Instagram Stories Highlights: Organize Your Brand’s Best Content

Extend the Life of Your Stories and Showcase Your Brand Like a Pro

Instagram Stories are a powerful tool for connecting with your audience in real time—but with a lifespan of just 24 hours, it’s easy to feel like your best content is gone too soon. Enter Instagram Stories Highlights, a game-changing feature that allows you to save and organize your Stories indefinitely. Think of Highlights as a curated showcase of your brand’s personality, products, and values, all accessible right at the top of your profile.

In this post, we’ll explore the benefits of using Highlights, share creative ideas for categories, and give you actionable tips for crafting eye-catching, branded Highlight covers. Let’s make your Instagram profile a destination your audience won’t forget!

Why Use Instagram Stories Highlights?

Stories Highlights are like a digital portfolio for your brand. They allow you to:

Extend the Life of Valuable Content
Your best Stories don’t have to disappear after 24 hours. With Highlights, they remain easily accessible to your audience, showcasing your brand’s key moments and information.
Organize Your Content for Easy Navigation
Highlights act as mini albums, making it simple for followers to find what they’re looking for—whether it’s your latest product launch, answers to FAQs, or customer reviews.
Boost Your Brand Aesthetic
When paired with custom Highlight covers, these folders become an extension of your branding, giving your profile a polished, professional look.
Drive Engagement
By organizing engaging and informative Stories into Highlights, you encourage your audience to spend more time exploring your profile, deepening their connection with your brand.

Creative Ideas for Highlight Categories

The beauty of Highlights is their flexibility—you can tailor them to suit your brand’s goals and audience. Here are some category ideas to inspire you:

1. New Arrivals

Showcase your latest products or collections. Keep this Highlight fresh by updating it regularly.

Example Cover: A shopping bag icon.

2. FAQs

Answer common questions about your products, services, or policies in a visually appealing way.

Example Cover: A question mark icon.

3. Testimonials

Feature glowing customer reviews or user-generated content. Let your audience see the positive impact your brand has on others.

Example Cover: A speech bubble or heart icon.

4. Behind the Scenes

Offer a sneak peek into your processes, workspace, or team. This builds transparency and trust with your followers.

Example Cover: A camera icon.

5. How-To Guides

Create step-by-step tutorials that demonstrate how to use your products or services.

Example Cover: A lightbulb icon.

6. Events

Recap live events, launches, or workshops. This is perfect for showcasing your brand’s dynamic presence.

Example Cover: A calendar icon.

7. Seasonal Promotions

Highlight special offers, discounts, or holiday-themed products to drive sales during peak seasons.

Example Cover: A snowflake or gift icon.

8. About Us

Share your brand story, mission, and values in a compelling way.

Example Cover: A globe or handshake icon.

How to Create Custom-Branded Highlight Covers

A strong aesthetic is key to making your Highlights stand out. Custom covers ensure your profile looks cohesive and professional. Here’s how to create them:

Design Your Covers in Canva or Photoshop

Choose a square canvas (1080x1920 pixels) to fit Instagram’s dimensions.
Use your brand colors, fonts, and icons to create a consistent look.

Use Simple, Recognizable Icons

Select icons that clearly represent each category, such as a shopping cart for “New Arrivals” or a question mark for “FAQs.”

Stick to Your Brand Aesthetic

Keep your covers aligned with your overall branding by using the same color palette and design style.

Upload Your Covers

Add the design as a Story and save it to the relevant Highlight.
Go to the Highlight, tap “Edit Highlight,” and select “Edit Cover” to adjust the image.

Pro Tips for Maximizing Your Highlights

Keep Them Organized
Limit the number of Highlights on your profile to 5–8 categories. Too many can overwhelm visitors.
Update Regularly
Keep your Highlights fresh by adding or replacing content as your brand evolves.
Promote Your Highlights
Use Stories, posts, or Reels to guide your audience to explore specific Highlights.
Analyze Performance
Use Instagram Insights to track which Highlights are generating the most views and engagement. Focus on optimizing these categories for even greater impact.

Elevate Your Brand with Instagram Stories Highlights

Instagram Stories Highlights are more than just a way to organize content—they’re an opportunity to tell your brand’s story, drive engagement, and create a lasting impression. By strategically categorizing your best Stories and designing stunning custom covers, you can turn your profile into a curated showcase that draws your audience in and keeps them coming back for more.