Instagram is an amazing platform for promoting products and services. With millions of users worldwide, it would be a missed opportunity not to tap into this vast market and settle for less. That’s why every year, more and more people and businesses create Instagram accounts to showcase their brands. But what are the benefits of having an Instagram account? How can it help you reach your target audience? What features does it offer to boost your marketing strategy? In this article, we will answer these questions and more. So sit back, relax and enjoy the read!
What You Need to Know About Instagram Business Account
If you want to take your Instagram game to the next level, you might want to consider switching to a business account. It is not only for those who sell products or services, but also for anyone who creates content and wants to monetize it. Having this type of account will give you access to many features and benefits that can help with growing your brand and reaching your goals.
At first glance, a business account looks similar to a personal one. However, there are some key differences that make it more professional and functional.
Here are some of its distinctive features:
Contact options: When someone taps on the “Message” button at the top of your profile, they will see different ways to contact you, such as call, email or get directions.
Contact button: You will also have a “Contact” button on your profile that allows people to reach out to you easily.
Address line: You can add your physical location to your profile or use this space to include any other information that is relevant to your business.
Profile controls: You will have new buttons on your profile that allow you to edit your profile, create promotions, view insights and add a shop.
Profile limit: You can have up to 5 business accounts, but each one requires a separate email and usually a Facebook profile as well.
Now that you know the features of a business account, let’s see what benefits it offers.
Insights
One of the best features of a business account is the free Insights tool that lets you track and analyse your Instagram performance. You don’t need to use any third-party apps or services to measure your reach, impressions, engagement and so on. Everything is available in one convenient place within the app.
To access the Insights tool on Instagram, follow these steps:
Log in to your account.
Tap the profile icon at the bottom right of the screen.
Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the top right of your profile.
Tap Insights from the drop-down menu.
One of the most important aspects of running a successful advertising campaign on Instagram is understanding the statistics that measure its performance. Two of the key metrics that you need to pay attention to are reach and impressions. Reach tells you how many unique people have seen your post, while impressions tell you how many times your post has been viewed by anyone. For example, if a user sees your post twice, your reach will be 1 and your impressions will be 2.
To access the statistics of your Instagram account, you need to go to the Insights tool, which is divided into three sections: activity, content and audience. Let’s take a closer look at each of them.
Content
This section shows you how your audience interacts with your posts and stories. You can see the total number of posts you have made in the last 7 days and all the stories you have shared in the last 24 hours. You can also see the number of promotions you have run in the last 7 days and their performance. By tapping on each post, story or promotion, you can view the detailed statistics for each one.
Activity
This section shows you how many people have seen and interacted with your content. You can see the sources and the number of impressions, which are the total views of your posts and stories. If you tap on the chart, you can see the exact numbers for each day. The “Interactions” tab shows you how your audience engages with your content: the number of profile visits, website clicks and location clicks. These are the actions that people take when they see your profile or posts.
Audience
This section gives you more insights into your potential customers and followers. You can see the total number of followers you have, as well as how many new ones you gained or lost on a specific day of the week. You can also see where your audience is located, by city, area, region or country. This can help you tailor your content and targeting to suit their culture, preferences and needs.
You can also see the age range and gender distribution of your audience, to get a better idea of who they are and what they might like. And the most interesting part is the “Followers” section, which shows you when your followers are most active on Instagram. This can help you optimise your posting schedule and increase your chances of getting more engagement and conversions from your audience.
Engaging with Followers
If you have a business account on Instagram, you can control who can see your content by setting an age limit for your followers. This way, you can filter your audience and protect minors from inappropriate content.
Another way to engage with your followers is to use the contact buttons on your profile. You can add your phone number, email address and website link to make it easier for your followers to reach out to you. This can increase your chances of selling your products or services, as well as building trust and loyalty with your audience.
You should also pay attention to your profile description and picture, as they are the first things that people notice when they visit your page. Make sure they reflect your brand identity and value proposition and use keywords and hashtags to optimise your profile for search. If you do this right, you will get more inquiries, collaborations and orders from your followers.
Promotions
One of the benefits of having an Instagram business account is that you can create targeted ads within the app itself. However, you can only do this for posts that you have already shared with your followers in your feed. To start a promotion, you need to tap the Boost Post button under your post. Then, you will see an interface where you can adjust the settings for your target audience, budget and duration. You can pay for your promotion with a credit card linked to your account.
You can track the results of your promotion in the Promotions tab. There, you will see the data on your audience’s age, gender, impressions, reach and clicks, as well as the amount of money you have spent. If you want to have more options for advertising, you can link your Instagram account to your Facebook page. This way, you can use Ads Manager to create ads across different platforms and formats.
