How to Create an Instagram Business Account in 2022
Hi Online Friends,
If you're looking for a way to grow your brand, reach new customers, and showcase your products or services, you might want to consider creating an Instagram business account. Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms in the world, with over 1.4 billion monthly active users and 500 million daily stories users. It's also a powerful marketing tool that can help you increase your brand awareness, engagement, and sales.
In this article, I'll show you how to create an Instagram business account step by step, and share some tips and best practices to make the most of it. I have experience in creating and managing Instagram business accounts for various niches, and I know what works and what doesn't. So, let's get started!
What is an Instagram Business Account?
An Instagram business account is a type of account that allows you to access features and tools that are not available for personal accounts. Some of these features include:
- Insights: You can view analytics on your profile, posts, stories, reels, and IGTV videos, such as impressions, reach, engagement, followers, website clicks, and more.
- Promotions: You can create and run ads on Instagram to reach more people and drive more actions. You can also promote your existing posts and stories to boost their visibility.
- Shopping: You can create a shoppable catalog of your products and tag them in your posts, stories, reels, and IGTV videos. You can also enable checkout on Instagram to let users buy your products without leaving the app.
- Contact: You can add a contact button to your profile that allows users to call, email, or message you directly. You can also link your Instagram account to your Facebook Page and Messenger.
- Category: You can choose a category that describes your business or industry, such as Beauty, Education, Entertainment, etc. This helps users find you more easily and understand what you do.
- Action Buttons: You can add action buttons to your profile that allow users to book appointments, make reservations, buy tickets, or take other actions with third-party apps or websites.
As you can see, an Instagram business account can help you take your marketing to the next level and achieve your goals faster. But how do you create one? Let's find out.
How to Create an Instagram Business Account
Creating an Instagram business account is easy and free. You can either convert your existing personal account to a business account or create a new one from scratch. Here are the steps for both options:
Option 1: Convert Your Personal Account to a Business Account
If you already have a personal account that you want to use for your business, you can simply switch it to a business account by following these steps:
- Open the Instagram app on your phone and go to your profile.
- Tap the three horizontal lines icon at the top right corner and select Settings.
- Tap Account and then tap Switch to Professional Account.
- Choose Business as your account type and tap Continue.
- Select a category that best describes your business and tap Next.
- Add your contact information (email, phone number, or address) and tap Next.
- Connect your Instagram account to your Facebook Page (optional) and tap Next.
- Review your profile information and tap Done.
Congratulations! You have successfully converted your personal account to a business account. You can now access the features and tools mentioned above.
Option 2: Create a New Business Account
If you don't have a personal account or you want to create a separate one for your business, you can create a new business account by following these steps:
- Download the Instagram app on your phone and open it.
- Tap Sign Up and enter your email address or phone number. Alternatively, you can sign up with Facebook.
- Create a username and password for your account and tap Next.
- Add a profile photo, name, and bio for your account and tap Next.
- Follow the steps from Option 1 above to switch your account to a business account.
That's it! You have successfully created a new business account on Instagram. You can now start posting content and engaging with your audience.
Tips and Best Practices for Your Instagram Business Account
Now that you have an Instagram business account, you might be wondering how to use it effectively to grow your brand and reach your goals. Here are some tips and best practices to help you out:
Optimize Your Profile
Your profile is the first thing that users see when they visit your account, so you want to make a good impression and encourage them to follow you. Here are some ways to optimize your profile:
- Use a clear and recognizable profile photo that represents your brand, such as your logo or a headshot.
- Write a catchy and informative bio that tells users who you are, what you do, and what value you offer. You can also use emojis, hashtags, or keywords to make it more appealing.
- Add a link to your website or landing page where users can learn more about your brand, products, or services. You can also use a tool like Linktree to create a custom link that leads to multiple destinations.
- Use the category, contact, and action buttons to display your business information and enable users to take action with your brand.
- Use highlights to showcase your best stories and organize them into categories, such as products, testimonials, tips, etc.
Create Engaging Content
Content is the key to attracting and retaining your audience on Instagram. You want to create content that is relevant, valuable, and entertaining for your target market. Here are some tips to create engaging content:
- Use a variety of formats, such as photos, videos, stories, reels, IGTV, and live. Experiment with different features, such as filters, stickers, effects, music, captions, etc.
- Use high-quality images and videos that are clear, bright, and eye-catching. You can use tools like Canva or Adobe Spark to create stunning graphics and videos.
- Use hashtags to increase your reach and visibility. You can use up to 30 hashtags per post, but research shows that 9-11 hashtags work best. You can use a tool like Hashtagify or All Hashtag to find relevant and popular hashtags for your niche.
- Use captions to tell a story, ask a question, share a tip, or add a call to action. You can use up to 2,200 characters per caption, but keep it concise and easy to read. You can also use emojis or bullet points to break up the text.
- Use stories to show behind-the-scenes, sneak peeks, polls, quizzes, Q&A, countdowns, or user-generated content. Stories are a great way to connect with your audience and increase your engagement.
- Use reels to create short and fun videos that showcase your brand personality, products, or services. Reels are a new feature that allows you to create 15-second videos with music and effects. They are similar to TikTok videos and can help you reach new audiences.
