to increase clicks, views, and sales. Here are some easy tips to create high-performing ads:
1. Use Short & Compelling Copy
People scroll through Instagram Stories viewer quickly, so your text should be short and powerful. A few words are enough to tell your message. For example, instead of writing “Check out our new collection of stylish summer shoes!”, say “New Summer Shoes! Swipe Up!”
Tip: Keep your text under 3-5 words and make your Call-to-Action (CTA) clear.
2. Incorporate Motion & Interactive Elements
Moving images and videos attract more attention than still photos. Adding stickers, polls, countdowns, or swipe-up links makes your ad more fun and engaging. Example: Starbucks uses polls in their Instagram Story Ad to ask viewers to vote for their favorite drink. This makes people more likely to interact.
Tip: Motion catches the eye! Use animations, GIFs, or short videos to keep people watching.
3. Optimize for Mobile Viewing
Since Instagram is a mobile app, your ad must fit perfectly on phone screens. The best Instagram Story Ad examples use a vertical format (9:16 ratio) so they look great on mobile devices.
Tip: Keep text and important visuals in the center so they don’t get cut off on some phone screens.
4. Test Different CTAs to Boost Conversions
A Call-to-Action (CTA) tells people what to do next. Examples include “Swipe Up,” “Shop Now,” or “Try for Free.” The best way to find out what works is by testing different CTAs. Example: Nike tested different CTAs like “Swipe Up to Shop” and “Tap to Explore” to see which one got more clicks.
Tip: Change your CTA and track results to see what gets the best response.
5. Leverage User-Generated Content for Authenticity
People trust real customer reviews more than ads. That’s why many brands use user-generated content (UGC), such as customer videos or testimonials, in their Instagram Story Ad. Example: Sephora shares videos of real customers using their makeup products, making the ad feel more personal and relatable.
Tip: Ask happy customers to share their experiences and feature them in your ad.
Wrapping It Up
Instagram Story Ads are a powerful way for brands to connect with their audience, increase engagement, and boost sales. The best Instagram Story Ad examples use eye-catching visuals, clear messaging, and interactive features to keep viewers interested. Since Instagram Stories viewer moves quickly, it’s important to create ads that are short, engaging, and optimized for mobile.
By learning from top brands like Nike, Sephora, and Spotify, you can see what works and apply similar strategies to your own ads. Whether you use motion graphics, user-generated content, or interactive elements, making your ad visually appealing and action-driven will help you get the best results.
Now that you know how to create high-converting Instagram Story Ads, it’s time to experiment with different formats, test your CTAs, and refine your strategy. And if you’ve ever wondered how to know if someone screenshots your Instagram Story, it’s because engaging content makes people want to save and share it!
Start creating compelling Instagram Story Ads today and watch your brand reach new heights!
