If you’re looking to elevate your Instagram profile and make a lasting impression, Instagram Highlights are an invaluable tool. Think of Highlights as the “storefront” of your Instagram—right there under your bio, they offer a sneak peek into the heart of your brand. Curate them carefully, and they’ll tell your story to every visitor. Unlike regular Stories that disappear after 24 hours, Highlights stay on your profile permanently, providing ongoing opportunities to showcase your brand’s personality, values, and products all in one place.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to make the most of Instagram Highlights—from organization tips and cover designs to storytelling ideas and tracking your success. Each tip will help you boost brand awareness, drive engagement, and convert those curious followers into loyal customers.

Why Instagram Highlights Matter for Brand Building

Instagram Highlights are more than just archived Stories—they’re like a mini-portfolio, spotlighting your brand’s best moments and most engaging content. And because people decide quickly whether to follow a brand, Highlights can be your way to impress potential followers within seconds.

Here’s why Highlights are so impactful for brands:

• Visibility: Positioned prominently under your bio, Highlights are the first thing people see when they land on your profile.
• Longevity: Unlike regular Stories, Highlights stay on your profile indefinitely, making it easier to engage with new visitors over time.
• Curated Content: With Highlights, you control the narrative, showcasing your most valuable content in a clean, accessible format.

Ready to make the most of your Instagram Highlights? Let’s dive into the top strategies to help you create Highlights that showcase your brand’s unique personality and value.

1. Organize Highlights by Category

Your Highlights can quickly become an organized library of content that tells your brand’s story from every angle. But it all starts with thoughtful categorization. Think about the different aspects of your brand and what will attract your audience’s attention.

Example Categories:

• Products: Showcase your product range or individual collections.
• Customer Testimonials: Show off glowing reviews and feedback to build trust.
• Behind the Scenes: Offer a peek into your daily operations or creative process.
• How-Tos & Tutorials: Provide tips and tricks on using your products.
• Events: Archive content from past events or community gatherings.

Each category should be simple and direct—using one or two words is best so that followers can quickly understand what each Highlight is about. Think of it like organizing your website’s navigation menu; everything should be intuitive!

Why It Works: Clear categories make it easy for visitors to navigate and find exactly what interests them. This organized layout creates a positive user experience and encourages engagement.

2. Design Custom Highlight Covers

Highlight covers are like little visual signposts on your profile, and they say a lot about your brand. First impressions count, so aim for covers that look polished and are in line with your brand’s visual style. Custom covers are the best way to make sure each Highlight feels like a cohesive part of your overall profile.

Tips for Creating Custom Covers:

• Use a Consistent Style: Whether you go for icons, a color gradient, or minimalist text, consistency is key to building a cohesive aesthetic.
• Match Your Brand Colors: If your brand uses specific colors, integrate them here to reinforce brand identity.
• Keep it Simple: Avoid clutter. Simple icons or colors can be more effective than lots of text or complex images.

Tools to Create Covers: Platforms like Canva and Adobe Spark make designing custom covers easy and fun. You can even create your covers directly in Instagram Stories, saving them to your phone for future use.

Why It Works: Thoughtfully designed covers catch the eye, create a professional impression, and help your profile look polished and organized.

3. Use Highlights to Tell a Story

Your Highlights are a fantastic way to let your brand’s story unfold. Each Highlight can showcase a different “chapter” of your brand’s journey. For example, if you’re launching a new product, consider creating a Highlight that includes sneak peeks, countdowns, launch day announcements, and customer reactions. Or, a Highlight titled “Our Story” could take visitors from your brand’s humble beginnings to where you are now, complete with behind-the-scenes shots and fun milestones.

Tips for Storytelling through Highlights:

• Chronological Order: If your Highlight has a narrative, organize the Stories in order, so viewers can follow along naturally.
• Add Depth: Mix up your content within each Highlight with photos, videos, boomerangs, and even polls or Q&A to keep it engaging.

Why It Works: Storytelling makes your brand relatable and memorable. When you use Highlights to tell a story, followers connect with you on an emotional level, which builds loyalty and engagement.

4. Add Valuable Content in Each Highlight

Think of Highlights as mini-resources for your followers. Each one should serve a purpose and offer value. Whether it’s behind-the-scenes insights, how-to guides, or exclusive tips, make sure every Highlight has a reason to exist. This will not only attract viewers but keep them coming back for more.

Examples of Value-Adding Content:

• Product Tips: Create short videos showing how to use your product.
• User Reviews: Post screenshots or videos of customer feedback for social proof.
• Exclusive Offers: Share limited-time discounts or promotions available only to your Instagram followers.

Why It Works: Valuable content makes your profile feel like a resource. When followers feel that your Highlights offer something meaningful, they’ll engage more and return to your profile regularly.

5. Showcase User-Generated Content (UGC)

UGC is one of the most effective ways to build social proof and make your brand feel more approachable. Highlighting photos, videos, or testimonials from real customers shows that people genuinely love your brand, and it encourages others to get involved too!

Collecting UGC:

• Run a Campaign: Invite customers to tag you in their Stories.
• Request Permission: Always ask before adding someone else’s content to your Highlight.
• Create a Highlight Category: A Highlight titled “Customer Love” or “Real Reviews” is a dedicated spot for UGC.

Why It Works: UGC builds credibility by showing that others are actively using and loving your products. Plus, it fosters a sense of community among your followers.

6. Create a FAQ Highlight

If you often receive the same questions, a FAQ Highlight is a fantastic solution. It saves you time by offering a go-to resource for common questions. Plus, it makes your profile more user-friendly, especially for new followers who may not know much about your brand yet.

FAQ Ideas:

• Product Questions: Include info on sizing, shipping, returns, etc.
• Brand-Specific Queries: Address questions about your materials, sustainability practices, or production methods.
• Service Questions: If you offer services, cover booking, pricing, or contact methods.

Why It Works: A FAQ Highlight not only improves the user experience but also shows that you’re proactive in addressing your followers’ needs. It builds trust and improves satisfaction.

7. Refresh and Update Highlights Regularly

Highlights are a dynamic part of your profile. By updating them, you show your audience that your brand is active and engaged. Seasonal changes, new launches, or refreshed visuals are perfect opportunities to keep your Highlights fresh.

How to Keep Highlights Fresh:

• Monthly Reviews: Take time each month to go over your Highlights and make sure they’re still relevant.
• Archive Old Content: If a Highlight is outdated, replace it with new Stories that better represent your current offerings.
• Try New Ideas: Temporary Highlights around holidays, seasonal events, or special campaigns can add excitement to your profile.

Why It Works: Regular updates keep your profile interesting and show that you’re invested in providing current, relevant content to your audience.

8. Monitor Highlight Performance Using Insights

Instagram offers insights into how your Stories perform. Tracking which Highlights attract the most views and engagement can help you understand what resonates with your audience.

Using Insights:

• Track Views and Engagement: Pay attention to how many people are watching your Highlights.
• Identify Patterns: Notice if specific types of content consistently perform well.
• Refine Your Strategy: Use data to guide your content choices and refine your Highlights over time.

Why It Works: DataHow to Use Instagram Highlights to Showcase Your Brand-driven decisions ensure your Highlights stay relevant and engaging. It allows you to adapt to your audience’s preferences for maximum impact.

Final Thoughts: Elevate Your Brand with Instagram Highlights

When you strategically use Instagram Highlights, you’re creating a visual library that tells the story of your brand in a way that’s both appealing and memorable. Each Highlight should add something valuable to your profile—whether that’s entertainment, education, or inspiration. Remember, Highlights are an ongoing project that should evolve as your brand grows.