Got an Instagram story so good you want it to last forever? Highlight it! You’ve probably seen them around on the Instagram accounts of your favorite social media stars or influencers. Maybe you’ve even tried them yourself.
No matter which category you fall into, it’s easy and effective to integrate Instagram Stories highlights into your social media marketing strategy.
Instagram highlights are one of the most attention-grabbing parts of your Instagram profile and can be used to your advantage in Instagram marketing. This is one of the main ways Instagram differs from other social media platforms (like LinkedIn and Snapchat), so make sure you’re making the most out of it!
Keep reading for a complete tutorial on how to create, edit, and utilize Instagram highlights for your business.
Note: These steps may be slightly different depending on whether you have an Android or iPhone! You’ll want to make sure you have the most updated version of the Instagram app in order to get the best results.
Instagram highlights are basically Instagram Stories that you choose to feature on your profile. Rather than disappearing after 24 hours, these Stories will remain visible through your business profile page.
You can categorize your highlights into different collections based on similar topics, such as travel, food, or friends.
These collections are then shown on your Instagram profile page. When a user clicks on the cover photo for the collection, they will be able to view all of the highlighted Stories you have saved to that collection.
Instagram Story highlights are incredibly useful as they allow you to bypass the perishability barrier of Instagram Stories, keep important information easily accessible for customers, and showcase your content in a format besides the standard Instagram feed.
There are TWO ways to create and save Instagram highlights!
Option 1:
Option 2:
If you didn’t add your Instagram highlights covers in the previous step, it’s simple to do so now:
OR
In the past, it was common for Instagram users to create highlight icons by changing the background color of their Instagram Stories or by posting their highlight covers to their Instagram Stories directly.
Marketers today are leaning away from these methods to avoid spamming their followers with low value content.
And if graphic design isn’t your strong suit? Never fear. Use Canva, Easil, or another resource to find templates you can use to create and save on-brand highlight covers for your profile.
THEN, click ‘Edit Cover’ to set your pre-designed image as the cover for this highlight, without also having to post it to Stories.
(P.S. Make sure that whatever image you choose has enough pixels that it won’t seem grainy or pixelated whenever it’s zoomed in)
Tip: Having highlight covers is not required, but it can make your entire profile seem more cohesive, professional, and aesthetically pleasing.
Many users get confused by how to save Instagram highlights, but adding new Stories to highlights can be done in pretty much the same way as Instagram Highlights are made (as described above).
If you want to add a NEW Story or image to your Instagram highlight:
OR, click on the Story once it’s posted and click the ‘Highlight’ button in the bottom left corner of the Story (second image above.)
If you want to add an EXISTING or PAST Story to your Instagram highlight:
You may accidentally add Stories to a highlight and want to remove them. Or, you may decide a Highlight no longer fits your brand and want to delete it altogether
To remove an entire highlight from your profile:
To remove a story from the highlight:
The order of your Instagram Highlights on your profile is determined by the recency in which you have posted to them.
For example, if you add an Instagram Story (whether it’s new or from your Archives) to your ‘Food’ highlight today, it will move to the front of the row.
Currently, there’s no way to manually rearrange the order of your Instagram highlights (it’s on our wishlist!)
So, if you REALLY want to rearrange your Instagram highlights, add a new Story (whether it’s new new or new to the highlight) to that highlight. And yes, you can immediately delete that story from the highlight and the new order will stay!
Short answer, no. :/
Like Instagram Stories, you can only see if someone viewed your highlight if they did so within the first 24 hours it was posted.
Need some ideas for how to use highlights to reflect your brand on Instagram? Here are six of our favorite ideas!
Information such as pricing and new product options can be easily placed in your Instagram highlights!
If you are in the early stages of your business and don’t have a website yet, this is ESPECIALLY important for you!
Showcase positive customer testimonials from satisfied buyers in your highlights! This creates an in-depth resource to help your followers and profile visitors make buying decisions about your products or services.
This is a great for bloggers and influencers who cover more than one niche in their content. Wondering how to get started?
Consider making Instagram highlights of: Fitness, Food, Friends, Travel, Beauty, Fashion or Home!
Add products to a ‘Fashion Finds’ or ‘Shop Favorites’ Highlight.
Encourage users to swipe up for the link OR head to the link in your Smart.bio to buy.
This option is especially handy for Ecommerce sellers and affiliate influencers
Remember a trip or event that you chronicled through Instagram Stories by adding these Stories to their own Highlight!
For example, The Colorado Trip, Harry Potter Date Night, Sister’s Wedding. Your favorite memories can be shared with all your followers!
Showcase different initiatives and causes you and your business support. Some recent examples are mental health awareness, and Black Lives Matter!
This is a great way to provide central resources for your followers on these topics that they can always come back to time and again.
Now that you’re armed with Instagram Highlights Ideas and a complete step-by-step guide, you’re ready to go make your Instagram ✨magical ✨
Instagram Highlights can totally change up the feel of your Instagram profile and help you take advantage of Instagram Marketing in a whole new way!
How do you like to use Highlights for your business? Let us know in the comments below!
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