Instagram highlights let your stories stay on your profile forever. This boosts their visibility and keeps people engaged. Whether you run a business or are an influencer, stylish highlight covers can really make your brand stand out. You can use specific colors, patterns, and graphics to make your account look great and tell your brand’s story.
Many brands and influencers use Instagram highlight covers to show off different themes. Custom covers add a professional look and help followers find their way through your content. Our guide will show you how to download highlight covers and make them look amazing.
Are you ready to make your own Instagram highlight covers? Keep reading for easy steps and the best tools and tips. We’ll help you pick the right size and aesthetic for your covers.
Why Instagram Highlight Covers Are Essential
Instagram Highlight Covers are key for any social media plan. With 500 million daily users, brands can really connect and engage. Stories are a quick way to share content and talk with followers. But, without good covers, these stories can get lost.
Instagram started Story Highlights in 2017. It lets users keep important stories alive longer than 24 hours. This helps businesses keep key content visible, keeping their brand look consistent and improving their Instagram look.
Custom cover images are more than just looks. They grab attention and help people find what they need. Brands that use nice covers can show off products, share feedback, or talk about services. This makes their story ongoing and meaningful to followers.
Using the best highlight covers can really boost your social media game. They help organize content in a way that makes sense. With tools like Canva or Etsy, businesses can make covers that match their brand. Plus, Etsy covers are affordable, starting at just $5.
Instagram Highlights also give businesses insights into how people interact with their content. This info helps improve what you share. Adding buttons like “Shop Now” in highlights can even lead to sales.
“Instagram Highlights offer a structured, yet aesthetically pleasing way to maintain brand consistency while improving user engagement.”
In today’s world, businesses need to be creative and smart to get noticed. Using Instagram aesthetic and the best highlight covers keeps followers interested. This not only makes your brand look good but also builds a strong online community.
How to Create Custom Instagram Highlight Covers
Creating custom highlight covers for Instagram is fun and rewarding. It can make your profile look better and get more engagement. Let’s go through the key steps using Canva.
Step 1: Open Your Design Tool
Begin by opening your favorite design tool. Canva is a great choice because it’s easy to use and has lots of resources. Inside Canva, look for the ‘Instagram Story’ template. This makes sure your design fits Instagram highlights perfectly.
Step 2: Choose the Right Template
After picking the Instagram Story template, explore the different templates available. Canva has many free and premium options to match your style. Choose one that fits your brand and makes your covers pop.
Step 3: Customize with Icons and Graphics
Now, get creative! Add icons and graphics that match your highlights. Canva has lots of free and premium icons for this. Keep your icons centered and avoid too much background for a clean look.
Step 4: Save and Download Your Design
When you’re happy with your design, save and download it. Save it as a high-resolution PNG for the best quality. Then, upload your new covers to Instagram. Make sure they fit well in the circular crop for the best look.
Best Tools for Designing Instagram Highlight Covers
Creating eye-catching Instagram highlight covers is key to making your profile stand out. The right tool can make this process easy and fun. Whether you want something highly customizable or quick and simple, there are great options out there.
Using Canva for Custom Designs
Canva is a top choice for a good reason. It’s a free graphic design platform that’s great for making unique Instagram highlight covers. With Canva, you can:
- Access numerous templates tailored for Instagram highlights
- Customize with brand-specific colors, fonts, and icons
- Utilize hundreds of free icons and some premium options for added flair
Canva’s easy-to-use interface means even beginners can make professional-looking covers. This helps keep your brand look consistent across all highlights.
Snappa for Quick and Easy Highlights
Snappa is perfect for those short on time. This free graphic design platform makes creating Instagram highlight covers fast and easy. It offers:
- Pre-made templates for quick setup
- A vast library of stock photos and patterns
- Simple drag-and-drop functionality
Snappa shines when you need to make standout covers quickly. It keeps your Instagram profile looking fresh and engaging for your followers.
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Instagram Highlight Cover Dimensions and Size
To make Instagram highlight covers that grab attention, knowing the right size and how to crop is key. It’s not just about looking good. It’s also about making sure your design looks right on all devices and stays the same through updates.
Optimal Size and Aspect Ratio
The best size for Instagram highlight covers is 1080 x 1920 pixels. This size, with a 9:16 aspect ratio, fits Instagram’s display perfectly. It keeps your covers clear and high quality. Designing at this size also means your design will stay the same, no matter what changes come.
