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How to Create Highlight Covers on Instagram

Instagram Stories are a fantastic way to share snippets of your life, promote your business, or engage with your audience in a fun and ephemeral way. But what happens to those Stories after 24 hours? That’s where Instagram Highlights come in! They allow you to curate and showcase your best Stories directly on your profile. And to truly elevate your profile’s aesthetic, you need eye-catching story covers. Think of them as mini billboards that tell a story at a glance. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know to create stunning highlight covers that will captivate your followers and make your profile shine.

Why are Instagram Highlight Covers Important?

Instagram highlight covers aren’t just decorative; they’re a strategic tool to enhance your brand and user experience. Here’s why they matter:

• First Impressions: Your Instagram profile is often the first point of contact for new followers. Well-designed story covers create a strong and professional first impression.
• Brand Consistency: Consistent visuals across your profile, including your highlight covers, reinforce your brand identity and make you instantly recognizable.
• Improved Navigation: Clear and descriptive story covers make it easy for users to find the content they’re looking for, improving engagement and time spent on your profile. Imagine a potential customer easily finding your product demos because you have a clearly labeled “Demos” highlight cover.
• Increased Engagement: Visually appealing highlight covers entice users to click and view your Highlights, leading to increased engagement with your content.

Planning Your Instagram Highlight Covers

Before you dive into designing, take some time to plan your highlight covers. This will ensure a cohesive and effective final product.

1. Define Your Highlight Categories

Start by identifying the key categories you want to feature on your profile. Think about the information your audience wants to see and what best represents your brand. Here are some ideas:

• About Us: Share your brand’s story, mission, and values.
• Products/Services: Showcase your offerings and their benefits.
• Tutorials/How-To: Provide helpful guides and tips.
• Customer Testimonials: Build trust with social proof.
• Behind the Scenes: Offer a glimpse into your company culture.
• FAQs: Answer common questions from your audience.
• Events: Promote upcoming or past events.
• Travel: Share your travel adventures.
• Personal: Share aspects of your personal life (if you are a personal brand).

2. Choose a Consistent Theme

Consistency is key to creating a professional and visually appealing profile. Decide on a theme for your highlight covers that aligns with your brand aesthetic. Consider these factors:

• Color Palette: Stick to your brand’s color palette. This will create a cohesive look and feel.
• Icons vs. Text: Decide whether you’ll use icons, text, or a combination of both. Consistency is important here too.
• Background Style: Choose a background style that complements your brand, such as solid colors, gradients, patterns, or photos.
• Font Choice: If you’re using text, select a font that is legible and consistent with your brand’s typography.

3. Keyword Research for Category Names

While the name of your highlight is visible, it’s still a good practice to think about keywords users might search for related to your business. Use relevant keywords in your highlight names to subtly improve discoverability. For example, instead of “Stuff,” use “Product Demos” or “Tutorials.” This is a minor SEO benefit, but every little bit helps!

Tools for Creating Instagram Highlight Covers

Fortunately, you don’t need to be a graphic design expert to create amazing story covers. Here are some user-friendly tools that make the process easy:

1. Canva

Canva is a popular online design platform that offers a wide range of templates and design elements specifically for Instagram highlight covers. Its drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to customize templates or create your own designs from scratch. Canva offers both free and paid plans. Using the free plan you can still design excellent **story covers**.

To create highlight covers in Canva:

1. Sign up for a free Canva account.
2. Search for “Instagram Highlight Cover” templates.
3. Choose a template you like or start with a blank canvas.
4. Customize the template with your brand colors, fonts, and icons.
5. Download your designs as PNG or JPG files.

2. Adobe Spark

Adobe Spark is another powerful design tool that offers a variety of templates and features for creating eye-catching story covers. It’s part of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, but it also offers a free plan with limited features. It has a great user interface and is easy to learn.

To create highlight covers in Adobe Spark:

1. Sign up for a free Adobe Spark account.
2. Choose a design template or start from scratch.
3. Customize the design with your brand elements.
4. Download your designs in the appropriate format.

3. Over

Over (now GoDaddy Studio) is a mobile app that allows you to create professional-looking highlight covers directly on your phone. It offers a vast library of templates, graphics, and fonts. It’s particularly useful for those who prefer to design on the go. It is perfect for creating **story covers**.

