Instagram Highlights are a fantastic way to showcase your best Stories, create evergreen content, and engage your audience beyond the fleeting 24-hour lifespan of regular Stories. While creating and managing Highlights is typically associated with the Instagram mobile app, you can also create and manage them, to a limited extent, on the Instagram website. This article will guide you through the process, covering everything from the basics to advanced tips for leveraging Highlights to boost your Instagram presence.
Understanding Instagram Highlights and Their Importance
Instagram Highlights are curated collections of your past Stories that live permanently (or until you choose to remove them) on your profile, right below your bio. They allow you to group related Stories together, making it easy for your followers to find information or content they’re interested in.
Why are Highlights so important? They provide several key benefits:
- Extend the life of your Stories: Stories disappear after 24 hours, but Highlights give them a permanent home on your profile.
- Showcase your brand: Highlights can be used to showcase your products, services, or brand values.
- Organize your content: You can categorize your Stories by topic, making it easy for your followers to find what they’re looking for.
- Drive engagement: Highlights can be used to encourage followers to interact with your content and learn more about your brand.
- Tell your story: They offer a visually appealing way to communicate your brand narrative and connect with your audience on a deeper level.
Can You Create Highlights on the Instagram Website? The Limitations
While the Instagram website offers many functionalities, creating new Highlights directly from the website is, unfortunately, not a feature available. The website interface focuses primarily on browsing content, liking posts, following accounts, and basic profile management. The core functionality for creating and organizing Stories and Highlights is reserved for the mobile app.
However, you can view your existing Highlights and edit them, but with limitations. This includes changing the cover photo and the title of existing Highlights.
Managing Existing Highlights on the Instagram Website
Even though you can’t create new Highlights from scratch on the website, knowing how to manage your existing ones is valuable. Here’s how:
Accessing Your Highlights
- Log in to Instagram: Open your web browser and go to the Instagram website (www.instagram.com). Log in using your username and password.
- Go to your profile: Click on your profile picture in the top right corner of the screen. This will take you to your profile page.
- Locate your Highlights: Your Highlights are displayed as circular icons directly below your bio.
Editing Existing Highlights
- Select the Highlight: Click on the Highlight you want to edit. This will open the Highlight in a viewing mode, similar to how you view regular Stories.
- Access the “More” option: At the bottom right corner of the screen (when viewing an individual Story within a Highlight), you will usually find a “More” button (represented by three dots). Click on it.
- Choose “Edit Highlight”: A menu will appear. Select the “Edit Highlight” option. This will open the editing interface.
- Editing Options: In the edit Highlight interface, you can:
- Change the Cover Photo: Click on “Edit Cover” to choose a different cover photo for your Highlight. You can select an existing Story from within the Highlight or upload an image from your computer.
- Change the Highlight Name: Edit the text in the “Name” field to change the title of your Highlight. Keep it concise and descriptive.
- Add or Remove Stories: While you can’t directly upload new Stories to your Highlight from the website, you can remove existing Stories by unchecking them.
- Save Your Changes: Once you’ve made your desired changes, click the “Save” button (usually in the top right corner) to apply them.
Deleting a Highlight
To delete a Highlight:
- Access the “More” option: Follow steps 1-3 from the “Editing Existing Highlights” section above to access the Highlight editing options.
- Choose “Delete Highlight”: In the editing menu, you will find an option to “Delete Highlight.”
- Confirm Deletion: A confirmation prompt will appear. Click “Delete” to permanently remove the Highlight from your profile. Be careful, as this action is irreversible.
Strategies for Effective Highlight Management
Even with the limitations of the website interface, you can still strategically manage your Highlights.
Planning Your Highlight Categories
Before creating any Highlights, plan what categories you want to use. Think about what information your followers are most interested in and what best represents your brand.
Some popular Highlight categories include:
- Products: Showcase your products with photos, videos, and customer testimonials.
- Services: Explain the services you offer and how they can benefit your customers.
- About Us: Share your brand story, values, and team members.
- Tutorials: Provide helpful tutorials and how-to guides related to your niche.
- Behind the Scenes: Give your followers a glimpse into your daily operations and company culture.
- Events: Promote upcoming events or share highlights from past events.
- FAQ: Answer frequently asked questions about your brand or products.
- Testimonials: Share positive reviews and feedback from satisfied customers.
