Without a doubt, Stories has been Instagram’s smartest invention yet. In fact, it’s hard to imagine the platform without Stories. Launched in August 2016, Stories has taken over, with over 400 million users sharing them every single day.

This is great news if you’re an avid Stories user and bad news if you’re a brand trying to stand out in the crowd. While I’ve previously shared seven fresh Instagram Stories ideas, today I offer nine design-focused, lesser-known hacks that your competitors likely aren’t using and that can help your Stories get more visibility.

1. Create a solid background for your text to pop

If you’re posting a sequence of Stories, you likely connect them with the same aesthetic. However, what happens when you need to interrupt that Stories sequence with a call to action? Create a solid background based on the color palette used in the previous Stories and make your text pop.

Here’s how:

  • Take a picture or select a picture from your Photo Library.
  • Click on the drawing pencil icon.
  • Hover over your color choice.
  • Tap your finger and hold it. The background will change to a solid, monochrome color.
  • Write a call to action or brief note.

2. Pick extra colors from the color selection

Instagram Stories offers a basic 27-color palette. But did you know you can have any or all the colors in the world?

Here’s how:

  • Click on the drawing pen icon.
  • Touch on any color and hold your finger. Within a second, a bigger palette pops up.
  • Keeping your finger tight on the screen, move it side to side until you pick the color you like.

TIP: This color wheel trick also can be used to change background behind fonts.

3. Use your picture’s color palette for fun letter background

Another cool Instagram tip for Stories is creating unique backgrounds for your fonts based on the color palette of the photo you’re posting. Essentially, this tip combines the first two, as you use the same technique with the drawing pen.

Here’s how:

  • Select the picture to post and determine the word you want to write.
  • Click the text icon (“Aa”) in the top right corner.
  • Type the first letter of the word. (Only the fonts labeled strong, classic, or typewriter allow for backgrounds to be added.)
  • Add that background to the letter by clicking on the icon on the top left corner.
  • Click the drawing pen icon to see the tool pop up.
  • Move the tool around the photo to see the background of the letter change.
  • Once you select the background color for the first letter, move on to the next and the next until the word is complete.

It might sound time-consuming, but it’s faster than you think. Plus, it looks cool and visually matches the photo, creating a holistic look and feel for your content.

3. Go for three-dimensional effect

Technically, there’s no three-dimensional effect on Stories, but you can fake it. It’s easier than you think.