Instagram Storytelling 101: The Secret to Creating Relatable Content

Let’s talk about storytelling—the one skill that will make or break your Instagram content. This is what separates forgettable posts from content that connects, engages, and actually grows your audience. But here’s the problem—most people have no idea how to tell a story.

They think storytelling is some complex, intimidating skill that only novelists, filmmakers, or TED speakers use. Wrong. You already have the stories—you just don’t know how to use them yet.

Let’s break this down and get you storytelling like a pro.

Why Most Instagram Content Falls Flat

Most creators make the same mistake:

• They sit down, hit record, and start talking at the camera about their business, their expertise, or random tips.
• They assume people care about what they do instead of why it matters.
• They turn into human Wikipedia pages, giving unsolicited advice no one asked for.

This is why most content gets ignored. No one likes being lectured. No one asked you to play internet guru. But do you know what people do like? A damn good story.

The Shift: From Information to Storytelling

Instead of dumping out advice like a cold email nobody wants, wrap it inside a relatable story.

The formula is simple:

1. Find a moment in your life when you learned the lesson you’re trying to teach.
2. Tell that moment as a story (before you knew the lesson).
3. Deliver the lesson as the punchline.

Let’s compare two approaches to teaching the same concept:

Bad Content: Generic Advice

“Top 5 Time Management Tips!”

1. Write your goals down before bed.
2. Plan your schedule ahead of time.
3. Stay focused on tasks.
4. Avoid distractions.
5. Stick to your plan.

Nobody cares. They’ve heard it before. They’ll scroll past.

Good Content: A Relatable Story

*”Back in the day, I was the king of procrastination. I’d stay up late watching YouTube, sleep in, and plan to be late to everything. I got fired from three jobs. Then one day, my dad knocked on my door and said, ‘John, you either pay rent or get the hell out.’ Reality check.

So I found a job interview. And guess what? I was late to that too. They sent me home. On the train back, I found a book someone left behind—Tony Robbins on time management. I skimmed a page, and he said something simple: Write your goals down before bed so you wake up with a purpose.

I tried it. The next morning, I woke up with an actual plan. That day, I nailed a new interview and got the job. Since then, I’ve never gone a day without planning my next move.”*

Same lesson. 100x more engaging.

How to Pull Stories From Your Own Life

You don’t have to “create” stories—you already have them. The trick is finding the moments that led to an epiphany.

Think back to times when you:

• Struggled with something and finally figured it out.
• Failed at something and learned a lesson.
• Had an unexpected moment that changed your perspective.

Once you have that one moment, build your post like this:

1. Set the scene – Where were you? What was happening?
2. Show the struggle – What mistake were you making?
3. The turning point – What happened that changed everything?
4. The takeaway – What lesson did you learn that others can use?

This is how relatable content works. This is why people will engage, comment, and follow you.

Final Tip: Catch Yourself Before You Start “Lecturing”

When you feel yourself going into teacher mode—stop.

Instead, ask:

• What moment made me learn this lesson?
• When did I finally get it?
• What was the struggle that led me here?

Share that moment, then teach the lesson. People don’t connect with advice—they connect with the journey.

Storytelling = Building a Brand That Actually Lasts

The creators who win long-term aren’t just pumping out quick tips and tricks. They’re telling their story, sharing their struggles, and letting people see themselves in the journey.

So next time you make content, don’t just give advice—make it a story. That’s how you get people to care.

Now go tell your story.