Shopping Tags
Shopping Tags are a feature that allows you to showcase your products for sale on your Instagram posts. When you tag a product, you can add a brief description of its name, price and other details. Your followers can see the shopping tags when they tap on your post, as well as a white shopping bag icon at the top of your post.
The benefit of using Shopping Tags is that you can make it easier for your customers to discover and purchase your products without leaving the app. You don’t have to manually write captions with product information and your customers don’t have to message you to ask for more details. This can save you time and money and increase your sales and conversions.
What are the drawbacks of having an Instagram business account?
Instagram business accounts offer many features and benefits for anyone who wants to promote their brand on Instagram. However, they also have some drawbacks that you should be aware of before you decide to switch from a personal account. Here are some of the main disadvantages of having an Instagram business account:
Lower reach and visibility. According to Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and CEO of Facebook, personal accounts will always have priority over business accounts when it comes to showing up on people’s feeds. This means that your posts may not reach as many people as you would like, unless you pay for targeted ads. Mark Zuckerberg announced this at the first open Q&A session on Facebook.
Errors and limitations when linking to Facebook. To access the full potential of your Instagram business account, you need to link it to your Facebook page. However, this can sometimes cause errors or glitches, such as losing followers, posts or insights. You also need to have a Facebook page in the first place, which may not be convenient or desirable for some people.
How to Create an Instagram Business Account
If you want to use Instagram to promote your brand, you need to switch to a business account. A business account gives you access to many features and benefits that can help you grow your audience, reach your goals and measure your results. However, you cannot create a business account from scratch. You need to have an existing personal account that you can change to a business account. Here are the steps to switch to a business account on Instagram, depending on the device you are using:
From your phone:
Log in to your account and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the top of your profile.
Tap Settings and privacy from the drop-down menu.
Tap Account type and tools and then tap Switch to Professional Account.
Select a category that describes your brand from the list or search for your own option using keywords.
Choose the type of account that suits your brand: Creator or Business.
Enter your contact details, such as phone number, email address or website link.
Confirm your choice and enjoy your new business account.
From your computer:
Log in to your account and go to your profile page. Click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and then click Settings.
Click Switch to Professional Account.
Follow the same steps as above to choose your account type, category and contact details.
Confirm your choice and enjoy your new business account.
After switching to a business account, you can also link it to your Facebook page, if you have one. This can give you more options for advertising and analytics. If you don’t have a Facebook page, you can create one easily from your Instagram app.
How to Make an Instagram Business Account Without Linking to Facebook
If you want to use Instagram to promote your brand, but you don’t want to link your account to Facebook, don’t worry. You can still switch to a business account without connecting to Facebook. All you need to do is follow the steps that we explained above and you will have your Instagram business account ready in no time. You can then start creating and running ads on Instagram to reach your target audience and grow your brand.
How to Set Up an Instagram Business Account
Creating an Instagram business account is only the first step to start promoting your products and services on the platform. You also need to design your profile in a way that attracts and impresses your potential customers, partners and collaborators. This means choosing a name, a bio, a profile picture and a theme that reflect your brand identity and value proposition. Now we will guide you through the steps to set up an Instagram business account that stands out from the rest.
Account Name
One of the most important elements of your Instagram business account is your username. This is the unique address that identifies your profile and helps people find you on Instagram. Your name should be simple, memorable and relevant to your niche or industry.
Some tips to help you choose a good name:
Use your brand name or a variation of it. If you have an established brand name, you should use it as your Instagram name or a close variation of it. This way, you can maintain consistency across different platforms and make it easier for your existing customers to recognize you. For example, some well-known brands that use their brand names as their Instagram names are @nike, @starbucks, and @netflix.
Use keywords or hashtags related to your niche or industry. If you don’t have a brand name or if your brand name is too generic or common, you can use keywords or hashtags that describe what you do or offer on Instagram. This can help you attract more followers who are interested in your niche or industry, as well as improve your discoverability on the platform. For example, some Instagram accounts that use keywords or hashtags as their names are @yoga_girl, @travelandleisure, and @foodnetwork.
Be creative and original. While simplicity and relevance are important, you don’t want to have a boring or generic name that blends in with the crowd. You want to have a name that catches people’s attention and makes them curious about your profile. You can use wordplay, puns, rhymes or acronyms to create a catchy and unique name for your Instagram business account. For example, some Instagram accounts that use creative and original names are @thebrokebackpacker, @thegoodquote, and @asos.
Once you have chosen a name for your Instagram business account, stick to it and don’t change it too often. Changing your name can confuse your followers and make it harder for them to find you again. You want to have a name that people can easily remember and associate with your brand.
