Let's talk about those little circles under your Instagram bio. You know, your Highlight covers? They might seem like simple decorations, but they're actually powerful tools that can stop scrollers in their tracks and guide them to your best content.
In this guide, you'll learn how to turn these tiny images into engagement magnets through the power of Instagram cover image design.
Smart brands know something others don't: Highlight covers are more than just pretty pictures. They're your profile's visual navigation system, and they can make or break a visitor's first impression.
Here's why they matter:
Let's explore how to transform these often-overlooked assets into strategic tools for your brand.
Understanding the psychology behind user behavior can help you design more effective Highlight covers. Here's what research tells us
These findings suggest that strategic design of your Highlight covers isn't just about aesthetics—it's about optimizing for how the human brain processes visual information.
Ready to design? Think of your Highlight covers like the chapter titles in a book — they should give viewers a clear preview of what's inside while maintaining your brand's unique identity. You have two main ways to do this:
This is perfect if you want that authentic, behind-the-scenes vibe. Just grab your best Story moments and turn them into covers. Works great for:
The trade-off? While this approach is quick and authentic, it can sometimes look a bit inconsistent.
For established brands with a solid visual identity, custom graphics offer more control and consistency. Think of these like carefully designed book covers that immediately signal quality and professionalism.
This approach shines when:
The main challenge here is the need for design resources, but cover image creation doesn’t have to be a heavy lift. We’ll cover some great tools for this later.
Whichever path you choose, keep these golden design rules in mind:
Don't just design one cover at a time – think bigger! Here are three proven systems that make it easy to add new Highlights as your content grows:
Highlight cover images are small but it’s still easy to mess up the dimensions and create pixelated or badly cropped covers that look unprofessional.
Here are the important Instagram cover image size rules to follow:
On top of that, make sure you design within the “safe zone”:
Each Highlight should serve a specific purpose in your audience's journey, from discovery to conversion.
Let's break down the essential categories that most successful brands include:
The foundation of any strong Instagram presence is trust. Your first few Highlights should focus on showing the human side of your brand:
Tip: Use authentic, unpolished content here — polished marketing materials can actually work against you when building trust.
Position your brand as a helpful resource by teaching, not just selling:
Tip: Think about common questions or challenges your audience faces, and create Highlights that directly address them.
While most Highlights are evergreen, you'll want some dynamic content to keep followers coming back:
You can always adjust this framework to fit your unique brand and audience. The key is maintaining a clear purpose for each Highlight while telling a coherent brand story.
Let's break down how to track your success without getting lost in spreadsheets. The core Highlights KPIs include:
When it comes to documenting Highlights performance, try this easy system:
Once a month, jot down:
Look for patterns, like:
While some of your Highlights might stick around forever, others need to be changed out regularly to keep things fresh (and accurate). Establish cyclical mini audits to figure out what’s working and where there’s room for new content.
The best part about Instagram Highlight covers? There's always room to experiment and grow. Here's your action plan:
Start small:
Next steps:
Stay fresh:
Remember: Great Highlight covers aren't about following trends – they're about creating a clear, engaging path for your followers to discover your best content. Start with the basics we've covered here, then make it your own.
Ready to get started? Pick your design approach from section three and create your first cover today!