How to Create a Stellar Instagram Business Profile

As with any professional social media account, you should maintain a separate Instagram account reserved specifically for business use. To create your profile, you’ll need these three things:

A good username:

Your username is important because it’s an extension of your brand. It will appear on every post, in your URL (instagram.com/username), and will be the means by which followers identify and engage with you. Keep it simple (and professional), and go with something recognizable, like your first and last name or a couple words describing your business niche.

A nice headshot:

Remember, this is your professional profile, so avoid casual selfies. Have a friend or colleague snap a quality image of you with an attractive backdrop. If you’re representing your small business or branch, you could use your logo instead, but steer clear of corporate logos that don’t represent your personal brand.

A brief bio:

In 150 characters or less, describe who you are, what you offer, and what makes you unique. If you already have a brand statement, your IG bio is the perfect place to repurpose it.

Creating Your Instagram Business Profile

You can create your business profile by creating one from scratch or by converting a personal account into a professional account.

• To create one from scratch: Simply download the app and follow the prompts to create a new account. Then fill in the profile details mentioned above.

• To convert a personal account into a professional account:

  • Log in to Instagram, then go to your profile.

  • Select the hamburger menu (the three stacked horizontal lines) at the top right, and choose Settings > Account.

  • Scroll down and select Switch to Professional Account. Then fill in the profile details mentioned above.
    

Things to Know: Helpful Tips

• Link in bio. You’ll see this phrase used all over Instagram. What does it mean? The only place you can post a clickable link on Instagram is in the description of your bio. Links won’t work in your photo captions, so if you want to drive traffic to your website or promote a blog article, you’ll have to include a link in your bio. One exception: Anyone can now add a link to their Instagram Stories using the “Link” sticker, but this isn’t a substitute for the all-powerful link in bio.

Hot tip: Put that one link to multiple uses by using a link in bio tool, such as Feedlink or Linktree These let you create a custom landing page to house all of the links you want to share, so you don't have to keep updating your bio link or limit where you can drive traffic.

• What’s a verified account, and do I need one? A verified account is one that has a blue checkmark next to it, indicating that Instagram has confirmed that the account is authentic and legitimate. The verification badge is useful for large brands and public figures to help followers know they’re following the real thing. According to Instagram, “Accounts with verified badges on Instagram are well-known public figures, celebrities and brands.” So, unless you have a likelihood of being impersonated, you probably don’t need a verified badge. That said, anyone can request a verified badge, but that doesn’t mean Instagram will grant it.
  

• Know your audience. Instagram users are mostly made up of millennials and Gen Z. That means your IG audience is likely to skew younger. Find out how much of your target audience overlaps with this demographic, and tailor your messaging accordingly. You can use Instagram Insights to learn more about your audience, track content performance, and understand what content resonates with them the most.