How to Add Highlights on Instagram: A Step-by-Step Guide

Instagram Highlights are a powerful way to showcase your best content beyond the 24-hour limit of Instagram Stories. By adding Highlights to your profile, you create a lasting collection of stories that followers can revisit at any time. Whether you’re a business, influencer, or individual user, Instagram Highlights help you keep your audience engaged with evergreen content.

Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to add Highlights on Instagram:

Step 1: Create an Instagram Story

Before you can add content to your Highlights, you need to create an Instagram Story. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Instagram app and go to your profile by tapping on your profile picture or the icon at the bottom right corner.
2. Tap the ‘+’ icon on your profile picture or swipe left on your home feed to create a new story.
3. Choose a photo or video from your camera roll or capture new content using the Instagram camera.
4. Edit your story by adding text, stickers, filters, and music if desired.
5. Once you’re satisfied, post your story by tapping ‘Your Story’ at the bottom of the screen.

Step 2: Save Stories to Your Archive

Instagram automatically saves all stories to your Archive unless you’ve disabled this feature. To ensure this is turned on:

1. Go to your profile and tap on the three lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
2. Select ‘Settings’ and then tap ‘Privacy’.
3. Under ‘Story’ settings, make sure ‘Save to Archive’ is toggled on.

This allows you to access past stories and add them to your Highlights even after they disappear from your live story feed.

Step 3: Create a New Highlight

Now that you have your stories saved, it’s time to create your first Highlight:

1. Go to your profile and tap the ‘+ New’ button below your bio, where your Highlights section is located.
2. A screen will appear with your archived stories. Select the ones you want to include in your new Highlight by tapping on them.
3. Tap ‘Next’ once you’ve selected the desired stories.

Step 4: Name and Customize Your Highlight

Now it’s time to name your Highlight and make it visually appealing:

1. Type a name for your Highlight. Keep it short and clear so followers know what it’s about (e.g., "Travel," "Products," "Tips").
2. If desired, you can change the cover image by tapping ‘Edit Cover’ and selecting a specific image or icon that represents the Highlight.

Step 5: Add to or Edit Existing Highlights

You can always add new stories to your existing Highlights or make changes to the current content:

1. Go to your profile and press and hold the Highlight you want to edit.
2. Tap ‘Edit Highlight’, and you can:Add stories from your archive.Remove stories by deselecting them.Change the cover image and name.

Best Practices for Instagram Highlights

To make the most of your Instagram Highlights, consider the following tips:

• Categorize your content: Group similar stories together to make navigation easier for your followers.
• Use custom icons for covers: Create visually appealing Highlight covers that match your brand or aesthetic. You can design these using tools like Canva or Adobe Spark.
• Update regularly: Keep your Highlights fresh by updating them with new content regularly.
• Leverage Highlights for marketing: Use them to showcase product launches, FAQs, behind-the-scenes, or customer testimonials.

Conclusion

Instagram Highlights provide an excellent way to keep important content visible for longer and ensure that your audience stays engaged. By following these steps, you can effectively create and manage your Highlights to suit your personal or business needs. Start using Highlights today and give your followers a reason to keep coming back to your profile!