Cropping Tips for Highlight Covers
Even though Instagram shows highlight covers in a 1:1 ratio circular crop, starting with 1080 x 1920 pixels gives your design room. This is helpful when you need to crop your highlights to fit the circular frame. Here are some tips for easy cropping:
- Center Your Design: Place important things like icons and text in the middle. This way, they stay visible even when cropped.
- Use Guides: Use circular guides on your square artboards to see how your design will look in the Instagram highlight circle. Adobe Illustrator is great for this. Check out this guide for more info.
- Consistent Aesthetic: Keep your covers looking the same by using the same colors and style. This makes your covers look better and helps your brand stand out.
Remember these tips when designing and cropping your Instagram highlights. This way, your covers will look great and work well, giving your followers a smooth experience.
Examples of Stunning Instagram Highlight Covers
Looking at Instagram highlight examples can spark creativity and offer practical tips. Accounts like @amyporterfield and @refinery29 stand out. They use custom icons that match their content, making their profiles both pretty and useful.
Many brands choose aesthetic Instagram highlights with bright colors and simple designs. They even add humor to grab their audience’s attention. These highlights show off different sides of their brands, like new items and behind-the-scenes peeks. Here are a few examples that really caught people’s eyes:
- @amyporterfield: Amy’s highlights stick to a color scheme and have clear icons. This makes her content easy to find and look good.
- @refinery29: Refinery29’s highlights are full of color and creativity. They have custom icons that organize their diverse content well.
- @studiomommy: Studio Mommy’s highlights fit their themes perfectly. They offer 152 icons and three extra square images for more customization, all sized right at 1080×1920 pixels.
- Sked Social: Sked Social helps plan Instagram posts and offers a 7-day free trial. This makes it easier for businesses to keep their highlights looking great.
With tools like Canva, Adobe Express, and Visme, anyone can make amazing highlights. Plus, you don’t have to search for icons. Flaticon, Freepik, and IconArchive have lots of free options.
Highlights stay on your profile forever, unlike Instagram stories. So, it’s key to spend time on making them engaging and aesthetic Instagram highlights. Try to make your highlights not just pretty but also show what your brand is all about.
Tips for Consistent Instagram Aesthetic
Keeping your Instagram theme consistent is key for brand recognition and engagement. A strong aesthetic makes a great first impression, builds trust, and unifies your page. Here are some tips to help you keep your Instagram looking great.
A consistent theme starts with a color palette that speaks to your audience. Posting content that fits your theme creates a beautiful feed. It’s important to focus on details and stick to your brand’s identity.
First impressions are crucial on Instagram as the aesthetic is the first thing people notice when they visit a page.
Planning your posts ahead helps keep your schedule and aesthetic consistent. Regular posting keeps your audience interested and coming back. Use hex codes for your brand colors to keep your posts looking the same.
- Use a unified color scheme and style for your Instagram Highlight covers.
- Post content related to a specific theme to establish your aesthetic.
- Pay attention to detail and stay committed to your chosen styles and brand identity.
- Plan posts in advance to maintain a consistent posting schedule and aesthetic.
- Record hex codes for brand colors to ensure consistency in future posts.
Unifying your Instagram profile with Highlight covers gives it a polished look. Simple designs reflect your brand’s identity well. Also, using consistent spacing, punctuation, and emojis in captions makes your feed look cohesive.
Remember, your Instagram profile picture and Story backgrounds are crucial for a cohesive look. Make sure your profile picture stands out and represents your brand well. Engaging photos or frames in your Instagram stories can also boost your visual appeal.
Popular Design Styles for Instagram Highlight Covers
Instagram Highlight covers are key to a neat and stylish profile. They boost both the look and your brand’s identity. Let’s explore some top design styles to make your Instagram Highlights pop.
Minimalist Highlight Covers
Minimalist covers focus on simplicity and clarity. They use clean lines, simple backgrounds, and single-color icons. This style gives a modern and sleek look.
It’s great for brands or individuals aiming for a polished image. Minimalist designs often stick to neutral colors like white, black, or beige. These colors fit well with many profile themes.
Colorful Highlight Covers
Colorful covers add energy and vibrancy to your profile. They use bold, contrasting colors that grab attention. You can choose a rainbow palette or your brand colors.
These covers make your Instagram profile more visually appealing and interesting.
