In today’s fast-paced digital world, first impressions matter more than ever. On Instagram, one of the most effective yet often overlooked tools for building a strong brand identity is the Highlight. Unlike Stories that disappear after 24 hours, Highlights allow brands to showcase their most valuable content in a permanent and visually appealing way. From presenting products and services to sharing customer stories, Instagram Highlights in Branding can transform casual visitors into loyal followers and create a lasting connection between a brand and its audience.
Stay with us on Insget mag to explore smart strategies that will help you turn Instagram Highlights into a powerful branding tool and leave a lasting impression on your audience.
What Are Instagram Highlights?
what are Instagram highlights? Instagram Highlights are collections of Stories that you choose to feature on your profile permanently. While Stories disappear after 24 hours, Highlights give brands the opportunity to save their most important content and display it in an organized, visually appealing way. Each Highlight can be grouped by theme such as products, tutorials, events, or customer feedback making it easier for visitors to quickly learn what a brand is about. This feature not only extends the life of Stories but also acts as a digital portfolio, showcasing the brand’s values, style, and offerings.
Why Instagram Highlights Matter for Branding
Instagram Highlights play a critical role in shaping how an audience perceives a brand. They act as a brand’s digital storefront, giving visitors a clear picture of what the brand represents. Here are some of the main reasons why Highlights are important for branding:
Creating Strong First Impressions
When new visitors land on your profile, Highlights are often one of the first things they notice. Well-designed covers and organized categories instantly communicate professionalism and credibility.
Enhancing Brand Identity
Highlights allow brands to visually express their values, tone, and personality. Whether through consistent colors, icons, or storytelling, Highlights strengthen the brand’s identity and help it stand out in a crowded market.
Extending the Life of Content
Stories disappear after 24 hours, but Highlights preserve them permanently. This means valuable content such as product demos, testimonials, or campaigns remain accessible to audiences at any time.
Building Trust and Engagement
Sharing behind-the-scenes moments, customer reviews, and brand values through Highlights fosters trust and emotional connection. Audiences are more likely to engage with brands that feel transparent and authentic.
How to Use Instagram Highlights for Strong Branding?
Download and use ready-made Instagram highlight covers or Using Instagram Highlights effectively is not just about saving Stories it’s about curating them in a way that reflects your brand’s voice, values, and goals. Here are some practical ways to maximize their impact:
Create Clear Categories
Group Highlights into categories like Products, Services, Tutorials, Testimonials, Events, or Behind the Scenes. This helps visitors quickly find what they need.
Design Custom Covers
Use branded colors, icons, or minimalistic designs to create professional highlight covers. Consistent visuals reinforce brand identity.
Maintain Consistency
Ensure that the content within Highlights follows the same tone, style, and message across all categories. Consistency builds recognition and trust.
Tell a Story
Go beyond just saving random Stories. Use Highlights to build a narrative about your brand journey, customer experiences, or campaign stories that resonate with your audience.
Extra Insights for Section :
In addition to the basics, here are a few advanced techniques for maximizing branding impact with Highlights:
- Use Emojis in Titles: Adding a relevant emoji can make Highlights more visually engaging and easier to navigate.
- Pin Your Brand Story: Dedicate one Highlight exclusively to your brand story, mission, and values. This creates emotional depth and introduces new followers to your brand philosophy.
- Mix Formats: Don’t just rely on photos use videos, polls, and interactive stickers. Interactive Stories saved in Highlights keep audiences more engaged.
- Track Performance: Use Instagram Insights to measure which Highlights get the most views and taps. This helps refine future content strategies.
Best Practices for Instagram Highlights in Branding
To make Instagram Highlights a real branding asset, you need more than just saving Stories. The key is to apply best practices that make your profile not only attractive but also strategic. Here are some proven methods:
Keep Highlights Updated
Don’t let your Highlights go stale. Regularly review and refresh them to ensure they reflect your current products, services, or campaigns. Outdated content can confuse audiences and weaken brand credibility.
Use Short and Clear Titles
Titles should be concise and descriptive. Instead of long words, use one or two clear terms like Shop, Tips, Reviews, or Events. Simple titles improve readability and user experience.
Leverage User-Generated Content (UGC)
Including customer reviews, unboxing videos, or tagged Stories in Highlights boosts authenticity. UGC acts as social proof, building trust and showing your brand in real-world use cases.
