IRL you have seven seconds to make a good first impression. The pressure. Believe it or not, the same concept applies virtually as well. On Instagram, we can think of Instagram Story Highlights – the teeny circles found below the bio – as little opportunities to make a strong impression on lurkers and visitors. They’re deciding whether to follow your account or not – it’s your chance to put your brand’s best foot forward! Take a look at the Genie’s tricks and best practices to get your highlights in tip-top shape:
1. Optimise your cover images 👀
The Genies recommend Canva for getting the aesthetics of your cover images consistent and on brand. No matter what color-scheme and icons you pick, make sure they’re cohesive and work well with the overall look of your page.
Do: Take the time to create your own, instead of using pre-existing templates online. It only takes a minute and can be the difference between an average profile, and one that stands OUT *snaps*
Don’t: Choose tiny text over images. The covers are so condensed, small text will be impossible to read. Instead, choose a clear icon or large font and keep detailed text confined to the space below each highlight. Your eyeballs will thank you.
2. Keep it spicy 🌶
Bland stories, be gone! Reel in new and existing followers with a plethora of new story content. Behind-the-scenes, new products, polls, shoutouts and MORE. Then make sure you’re adding them to the relevant highlights so followers can watch them later!
Do: Post consistently! Just because you have a nice story collection highlighted on your page, doesn’t mean it’s good to leave and forget them. Update your collections and highlights, and be sure to remove any stories that are no longer relevant.
Don’t: Solely use stories as a medium to sell more. It’ll turn off your followers and come across as inauthentic. Instead, have something to say. Show off your brand’s personality. Don’t be afraid to be raw and genuine – your followers will appreciate the honesty!
3. Load up on links 🖇
Brands with over 10k followers have the ability to insert a “swipe up” link that can direct to a URL of their choosing. If you have this feature, USE IT. The possibilities are endless. Whereas before, pages could only include a single link in their bio, the “swipe up” links open up a whole realm of opportunities for a brand. Direct potential brand ambassadors to a sign-up story highlight, where they can apply to rep your brand. Showcase your new products in another, with links to shop that change depending on the item. If you have a blog, push it in another highlight, and include snippets of your content to draw in new readers and funnel traffic!
Do: Double-check your links. Nothing is worse than looking through a brand story highlight that has outdated and broken URLs. Keep them fresh!
Don’t: Forget to keep a strategy in mind. Some sort of consistency is in order here, and if you’re jumping subjects, links, and pages without some sort of unifying connector, you’ll lose followers fast.
What brand highlights do you love to see? Let us know in the comments below!
