5 Steps to Your Best Instagram Profile

Instagram is a key marketing tool for your business, you can even make sales directly on the platform. But you need to be found.

In addition to having a strategy for the platform that aligns with your brand, a cohesive collection of images and posts, your profile are the words that will determine whether someone follows you or not.

With over 800 Million monthly active users, Instagram is quickly becoming the place where consumers search for brands. They want to see you, your products, your behind the scenes, and how people are using your products and services.

So let’s convert those users who land on your profile into followers, shall we?

1 – SWITCH TO A BUSINESS PROFILE

You need a business profile. First of all, when you have a business profile, your contact information is front and center on your profile, making it easier for followers to contact you. Even more importantly – for you to be able to gather statistics.

To Switch to a business profile:

Open the App

Tap the three lines on the top right corner of your profile.

Tap Settings on the bottom of the screen

Scroll down until you see ‘Switch to Business Profile’

Tap Continue

You will be shown a few tips about business profiles and then it will ask if you want to connect your Facebook business page.

Next, you’ll choose a Category and Subcategory for your business.

Add your contact information: make sure you include email AND phone number, and if you’re a brick + mortar business, be sure to include your physical address as well.

2 – USE ALL AVAILABLE CHARACTERS

The Instagram profile only holds so much text, so use your words wisely. Tell your potential follower specifically what you are in a way that will appeal to what they need. Be specific.

3 – USE HASHTAGS

Hashtags in profiles are clickable, so be sure to include one or two. If you have a branded hashtag, definitely include it and select one other relevant hashtag you’d like to be discovered under in your profile.

However, don’t use very commonly used hashtags like #blessed or #fashionblogger for example or you’ll never be discovered as those have been used millions of times.

4 – USE WHAT YOU DO AS YOUR NAME

Your name is searchable on Instagram, so use what you do in your name field. An example ‘Surrey Photographer’ or ‘White Rock Yoga Studio’. It also helps to be super clear so that when someone lands on your profile for the first time, they know exactly what it is that you do.

5 – INCLUDE A CALL TO ACTION

The link in your profile should be the direct URL to what it is that you want from your followers to do. This could be your online shop, your appointment booking system, your newsletter signup. Then you need to ask for them to click it. ‘Click to shop’, or ‘click to sign up’.

Do you want to do more with Instagram to market your business? Sign up to receive more tips by email here and follow me on Instagram here!