- Use IGTV to create longer videos that provide more value or information to your audience. IGTV is a feature that allows you to upload videos up to 60 minutes long. You can use it to create tutorials, interviews, reviews, webinars, etc.
- Use live to interact with your audience in real time and build trust and loyalty. Live is a feature that allows you to broadcast video from your phone to your followers. You can use it to host Q&A sessions, product launches, giveaways, etc.
Interact with Your Audience
Interaction is the key to building relationships and loyalty with your audience on Instagram. You want to show them that you care about them and value their feedback. Here are some ways to interact with your audience:
- Respond to comments and messages from your followers. Try to reply as soon as possible and be friendly and helpful.
- Like and comment on posts from other accounts in your niche or industry. This can help you increase your exposure and attract new followers.
- Follow back accounts that are relevant and interesting for your brand. This can help you build rapport and trust with them.
- Mention or tag other accounts in your posts or stories when appropriate. This can help you create collaborations or partnerships with them.
- Share user-generated content from your followers or customers. This can help you showcase social proof and appreciation for your brand.
- Create contests or giveaways that encourage users to engage with your brand. For example, you can ask them to follow you, like or comment on your post, tag their friends, share their photos or videos using your hashtag or product, etc.
A Detailed Table Breakdown Related to the Topic
Feature | DescriptionBenefit | |
---|---|---|
Insights | You can view analytics on your profile, posts, stories, reels, and IGTV videos, such as impressions, reach, engagement, followers, website clicks, and more. | You can measure your performance and optimize your strategy based on data. |
Promotions | You can create and run ads on Instagram to reach more people and drive more actions. You can also promote your existing posts and stories to boost their visibility. | You can increase your brand awareness, traffic, leads, and sales. |
Shopping | You can create a shoppable catalog of your products and tag them in your posts, stories, reels, and IGTV videos. You can also enable checkout on Instagram to let users buy your products without leaving the app. | You can showcase your products and make it easy for users to shop from you. |
Contact | You can add a contact button to your profile that allows users to call, email, or message you directly. You can also link your Instagram account to your Facebook Page and Messenger. | You can provide customer service and support to your audience. |
Category | You can choose a category that describes your business or industry, such as Beauty, Education, Entertainment, etc. This helps users find you more easily and understand what you do. | You can improve your discoverability and credibility. |
Action Buttons | You can add action buttons to your profile that allow users to book appointments, make reservations, buy tickets, or take other actions with third-party apps or websites. | You can increase conversions and revenue. |
FAQs About Creating an Instagram Business Account
Do I need a Facebook Page to create an Instagram business account?
No, you don't need a Facebook Page to create an Instagram business account. However, it is recommended that you connect your Instagram account to your Facebook Page if you have one. This will allow you to manage both accounts from one place, sync your contact information, cross-post content, and access more features and tools.
Can I switch back to a personal account after creating a business account?
Yes, you can switch back to a personal account anytime after creating a business account. However, you will lose access to the features and tools that are exclusive to business accounts. To switch back to a personal account, follow these steps:
- Open the Instagram app on your phone and go to your profile.
- Tap the three horizontal lines icon at the top right corner and select Settings.
- Tap Account and then tap Switch Back to Personal Account.
- Tap Switch Back to confirm.
How many Instagram business accounts can I have?
You can have up to 5 Instagram business accounts per device. However, you will need a separate email address or phone number for each account. To add another account, follow these steps:
- Open the Instagram app on your phone and go to your profile.
- Tap the profile icon at the bottom right corner and select Add Account.
- Tap Sign Up or Log In with an existing account.
- Follow the steps from Option 1 or Option 2 above to create or convert a business account.
How do I verify my Instagram business account?
Verifying your Instagram business account means getting a blue badge next to your name that indicates that your account is authentic and belongs to a notable public figure, celebrity, brand, or organization. To verify your account, follow these steps:
- Open the Instagram app on your phone and go to your profile.
- Tap the three horizontal lines icon at the top right corner and select Settings.
- Tap Account and then tap Request Verification.
- Fill out the form with your name, username, category, and a photo of your ID or official document that proves your identity or legal entity.
- Tap Send and wait for Instagram's review. You will receive a notification if your request is approved or denied.
How do I delete my Instagram business account?
If you want to delete your Instagram business account permanently, you will need to do it from a web browser. Note that once you delete your account, you will lose all your data and content associated with it. To delete your account, follow these steps:
- Go to the Instagram website and log in to your account.
- Go to this link: https://www.instagram.com/accounts/remove/request/permanent/
- Select a reason for deleting your account from the drop-down menu.
- Enter your password and click Permanently delete my account.
Conclusion
Creating an Instagram business account is a smart move if you want to grow your brand and reach your goals on this platform. It will allow you to access features and tools that can help you create engaging content, interact with your audience, and drive more actions. Plus, it's easy and free to do.
I hope this article has helped you learn how to create an Instagram business account and how to use it effectively. If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to leave a comment below. And don't forget to check out my other articles on Instagram marketing, such as:
How to Add Music to Instagram Post
Thanks for reading and happy Instagramming!
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