We have investigated the static and dynamic properties of two lithographically patterned bi-stable nanomagnets. Different ground magnetic states were realized using a simple in-plane field initialization technique. These states were directly imaged with magnetic force microscopy. Using the broadband ferromagnetic spectroscopy, we show that different magnetic ground states are associated with distinct microwave absorption spectra due to the variation of the internal magnetic field leading to large shift between the absorption spectra. Our experimental observations are in good agreement with micromagnetic simulations which also indicate the possibility of sub-ns switching between magnetic states using a rectangular pulse field. © 2016 Author(s).