Thinking about switching from a personal account to an Instagram business account? Fear not, making this change only take a few minutes. Let us explain how.
In today’s digital age, Instagram has become a hotspot for business marketing. With over 2 billion active monthly users, it trails only Facebook and YouTube in terms of user count. If your business doesn’t have an Instagram account, then you might be missing out on a big opportunity.
This is where the Instagram business account option comes into play. Creating an Instagram business account not only allows for more growth and engagment with your audience but also convert conversations into sales.
This article will explain the importance of having a business Instagram account, guide you through the process of creating one, and show you how to use it effectively.
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What Is An Instagram Business Account?
An Instagram business account is a separate account that allows businesses to promote and sell their products or services.
Personal accounts are meant for people to share posts and connect with friends, whereas Instagram business accounts are designed to help brands expand their reach and interact with customers.
Creating an Instagram business account is free and offers a variety of features not available to personal accounts.
Instagram business account features include:
- Shoppable posts
- In-depth analytics
- Swipe up links on Instagram stories
- Display contact information on profile
- Post-scheduling and automation
- Call to action buttons
- Professional profile
- Advertising options (paid feature)
How To Create An Instagram Business Account In 11 Steps
Creating an Instagram business account might sound like a hassle, but these 11 simple steps will make it a breeze.
Create An Account
Step 1: Download the app
- iOS: Go to the App Store and search for Instagram.
- Android: Go to Google Play Store and search for Instagram.
Step 2: Open the app and select “Sign Up”
- Choose to sign up with an email address or phone number.
- Enter the required details (email, phone number, full name, username, password).
- Skip or add a profile picture (we can do this later).
- Optional: Connect to Contacts and Facebook to easily find friends and followers.
Switch To A Business Account
Step 3: Navigate to settings
- Tap on your profile picture at the bottom right.
- Tap the three horizontal lines at the top right. This will take you to “Settings and activity.”
Step 4: Select “Account type and tools”
- This can be found under the “For professionals” section
Step 5: Tap “Switch to professional account”
- Click “Continue” for the following prompts
- Choose the category that best describes your business
Step 6: Choose the “Business” option when the “Are you a creator?” prompt appears
- You now have access to in-app insights, content insights, promotions, and Meta business tools.
Step 7: Fill in the necessary contact information
- Add a business email, phone number, and physical address (if applicable).
Step 8: Follow the given steps to set up your professional account
- Complete your profile (see steps 9 and 10)
- Connect with professionals, invite contacts, explore insights/ads, and share a post (see step 11)
Set Up Your Business Account
Step 9: Select “Edit Profile” and create a profile picture
- Choose a professional image or your business logo.
Step 10: Construct an interesting bio:
- Write a compelling and concise bio that describes your business.
- Insert relevant keywords and a call to action.
- Include contact information and a link to the company website.
Post Creative Content
Step 11: Start posting content
- Post photos, videos, stories, and reels.
- Ensure all posts are high-quality.
- Create captivating captions.
- Use relevant hashtags.
How To Use Instagram For Business: 8 Strategies
Now that you’ve set up an Instagram business account, try these 8 marketing strategies to get your business account optimized and running smoothly.
Strategy 1: Optimize Your Profile
Username
First, start with a username that is simple and memorable. Most companies use their brand name as their username. However, if the username is taken or the name is too long, then use an acronym or a shortened version of the brand name.
It’s also a good idea to use keywords related to your business. For example, if a fitness trainer, should put keywords such as “fit” or “trainer” in their Instagram username.
Feel free to use underscores or the location of your business. Also, using phrases such as “the real (business name)” or “official (business name)” make for a professional-looking profile.
For example, a pizza company from New York City named “Tom’s Pizza” could use a username such as “@tomspizza” and if that is taken then they could use “@officialtomspizza” or “@toms_pizza_nyc”
Bio
Create a short bio that clearly states who your company is and what they do. Utilizing emojis or phrases can be a fun way to showcase your company’s personality.
Make sure to use a trackable link (e.g., Linktree) to direct followers to the company website or landing pages.
Most importantly, make sure it’s easy to read.
In this example, Slack clearly and concisely explains the company’s goals and what it can do for its customers. They also include fun emojis and add a link to their website.
Strategy 2: Develop A Content Strategy
Developing a good content strategy can help marketing efforts run smoothly and allow reputable brand awareness to build quickly.
Part of a good content strategy includes balancing content by posting educational and entertaining posts that can help customers stay interested in the content.
Remember to maintain a consistent posting schedule. We recommend posting 3 to 5 times per week to maximize your reach.
Tools such as a social calendar can not only help you schedule posts but also analyze and automate different parts of your Instagram account.
Don’t want to pay for a social calendar? Try using free tools such as a content calendar template to organize different workflows.
CoSchedule’s free social calendar integrates AI to help schedule posts on not only Instagram but also Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, and many more. This tool can schedule posts, analyze performance, manage strategy, promote events, and even write content.
Strategy 3: Utilize Hashtags
Hashtags engage followers and can reach a wide range of audiences quickly especially if you post on Instagram Reels. These are a great way to help content get found in search results and hashtag feeds.
