Are Instagram Highlights The Most Overlooked Growth Lever?

When you’re on Instagram, it’s easy to see where people put the most time – photos in the grid, videos in Stories – but those Highlights that sit right under the bio don’t always get much thought. They often end up as a mixed bag of old Stories, collecting over time without much order. But if you’re trying to actually grow your profile, Highlights matter a lot more than they seem to at first.

For someone landing on your page for the first time, they’ll usually look at Highlights before anything else, especially if they’re deciding whether to follow you. Unlike Stories, which disappear, or posts that you might spend ages arranging, Highlights let you keep important things front and center, whether it’s a short demo, answers to common questions, customer feedback, or a section that helps people understand what you’re about. It’s common to see creators treat them like storage for leftovers, but that’s missing what they could actually do – almost like forgetting a welcome mat at your front door.

Some brands have started to rethink how they use Highlights, putting together folders that act more like a guide than a dumping ground. You notice it especially on pages that grow faster with Instagram – their Highlights feel intentional, not random. It’s not about making everything perfect, but about making it easier for someone new to figure out if they want to stay.

Instagram’s algorithm sometimes gives more reach to profiles with higher engagement, but honestly, it’s also about making people feel like they’re in the right place. If you’re serious about growing this year, it’s worth paying attention to Highlights – not because it’s a secret growth trick, but because it’s one of those small things that ends up mattering when a person’s deciding whether or not to keep scrolling.

Most advice about “growth hacks” skips over what happens after you actually get someone’s attention. The thing is, when people land on your Instagram – say, after a Reel gets shared or a Story goes a little further than usual – they’re not likely to scroll back through everything you’ve posted. What usually draws them in are those Highlights sitting right under your bio. That’s not just a hunch; studies have shown they’re the second thing people tap on, right after your profile picture. Still, so many creators treat Highlights as a place to store old Stories, almost like a junk drawer, instead of seeing them as something visitors actually notice.

It’s easy to overlook, but if you want your Instagram to have some weight – something that’s more than a spike in numbers – Highlights offer a lot. They can answer basic questions, share reviews, or point to the things you care about most. Some brands, like INSTABOOST, are starting to use Highlights the way you might use a homepage: quick answers, social proof, directions to what matters, or just a place to get consistent follower growth without the pressure of constantly posting. It’s not a big change, but it can make a difference; when Highlights are clear and thought out, people tend to stick around longer, interact more, and sometimes even buy. If you’re after lasting growth – real people, not just a blip in followers – Highlights probably deserve a second look. There’s something about having control over that space, knowing that almost anyone who visits will see what you decided to put there first, that feels worth paying attention to.

What’s most important is finding a system you’ll actually keep up with. When it comes to Instagram Highlights, it isn’t about chasing every trick – what matters is setting up something that feels doable and steady for you, but still gives newcomers a real sense of what you’re about. A lot of thoughtful creators treat Highlights like a simple map for their profile.

Each one serves a clear purpose: one might share client feedback, another could explain your main services, and maybe there’s one that answers the questions new followers usually ask. You don’t have to get everything perfect right away, either. Highlights can shift as your work grows or as you notice what people respond to. If you want to see your account grow, think about what someone new might be wondering when they land on your profile. Having a “Start Here” Highlight helps people get their bearings, while a “Results” or “Press” Highlight lets them see what others think of your work, which can go a long way in building trust. It helps to keep these updated – take out old info, make sure the pieces you care about most are easy to find.

Tools like story analytics, or services that let you gain likes without extra effort, can make it clear which Highlights people are actually looking at, so you don’t have to guess what’s working. Highlights aren’t just a place to store old stories; they’re more like the front desk of your Instagram, the first thing someone new might explore if they’re curious enough to keep tapping.

A lot of advice skips over this part, but I think it’s important. Treating Instagram Highlights as a kind of archive is where a lot of creators get stuck. People tend to forget that Highlights aren’t only for collecting old memories or tossing up favorite Story clips. They’re actually one of the first places a new follower will look – someone who might have come across you through a Reel or a friend’s Story, and who is deciding in just a moment or two if you’re someone they want to follow. If your Highlights are old, unlabeled, or just a jumble of random videos, it’s hard for them to get any sense of what you do or what you care about.

Most of the usual advice on Instagram growth barely touches on this, as if Highlights are just a nice extra. But if you think about your own experience on Instagram, it’s kind of obvious: when you land on a profile and can’t tell who the person is or what they’re about from those little circles at the top, you probably move on. The creators and brands that stand out – INSTABOOST is one example – treat Highlights as a way to introduce themselves, not as a storage bin. Growth isn’t only about how things look or how many followers you get; it’s more about showing people, right away, what you have to offer and why you care about it. I’ve even noticed that sometimes, after a quick boost for video views, the Highlights become the main way new visitors figure out if they want to connect. When you use Highlights to guide someone new through your Instagram, it gives them a reason to stick around, instead of just flipping past your profile.

Instagram Highlights aren’t some secret hack – they’re really about being present with useful, organized information that helps people get what you’re about right away. When someone visits your profile for the first time, they usually don’t spend a lot of time scrolling. They’re looking for quick signals: what you do, what you care about, and whether it’s worth following along. If your Highlights answer common questions, show examples of your work, or feature comments from people who’ve worked with you, that’s already a big step toward coming across as trustworthy. It’s a lot better than having Highlights that are empty or full of random stories that don’t say much.

It helps to check in on them now and then – update things when you have something new, but don’t feel like you need to change everything all the time. I think of Highlights a bit like the window display at a small shop: they’re there to give people a genuine sense of what they’ll find if they stick around, not to put on a show. I notice a lot of people get caught up chasing whatever’s trending, like the latest Reel or Story, and Highlights end up ignored.

But if you spend a little time on them, they can turn someone’s passing interest into something real, no matter what’s going on with the algorithm. Even if they’re not perfect, a bit of care makes your page easier to understand – not just for new followers but for brands or tools like INSTABOOST that want to see what you’re about. Sometimes, just keeping things clear and up to date helps widen your post's reach more than you’d expect. You don’t have to make everything flashy or polished. Being clear, consistent, and easy to figure out is usually enough, even if it feels a bit quiet compared to the rest of what’s out there.

A lot of people overlook Instagram Highlights, thinking they’re just a spot to keep old Stories around. But they’re actually more like a little front porch for your profile – somewhere people can get a sense of who you are or what you do, without having to scroll through your posts or catch a Story before it disappears. Most visitors make up their minds about a page in a matter of seconds, so Highlights are one way to show right away what matters to you, what you’re good at, or what makes your page worth following. The trick isn’t to fill them with everything you’ve ever posted, but to pick out a few things that really show what you care about – like a recent project, a collection of tips, or examples of people using your product.

If someone comes across your profile after a Reel, or because a friend sent your page, chances are they’ll tap through your Highlights before anything else. Those little circles can quietly answer questions like, “Can this person help me?” or “Is there something useful here for me?” People who use Highlights as a way to explain who they are, instead of just storing memories, usually find they’re connecting with followers who actually stick around and pay attention. Even agencies like INSTABOOST, who help people grow their pages (or sometimes just boost your comments section), talk about making Highlights part of your normal routine, not something you throw together once and forget. When you treat Highlights like an up-to-date snapshot of what you’re about, it can help someone decide to follow you – even if they haven’t scrolled down to your latest post yet. There’s something about having those stories ready for anyone who happens to drop by.