Profile Header
Your Instagram profile header is the first thing that people see when they visit your account. It consists of your profile picture, your name, bio and story highlights. It’s a great opportunity to showcase your brand identity, communicate your value proposition and attract more followers. Here are some recommendations on how to optimise your Instagram profile header:
Use keywords and descriptive words in your name. Your name is the text that appears below your profile picture and above your bio. It’s also searchable on Instagram, so you want to include keywords or descriptive words that relate to your niche or industry. For example, if you sell vegan food, you might want to include “vegan” or “plant-based” in your name.
Write a catchy and informative bio. It’s where you can tell people who you are, what you do and why they should follow you. You only have 150 characters, so make them count. Use emojis, hashtags or bullet points to make your bio more appealing and readable.
Add relevant and engaging story highlights. They are collections of stories that you can save and categorise on your profile. It’s a great way to showcase different aspects of your brand, such as products, services, events, testimonials, behind-the-scenes, etc. You can also customise the cover images and titles of your story highlights to match your brand style and theme.
By following these tips, you can create an Instagram profile header that will impress your visitors and grow your audience.
Profile Picture
Your profile picture is one of the first things that people notice when they visit your Instagram business account. It’s a small round photo that appears in the top left corner of your screen, as well as next to your posts and stories. Your profile picture should be clear, recognizable and relevant to your brand and niche.
What to keep in mind while choosing a profile picture:
Use your own photo or create a unique one. Don’t use photos that you downloaded from other sources, as they may not reflect your brand identity or quality. Take a photo yourself or hire someone to create a unique one for you.
Make it memorable and catchy. Your profile picture should stand out from the crowd and make people curious about your account. You can use colours, shapes, logos or symbols that relate to your brand and niche. For example, if you sell flowers, you might want to use a photo of a flower or a floral pattern as your profile picture.
Follow a consistent style and theme. Your profile picture should match the overall look and feel of your account, as well as your content and stories. You can use elements such as filters, fonts, graphics and frames to create a consistent and appealing style and theme for your account.
You should also pay attention to the link to your website, if you have one. You can use a UTM tag to track the statistics of your account more accurately. However, Google Analytics may not work well with Instagram. Remember the golden rule: the shorter the link, the easier it is to copy and share with others. You can use tools like Bitly or TinyURL to shorten your link.
If you have any secrets or tips on how to create an effective Instagram business account, feel free to share them in the comments.
How to Manage an Instagram Business Account
All of the topics in this section are essential for running a successful Instagram business account, so make sure you don’t miss any of them.
Content
One of the key factors that determines the success of your Instagram business account is your content. Content is what attracts and retains your followers, communicates your brand message and drives your sales and conversions. To create effective content, you need to have a content plan that outlines what, when and how you will post on your account. A content plan can help you organise your ideas, optimise your resources and measure your results.
Here are some steps to create a content plan for your Instagram business account:
Define your content type and tone. Depending on the nature of your business, you may want to have a different content type and tone for your account. For example, if you are a company, you may want to have a more formal and informative tone, while if you are a blogger, you can opt for a more personal and conversational tone. You also need to decide what kind of content you will post, such as photos, videos, stories, reels, etc.
Choose your content categories. Content categories are the main topics or themes that you will cover on your account. They should reflect your brand identity and value proposition, as well as your audience’s interests and needs. Some examples of content categories are: educational, inspirational, entertaining, promotional, etc.
Plan your content grid. A content grid is a visual representation of how your posts will look on your feed. It can help you create a consistent and appealing aesthetic for your account, plus balance the different types and categories of content.
Analyse your content performance. The best way to improve your content is to track and explore how it performs on Instagram. You can use the Insights tool on your business account to see key metrics and data related to your content performance, such as reach, impressions, engagement, followers, etc. You can also ask your followers for feedback on what kind of content they like or dislike and use their responses to adjust your content plan accordingly.
Creating engaging content for business accounts is not only about posting beautiful pictures and catchy captions. It’s also about providing value, building trust and connecting with your audience.
Some ideas for different kinds of content that you can use:
Sales posts. The purpose of these posts is to convince your followers to purchase your products or services. You can use these posts to highlight the benefits and features of your products, announce new launches or discounts, share testimonials from happy customers or answer frequently asked questions. Make sure you include a clear call to action, such as “shop now”, “book now” or “learn more”.
Entertainment posts. You can use these posts to make your followers smile, laugh or feel inspired. They are great for sharing fun facts, jokes, memes, quizzes, polls or challenges related to your niche. You can also tell behind-the-scenes stories, positive news or funny moments from your work process or negotiations. This way you will show your human side and build rapport with your audience.
Personal posts. These posts allow you to express your personal thoughts, feelings, opinions or experiences with your followers. You can talk about your values, goals, dreams, challenges or achievements, as well as share your insights on philosophical topics, useful books or personal development tips. These posts can help you establish your authority and credibility in your field and create an emotional connection with your followers.
