Creating Custom Instagram Highlight Covers: A Step-by-Step Guide
In today’s world, social media platforms have become an integral part of our lives. With its ever-growing popularity, Instagram has become a platform for people to showcase their creativity and keep their followers engaged. Among the many features that Instagram offers, the highlight covers feature is a great way to add a personal touch to your profile and make it stand out.
Highlight covers allow you to organize your Instagram stories into different categories and showcase them on your profile permanently. But, did you know that you can customize these highlight covers to match your branding or aesthetic? Whether you want to showcase your travel photos or promote your business, creating your custom highlight covers is easy and fun. In this article, we’ll show you how to make Instagram highlight covers step-by-step, so you can add a personal touch to your profile and make it pop.
1. Choose a Theme
1. Choose a Theme
The first step in creating Instagram highlight covers is to determine what theme you would like to use. This will help give your covers a cohesive look and feel, making them more aesthetically pleasing. Consider using colors, patterns, and imagery that are consistent with the branding of your Instagram page.
2. Create Graphics
2. Create Graphics
Once you have your theme in mind, it’s time to start creating the graphic elements for your highlight covers. You can use a design tool such as Canva or Adobe Photoshop to create your graphics. Make sure to keep your design simple and easy to read, since the covers will be viewed in a small size on your Instagram profile.
3. Choose the Right Size
3. Choose the Right Size
The optimal size for Instagram highlight covers is 1080 x 1920 pixels. Make sure your graphics fit within this size to ensure they will look crisp and clear on your profile. You can also experiment with different shapes such as circles or squares to make your highlight covers stand out.
4. Upload to Your Instagram Story
4. Upload to Your Instagram Story
Once you have your highlight cover graphics created, upload them to your Instagram story. From there, you can add them to your highlight reel. Make sure to save your highlight covers to your phone or computer as well to ensure you have backups in case anything happens to your Instagram account.
5. Customize Cover Titles
5. Customize Cover Titles
When you add your highlight covers to your Instagram profile, you’ll have the option to customize the titles of each cover. Make sure to choose titles that are descriptive and give your viewers a quick idea of what each highlight reel is about. This will help encourage them to click on your reels and view your content.
6. Add Icons
6. Add Icons
To make your highlight covers truly unique, consider adding icons or illustrations to each cover. This can help tie your branding together and make your covers stand out from the rest. You can find icons and illustrations online, or create your own using tools like Canva.
7. Use Consistent Branding
7. Use Consistent Branding
Make sure to use consistent branding across all of your Instagram highlight covers. This can include using the same fonts, colors, and imagery throughout. This will help create a cohesive look and feel and make your highlights more visually appealing.
8. Experiment with Colors
8. Experiment with Colors
Play around with different color schemes and color combinations when creating your highlight covers. You want to choose colors that are eye-catching and reflect your brand’s personality. Don’t be afraid to try out different color palettes to find which ones work best for you.
9. Showcase Your Personality
9. Showcase Your Personality
Your Instagram highlight covers offer a unique opportunity to showcase your brand’s personality, so don’t be afraid to get creative. Consider using fun illustrations, playful imagery, or catchy taglines to make your covers more engaging. This is your chance to show your followers what makes your brand stand out!
10. Refresh Your Covers
10. Refresh Your Covers
Don’t be afraid to refresh your Instagram highlight covers from time to time. This can help keep things interesting for your followers and keep them coming back to your profile to view your content. Consider updating your covers to reflect new events, seasons, or product launches to keep your branding fresh and up-to-date.
How to Design Instagram Highlight Covers Like a Pro
Once you have decided on the theme for your Instagram highlight covers, it’s time to start designing them. With the right tools and creative ideas, you can make your covers look professional and eye-catching. Here are 10 steps to help you design Instagram highlight covers like a pro.
Step 1: Choose the Right Size
First and foremost, Instagram highlight covers must fit the size requirements. The optimal size for Instagram highlight covers is 1080 pixels by 1920 pixels, which is the size of a vertical Instagram story. You can choose any design software that you prefer, but make sure it has the capability of making graphics at this size.
Step 2: Start with a Template
To create your custom Instagram highlight covers, you can start from scratch or use a template. A template can be helpful to provide a guide for the design elements and to make sure it’s on brand. There are several options for templates that you can find online. Canva, for example, offers pre-designed templates that are easy to customize.
