In 2023 and beyond, social media will be an even more integral part of marketing than it is now. Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 1 billion active users. And it’s not just for sharing photos of your breakfast—Instagram is a powerful tool that businesses can use to reach new customers, build relationships, and increase sales.
But how do you optimise your Instagram profile for business? Here are some tips to get started.
Start By Creating a Business-Focused Profile
An Instagram business profile provides extra features that allow you to monitor content performance and Instagram insights, and promote your products/services on Instagram. You also access Action buttons for designing specific call-to-action buttons, such as View Shop, Contact, Book Now, Instagram direct message etc., so users know where to go. If you can, integrate your shop into your Instagram business account, for example, Shopify. This way, customers can easily click links to products and expand for more details with little effort. If you have a Facebook page already, linking it to your Instagram business profile is also possible.
Make Sure Your Business Username Makes Sense
Make sure your username is the same, if not, similar to your brand or company name. This way, when users search for you, they can easily find and follow you. Also, consider using keywords in your username to help users who don’t know your company name find you through a search. For example, if you sell candles, you might want to include the word “candle” as a username on your Instagram profiles.
Use A High-Quality Logo or Image As Your Profile Picture
Use the same consistent logo for Instagram as you do for other social media platforms and your website. That way, users will easily recognize your business when they see it in their feed. If you don’t have a logo, consider using a high-quality image that is on brand with your company’s aesthetic. Make sure your Instagram profile picture is 110 x 110 pixels. However, the image gets stored at 320 x 320 pixels, so you should aim for this size.
Write A Brief But Informative Bio That Describes Your Business And What You Do
Instagram users get one link, 150 characters, and a few action buttons to convert potential customers. Short and sweet is the key so cut straight to the point. Remember to use line breaks and the right emojis to save space. Your Instagram bio should represent your brand personality and highlight your main products or services. In addition, add a CTA if appropriate.
Add Links To Either Your Websites Or A “Link In Bio” Tool Like Linktree And Carrd
You only get one link to use for your Instagram account so make it count. You can direct this link to your company home page or a separate landing page with several links like a “Link In Bio Tool”. Linktree And Carrd are two of the most popular ‘Link In Bio’ tools. Read our article on how a “Link In Bio” tool can be used for your social media to get started.
Create Your Instagram “Stories” Section With Appropriate, Branded Covers
Make the most of the space on your Instagram business account with Instagram Story Highlights. Stuck on what to add to your profile as Story Highlights? Check out an Instagram account we created as an example to follow. Try to add an introduction to what your brand is about or any important information here.
Use Relevant Hashtags To Reach A Wider Audience, Or Create Your Own Unique Hashtag To Organise Your Content
Hashtags provide great opportunities for Instagram users to discover more content and accounts to follow, or any related niche content. Research into what hashtags to use for your business or brand. For example, if you are a food blogger, some relevant hashtags could be #foodblogger, #instafood, etc. You can use up to 30 hashtags per post on Instagram. Another great tip is to create your own branded hashtag. This can be used to organise and keep track of all the content you post on Instagram related to your brand, business, or product.
Regularly Update Your Instagram With Interesting And Engaging Content That Will Capture Your Target Audience’s Attention
This is the most important part – offer value to your social media followers. Knowing who is in your audience puts you in a better position for optimal Instagram profile optimisation. Study the type of content your followers usually make Instagram posts and design similar content. Use high-quality photos, images, branding, interesting videos, etc. to capture their attention and get them engaged with your brand or business. Keep on the latest trends and download the Instagram app on your phone to really keep on top of things.
Make Sure Everything On Your Instagram Profile (Including Posts) Are On Brand With Your Business
Create a distinct brand voice so you can maintain consistency. For example, brand colours, fonts, shapes, images etc. Do you use emojis in your captions? Do you use any specific hashtags? Creating and sticking to a set of rules can keep your captions consistent with your brand so you can build consistency.
