Instagram Highlights are one of the most underutilized yet powerful tools brands can use to extend the life of their Stories and build an engaging, structured narrative on their profiles. Strategically curated Highlights not only showcase your brand’s identity but also make it easy for followers to find the most relevant content about your offerings, values, and community.

In this expanded guide, we’ll explore how to create effective Instagram Highlights, integrate them into your broader social media strategy, and use tools like Postly to manage and schedule content for maximum efficiency.

What Are Instagram Highlights?

Instagram Highlights are permanent collections of Stories that appear below your bio on your profile. Unlike regular Instagram Stories, which disappear after 24 hours, Highlights give these short-lived posts an extended lifespan, offering a structured way to showcase content for visitors.

Think of Highlights as the "navigation menu" of your Instagram profile—an organized collection of your most valuable and evergreen content.

Why Instagram Highlights Are Essential for Brands

1. Extended Visibility: Highlights allow you to preserve and showcase important Stories, ensuring they remain accessible long after their original posting.
2. Structured Presentation: You can organize content by categories (e.g., Products, Testimonials, Events), making it easy for your audience to find what they’re looking for.
3. Brand Storytelling: Highlights help you craft a cohesive narrative about your brand’s mission, values, and offerings.
4. Boost Engagement: They encourage visitors to explore your profile further, increasing the time spent interacting with your content.

Types of Content to Include in Instagram Highlights

Here are key types of content every brand should consider including in their Highlights:

1. Product Showcases

Use Highlights to feature your top products, new launches, or tutorials that demonstrate their usage.

• Example: A skincare brand might have Highlights for different product lines like “Cleansers,” “Serums,” and “SPF Tips.”
• Tip: With Postly, you can schedule Stories in advance to ensure new product launches are highlighted seamlessly.

2. User-Generated Content (UGC)

Showcase photos, videos, and reviews from your customers. Featuring UGC builds trust and community around your brand.

• Example: A clothing retailer could have a Highlight titled “Styled by You,” featuring customers wearing their products.
• Pro Tip: Use Postly to manage UGC campaigns and schedule posts highlighting your community.

3. Tutorials and How-Tos

Educational content provides value and positions your brand as an authority in your niche.

• Example: A fitness brand could have a “Workout Tips” Highlight featuring short exercise tutorials.
• Tool Tip: Postly makes it easy to plan a series of Stories and organize them into Highlights.

4. Behind-the-Scenes

Humanize your brand by showing what goes on behind closed doors—whether it’s a glimpse of your creative process, your team, or your workspace.

• Example: A coffee shop might create a “Behind the Beans” Highlight showcasing how their coffee is sourced and brewed.

5. Announcements and Events

Highlights can serve as an archive for past events or as a way to keep followers updated about upcoming promotions or launches.

• Example: An e-commerce brand could create a “Sales” Highlight to promote seasonal discounts.

How to Create Instagram Highlights That Work

1. Plan Your Highlights

Begin by identifying the categories of content most relevant to your audience. These might include:

• Products
• Tutorials
• UGC
• Events
• FAQs

2. Organize Your Stories

Before adding Stories to your Highlights, ensure they align with your brand's tone, style, and message.

3. Design Custom Covers

Create visually appealing Highlight covers that match your brand's aesthetics. Tools like Canva or Adobe Express can help you design consistent, professional covers.

4. Use Scheduling Tools

Using a tool like Postly helps you plan, organize, and schedule Stories effectively. With Postly, you can batch-schedule Instagram content, ensuring your Stories are ready to add to Highlights without missing key posting windows.

How Postly Elevates Your Instagram Highlights Strategy

Managing Instagram content at scale can be daunting, but Postly simplifies the process by providing features that streamline scheduling and publishing:

1. Bulk Story Scheduling: Postly allows you to plan and publish Stories in advance, ensuring your Highlights remain updated and relevant.
2. Cross-Platform Management: Manage your Instagram content alongside other platforms for a unified strategy.
3. Collaboration: Share drafts of Stories with your team for review before publishing.
4. Analytics Integration: Use Postly’s analytics tools to identify which Stories perform best and should be featured in your Highlights.

Best Practices for Instagram Highlights

1. Update Regularly: Rotate old content out of your Highlights to keep them fresh and relevant.
2. Keep Titles Concise: Use short, clear titles to make navigation easier.
3. Focus on Quality: Only include high-quality, engaging content that provides value to your audience.
4. Monitor Engagement: Use tools like Instagram Insights and Postly to track how well your Highlights perform.

Examples of Brands Excelling with Highlights

1. Glossier

Glossier categorizes its Highlights into sections like "Makeup," "Skincare," and "Routines." This structure helps customers easily find content that matches their interests.

2. Airbnb

Airbnb uses Highlights to promote their unique stays and customer experiences with categories like "Homes" and "Experiences."

3. Nike

Nike organizes Highlights around their campaigns, athlete stories, and product launches, creating an immersive storytelling experience.

Conclusion

Instagram Highlights are a simple yet powerful feature to showcase your brand, drive engagement, and organize your content. By leveraging a strategic approach and tools like Postly, you can maximize the potential of Highlights while saving time and resources.

Whether you’re a small business or an established brand, start curating Instagram Highlights today to tell your story, captivate your audience, and make your profile stand out.