Designing Compelling Cover Photos
Your Highlight cover photos are the first thing people see, so they need to be visually appealing and representative of the Highlight’s content.
Tips for creating effective cover photos:
- Use consistent branding: Maintain a consistent color scheme, font, and style across all your cover photos.
- Use icons: Use relevant icons to visually represent the topic of each Highlight.
- Use high-quality images: Ensure your cover photos are clear, sharp, and well-lit.
- Keep it simple: Avoid overcrowding your cover photos with too much text or graphics.
- Consider using templates: Many apps and online tools offer pre-designed Highlight cover templates that you can customize.
Optimizing Highlight Titles
Your Highlight titles should be concise, descriptive, and easy to understand. Use keywords that your followers are likely to search for.
Tips for optimizing your Highlight titles:
- Keep it short: Aim for titles that are no more than 10-12 characters long to ensure they don’t get truncated.
- Use relevant keywords: Include keywords that accurately describe the content of the Highlight.
- Use a clear and concise language: Avoid jargon or technical terms that your followers may not understand.
- Use emojis (sparingly): Emojis can add visual interest and help convey the meaning of your Highlight, but don’t overuse them.
Updating Your Highlights Regularly
Keep your Highlights fresh and up-to-date by adding new Stories and removing outdated ones. This will keep your followers engaged and coming back for more.
Tips for updating your Highlights regularly:
- Schedule regular updates: Set aside time each week or month to review your Highlights and add new content.
- Monitor your analytics: Pay attention to which Highlights are performing well and which ones are not. Use this information to inform your content strategy.
- Respond to feedback: Pay attention to comments and messages you receive about your Highlights and use this feedback to improve your content.
Leveraging the Instagram Mobile App for Full Highlight Functionality
Since creating Highlights is only available on the Instagram mobile app, let’s cover the steps involved.
Creating a New Highlight
- Open the Instagram App: Launch the Instagram app on your mobile device (iOS or Android).
- Access Your Profile: Tap on your profile picture in the bottom right corner to navigate to your profile page.
- Tap the “New” Button: Look for a “+” button with the word “New” below your profile information, where your Highlights are displayed.
- Select Stories to Add: You will see an archive of your past Stories. Select the Stories you want to include in your new Highlight.
- Choose a Cover Photo: Tap “Edit Cover” and choose a visually appealing cover photo from your existing Stories or upload one from your phone’s gallery.
- Name Your Highlight: Give your Highlight a clear and concise name (e.g., “Recipes,” “Travel,” “Q&A”).
- Tap “Add” or “Done”: Tap the “Add” or “Done” button (depending on your device) to create your Highlight.
Adding Stories to an Existing Highlight
- Go to Your Profile: Open the Instagram app and go to your profile page.
- Tap the Highlight: Tap the Highlight you want to add to.
- Tap “More” or “Edit Highlight”: Tap the “More” button (three dots) at the bottom right corner of the screen (when viewing a story within the Highlight) and then select “Edit Highlight.”
- Select More Stories: You’ll see your Story archive again. Select the new Stories you want to add to the Highlight.
- Tap “Done”: Tap “Done” to save the changes.
Advanced Highlight Strategies
Beyond the basics, consider these advanced strategies to maximize the impact of your Highlights.
Creating Interactive Highlights
Use Instagram Story stickers like polls, quizzes, and question stickers to create interactive Highlights that encourage engagement.
For example, you could create a “Q&A” Highlight where you answer frequently asked questions from your followers. Or you could create a “Polls” Highlight where you ask your followers for their opinions on different topics.
Using Highlights for Lead Generation
Use your Highlights to collect leads by including a link to your website or landing page in your Stories.
For example, you could create a “Free Guide” Highlight that promotes a free ebook or guide that your followers can download in exchange for their email address.
Promoting Highlights with Ads
You can promote your Highlights as ads to reach a wider audience. This is a great way to drive traffic to your profile and increase brand awareness.
To promote a Highlight, simply create a regular Instagram ad and choose your Highlight as the destination.
Conclusion: Mastering Highlights for Instagram Success
While the Instagram website offers limited functionality for creating Highlights, understanding how to manage existing ones and leveraging the full potential of the mobile app is crucial for maximizing their impact. By planning your categories, designing compelling cover photos, optimizing your titles, and updating your Highlights regularly, you can create a valuable resource for your followers and boost your Instagram presence. Remember to use the mobile app for creating new Highlights and fully managing your existing ones. Embrace the power of Highlights to showcase your brand, engage your audience, and achieve your Instagram goals.
