Ready to rock your Instagram profile for business?
Want to add branding and personality to your Instagram account?
In this article, find the top tips to optimize your Instagram profile for business.
We’ll cover:
- Crafting the perfect bio.
- Sharing the right mix of content.
- Increasing your engagement.
So let’s get started!
Why use Instagram for your small business?
If you’re a small business owner, you’re well-aware of the importance of a strong social media presence. And while you may know that it’s important, you may not know exactly why it’s important.
How can you make sure that you’re using social media for the right reasons, and giving your brand and business a leg up in the digital space?
For starters, Instagram is one of the most important social media platforms in the world, especially for business owners.
Given the fact that Instagram has 1 billion users worldwide, anyone who isn’t using it is missing out on the opportunity to effectively market their business and spread awareness of their brand.
Instagram is a great opportunity for a small business owner to tell their story, using the app’s various features.
You can share your story — your business’s history, what you’re up to currently, your plans for the future — with photos and videos.
Finding creative ways to showcase your business (ephemeral “Stories,” behind-the-scenes videos, user-generated content) is essential to social media marketing.
Instagram is also a goldmine for interacting with your community and collecting feedback from them. This is a free way to see what your followers like and don’t like, and can even give you ideas and insight into future strategy for your business.
Now that you understand the importance of creating an Instagram profile for your business, how should you go about tending to it?
Craft the perfect Instagram bio
Start with the right profile picture!
Which is more professional, a logo or a headshot? It depends on your business!
Next, write a great bio that tells the world what you do, and why they should follow you.
Don’t be afraid to throw in a few of the thousands of emojis to add some personality. Just be sure you’re communicating the right thing! Learn emoji meanings here.
You can change out your bio as often as you want, so be sure to highlight your latest promotion.
You can @mention another account. When a user taps it, they’ll hop to the other account.
The last line of your bio might be a call-to-action to inform users why they should click your bio link!
Got a branded hashtag? That’s a must to include in your bio.
You could also use a tightly-niched hashtag where your content rules the top posts.
Don’t include a broad hashtag that will merely lead IGers to your competitors.
Be sure to include your one precious live link on Instagram. This goes in your bio, and you can direct IGers to your link in your post captions.
Having trouble with your bio link? Unfortunately, there’s been a lot of that lately.
Share the best Instagram content
There are so many options now for Instagram content:
- Instagram posts, of course.
- Instagram Stories.
- Instagram Live!
You really should use them all.
Posts are the cornerstone of your Instagram content. Best practice is to post daily!
Need ideas for what to post? Help is on the way in this article and infographic:
People love to view Instagram Stories, and IG is really pushing them on the platform.
Don’t know how to use them? You’ll want to check this post for Instagram Stories ideas for business.
Another great idea is to leverage influencers. This doesn’t have to bust your budget!
Micro-influencers and Advocates are less expensive and drive better results.
And I can’t overstate the importance of using hashtags with your posts and Stories. But they have to be the right hashtags!
Should you use 3 or 30? In the caption or a comment?
You’ve got questions, I’ve got answers 😉
In the post feed, photos outperform videos by 36%.
Improve your photo skills, and be sure to use the right size and shape images.
Grow your Instagram engagement
Be sure to check the post ideas article linked above for engaging post ideas.
Then make sure you watch your stats so you know what’s working.
An Instagram business account includes minimal stats, so I recommend you try an Instagram-approved third-party tool.
With a business account, you can post to Instagram from desktop as well as schedule your posts as far into the future as you like, so you can stay consistent.
Don’t do all the work to set up a great Instagram profile, and then post sporadically. That will kill your engagement, and waste all your hard work.
For terrific stats, I recommend Tailwind. But check out the article and try one or two for yourself!
Conclusion: Instagram profile for business
Hope you got the scoop! We covered:
- Crafting the perfect bio.
- Sharing the right mix of content.
- Increasing your engagement.
Scroll back and review as needed. And be sure to pin one or more of the infographics for a quick-reference guide!
The infographic from Fundera below has the rundown on how to create the perfect Instagram profile.
It covers everything from the basic information you need to include (such as business name and location) to what your content needs in order to maximize the value of each post.
Having an awesome Instagram profile can help you attract more followers, which means more leads for your business.
Want more?
Learn how to grow your Instagram followers 11 ways!
Jenn Lenay says
Excellent article! Thank you!
Glenn says
Is there a list of the hashtags? Instagram has blocked all my posts and comments, is there a way around this as IG are ignoring my reports and requests for an explanation?
Thanks
Louise Myers says
List of which hashtags, banned ones? You can search online, but know that the banned ones are constantly changing.
Have you read my post on Instagram blocked comments?