Was anyone else super pumped when Instagram released the highlight feature a year ago? I love it! Here are some tips and tricks to help your business using Instagram highlights.  You can add up to 100 photos/ videos to make 1 highlight and there is no limit to the number of highlights you can have, so take advantage and use as many as you need to fully show off your brand and personality.

WHAT ARE INSTAGRAM HIGHLIGHTS?

Instagram highlights are like the pages on your website (the top navigation menu). It is a great and easy resource for people to learn about your business as well as about you a little more intimately. If you always post photos of your small business on your Instagram, stories is the place to highlight your personality or behind-the-scenes shots.

WHERE DO I START?

If you have no idea what to add to your highlights, simply translate your website navigation menu to highlights. Add an “About Me” section, free tools, new blogs, etc. When you are doing this, it is best to keep your highlights clear instead of overly clever. If your highlight title is too long, it will be cut off, so keep the name short and choose an eye-catching thumbnail to represent that topic.  If you are looking for an easy way to create a highlight cover, use Canva! It is very easy and will achieve a nice, polished brand look (if you need some help with this, let me know. I can design 5 highlight covers for you for just $25).

WHY SHOULD I USE IT?

As I mentioned earlier, highlights show a potential new follower who you are without having to scroll through your Instagram and read all your pictures’ captions. It is an easy way to highlight (or even sell) your products and services, and if you have more than 10,000 followers you can easily drive traffic to your website through the swipe up feature.

WHAT SHOULD I ADD?

If you still need ideas of what to add, check out the list below!

• Freebies – I had to start it out with freebies, because what person doesn’t love them? As a graphic designer, I have added free phone backgrounds to my highlights. If you are a writer maybe you have Instagram story prompts, if you are a real estate agent add tips for buying and selling homes, if you are a photographer put phone editing tips or tell them to go to your link in your profile for free presets; whatever it is, people will love the free tools!
• Q & A so people can get a fast sense of who you are
• A heart-to-heart story that shows that you can relate to your consumer in some way
• Hacks, how-to’s, demos, quick tips etc.

• Customer/ client wins (they will love the extra attention and someone who isn’t a customer will think “oh they get results!”)

• My story (this is similar to your “About” page on the website)
• Before and After (health fitness, edit photos/ videos, etc.)
• Events in your area
• “Contact me” and you can add highlights that show other social media pages on which you are active
• “Work with me” and have what services you offer
• “My loves” (This is your time to put your personality behind your business)
• Sale (if you’re running a flash sale)
• “My work” (portfolio)
• “My team”
• “New arrivals” (This is great if you are in the fashion industry)
• “Dear diary” (for real talks just dont have 8 months of highlights they have to click through)