To create highlight covers in Over:

1. Download the Over app on your smartphone.
2. Select a template or start with a blank canvas.
3. Customize the design with your desired elements.
4. Save your designs to your phone’s gallery.

4. Using Pre-Made Icon Packs

A quick and easy way to create consistent highlight covers is to use pre-made icon packs. You can find free and paid icon packs online from various sources. Simply download the icons and use them as the focal point of your story covers. Sites like Creative Market and Flaticon offer various paid and free options. Ensure that you have permission to use any copyrighted material.

Step-by-Step Guide: Creating Highlight Covers

Let’s walk through the process of creating highlight covers using Canva as an example.

1. Open Canva: Go to Canva.com and log in to your account.
2. Search for Templates: In the search bar, type “Instagram Highlight Cover” and browse the available templates.
3. Choose a Template: Select a template that aligns with your brand aesthetic. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect; you can customize it to your liking.
4. Customize the Design: This is where you’ll personalize the template:
   • Change the Colors: Click on elements to change their colors to match your brand palette.
   • Add Icons: Search for relevant icons in Canva’s library and add them to your design.
   • Add Text: If desired, add text to your cover using a legible font. Keep it short and sweet.
   • Adjust the Layout: Move elements around to create a visually appealing composition.
5. Download Your Design: Once you’re happy with your design, click the “Download” button. Choose PNG or JPG as the file format.
6. Repeat for Each Highlight: Repeat steps 3-5 for each of your highlight categories, ensuring a consistent theme across all your story covers.

Uploading and Setting Up Your Highlight Covers

Now that you’ve created your highlight covers, it’s time to upload them to Instagram:

1. Save to Your Phone: Transfer the downloaded images to your phone.
2. Add to Your Story: Upload each cover image to your Instagram Story. You can add them one at a time.
3. Create a Highlight: After posting the cover to your story:
   • Tap the “Highlight” button at the bottom of the screen.
   • Choose the existing highlight you want to add it to, or create a new highlight.
   • If creating a new highlight, give it a descriptive name (remember those keywords!).
4. Edit the Highlight Cover:
   • Go to your Instagram profile.
   • Tap and hold the highlight you want to edit.
   • Select “Edit Highlight.”
   • Tap “Edit Cover.”
   • Choose the cover image you just uploaded.
   • Adjust the image if necessary.
   • Tap “Done.”
5. Repeat for All Highlights: Repeat steps 3-4 for all of your highlights.

Best Practices for Instagram Highlight Covers

To maximize the impact of your story covers, keep these best practices in mind:

• Keep it Simple: Avoid clutter and use clean, minimalist designs. A simple icon or text element is often more effective than a complex design.
• Use High-Quality Images: Make sure your images are clear and crisp. Blurry or pixelated images will detract from your profile’s aesthetic.
• Consider Mobile View: Remember that most people will be viewing your highlight covers on their phones. Make sure your designs look good on small screens.
• A/B Test: Try different designs and see which ones resonate best with your audience. Pay attention to engagement metrics to determine what works best.
• Update Regularly: Keep your highlight covers fresh and relevant by updating them periodically. This will keep your profile looking current and engaging.
• Accessibility: Ensure your colors have good contrast for users with visual impairments.

Examples of Great Instagram Highlight Covers

Looking for inspiration? Here are some examples of brands and individuals who are doing a great job with their story covers:

• Glossier: Uses simple, minimalist icons with a consistent color palette.
• Nike: Utilizes bold, graphic designs that reflect their brand identity.
• National Geographic: Showcases stunning photography as their highlight covers.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Encountering problems with your highlight covers? Here are some common issues and how to fix them:

• Image Quality Issues: Ensure your images are high-resolution and properly sized (1080 x 1920 pixels).
• Cover Not Displaying Correctly: Clear your Instagram cache or reinstall the app.
• Can’t Change Highlight Cover: Make sure you have the latest version of Instagram installed.

Conclusion

Creating compelling Instagram highlight covers is an essential step in optimizing your profile and enhancing your brand presence. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can create visually appealing story covers that attract new followers, improve engagement, and tell your brand’s story effectively. Take the time to plan, design, and implement your highlight covers, and you’ll see a significant improvement in your Instagram performance. Remember consistency, clarity, and creativity are key. Good luck creating amazing **story covers**!

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