What are Instagram Highlights and why should I use them on my website?
Instagram Highlights are collections of Instagram Stories that you can permanently save to your profile. Unlike regular Stories that disappear after 24 hours, Highlights remain visible until you choose to remove them. They are displayed in circular bubbles just below your bio and above your feed.
Using Instagram Highlights on your website can enhance user engagement and provide valuable information at a glance. They are an excellent way to showcase your brand personality, feature products or services, share testimonials, and create quick tutorials. By strategically organizing your Stories into relevant Highlights, you can offer website visitors a deeper understanding of your brand and its offerings, leading to increased conversions and customer loyalty.
How do I create an Instagram Highlight directly from my website?
You can’t directly create an Instagram Highlight from your website. Instagram’s functionality requires you to create and upload Stories via the Instagram mobile app. The Highlights feature is integrated within the app itself, designed for easy sharing and management of visual content.
However, you can embed your Instagram feed, including your Highlights, on your website. This involves using an Instagram feed plugin or embedding tool that pulls your Instagram content onto your web pages. Users can then view your Highlights through this embedded feed, even though the creation and management remain on the Instagram platform.
What types of content are best suited for Instagram Highlights on my website?
The best content for your Instagram Highlights on your website depends on your brand and goals. Consider showcasing behind-the-scenes glimpses, product demonstrations, customer testimonials, frequently asked questions, or special promotions. Aim to create visually appealing and informative Stories that provide value to your audience.
Think about what information your website visitors would find most helpful and organize your Highlights accordingly. For example, a clothing brand might have Highlights for “New Arrivals,” “Style Tips,” and “Customer Looks.” A restaurant could feature “Menu Highlights,” “Daily Specials,” and “Behind the Kitchen.” Keep your target audience in mind and tailor your content to their interests and needs.
How can I choose the right cover image for my Instagram Highlights?
Your Highlight cover images are crucial for attracting attention and communicating the content of each Highlight. Choose visually appealing images or icons that are consistent with your brand’s aesthetic. Ensure the images are clear, easy to understand, and representative of the Highlight’s theme.
You can either use a frame from one of the Stories within the Highlight or upload a custom image. Many brands opt for custom-designed icons to create a cohesive and professional look. Consider using a consistent color palette and font to maintain brand consistency across your Highlights and website. Tools like Canva can help you create eye-catching cover images.
How do I embed my Instagram Highlights onto my website?
The most common way to embed your Instagram Highlights onto your website is by using an Instagram feed plugin or tool. These plugins connect to your Instagram account and automatically display your feed, including your Highlights, on your website. Popular options include Smash Balloon Social Photo Feed, EmbedSocial, and LightWidget.
Alternatively, you can use Instagram’s embed code to manually embed individual posts or your entire profile feed. However, embedding the entire profile will show your Highlights indirectly. Each plugin or tool has its own instructions for installation and configuration, so follow their specific guidelines to ensure proper integration and customization to match your website’s design.
Can I track the performance of my Instagram Highlights on my website?
Directly tracking the performance of Instagram Highlights specifically from your website can be challenging. Most embedded Instagram feeds will not provide detailed analytics on Highlight views initiated from your website. Instagram provides insights on your app regarding views and interactions on your Highlights, but it doesn’t differentiate between sources.
However, you can infer performance based on general website traffic and engagement with your embedded Instagram feed. If you notice increased traffic to pages featuring your Instagram feed, and a higher number of followers/interactions on your Instagram account, it’s a good indication that your Highlights are contributing positively. You can also use UTM parameters in links within your Stories to track traffic from specific Highlights back to your website.
How often should I update my Instagram Highlights on my website?
The frequency of updating your Instagram Highlights depends on your content strategy and the nature of your business. As a general rule, keep your Highlights fresh and relevant to maintain audience interest. Regularly add new Stories to existing Highlights or create new Highlights to reflect current promotions, events, or information.
For time-sensitive content like limited-time offers or event announcements, be sure to update your Highlights promptly to avoid outdated information. For evergreen content like product tutorials or customer testimonials, updates may be less frequent but still necessary to ensure accuracy and relevance. Aim for a balance between maintaining fresh content and avoiding overwhelming your audience with too many updates.