How to Use the ‘Add Yours’ Sticker on Instagram to Spark Story Engagement

You’re managing orders, answering customer messages, posting to your grid, and still trying to keep your Instagram Stories alive. It’s a lot. But if there’s one feature that makes engagement easier, and more fun: It’s the Instagram’s ‘Add Yours’ sticker.

Instead of trying to come up with something groundbreaking for Instagram Stories every day, small business owners can use this interactive sticker on Instagram to start conversations, collect content from their community, and make their audience feel seen. Whether you’re launching a new product, building a community, or just trying to get people to talk back, the ‘Add Yours’ sticker gives you a simple way to do it.

Here’s how to make it work.

What Is the ‘Add Yours’ Sticker on Instagram?

Instagram’s ‘Add Yours’ sticker is a Story feature that lets you post a prompt, usually a short question or theme, so your followers can share their own content in response.

When someone taps your sticker, it opens their camera roll or Story editor, letting them post something that matches your prompt. Their Story will then include a link to the original sticker (yours), allowing others to join the same chain.

In short: you start an Instagram trend, your followers build on it, and everyone’s Instagram Stories become part of the same conversation.

Why It Works for Small Businesses

Small businesses often struggle with one thing on Instagram: creating content that encourages real interaction. The ‘Add Yours’ sticker fixes that.

Instead of just posting updates and hoping people watch your stories, you invite your audience to be part of the content. That matters because people love to share their own experiences, and they’re more likely to trust brands that feel human and relatable.

When you use this feature intentionally, it helps you:

• Gather user-generated content (UGC)

• Build brand loyalty through community participation

• Increase Instagram Story views and reach (as more people join in)

• Learn about your customers’ interests and habits

• Encourage your followers to promote you without even realizing it

  
  

Best of all, it doesn’t require video editing or a major strategy. A great prompt and good timing can spark a wave of interaction.

How to Add the ‘Add Yours’ Sticker to Your Instagram Story

Getting started is quick:

1. Open your Instagram Story camera

Swipe right from your home feed to access the Story creator. Take a photo, video, or upload from your gallery.

2. Tap the sticker icon

At the top of your screen, you’ll see the square smiley face. Tap that to open the sticker menu.

3. Choose ‘Add Yours’

Scroll until you see “Add Yours.” Tap it and type your prompt. Keep it short, specific, and easy to answer.

4. Post and wait for responses

Once it’s live, your followers can tap your sticker and post their own Story response. Each new Story links back to yours, making it easy for people to discover your page.

What Makes a Great Instagram ‘Add Yours’ Prompt?

The success of an ‘Add Yours’ sticker comes down to one thing: the prompt. You need something that makes people think, “Oh, I want to share that too.”

Here’s how to write better ones:

Keep It Short

Most of the best prompts are under 6 words. Too long, and people scroll past.

Examples:

• “Last pic of your pet 🐾”

• “Your favorite snack rn”

• “Show your home office”

  
  

Make It Specific

Vague prompts get ignored. Give people something they can respond to without thinking too hard.

Instead of: “Add yours” Try: “Your coziest corner at home ☕”

Use Emojis

They help set the tone and make the prompt feel casual and fun.

Example: “Outfit that made you feel 🔥”

Tie It to Your Brand or Niche

The best prompts relate to what you do.

If you’re a candle brand: “Your candle-lit night setup 🕯️

”If you’re a café: “Morning coffee view ☕🌤️”

10 “Add Yours” Prompt Ideas for Small Businesses

Need inspiration? Here are 10 plug-and-play ‘Add Yours’ prompts based on different small business types:

1. Skincare Brands

Prompt: “Your current skincare shelfie 🧴💧”

2. Coffee Shops

Prompt: “Your morning coffee order ☕📸”

3. Fashion Boutiques

Prompt: “OOTD you felt 🔥 in”

4. Bookstores

Prompt: “What you’re reading rn 📖”

5. Pet Stores

Prompt: “Your pet being extra 🐶”

6. Candle Makers

Prompt: “Your coziest setup 🕯️✨”

7. Fitness Coaches

Prompt: “Your at-home gym setup 🏋️‍♀️”

8. Stationery Shops

Prompt: “Your journal spread today 📝”

9. Jewelry Brands

Prompt: “Your everyday stack 💍⛓️”

10. Florists

Prompt: “Your fave flower arrangement 🌷”

Each one encourages your followers to share content you can reshare, while keeping your brand front and center.

How to Get More People to Participate

Sometimes a prompt is great, but still flops. Here’s how to make sure people actually join in:

1. Lead by Example

Post your own response to the prompt first. People are more likely to engage when they see how you answered it.

2. Give a Shoutout

Reshare user responses on your own story. It creates a feedback loop: the more you share, the more people will want to be featured.

3. Add a Caption or CTA

Include text like “Tap to join” or “Can’t wait to see yours!” to nudge people to participate.

4. Time It Right

Posting times are important. Post your prompt when your audience is most active. Early mornings and evenings often perform best for Story interactions.

