When it comes to making a strong first impression on Instagram, Story Highlights are one of the most powerful tools you can use. Whether you’re a brand, influencer, or just someone who loves curating content, Story Highlights let you keep your best Instagram Stories available for anyone who visits your profile. In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to create Instagram Story Highlights, why they’re so important, and answer the most common questions around this feature.
What Are Instagram Story Highlights and Why Should You Use Them?
Instagram Stories disappear after 24 hours, but Story Highlights let you save your favorite Stories permanently on your profile. Highlights appear just below your bio and are one of the first things visitors see when they land on your page. Think of Highlights as a curated gallery of your best moments, promotions, tips, or whatever you want to showcase long-term.
If you’re wondering why this matters, here’s the thing: Instagram Story Highlights allow you to keep your best content easily accessible to visitors. Whether it’s an important product launch, behind-the-scenes looks, or FAQ sessions, these Highlights help maintain ongoing engagement. Plus, you can group them by theme, giving your profile a clean, organized look that enhances user experience.
Let’s dive into some of the most frequently asked questions.
Common Questions About Instagram Story Highlights
1. How Do I Create Instagram Story Highlights?
The process is quite simple:
- First, you need to post an Instagram Story. Once your Story is live (or after it expires), head to your profile.
- Click on the small plus sign “+” right under your bio, which will prompt you to create a new Highlight.
- Select the Story or Stories you want to include from your archive, give your Highlight a name, and you’re done!
Now, that new Highlight will appear on your profile indefinitely, or until you decide to remove it.
2. Can I Add Older Stories to a New Highlight?
Yes! Instagram automatically saves all your Stories in your archive, so even if the Story is no longer visible to others after 24 hours, you can still access it and add it to any Highlight you create later.
3. How Do I Customize My Highlight Covers?
This is where the fun begins! Instead of using the default cover (the first frame of your Story), you can upload custom images as Highlight covers. Simply click on “Edit Highlight,” then tap “Edit Cover.” You can upload a custom-designed image that matches your brand, theme, or aesthetic.
4. How Many Story Highlights Can I Have?
Instagram allows you to create an unlimited number of Highlights. However, keep in mind that an overload of Highlights might overwhelm visitors. Aim for a balanced number — enough to showcase your content but not so many that your profile looks cluttered.
5. Can I See Who Viewed My Highlights?
Unfortunately, Instagram does not allow users to view who has watched their Story Highlights after 24 hours. Once the Story has expired, the viewer list also disappears, but the number of views remains.
Best Practices for Creating Engaging Instagram Story Highlights
Now that you know how to create Highlights, let’s talk about some best practices to ensure your Story Highlights are engaging and effective.
- Categorize and Organize: Group Stories by themes or topics. For example, if you’re a travel influencer, you can categorize Highlights by destinations. If you’re a business, you can have separate Highlights for products, customer reviews, and behind-the-scenes footage.
- Use Branded Covers: Make your profile aesthetically pleasing by using branded Highlight covers. This not only enhances your overall Instagram page but also reinforces brand identity.
- Keep Your Highlights Updated: Regularly update your Story Highlights to keep them relevant. Delete outdated Stories and add new ones that align with your brand or message.
- Engage Your Audience: Use Story Highlights to answer FAQs, promote sales, or share testimonials. Since Highlights stay on your profile, it’s an excellent opportunity to showcase content that drives engagement and conversions.
How Instagram Story Highlights Helped My Brand
When I first started using Instagram, I didn’t fully understand the power of Story Highlights. I would post Stories regularly, but after 24 hours, that content was gone. It wasn’t until I started using Highlights strategically that I noticed a significant boost in both profile visits and engagement.
One day, I posted a behind-the-scenes look at how I created content for my business. People loved it, and I received a ton of engagement in DMs. I realized that content like this could be beneficial long-term, so I decided to create a “Behind the Scenes” Highlight. After adding more similar content, I noticed that visitors were spending more time on my profile and engaging with my content on a deeper level.
As a result, my followers increased, and I received more inquiries about my services. It was a game-changer, and I now regularly update my Highlights to keep them fresh and relevant.
Final Thoughts
Instagram Story Highlights are an invaluable tool for anyone looking to make a lasting impression. Whether you’re a business, influencer, or content creator, using Highlights effectively can dramatically increase engagement, improve brand perception, and boost overall reach.
So, what’s your next step? Start organizing your Instagram profile today. Create meaningful Story Highlights, use custom covers, and keep your best content on display for new visitors. Remember, this is your chance to showcase the essence of your brand or personality. Take advantage of it, and watch your Instagram profile thrive!