If you’re an avid Instagram user, then chances are that you have heard of “highlights”. These curated stories allow users to showcase their best content in a more permanent way. But what if your highlight-worthy moments aren’t captured on the spot and instead reside hidden away in your camera roll?
Luckily, with just a few quick and easy steps, you can add highlights on Instagram from your camera roll without any hassle.
In this article, we will guide you through a simple process that allows you to take full advantage of all your memorable snaps from your phone’s photo gallery and elevate them into visual storytelling art pieces that you’ll be proud to share.
“The only limit is your imagination. So why not make use of all those amazing memories waiting for their time to shine.” -unknown
From creating new highlights to customizing existing ones, we will explain everything you need to know about managing highlights with ease and efficiency.
You don’t have to let your stored-up gems go unseen or unnoticed- learn how to bring life to your Instagram profile with eye-catching and captivating highlights!
Why Adding Highlights to Your Instagram Account is Important?
Showcasing Your Best Content
Highlights are an excellent tool for showcasing your best content to visitors and new followers. With this feature, you can collect and categorize your outstanding stories from the past and display them on your profile page permanently. This way, anyone who visits your profile will get a glimpse of your brand, products, or services in a matter of seconds.
Highlight categories like “Best Sellers,” “New Arrivals,” “Reviews,” “Tutorials,” “BTS”, “Behind-The-Scenes” help convey your social proof and create a professional image making it easier for brands and businesses to collaborate with you.
Creating Categories for Your Stories
If you want to organize your story contents more efficiently, the highlight reel is ideal for creating categories. You can add any photos or videos that you have shared in your story within 24-hours directly to your highlights. So, what if you already have a bunch of photos and videos saved up in your camera roll? In this case, you need to know exactly how to add highlights on Instagram from camera roll.
“I suggest using the Highlight function as it allows me to group images together for easy accessibility.” -Emily Wills (@emilywills)
You’d be surprised at just how much you remembered only after spending several hours organizing your contents into different folders! Not to mention, adding titles and covers for each highlight category can make your profile visually appealing and user-friendly too.
Making a Strong First Impression
The first impression matters, especially when it comes to attracting potential clients, partners, or sponsors. When someone lands on your profile page, they notice both the follower count and how you’ve arranged your content, particularly your highlights.
Using visually pleasing and descriptive highlight covers can help make a strong first impression by giving the visitor an idea of what to expect from your account without having to scroll through each post individually. This is because these highlighted categories act as an intro to your content according to your target specific audience. It’s way more engaging than simply scrolling down every section or picking up every category manually.
“Your Instagram profile is like your portfolio, always presentable.” -Irene Kim @ireneisgood
Increasing Engagement with Your Followers
As statistics suggest that hundred million active users use Instagram daily while there are plenty of opportunities for growing your engagements on the platform itself, highlighting engaging stories can boost the interaction rate with your followers significantly.
Showcasing some user-generated contents (UGC) in Highlights not only makes them feel involved but also motivates others to contribute creatively too. Other Highlight categories like Q&A sessions, polls, and any interactive courses keep your followers engaged and improve your online presence extensively. Plus, they incentivize new visitors to follow & check out their juicy answers too!
“Get your community excited about sharing by turning user-generated content into share-worthy social media posts.” -Neal Schaffer (@nealschaffer)
In addition, businesses looking to collaborate with influencers with an active following prioritize engagement rates when choosing partners; Thus maintaining a high-stress level compared to other metrics such as likes and views alone. By creating exciting content through highlights, one increases chances of attracting potential clients over time using real count metrics.
Congratulations! You’re now ready to create customized Instagram highlights and keep yourself ahead of the game, bear in mind, consistency is key, so ensure quality content creation and updates regularly. Here is a simple tutorial to get through the process.
- Step 1: Head over to your profile page.
- Step 2: Tap on the + icon located towards the far right.
- Step 3: Choose the stories you want to add from camera roll or archive works great too!
- Step 4: Give each highlight a name and choose an appealing cover image/icon accordingly.
- Step 5: Save it as a Highlight, and voila! It’s showcased in your profile for all your followers to check out
Step-by-Step Guide to Adding Highlights on Instagram From Camera Roll
Open Your Instagram Profile and Select the “+” Icon
Adding highlights on Instagram can be an excellent way of highlighting specific content that showcases your personality or brand. To get started, open your Instagram account by tapping on the app icon on your device’s home screen. Once you’re in your profile, tap on the (+) sign on the top left corner to add a new highlight.
To continue adding highlights on Instagram from camera roll, follow these steps:
- Select the “New” button appearing at the bottom of the screen.
- Type in a name for your new highlight then select “Add” located at the upper right part of your screen, choose photos or videos from your camera roll.