Align with Marketing Campaigns
Every campaign you run be it a product launch, seasonal sale, or awareness initiative should have a dedicated Highlight. This creates consistency across your social media strategy and gives campaigns a longer lifespan.
Balance Professional and Human Content
Brands often focus only on polished marketing content. However, mixing professional visuals with behind-the-scenes clips or fun team moments creates relatability and humanizes the brand.
Optimize for Mobile Viewing
Since Instagram is a mobile-first platform, ensure your Highlights are visually clear on small screens. Use bold fonts, minimal designs, and high-resolution images to keep them sharp and engaging.
To elevate your strategy even more, consider these bonus best practices:
Plan Seasonal Highlights Create Instagram Highlights dedicated for seasonal campaigns like holidays, Black Friday, or special events. This keeps your profile relevant and timely. Collaborate with Influencers Feature influencer collaborations in Highlights. Their content adds credibility and expands reach.
Educational Conten Share step-by-step tutorials or FAQs as Highlights. This positions your brand as helpful and authoritative. Cultural Relevance Adapt Highlights to reflect cultural events, local trends, or global conversations. This makes your brand feel more relatable and current.
Examples of Brands Using Instagram Highlights Successfully
One of the best ways to understand the power of Instagram Highlights in branding is to look at how successful brands are using them. By analyzing their strategies, you can gain inspiration for your own business.
Nike
Nike uses Highlights to showcase campaigns, athlete stories, and product launches. Each Highlight is visually consistent with their bold brand identity, reinforcing their image as a leader in sports and innovation.
Sephora
Sephora leverages Highlights for tutorials, product demos, and beauty tips. Their content feels both professional and relatable, making the brand a trusted authority while engaging customers with practical value.
Airbnb
Airbnb curates Highlights to tell stories from hosts and travelers around the world. This user-driven storytelling humanizes the brand and connects emotionally with audiences, positioning Airbnb as more than just a booking platform.
Starbucks
Starbucks uses Highlights to promote seasonal drinks, sustainability initiatives, and behind-the-scenes content. Their consistent use of brand colors and playful tone creates familiarity and excitement for followers.
Key Lessons:
- Maintain brand consistency in visuals and messaging.
- Use Highlights to extend campaign visibility.
- Incorporate customer stories to build trust and relatability.
Why Instagram Highlights Are a Game-Changer for Branding?
Instagram Highlights in Branding are more than just saved Stories they are a powerful branding tool that can shape how your audience perceives and interacts with your business. By curating highlights strategically, brands can create a lasting first impression, strengthen their identity, and build stronger emotional connections with followers. Whether you’re a small business, a global brand, or a personal creator, Highlights give you a simple yet impactful way to stand out on Instagram.
Frequently Asked Questions About Instagram Highlights in Branding
Q1: How many Instagram Highlights can I have on my profile?
You can create as many Highlights as you want. However, for a clean design and better user experience, it’s recommended to keep them organized and limited to the most important categories.
Q2: What size should Instagram Highlight covers be?
The ideal size is 1080 x 1920 pixels (same as Stories). This ensures your covers look sharp and professional on all devices.
Q3: Can Instagram Highlights improve engagement?
Yes. By keeping valuable content accessible and organized, Highlights encourage users to spend more time exploring your profile, which can increase engagement and conversions.
Q4: Should small businesses use Instagram Highlights?
Absolutely. Highlights are especially powerful for small businesses because they allow you to showcase products, promotions, and customer reviews without extra costs.
Q5: How often should I update my Instagram Highlights?
Review your Highlights every 2–3 months or whenever you launch a new product, campaign, or major update. Keeping them fresh helps maintain relevance.
Q6: Can I reorder Instagram Highlights?
Yes, Instagram automatically moves the Highlight you update to the first position. You can use this to keep your most important Highlights at the top.
Q7: Do Instagram Highlights affect SEO outside Instagram?
While Instagram Highlights don’t directly impact Google SEO, they improve on-platform visibility and engagement, which indirectly strengthens your digital presence.
Q8: Can I track the performance of individual Highlights?
Yes, through Instagram Insights you can track views, taps forward, taps back, and exits for Stories saved in Highlights. This data is crucial for optimization.
Q9: Should I delete old Highlights?
Instead of deleting, archive or reorganize them. Some old content, like a major milestone, can still add value by showing the history and growth of your brand.
Follow Insget for advanced Instagram branding strategies, expert insights, and creative tools that will help your brand shine in the digital world.