It all has to do with the Instagram algorithm. The algorithm can catch specific keywords in hashtags and will place your content on users’ feeds based on their interests.
Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post, but using too many can actually reduce its reach. It’s better to prioritize quality over quantity, so we recommend using only 3 to 5 relevant hashtags.
Some companies even create and promote unique hashtags for their brand to engage and gain new followers. For example, Reece’s promoted their new “Reeses Caramel Big Cup” on Super Bowl game day. They used their own hashtag “#REESESCaramelBigCup to drive conversations and engagement around the hashtag.
Strategy 4: Engage With Your Audience
Engaging with your audience is a great way to keep them interested in what you have to offer. It not only keeps them around but it also creates a more personal connection between your brand and it’s followers.
Engage with your audience on Instagram by responding to comments and DMs, showing appreciation, and offering assistance. Run contests and giveaways to encourage participation from with rewards or discounts.
Another great way businesses engage their followers is by reposting content created by their followers. You can also team up or collaborate with followers or popular influencers.
Get Outside teamed up with a rock climbing professional to give away VIP tickets to a festival. This not only expands the company’s reach but also increases engagement on their post.
Strategy 5: Use Instagram Stories & Reels
The best Instagram marketers don’t just post on Instagram, they utilize Instagram Stories and Reels to engage their audience and boost interaction.
Instagram Stories are a slideshow of photos and videos that are great for making personal interactions with followers. Stories have interactive features such as polls, Q&A sessions, and stickers meant to intrigue viewers and keep them engaged.
Instagram Reels are short-form videos that are perfect for showcasing products or tips. Reels aren’t just shown to your followers; they’re also shown to non-followers, making them the best way to quickly reach a wider audience.
Delta, the airline company, uses Instagram Reels to showcase the destinations they can take you. These videos are likely to be shown by the Instagram algorithm to travel enthusiasts within Delta’s target market.
Strategy 6: Leverage Instagram Ads
Instagram ads not only increase sales but also boost brand awareness and drive traffic to your page. Instagram is one of the largest social media platforms on the internet so the odds of your ad being seen is high.
Instagram makes these ads entirely customizable. Choose whether you want to post a photo, video, carousel, or story ad. Instagram also allows options to choose the demographic, location, interest, and behavior of the audience you want to target.
It is important to note that this is not a free feature on Instagram. Prices vary depending on the business; however, most users pay about $.50 to $1 per click.
Walt Disney World uses Instagram’s ad feature to promote their company on users’ Instagram feeds. Instagram always shows a “learn more” button that takes the user to the company’s website or Instagram page.
Walt Disney World on Instagram
Strategy 7: Collaborate With Influencers
Many businesses collaborate with influencers that are relevant to their brand. This not only introduces new products or services to their followers but also extends their reach to new audiences who follow those influencers.
There are different kinds of influencer collaborations that Instagram allows such as sponsoring posts, doing takeovers, or posting product reviews.
How do I find influencers on Instagram?
Use platforms such as Influencer.co to find influencers for you or manually search Instagram and DM the influencer. The best way to do this is by searching for brand-relevant hashtags and scrolling through the top posts to find users with large followings.
The clothing brand, O’Neill, regularly collaborates with popular influencers on Instagram. In this post, they teamed up with a professional surfboarder to promote their swim trunks.
Strategy 8: Analyze Performance With Instagram Insights
Insights are a great way to analyze the performance of an Instagram business account. If it’s not performing well, then make changes accordingly.
How do I view Instagram insights?
Go to your profile, tap the three lines, and select “Insights.” This will show key metrics such as follower growth, post reach, impressions, engagement rate, and more.
Use data from insights to refine content and marketing strategies. For example, if you notice Instagram Reels are reaching more people than Stories, then consider focusing more on Reels.
FAQs about Using Instagram For Business
Why Should I Switch To An Instagram Business Account?
Switching to a business account can help grow your business by giving access to analytics, Instagram ads, contact buttons, product tagging, and auto-publishing. These features are not included in creator or personal accounts.
How Often Should I Post On Instagram For My Business?
For businesses, post on Instagram as frequently as 3-5 times per week at specific times to maximize the amount of engagement and visibility of a post. However, prioritize quality over quantity, don’t just throw in mediocre posts that your followers aren’t interested in.
How Can I Increase My Followers Organically?
Increase followers organically by utilizing Instagram’s features such as hashtags, geotags, and filters to post high-quality content that sparks interest in followers. You can also Interact with other accounts or partner with influencers and other businesses to reach a wider following.
Can I Schedule Posts On Instagram?
A great way to schedule posts on Instagram is by using Facebook’s Meta Business Suite for business and creator accounts. You can also use 3rd party tools like CoSchedule, Buffer, or Later.
What Should I Include in My Instagram Bio?
Include a short but clear description of who you are and what you do in an Instagram bio. Try not to be boring, make it fun and show some personality. Be sure to include a website link if you have one.
How Do I Turn Off My Business Account On Instagram?
Turning off an Instagram business account is easy. Go to your profile > Select the hamburger or “settings” button in the top right > Click “Business Tools and controls” > Tap “Switch Account Type” > Then select “Switch to Personal Account”.