If you’re on Instagram and making connections, you’ve most likely viewed Instagram Profiles and noticed the circular designs located at the bottom of the profile. These circular designs are Highlight Covers, a feature Instagram added a few years ago. There are numerous benefits for their use that I’ll explain below.
I’ve been asked recently how to create/add Highlight Covers in Instagram. Followers of my blog know I love sharing How-To Posts so, of course, I’m going to blog about it. I hope this post proves to be helpful. ♥
If you’re looking for Highlight Cover ideas and designs, Canva has hundreds of free designs that can be easily edited and customized for your liking. When you’re logged in to your Canva account type “Instagram Story Highlight Covers” in the search bar and you’ll see all the design templates available. Or you can easily view templates here.
Also, if you’re new to Instagram and would like to know more about Instagram Stories, please feel free to pop by my blog post ~ How to use Instagram Stories to create engaging content, extend your reach, and build lasting connections!
What are Highlight Covers & Why use them
Unlike Instagram posts that are 1080 x 1080 pixels and remain in our profile feed, Instagram Stories are displayed at the top of the Instagram feed (with our profile image) for 24 hours. However, after 24 hours they disappear unless we save them to our Highlights. Tada… benefit!
Another benefit of using beautifully designed Highlight Covers is they instantly make our profile look professional. We can arrange and orderly showcase topics we focus on so viewers know what content we’re sharing. I use four Highlight Covers ~ 1) Poetry, 2) Design, 3) Blogging and 4) Tutorials. Highlighting these topics give viewers an instant snapshot of the content I typically focus on and share. When I share an Instagram Story that I’d like to keep in my profile, I’ll add it to its relevant Highlight Cover.
There is no limit to the number of Highlight Covers we can add and use.
Adding Highlight Covers is a quick and easy process. Let’s jump in. ♥
First, tap + icon to add an Instagram Highlight Cover.
Select the Image of the Instagram Highlight Cover that you would like to use from your images and then tap Next.
TIP: If the Instagram Highlight Cover that you would like to use doesn’t appear in your images, as described in Step 2, just select any image and in this step tap the image icon to bring up your image library.
Tap Edit Cover.
Pinch Image to increase the size and align icon.
Then tap Done.
Type in the title of your Highlight Cover.
I titled mine ETSY.
Then tap ADD.
Tada!
Your Highlight Cover will be added to your Highlights!
To edit Highlight Cover tap the Highlight Cover you would like to edit then tap …more located in the bottom right.
Tap Edit Highlight. Then follow the steps as listed above.
And we’re done!
I hope this post was helpful and if you’re not using Highlight Covers, it encourages you to use them.
Adding an Instagram Story to your Highlights is a simple process, too!
How to Add An Instagram Story to Highlight Covers
First, tap the Highlight Heart located on the bottom right of your Instagram Story.
Then choose the Highlight Cover. Easy peasy!
Have a tip you’d like to share? Please feel free to share in the comments below.
If you’re using Instagram and/or Pinterest and would like to connect, please share a link to your profile in the comments below. Let’s connect!
Until next time … happy creating and connecting, my friends! ♥
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Blogging Essentials Guide
After seven years of blogging, I thought I’d put together a Resource Guide with a list of essential tools and resources I use in hopes that it may prove helpful to fellow bloggers – newbies and/or not-so-newbies alike. After all, we’re always learning in this form of engagement. ♥
As always, Natalie, your tips are useful and concise. Thank you for sharing!
Always a joy, Jan! Thanks so much for stopping by, and for sharing, too! 🙂
I’ve really let my Instagram account become stagnant. One of these days I may try to fit it into my schedule again.
Great share, Natalie!
Cheers, Mae! There’s sooooo much to keep up with on social media. I spend more time on Instagram than Twitter and Facebook. It’s too much for one person to manage and still enjoy it. Thanks so much for stopping by and for sharing, too. I appreciate you! 🙂
Hi Natalie, I do use Instagram and this post is welcome. I have a few Instagram covers but never knew how I got them [i.e. pushing buttons and it happened by accident]. Thanks for sharing this information.
Cheers, Robbie! lol that’s funny. 🙂 Delighted to know this post may be useful. Canva makes it super easy to design Highlight Covers. I tend to use Canva more now than Photoshop for all social media designs. Easy peasy! Thanks for stopping by and for sharing, too. I appreciate you! 🙂
Great information! Natalie 🙂 Although I post pictures on Instagram, I don’t go any further. I will look into this, Thanks 🙂 xo
Cheers, Denise! Thanks for stopping by and for sharing, too. I appreciate you! 🙂
Love this! Thanks so much, Natalie, for sharing this. Your ‘how to’s’ are always so helpful, practical, and very much appreciated. Cheers, Nicole
Thanks, Nicole! I love sharing these tips that I’ve learned along the way. Blogging is such a fantastic way to pay-it-forward. Cheers! 🙂
You’re a wiz at this, Natalie. 🙂 Happy New Year!
Happy New Year, Diana! I love sharing these tips… cheers to blogging and the connections we make along the way! 🙂
Thank you so much for this fantastic tip, Natalie. Toni xx
Always a pleasure to share, Toni! Thanks so much for stopping by today. I appreciate you. xo
I have yet to even create a story. I had no idea about highlight covers. Thanks for introducing me to them, Natalie. 🙂
Most welcome, Yvette! Delighted to help in any way. Thanks for stopping by today and for sharing, too! 🙂
Thanks for this wonderful and useful information, Natalie.🥰
Delighted to share, Vashti! I’m really enjoying the interaction and making connections on Instagram. You’re rockin’ it! xo
Another great lesson Natalie. If I ever go back to Instagram, I’ll be well armed with your tutorials. Thank you. <3
Always a joy to share these tips, Debby! I love that blogging gives us the opportunity to share our knowledge and pay-it-forward. I’ll keep an eye out for you on Instagram! xo
Thanks Natalie. My bad, I haven’t even visited my Instagram for a few years now. With your tips, I may venture back in the spring. 🙂 xx
🙂
Natalie, I love your artistic presentation and incredibly informative articles – you make it all seem so easy! So far I haven’t ventured onto Instagram and not sure I have time for another social media but you have seriously tempted me to check it out! 😀
Thank you, Annika! I really enjoy sharing these tips and making connections along the way. 🙂 Just recently, I started to be more active on Instagram. I find Instagram more engaging with posts and stories, and it fuels my creative side. It’s a win-win combination! I don’t spend as much time on Facebook or Twitter anymore. It’s almost too much to keep up with. Yikes! Thanks so much for stopping by. I always appreciate your visits! xo
This was very helpful for me, Natalie. Thanks for sharing!
Delighted to share, Mark, and glad it’s helpful. Thanks for stopping by today and for sharing, too. I appreciate you! 🙂