Choose Photos or Videos from Your Camera Roll That You Want to Add to Your Highlights
The next step is to pick out the pictures or videos that you want to feature within your highlight. With so many options available on Instagram, this can be challenging, but it’s essential to think about your goals for the highlight you want to create.
If you’re using an iPhone:
“Apple’s built-in photo editor equips users with an easy way to browse their camera roll and edit images manually before uploading them to Instagram.” -Matt Binder, Mashable
You can either scroll through your camera roll until you find the media you’d like to use, or you can search by date, location, people, and tags.
If you’re using Android devices:
“Instagram has its own internal editor, with some basic exposure correction and one-tap filter presets. However, Android users can also use Google Photos to edit their photos before uploading them on the app.” -Alex Leonhardi, Fotor
To get more comprehensive options such as lighting adjustments or image composition repositioning for a visually pleasing result.
The process is relatively simple and comes down to selecting the desired images or videos and making your choices. Once you tap on each photo, it will pick up other details along with it- like caption, location and hashtags, which if required can be edited right there.
- Adding highlights on Instagram is an excellent way of showcasing content that captures your personality or brand presence.
- You should start by opening your Instagram profile and then tapping on the “+” icon to create a new highlight.
- The following step will require you to select from your camera roll folders (search through the date, location, or tags) photos or videos you’d wish to include in your new addition.
Tips and Tricks for Creating Eye-Catching Highlights
If you want to add highlights on Instagram from camera roll, you need to make sure they are eye-catching and visually appealing. Here are some tips and tricks that can help you create attractive highlights on your Instagram profile:
Choose a Cohesive Theme or Color Palette
The first step to creating a stunning Instagram highlight is choosing a cohesive theme or color palette. Your highlight covers should have a consistent look and feel that reflects the style and personality of your brand. You can choose colors that match your logo or website, or go with a particular aesthetic such as rustic, modern, or bohemian.
When selecting your color scheme, consider using a tool like Adobe Color CC to help you find complementary colors. This tool will give you access to thousands of color palettes, which you can browse and save to use later. With a cohesive theme or color palette, you’ll create an instant visual impact and your followers will know exactly what to expect from your content.
Keep Your Highlight Covers Simple and Easy to Read
Your highlight covers should be simple and easy to read. The text should be big enough to read easily, and the images should be clear and crisp. Use high-quality images that are well lit and properly framed. If you’re not skilled with graphic design tools, consider hiring a freelance designer to create covers for you.
You want your followers to understand at a glance what each highlight is about, so it’s important to keep the cover designs clear and straightforward. Avoid using too many elements, complex graphics, or busy backgrounds. Simplicity is key here!
Use Eye-Catching Titles and Descriptions
The titles and descriptions of your highlight bubbles are just as important as their covers. They should be attention-grabbing and descriptive enough to make users want to click on them. Consider using keywords that reflect your content, such as “inspiration,” “tips” or “behind the scenes.”
Keep in mind that Instagram only allows you to use a limited number of characters for your title and description, so keep it short and sweet. You can also add emojis to help illustrate your point without using too many words.
“The key to creating eye-catching highlights is to focus on simplicity, clarity, and consistency.” -Jasmine Star
- Tip #1: Use high-quality images that are well lit and properly framed.
- Tip #2: Choose a color palette that matches your brand aesthetic.
- Tip #3: Keep your cover designs clear, simple, and easy to read.
- Tip #4: Use keywords and emojis in your highlight titles and descriptions to grab attention.
- Tip #5: Consider hiring a freelance designer if you’re not skilled with graphic design tools.
How to Organize Your Highlights to Represent Your Brand or Personality
Instagram highlights are a great way to showcase your brand, personality, and content to your followers. They allow you to feature your best stories on your profile even after the 24-hour shelf life of Instagram stories has expired. In this article, we will guide you through the process of organizing your highlights to represent your brand or personality.
Determine the Categories that Best Represent Your Brand or Personality
The first step in creating an organized highlight collection is to determine which categories best represent your brand or personality. These categories should be broad enough to encompass various topics relevant to your account but specific enough to differentiate between them clearly.
For instance, if you own a fashion blog, then some categories for your highlights could be “outfit ideas,” “fashion events,” “life behind the scenes,” “fashion inspirations,” etc.
Some tips to help you decide which categories to create:
- Analyze Your Content: Look at your past posts and analyze what type of content you post most frequently. This helps you determine which categories to make more prominent and which ones to keep less visible.
- Research What Other Brands or Personalities Do: Study similar accounts to yours and see how they design their highlight collections. Learn from their presentation style, and try not to replicate their highlights entirely.
Use Consistent Cover Images and Titles for Each Category
The next step is to maintain consistency when designing each category’s cover image and title. By using uniformity in both elements across all categories, it creates a recognizable aesthetic to your brand and makes navigating through your highlights easier.
Tips for using consistent cover images and titles:
- Use Branded Elements: Use your brand colors in the design of the title. Also, include elements that represent your brand or personality.
