how do you make a highlight out of instagram post

“how do you make a highlight out of Instagram post” In today’s fast-scrolling digital world, grabbing attention on Instagram is only half the battle—keeping it is where the real value lies. Instagram Stories disappear after 24 hours, but there’s a way to make your most important, beautiful, or strategic Stories stick around longer than a day. Enter the game-changing feature: Instagram Highlights. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “how do you make a highlight out of Instagram post”, then you’re in the right place. Whether you’re a brand owner, marketer, or just trying to polish your personal profile, knowing how to strategically feature posts as Highlights can give your content a longer shelf life—and more visibility.

What Are Instagram Highlights and Why Do They Matter?

Instagram Highlights are curated collections of past Stories that appear on your profile just under your Instagram bio. They act like mini albums or categories of your best and most important Stories. Think of them as a way to extend the life of your valuable content and showcase your brand identity.

These are especially useful for:

  • Business owners who want to showcase products, services, or testimonials.
  • Influencers sharing travel diaries, brand collaborations, or tutorials.
  • Marketers curating campaigns, event coverage, or behind-the-scenes content.

If visibility, branding, and follower engagement are important to you, learning how to make a highlight out of Instagram post is a crucial skill.

Can You Make a Highlight Out of an Instagram Post?

Let’s clear something up right away—Instagram Highlights are specifically made from Instagram Stories, not directly from feed posts. However, there are effective ways you can work around this to turn a regular post into a Story and then into a Highlight. Here’s how.

Steps to Feature an Instagram Post in Your Highlight

To answer the question, “how do you make a highlight out of Instagram post”, follow these simple steps:

  1. Start by sharing the post to your Instagram Story:
    • Go to the post you want to feature.
    • Tap the paper airplane icon underneath the post.
    • Select “Add post to your story.”
    • Customize your Story with text, GIFs, or stickers if you’d like.
    • Click “Your Story” to publish it.
  2. Turn your Instagram Story into a Highlight:
    • Go to your profile page.
    • Tap the “+” button under your bio where it says “New.”
    • Select the Story you just posted that includes the feed post.
    • Title your Highlight (e.g., “Products,” “Tips,” or “Reviews”).
    • Customize the cover image if desired.
    • Tap “Add”—and you’re done!

Why Turn an Instagram Post into a Highlight?

You might have great visuals or messages in your feed posts, but if they get buried under new content, they won’t be as accessible to new visitors. By repurposing that content into a Highlight, you make it:

  • Permanently visible on your profile.
  • More discoverable to new followers who want quick insights about you.
  • Organized by categories or themes for a professional feel.

Using this tool improves your content’s accessibility and helps communicate key messages immediately when someone lands on your profile.

Tips for Making Compelling Instagram Highlights

Once you know how to make a highlight out of Instagram post, it’s time to optimize the Highlights themselves for maximum effect. Here are practical tips that professionals and businesses can use:

1. Curate With Purpose

Don’t just throw all your Stories into a Highlight. Make sure each Highlight has a clear theme or objective such as “Customer Reviews,” “Our Services,” “Behind The Scenes,” or “FAQs.”

2. Design Custom Highlight Covers

A well-designed cover can unify your brand image and make your profile look polished. Use your brand colors, icons, or illustrations that represent the topic of each Highlight.

3. Use Strategic Titles

Keep Highlight titles short and punchy—Instagram will cut off anything too long. Aim for keywords or intuitive categories (e.g., “Events,” “How-To,” “Workshops”).

4. Update Regularly

Don’t “set and forget” your Highlights. Regularly clean out outdated Stories and refresh them with new content to keep the Highlights relevant.

5. Include CTAs in Stories Before Highlighting

Before you convert a Story into a Highlight, think about its call to action. Whether it’s “Tap to learn more,” “DM us,” or “Swipe up” (if eligible), each Story should guide the viewer in what to do next for higher engagement.

Creative Content Ideas for Instagram Highlights

If you’re stuck trying to decide what kind of content to include in your Highlights, here’s a list of ideas:

  • Introduction: A brief “Welcome!” that introduces what your page is about.
  • Products: Showcase top products or services.
  • Client Testimonials: Share happy customer feedback.
  • Behind the Scenes: Let people see your process or team in action.
  • FAQs: Answer common questions.
  • Tutorials: Short how-to clips from your niche.
  • Events: Recap past promotional or live events.

Strategically using Instagram Highlights can significantly support lead generation and brand storytelling. If you’re using tools like ViralPulseAI to manage your Instagram strategy, you can track what content creates the most engagement and optimize accordingly.

Branding Benefits: Why Every Business Should Use Instagram Highlights

Still wondering how do you make a highlight out of Instagram post for your brand? Here are reasons why you should:

  • First Impressions Matter: Your Highlights are front and center on your profile. They speak volumes before users even scroll.
  • Build Trust: Social proof like testimonials and behind-the-scenes footage can establish credibility fast.
  • Visual Menus for Services: Think of each Highlight as a clickable category leading users to the content they care about.
  • Simplify Buying Decisions: Use Story Highlights to answer questions, show benefits, or explain how to use a product.

Integrating Highlights into a broader social media strategy can amplify the value of every post you make. Want to learn how to optimize your content further? Dive into our guide on Instagram strategy best practices.

Common Mistakes to Avoid with Instagram Highlights

You know how to make a highlight out of Instagram post, but let’s make sure you’re doing it effectively. Here are a few frequently made errors:

  • Overcrowded Highlights: Too many Highlights can overwhelm viewers. Curate no more than 7–8 essential topics.
  • Neglecting Covers: Looks matter. Inconsistent or default covers can reduce professional appeal.
  • No Updates: Stale content gives the impression of inactivity. Keep it fresh to show your brand is alive and thriving.
  • Unclear Titles: Users should instantly know what each Highlight is about.

Using ViralPulseAI to Plan and Monitor Story Highlights

While Instagram provides native options to create Highlights, tools like ViralPulseAI can make the process smarter. With data-backed analytics to determine which Stories resonate best, you’ll know exactly which ones to repurpose as Highlights. Use ViralPulseAI’s scheduling tools to plan Story content in advance, then measure performance metrics to optimize future Highlights.