Step 3: Choose a Background Color
The background color is an essential part of Instagram highlight covers. It sets the tone for the entire design and makes it stand out. Choose a color that complements your brand and theme. You can use solid colors, gradients, or patterns to make it more visually appealing.
Step 4: Pick a Font
The font is another crucial element of Instagram highlight covers. It should be easily readable and consistent with your brand. Choose a font that is bold and clear and makes a statement.
Step 5: Add Icons and Graphics
To make your Instagram highlight covers more visually appealing, you can add icons and graphics. This can include shapes, symbols, or illustrations that represent your brand and theme. You can also add some texture to make it more interesting.
Step 6: Use Layers to Create Depth
Using layers can add depth to your design and make it more visually appealing. Layers can be used to place icons on top of each other or onto a textured background. By stacking different elements, you can create a more in-depth design that stands out on Instagram.
Step 7: Make Sure It’s On Brand
It’s essential to keep a consistent brand image on Instagram highlight covers. This helps people recognize your brand and builds brand awareness. Use the same colors, fonts, and graphics that reflect your brand identity and messaging throughout your covers.
Step 8: Export in the Correct Format
Once you finalize the design, it’s essential to export it in the correct format. Instagram highlight covers should be exported as a PNG or JPG file. Make sure it’s saved with a high resolution (1080 pixels by 1920 pixels) to avoid any pixelation.
Step 9: Upload to Instagram
To get your Instagram highlight covers live, you must upload them to your Instagram profile. First, you need to make sure you have activated the “Add to highlights” feature to your story settings. Then, select the “new” button and upload your cover.
Step 10: Analyze the Performance
The final step is to analyze the performance of your Instagram highlight covers. Keep track of the number of people who view your stories and how many people click through to your highlights. This can help you determine if you need to tweak your design or messaging to improve engagement.
In conclusion, designing Instagram highlight covers can be an exciting and creative process. By following these ten steps, you can make your highlight covers stand out and reflect your brand. Remember to keep it on-brand, use high-quality images and graphics, and export it correctly, and analyze the performance to determine what works best for your brand.
10 Ideas for Instagram Highlight Cover Designs
Instagram highlight covers are an easy way to organize and personalize your profile. A highlight cover serves as a “cover photo” for each individual highlight and gives a brief overview of what the highlight is all about. While the process of creating a highlight cover is pretty simple, coming up with a design that represents your brand or your personality can be a bit challenging. Here are ten ideas for Instagram highlight covers to give you some inspiration:
Design | Description |
---|---|
Minimalistic | Simple designs using one or two colors only |
Geometric | Use shapes and patterns to create a standout design |
Hand-Drawn | Create a whimsical look by drawing your covers by hand |
Typography | Use letters and words as the main element of your design |
Vintage | Create a nostalgic mood by incorporating old-fashioned elements |
1. Brand Colors
Using your brand colors for your highlight covers can create a cohesive and professional look for your Instagram profile. By using brand colors, your followers will be able to recognize your brand easily. It also makes your profile stand out more in their feed. You can use a solid color as the background or add some texture and patterns to make it more eye-catching.
2. Theme-Based
Choosing a theme for your highlight covers will make your profile look more organized and professional. For example, if you’re a food blogger, you can have a highlight cover for “recipes,” “reviews,” “healthy eating,” etc. Each cover can have its own color scheme and design elements that tie into the theme.
3. Illustrations
Using illustrations for your highlight covers adds a unique and artistic touch to your profile. It can also make your profile more approachable and relatable. You don’t have to be an artist to create your own illustrations. You can find pre-made illustrations online or hire someone to create them for you.
4. Photos
Using photos as your highlight covers is a great way to showcase your work or products. If you’re a photographer, you can use your own photos as covers for your highlights. If you’re promoting a new product, you can use photos of the product as covers for your product highlight.
5. Icons
Creating custom icons for your highlight covers is a fun and creative way to make your profile stand out. You can use existing icons or create your own. Icons can be simple or elaborate depending on the style you’re going for. Make sure the icons you choose are relevant to the highlight they represent.
Time to Make Your Highlights Stand Out!
Now that you know how to make Instagram highlight covers, you can take your social media game to the next level. Remember to keep it simple and consistent, but don’t be afraid to let your creativity shine through. Experiment with different colors, shapes, and fonts to find what works best for you. Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to come back for more tips and tricks to enhance your social media presence. Stay tuned!
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