Why Your Instagram Needs a "Start Here" Highlight (and How to Make One)
Instagram Stories have become a powerful tool for wellness entrepreneurs to connect with their audience in a more authentic and engaging way. They offer a glimpse into your brand's personality (or perhaps your own personality if you’re a solorpreneur), showcase your offers, and drive traffic to your website. One of the most effective ways to leverage Instagram Stories is by creating a "Start Here" highlight. This curated collection of Stories serves as your digital storefront, guiding new visitors and existing customers through your brand.
In this post, we’ll cover:
Why create a “Start Here” highlight?
What to include in your "Start Here" highlight
Tips for creating effective "Start Here" highlights
Bonus highlight tips
Why Create a "Start Here" Highlight?
Your Instagram highlights can serve as the perfect sneak peek into your brand and what you have to offer. Each highlight should serve a clear and distinct purpose and needs to be updated regularly. Creating a “Start Here” highlight gives the viewer an overview of you and your business and allows them to get to know you. Here’s why it’s important:
First Impressions Matter: Your "Start Here" highlight is often the first thing new followers see. It's your opportunity to make a strong first impression and entice them to explore further.
Streamlines Navigation: By organising your Stories into highlights, you make it easier for your audience to find the information they're looking for.
Boosts Engagement: Highlights are always visible on your profile, encouraging more interactions and increasing your overall engagement.
Serves as a Mini-Website: Your "Start Here" highlight can act as a mini-website, providing essential information about your brand, products, and services.
What to Include in Your "Start Here" Highlight
Let’s break down the “Start Here” highlight into the vital elements you want to showcase about yourself and what you offer:
Welcome Message: Introduce yourself, your brand and what you offer.
Your Story: Share your story, including your brand's mission, values, and how you came to be, as well as who you serve.
Share some fun facts about you: People want to learn about the real you, so share some fun facts
Link to 1-2 offers: Highlight 1 or 2 of your most popular or unique offerings.
Link to 1 freebie: link to 1 freebie so people can get a taste of what you offer (and you can get them on your email list!)
Customer Testimonials: Share positive feedback from satisfied customers. This might include addressing user pain points and how you help to solve them.
Call to Action: Encourage viewers to take a specific action, such as visiting your website, booking a call, or making a purchase.
Tips for Creating Effective "Start Here" Highlights
Keep it Concise: People have short attention spans. Aim for highlights that are no longer than a few minutes each.
Use Engaging Visuals: High-quality images and videos will capture your audience's attention.
Add Relevant Stickers and GIFs: These can make your Stories more visually appealing and interactive.
Use Polls and Questions: Encourage audience participation and gather valuable feedback.
Update Regularly: Keep your "Start Here" highlight fresh and relevant by adding new content regularly.
Bonus highlight tips
Update/refresh your highlights quarterly: Go through every highlight and make sure it's still relevant and not old content
Keep your “Start here” highlight at the front of your highlights list: You can do this by adding a new story to it and then deleting it
Add highlight covers that match your branding: Use colours, fonts, or icons that are consistent with your brand style, but keep it simple
By creating a compelling "Start Here" highlight, you can transform your Instagram profile into a powerful tool for attracting and engaging the right people. Once you’ve created yours, tag me @_louisebartlett and let me know, so I can cheer you on. Remember, your goal is to provide a seamless and informative experience that encourages visitors to become loyal followers and customers.