- Create Images That Resonate With the Category’s Theme: Design custom thumbnail or cover photos that reflect each category’s topic. This helps followers know what they will see before clicking on them.
Consider the Order of Your Highlights to Tell a Story or Showcase Your Brand
Finally, arrange your highlights in an order that best tells the story of your overall brand or personality. A strategically ordered highlight collection can help increase engagement with your content while showcasing what you do best. As Instagram allows only 16 highlights, it is crucial to keep them organized and as engaging as possible.
Some tips for arranging your highlights:
- Begin Strongly: Place your most engaging categories at the front end of your highlight collection to attract viewers.
- End On a High Note: End with your most recent or popular series to leave a lasting impression on your followers.
- Create Series Across Multiple Categories: For instance, if you’re running a giveaway campaign, create a “giveaway” highlight across multiple categories until its completion. The strategy invites followers to watch all categories’ highlights, looking forward to when winner announcement pops up.
“Instagram highlights help give users another way to interact with your account while highlighting new offers, exclusive access, promoting events or anything else that might appeal to your audience.” – Hootsuite
Organizing your highlights ensures maximum usability and visually appealing presentation of your content that represents your brand or personality. By prioritizing consistency in design, categorization and producing engaging categories, you are more able to capture followers’ attention while highlighting the best aspects of your brand.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Adding Highlights on Instagram
Not Creating Clear Categories
One of the most common mistakes that people make when adding highlights to their Instagram profiles is not creating clear categories. This can be especially problematic for businesses or individuals who have a lot of different content to showcase.
The key to creating effective highlight categories is to think about what your audience would find helpful and interesting. For example, if you’re a food blogger, you might want to create categories like “Recipes,” “Restaurant Reviews,” and “Cooking Tips.” This will help your followers easily find the content they’re looking for and keep them engaged with your account.
“Instagram Stories Highlights are an amazing way to keep your best stories in front of your audience even after 24 hours have passed.” -Later.com
Using Low-Quality Images or Videos
Another common mistake that people make when adding highlights is using low-quality images or videos. Remember that your highlights will be permanently displayed on your profile, so it’s important to use high-quality visuals that accurately represent your brand or personal image.
If you don’t have access to professional photography equipment, try using natural light and good composition techniques to capture high-quality images. You can also use free photo editing apps like VSCO or Snapseed to adjust lighting, color, and other aspects of your images before posting them as highlights.
“Quality over quantity – always. In this fast-paced digital world there are many ways to cut corners but quality should never suffer at its expense.” -Olivia Bossert
Not Updating Your Highlights Regularly
A third mistake that people often make when adding highlights is failing to update them regularly. While highlights can be a great way to showcase your best content, they can quickly become outdated if you don’t add new stories regularly.
Make sure that you’re adding new stories to your highlights at least once a week to keep them fresh and interesting. This will not only help to increase engagement with your account, but it will also show your followers that you’re actively creating new content and are invested in your brand or personal image.
“Create beautiful highlight covers for Instagram Stories to visually represent the different topics/categories on your profile. Update these frequently to continue offering content.” -Bloguettes
Forgetting to Add Descriptions to Your Highlights
A final mistake that people often make when adding highlights is forgetting to add descriptions to each one. Without clear descriptions, your followers may not understand what your highlights are intended to showcase and why they would be interested in them.
Try including a brief description with each highlight to give your followers an idea of what to expect. For example, you might describe your “Recipes” category as “Delicious recipes from my kitchen to yours” or your “Travel” category as “Exploring the world, one adventure at a time.”
“Be intentional about your highlighting – decide what’s most important to share with your audience on a long-term basis and focus on sharing high-quality posts that reflect who you are and what you have to offer.” -Hootsuite
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add highlights to my Instagram story without posting them on my feed?
Yes, you can add highlights to your Instagram story without posting them on your feed. To do this, simply create a new highlight or select an existing one, then add the photos or videos you want to the highlight. The highlight will be visible on your profile, but the photos or videos will not appear on your feed. This is a great way to organize and showcase your favorite moments without cluttering your feed.
What is the maximum number of highlights I can add on my Instagram profile?
Currently, the maximum number of highlights you can add on your Instagram profile is 100. This limit includes both the number of individual highlights and the number of photos and videos you can add to each highlight. To make the most of your highlights, consider grouping them by theme or topic and using high-quality images and videos to make them visually appealing.
What are some tips for creating visually appealing highlights on Instagram?
To create visually appealing highlights on Instagram, use high-quality images and videos that are well-lit and in focus. Choose a consistent theme or color scheme for each highlight and use a cohesive cover photo to tie them together. Consider using text overlays or stickers to add context or personality to your highlights. You can also use Instagram’s built-in editing tools to adjust the brightness, contrast, and saturation of your photos and videos, or use third-party editing apps for more advanced editing options.