Instagram is a dynamic platform where users share their moments through photos, videos, and stories. One of the popular features of Instagram is the Highlights, which allows you to organize your stories and showcase them on your profile.
Let’s explore this feature, discuss its significance, and discuss the best practices for making the most of your Instagram Highlights.
Understanding Instagram Highlights
Instagram Stories are designed to last for 24 hours, after which they disappear unless you choose to save them. This is where Highlights come in. Highlights allow you to save your Instagram Stories indefinitely, organizing them in a neat collection on your profile. They are displayed as circular icons just below your profile bio, making it easy for followers to view essential or interesting content long after it has expired from your Story feed.
While Stories are temporary, Highlights allow users to keep their most valuable or engaging content accessible for as long as they wish.
How Many Highlights Can You Have on Instagram?
The short answer is that Instagram allows you to create unlimited Highlights. You can group and save as many stories as you like in separate Highlights, allowing you to create a comprehensive and organized profile.
The Flexibility of Highlights
The flexibility of Highlights means you can organize content in various ways to appeal to your followers. Whether it’s your latest trip, favorite products, events, personal milestones, or tips and tricks, you can use Highlights to segment and showcase your content. If you have many stories to share, creating multiple Highlights allows you to categorize them based on topics, interests, or themes, making your Instagram profile more engaging and organized.
How to Create Highlights on Instagram
Creating Highlights is easy. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide on how you can add new Highlights:
- Go to your profile page on Instagram.
- Click the “+” icon beneath your bio and above your posts.
- Give your Highlight a name representing the content, and choose a cover image that best represents the collection.
- Save it, and the Highlight will be featured on your profile.
You can also edit Highlights by adding new stories or removing the existing ones. This feature gives you complete control over your Highlights’ content, allowing you to update them as often as you like.
Best Practices for Instagram Highlights
While there’s no limit to the number of Highlights you can have, there are some best practices you should consider to make your Highlights effective and organized.
Use Clear and Descriptive Titles
When creating a Highlight, choosing clear and descriptive titles is essential. Instead of vague titles like “Stuff” or “Miscellaneous,” be specific about what the Highlight contains. For example, you can name Highlights based on themes like “Travel,” “Food,” “Products,” “Events,” or “Tutorials.” This helps your followers know exactly what to expect from each Highlight and makes navigating your content easier.
Choose a Consistent Cover Design
The visual appeal of your Instagram profile matters. Consider using a consistent design or color scheme for your Highlight covers to make your Highlights look organized and professional. You can use a simple image or a custom graphic or choose from the many free Highlight cover templates available online.
Maintaining a cohesive look will make your profile well-curated, making it easier for visitors to browse your content and find what they’re interested in. Whether you’re a personal influencer, a brand, or a business, a consistent and visually appealing aesthetic is key to engaging your audience.
Focus on Quality Content
As your Highlights are visible indefinitely, it’s crucial to curate content that reflects the quality of your work, brand, or personal life. Don’t feel pressured to add every story you’ve posted to your Highlights. Instead, focus on the stories that showcase your best moments, valuable information, or something that aligns with your audience’s interests.
You can also create Highlights that have a specific purpose, such as “Customer Reviews,” “FAQs,” “Behind the Scenes,” or “New Products.” Keep your Highlights aligned with your branding to ensure they serve a meaningful purpose.
Keep Your Highlights Updated
Since Highlights stay on your profile indefinitely, updating them regularly is essential. As you create relevant new stories, add them to your existing Highlights to keep them fresh. This shows your audience you’re active and committed to providing up-to-date content. Old, irrelevant Highlights can also be archived to make space for newer content.
By keeping your Highlights current, you can keep your Instagram profile dynamic, relevant, and aligned with your current goals.
Prioritize Your Most Important Highlights
Even though Instagram allows you to add unlimited Highlights, it’s still a good idea to feature the most important or popular Highlights at the top of your profile. You can easily rearrange the order of your Highlights by dragging and dropping them into the desired sequence.
Make sure your top Highlights are engaging and represent the most relevant content. Whether it’s an ongoing promotion, your best work, or a special event, the most important stories should take priority on your profile.
Benefits of Using Instagram Highlights
There are many advantages to using Instagram Highlights, and it’s one of the most valuable features for Instagram users who want to maintain a professional or engaging profile.
Extend the Life of Your Stories
Stories only last 24 hours, but Highlights allow your followers to revisit content anytime. Adding high-quality or significant stories to your Highlights ensures that important content doesn’t fade into obscurity after just one day.
Boost Your Profile’s Visibility
A well-organized Highlight section can boost your profile’s visibility by showcasing the variety of content you offer. When potential followers visit your profile, they’ll immediately know what kind of content they can expect, increasing the likelihood of engagement and follow-backs. Highlights act as a portfolio of your content, making it easier for others to see your best work.
Keep Followers Engaged
Highlights are an excellent tool for keeping your audience engaged with your content over time. When your followers return to your profile, they can explore the latest updates in your Highlights. This ongoing access to your content allows your followers to stay engaged and informed about what’s happening with you or your brand, whether it’s a new project or product launch.
Organize and Categorize Your Content
Highlights help you organize your content into categories that are easy for followers to navigate. Whether you’re running a personal account or a business profile, organizing content into Highlights allows users to find the information they’re looking for quickly. For businesses, Highlights can be used for product showcases, customer reviews, services, and promotions. Personal accounts may use Highlights for travel diaries, achievements, and fun moments.