5. Pair It with a Giveaway

Offer a reward for your favorite response. That little extra push can drive a ton of entries.

What Kind of Content Can You Collect?

When you use the ‘Add Yours’ sticker well, you end up with a ton of content that works beyond Stories. Here's what it can give you:

• Product photos (shot by real customers)

• Lifestyle content that shows how people use your product

• Testimonial-like Stories without needing formal reviews

• Behind-the-scenes moments from customers’ lives

  
  

This user-generated content can be screenshotted and repurposed for your feed, Reels, or even email marketing.

Brands That Use It Well

If you want inspiration, here are a few brands that crush it with this sticker:

1. Glossier

The beauty brand frequently posts prompts like “What’s in your makeup bag?” or “Today’s skincare lineup.” Fans love to show off their routines, and Glossier reposts the best ones, building a community of users around their products.

2. Parade

This underwear brand uses prompts like “Outfit that made you feel powerful 💥” and invites customers to share confidence-boosting fits. It perfectly matches their brand voice and mission.

3. Starbucks

On seasonal launches, Starbucks prompts users to share their drinks with stickers like “Your fall order 🍂☕” or “First iced drink of the year.” Every Story becomes an ad, and it doesn’t cost them anything.

These brands aren’t just looking for clicks, they’re creating moments people want to be part of.

How to Use the Sticker as a Content Strategy

The ‘Add Yours’ sticker isn’t just a one-off tool. It can be part of your broader Instagram content strategy.

Here’s how:

1. Create a Weekly Series

Example: Every Wednesday, post a “Share your desk today” prompt. It gives your audience something to look forward to and participate in every week.

2. Launch with It

Releasing a new product? Try: “How you styled our new drop 💅” or “Unboxing moment 🎁”

3. Get Feedback

Instead of a poll, ask: “Your favorite flavor so far?” or “How do you use this?”

4. Drive UGC Campaigns

Running a UGC campaign? This sticker is your entry point. Combine it with a hashtag, and boom, you’re crowdsourcing content without needing a full influencer budget.

Mistakes to Avoid

Even though it’s a casual tool, a few missteps can limit its impact:

❌ Being Too Vague

“Add yours” without context doesn’t perform well. People need direction.

❌ Using It Too Often

Like any tool, it loses effectiveness if overused. Stick to once or twice a week max.

❌ Ignoring Responses

If someone takes the time to join in, acknowledge it! A quick reshare or reply goes a long way.

❌ Going Off-Brand

Make sure your prompts fit your tone and audience. A skincare brand posting “Show your pet” might feel random unless it's tied to a campaign.

Why Instagram Loves the ‘Add Yours’ Sticker

Instagram’s algorithm prioritizes Stories that get interactions, whether that’s DMs, sticker taps, or shares. The ‘Add Yours’ sticker checks all those boxes.

It naturally:

• Keeps people watching longer

• Encourages them to interact

• Creates content loops that bring people back to your profile

  
  

Plus, when someone participates, their Story includes a clickable link to yours. That’s built-in discovery you don’t have to pay for.

Final Thoughts

The ‘Add Yours’ sticker might seem simple, but it can do a lot for your business. It’s one of the easiest ways to get people talking, sharing, and building content with you, not just watching you.

If your engagement is slowing or you’re running out of things to post, this is your sign to drop a prompt and let your community take it from there. The best part? You get content, connection, and visibility, all from one sticker.

FAQs

Can I see how many people joined my ‘Add Yours’ sticker on Instagram?

Yes! Just tap the Add Yours sticker in your Instagram Story to see who responded. While Instagram doesn’t show a public total, you can view each individual participant.

Can Business accounts use the ‘Add Yours’ sticker?

Absolutely. The Add Yours sticker is available to all Instagram account types, whether you're using a personal, Creator, or Business account.

Can I delete someone else’s response to my ‘Add Yours’ prompt?

Not directly. You can’t remove another user’s Story response, but you can delete your own Add Yours sticker to stop new responses from coming in.

Can I reuse an Instagram ‘Add Yours’ prompt?

Yes, you can! Reposting a successful Add Yours prompt with updated visuals or a seasonal twist is a great way to boost engagement again.

Do ‘Add Yours’ responses disappear after 24 hours?

They do. Like all Instagram Stories, Add Yours responses vanish after 24 hours unless saved to your Story Highlights or captured via screenshot.

What happens when someone joins my ‘Add Yours’ sticker?

When someone responds to your Add Yours prompt, their Story will be linked back to yours. You’ll get a notification and can tap the sticker to view their content.

Is the ‘Add Yours’ sticker good for boosting engagement?

Definitely. The Add Yours sticker encourages followers to contribute to your Story, helping increase reach, interaction, and time spent on your content.

Can I track the performance of my ‘Add Yours’ sticker?

While Instagram doesn’t offer full analytics for Add Yours stickers, you can still measure performance by watching how many users respond and how far the chain goes.