Instagram Trends Every Small Business Needs to Know

If you're a business trying to grow online in 2025, Instagram should be one of your top priorities for your online presence. Success on Instagram this year requires intentionality, creativity, and a clear understanding of your audience and what they want to see. We stay on top of platform trends so our clients don't have to, and we're sharing the best of what's working right now.

Carousel Storytelling: Carousel posts aren't new by any means, but their new purpose in 2025 is something every business owner should take advantage of. They allow for room to educate, inspire, and sell all in one swipeable format. You could walk your audience through a tutorial, share before and afters, or educate. This can drive massive saves, shares, and engagement, which means more organic reach. The trick to carousels? Ensure that every slide adds value and ends with a call to action that inspires. 

Behind the Scenes Reels: People are tired of always seeing overly polished content, they want to see real moments from brands they love. Show your process, your team, your struggles, and even some funny moments. Allowing your audience to see these small insights into your day to day makes your brand feel more human and relatable. Which are great for the algorithm!

Stories: Everyone loves Instagram stories, and they're still going strong more than ever today, especially when they're interactive. Using polls, countdowns, sliders, and questions are not just fun for your audience, they help increase engagement and boost your visibility. Stories also make it easier for you to see audience feedback in real time making it a great tool for all business owners.

DM Strategies: DM strategies are becoming a big focus this year. Instagram wants to see people spending time in the app, including conversations. More brands are using automated welcome messages, quick replies, and call-to-action buttons that all go to your DMs. This helps you build relationships faster and convert leads right from the app. 

Long Form Captions: Audiences are hungry for meaningful content, not just aesthetics, which is why long form captions are making a comeback. Captions that tell a story, solve a problem, or educate are more likely to keep your audience engaged, reading, and coming back to your account for more. 

Taking all of these strategies and tailoring them to your audience will ensure that your social media marketing efforts are effective and engaging. Remember that social media is constantly evolving, so it's important to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices. By adapting your strategy to the changing landscape, you can ensure that your brand remains relevant and competitive. 

Instagram Trends Every Small Business Needs to Know