Educational posts. These are posts that aim to teach your followers something new or useful related to your niche. You can upload tips, tricks, tutorials, guides or case studies on how to use your products or services. Another good idea is to share the history and difficulties of creating your company or brand, the awards and recognition you have received or the charitable initiatives you have participated in. This will let you demonstrate your expertise and value proposition, as well as increase your reputation and trustworthiness.
If you are still stuck for ideas, you can also use quotes, guest posts, interviews or reviews of relevant resources as content for your Instagram business account.
Remember that quality is more important than quantity when it comes to content creation. Make sure you post consistently and regularly, but don’t sacrifice the quality of your content for the sake of posting more often. Use the Insights tool on your business account to see what kind of content resonates best with your audience and adjust your content plan accordingly.
Photos and Videos
Photos and videos are the main types of content that you can use to showcase your products and services on Instagram. They can help you build trust and credibility with your audience, attract and retain their attention. However, you need to make sure that your photos and videos are high-quality, consistent and relevant to your brand identity and value proposition.
Here are some recommendations on how to make stunning photos and videos for your Instagram business account:
Invest in good equipment or hire a professional. Don’t skimp on the quality of your photos and videos, as they reflect your brand image and reputation. Your audience will notice the difference between a well-lit, well-framed, and well-edited photo or video, and a blurry, dark, or shaky one. If you don’t have the skills or the tools to create high-quality photos and videos yourself, consider hiring a professional photographer or videographer who knows their craft.
Communicate value, not just sales. Your photos and videos should not only showcase your products or services, but also the benefits and value that they provide to your customers. Show how your products or services can help your customers solve their problems, achieve their goals or improve their lives. Use stories, testimonials, demonstrations or comparisons to illustrate your value proposition.
Create your brand identity. Your photos and videos should have a consistent look and feel that matches your brand personality and message. You can use elements such as colours, patterns, fonts, graphics and filters to create a distinctive and recognizable style for your photos and videos.
Don’t change your style too often. Unless you have a good reason to do so, avoid changing your style or redesigning your brand identity too frequently. This can confuse your audience and make them lose trust in your brand. Stick to a style that works for you and your audience and only make minor adjustments if necessary.
Don’t follow trends blindly. While it’s good to keep up with the latest trends and innovations in your niche, don’t copy them without thinking about how they fit your brand identity and value proposition. Instead of following the crowd, try to create original and unique photos and videos that stand out from the rest. You can also use classic techniques that have proven to be effective over time.
One of the ways to make your Instagram business account stand out and attract more followers is to create a unified style for your profile picture, posts and stories. A unified style can help you establish your brand identity, convey your message and create a memorable impression on your audience.
Some tips on how to create a unified style for your business account:
Choose a colour scheme that suits your niche and products. You can go for minimalist and pastel tones or bright and contrasting colours, depending on the mood and vibe you want to create. For example, if you sell natural and organic products, you might want to use earthy and soothing colours, while if you sell trendy and fashionable products, you might opt for vibrant and eye-catching colours.
Use hashtags wisely and strategically. Hashtags are keywords that help your posts get discovered by people who are interested in your niche or products. You should always include at least 5 hashtags on each post, but not more than 30, as too many hashtags can look spammy and distracting. You can also experiment with different hashtags and see what works best for you. Sometimes, a creative or unique hashtag can become a signature feature of your brand.
Effective Promotion Strategies for Your Business Account
One of the benefits of linking your business account to your Facebook profile is that you can use targeted advertising. This means you can choose who sees your ads and how much you spend on them. However, this option is not free and you need to pay for it regularly to reach your desired audience.
Fortunately, there are also some free ways to boost your visibility. For instance, you can collaborate with other blogs or do mutual PR. This is a great opportunity to cross-pollinate two different audiences, gain new insights and followers. You can also post semi-promotional content on free platforms with links to your business account. For example, you can create a channel on Youtube and drive traffic from there to your page.
Another possibility is to participate in free picks or tops or interact with novice bloggers. The sky is the limit and you need to experiment with different methods to find out what works best for you.
Keeping Your Audience Engaged and Active
It is important to keep your audience on their toes, so that they are always ready to take the action you want. To do this, you can occasionally hold contests with prizes for reposting or voting.
Motivate your audience to move in the direction you want, rewarding the most loyal ones. This way, your blog will not become a dull swamp, but a lively hub of discussion under your posts. And this is crucial.
How to Close Your Business Account
Before you can close your business account, you need to switch it back to a personal account. To do this, follow these simple steps:
Log in to your account and go to your profile page. Click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and then click Settings and privacy.
Go to Creator tools and controls.
Tap on the Switch account type.
Choose Switch to personal account.
Confirm the action in the warning box that pops up.
After that, you can go to the settings of your personal account and either close it permanently or continue using it as normal.
FAQ