Aesthetic Highlight Covers
Aesthetic covers mix minimalism with color, matching your unique style. They might include custom illustrations, soft pastel colors, and themed graphics. This creates a cohesive and polished look.
These designs are perfect for those who want their covers to show their personal or brand style. They don’t overwhelm your audience.
By using these design styles, you can make Instagram highlight covers that are both beautiful and engaging. Choose minimalist, colorful, or aesthetic covers that reflect your brand and personal style.
Free Instagram Highlight Covers: Where to Find Them
Finding free Instagram highlight covers is easier than you think! Many online resources offer great templates. You can easily make them fit your brand’s look. Whether you’re new to social media or an influencer, you can upgrade your profile without spending a lot.
Canva is a top spot for amazing highlight covers. It has lots of templates to choose from. Just pick one, customize it, and download your free Instagram cover in minutes!
The StoryLight app is another great choice. It has over 1000 cover templates, from bright flowers to cool marble. It also comes with icons and stickers, like chalk and flowers, to make your covers even more special.
The Highlight app is also worth checking out. The free version has some cover options, but it’s good for basic needs. For more, consider their $19.99/year Premium subscription. It gives you more covers and ways to customize.
Users say downloading free Instagram covers saves time and makes your profile look great. StoryLight is loved for its ease and variety. Canva is popular for its many templates and easy editing.
In short, you can find many free Instagram covers on Canva or StoryLight. They help you make your social media look amazing. Happy designing!
How to Upload Your Custom Instagram Highlight Covers
After designing your Instagram highlight covers, it’s time to show them off! Here’s a simple guide to upload your covers:
- Add the Image to Your Story: First, add your cover as a story. This is key because Instagram only lets you pick a cover from your story.
- Edit Your Highlight: Go to your profile and hold down the highlight you want to change. Tap ‘Edit Highlight,’ then ‘Edit Cover.’
- Select Your New Cover: Pick the image from your story. Make sure it fits right, then save your changes.
This method makes it easy to upload Instagram highlight covers. You can change them whenever you like. Use tools like Canva for many templates, or any other design platform. Make sure your covers match your brand’s look.
Instagram highlights are below your bio and stay there until you remove them. This gives you many chances to connect with your followers. Keeping your covers consistent makes your profile look professional.
For beginners, Canva is a great choice. It’s easy to use and offers a free account. You can also download your designs in high-definition. This ensures they look great at 2000 x 2000 pixels. Updating your covers regularly keeps your profile fresh and interesting.
Maximizing Engagement with Instagram Highlight Covers
Using Instagram Highlight covers can really boost your engagement. They look good and grab attention, making followers want to see more. For brands, this means more people see your stuff and feel closer to you.
Consistency and Branding
Keeping your Instagram Highlight covers consistent is key for a strong brand image. Covers that match your brand’s look make your profile stand out. It also makes your brand memorable to your followers.
Being consistent in your highlights makes your brand more recognizable. Using your brand’s icons and designs makes your profile look good and organized. This attracts more followers and boosts engagement. Plus, each Highlight can have up to 100 Stories, so you can show off different types of content while keeping things looking the same.
Using Highlights to Drive Traffic
Instagram Highlights are great for sending people to your website or other important pages. By picking the right Stories to highlight, you can lead followers to where you want them to go. Highlights for things like Products/Services, Events, and Blog can really help drive traffic and sales.
Also, using highlights for educational stuff, behind-the-scenes peeks, and customer feedback keeps your followers interested and informed. For example, Hawaiian Airlines teaches followers Hawaiian language in a highlight, showing how highlights can be useful in many ways. To get the most out of them, update your highlights often to keep things fresh.
Adding Instagram Highlights to your social media plan makes your Stories last longer and creates a cool spot for followers to find great content. By keeping things visually consistent and using highlights wisely, you can build a more interactive and connected audience. This helps drive traffic and boosts engagement on your profile.
Conclusion
In the world of Instagram, making great highlights is key to a better profile. With over 2 billion users every month, Instagram is a big deal for marketing. It’s important for brands and people to shine.
By using Canva and Socinator, you can make highlight covers that look good and connect with your audience. Every little thing, like your brand’s look and creative touches, counts. Good highlights can make your online presence stronger, bring in more visitors, and turn followers into buyers.
Keep it simple, creative, and consistent when making highlight covers. You can go for a simple look, bright colors, or something that matches your brand. Keeping your covers fresh and updated will make your Instagram profile stand out. Let’s make your Instagram profile amazing!
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