6 Ways small businesses use Instagram Highlights 🔦

Hi there, 

Instagram Stories Highlights: one of the most underutilized Instagram features. But it really shouldn't be. According to a Facebook survey, 62% of people have “become more interested in a brand or product after seeing it in Stories.” In fact, Instagram Stories Highlights are an incredible tool for businesses to showcase and promote their brand, extend the life of their best Stories, and give potential customers more chances to see the content they worked so hard to create.

Let's dive into how you can use Instagram Highlights to promote your business. Plus, we're sharing examples of how other small businesses are utilizing this powerful Instagram tool.

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In today’s newsletter:

• How to use Instagram Highlights to promote your business
• 15 Instagram Stories design tips to create stunning visuals
• Instagram launches TikTok-like Remix option for Reels

Let’s get started! 👇

Instagram

• Instagram officially launches TikTok-like Remix option for Reels
• Instagram expands IGTV ads to the UK and Australia
• Instagram vs TikTok: Who’s ruling the in-app e-commerce experience?

Facebook

• Facebook analytics will go away June 30

• Nick Clegg, Vice President of Global Affairs at Facebook, dives into the Facebook algorithm

• Five years of VR: a look at the greatest moments from Oculus
• Facebook ramps up rollout of its new public groups experience
• Facebook makes it easier to view a non-algorithmic News Feed
• Facebook provides ad placement tips in latest 'Social Skills' video
• 10 Facebook statistics every business owner & marketer should know in 2021

Twitter

• Twitter makes Fleets stickers available to all users
• 10 advanced Twitter tips to help your Twitter account grow fast
• Twitter is developing new 'Community' tools to share tweets with selected audiences

TikTok

• TikTok remains the most downloaded app in Q1 2021, according to new data

Audio apps

• LinkedIn confirms it’s working on a Clubhouse rival, too

• Twitter Spaces will soon be accessible via desktop and PCs

Pinterest

• Pinterest expands the skin tone range feature to more countries

Others

• Inside a shoe company’s influencer strategy

• Discord rolls out stage channels and its take on Clubhouse

🖍 15 Instagram Stories Design Tips to Create Stunning Visuals

To help you captivate your audience in your Instagram Stories, we’ve put together 15 Instagram Stories design tips that will have you creating high-quality visuals your followers will go back to view again and again.

1. Start with a storyboard

When it comes to your Instagram Story grap hics, you want to ensure you’re putting together visually appealing designs that make your audience want to tune in.

A great way to get started is by using a storyboard to fully plan out your story before you even start on the design.

If you’re wanting to promote a recent blog post, build a storyboard around several of your key tips or points that entice viewers to click through. Or you might put together a storyboard that showcases how to use your product or service.

The possibilities are endless, but having a plan in place can help make your entire design process that much easier.

2. Stay in the lines

Your Instagram Stories have some pretty important lines and parameters you want to stick between as well.

The top and bottom areas of your story graphics are covered by your username and ways to interact with your story, respectively. You don’t want to include any pertinent information or design elements in these areas.

3. Create a Story-specific style guide

Consider putting together a style guide specific to which font choices, filters, GIF types, and more, that your company can utilize from IG Stories to continue to stay branded.

4. Use your brand fonts and colors

Have your brand kit ready to go with your color hex codes, your fonts, your logo and more.

Incorporating your brand fonts and colors helps with brand recognition when your followers are simply scrolling through their stories. They’ll see one of your graphics and automatically know it belongs to your company, without even having to see your username.

5. Incorporate photography

The beauty of Instagram Stories is that not everything you publish has to be high-quality and professionally created. Instead, use that smartphone camera and take some behind-the-scenes photography right in the app.

Wondering where the other 10 tips are? 🤗 We've collected all 15 of them on our blog. 

💰 2021 Pay Analysis: How We’ve Lowered Our Gender Pay Gap From 15% to 5.5%

Here are all of our numbers from our 2021 pay analysis, along with more on the positive impact that transparency has had on the gender pay gap for us.

📈 How to Get More Followers on Instagram: 12 Tactics for Instagram Growth

Read on to find out the 12 best tactics (with tools and examples) that could help you grow a bigger, more engaged audience for your business on Instagram.

💻 How To Sell on Instagram as a Small Business

Instagram has become a shopping destination for many consumers. And in this guide, we'll give you everything you need to know to get your Instagram page and posts optimized to drive sales for your business.

💸 How We Decide What To Pay Our Team: Our Salary Formula and Compensation Philosophy

In this post, we share an overview of our compensation philosophy and a simple explanation of our salary formula.

📈 Six Simple Tips to Increase Your Instagram Engagement

Keen to increase your Instagram engagement? This guide will give you everything you need to take your Instagram game to the next level and build lasting relationships with your followers.

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