How to Optimize Your Instagram Profile to Skyrocket Growth
by Thomas J Law
Step 1: Make Sure You Have an Instagram Business Profile
What is an Instagram profile? You probably already know, but did you know that Instagram has two types of profiles?
Instagram allows you to choose between a normal profile and an Instagram Business profile.
You want the latter.
Why? Because it comes with a bunch of extra features and tools that you can use to grow your business.
These include Instagram Shopping, Instagram Ads, and Instagram Insights.
The data alone is extremely useful: You can learn about your audience demographics, post impressions, post-performance, and follower growth.
You’ll also be able to add Action Buttons to your profile (which we’ll cover below). These allow visitors to call you, visit your shop, or make a reservation directly from your profile.
Plus, Instagram business profiles are given a dedicated section to display their business hours and location. So, you don’t have to waste valuable space in your bio.
But that’s not all.
You can also add a contact button that enables users to contact you via Instagram direct message, SMS, or email for customer support queries.
Lastly, Instagram Business profiles can access paid promotional opportunities.
Bottom line: Instagram Business profiles provide far more features, flexibility, and opportunities than standard profiles.
That’s why there are more than 25 million businesses using Instagram Business profiles.
Thankfully, it’s extremely simple to convert your existing profile into a professional one and use Instagram for business.
How to Convert Your Instagram Profile to a Business Profile
First, navigate to your Instagram profile and tap the cog icon to access your account settings.
Then, scroll down the settings and tap “Switch to Business Profile.”
Next, follow the instructions and Instagram will prompt you to connect your account to your Facebook Page.
Then, enter your business email address, phone number, or address and tap “Done.”
Once you’ve converted to an Instagram Business profile, you’ll notice the additional features at your disposal.
Step 2: Choose a Username That’s Simple, Recognizable, and Easy to Find
Remember, Instagram has more than 1 billion users.
So you need to make it as easy as possible for people to find and interact with your Instagram profile.
This means choosing a great @username – also known as a “handle.” Using a handle that is on-brand, simple, searchable, and recognizable is vital.
Ideally, you’ll want to use your business name – such as “@Shopify.” This will help prevent users from mistagging you in posts and comments.
Unfortunately, though, your business name may already be taken.
If this is the case, try to use your business name as the first part of your username and add something extra on to the end.
For example, here at Digital Point, we weren’t able to snag “@Digitalpoint,” so instead we opted for “@digitalpointhq"
Alternatively, you might be able to reach out and pay the current owner to take possession of your business name’s handle.
To edit your username, head to your Instagram profile and tap “Edit Profile.”
Then, type in your desired username and tap “Done.” If the username is unavailable, Instagram will ask you to choose another one.
Step 3: Select an Easily Searchable Business Name
In addition to your username, you also need to add your full business name to the “Name” section of your Instagram profile.
This appears underneath your Instagram profile picture, and in the search results.
To edit your Instagram profile business name, navigate to your profile, tap “Edit Profile,” and then type in your desired name.
TIP: Add your field/services to increment chances of getting found
Step 4: Use a Branded Instagram Profile Picture
Your profile picture immediately draws the attention of every person who visits your Instagram profile. What’s more, it’ll show up next to every comment and post that you share.
That’s why it’s vital that yours looks great.
It should be easily recognizable and representative of your business. You should also aim to use the same profile picture on all of your social media profiles. This continuity will strengthen your brand presence.
For most businesses, it’s best to use your company logo, like Lego:
If you don’t yet have a stunning business logo, contact us digitalpointhq@gmail.com
and we can make a beautiful logo for you.
It’s also worthwhile to study other businesses in your niche and see what types of profile pictures they’re using.
Conducting an Instagram profile search and then looking at your competitors’ profile pictures can give you a huge advantage.
When you’re ready to edit your Instagram profile picture, head to your profile, tap “Edit Profile,” and then tap “Change Profile Picture.”
Your photo must be at least 110px by 110px. However, for best results, your Instagram profile picture dimensions should be 180px by 180px.
Even though Instagram uses circular profile pictures, you don’t have to create a circular profile picture yourself – Instagram will do the cropping for you.
In the image below, the corners are shaded to indicate which parts of the image will be cropped.
For best results, create a square image with your logo in the center so that when the corners are removed, it still looks great.
If needed, you can zoom in or move the circle to customize the image crop.
Step 5: Write an Informative and Intriguing Bio
After your Instagram profile picture and name, many users will look to your bio. This is prime real estate, and you get just 150 characters.
Use them wisely.
Here’s the thing: Your Instagram bio shouldn’t be about your business. It should be about your customers.
Or more specifically, it should be about what you can do for your customers.
Let’s look at an example from National Geographic. Their bio doesn’t say, “We post stunning photos from National Geographic photographers” – that’s all about them.
Instead, it says, “Experience the world through the eyes of National Geographic photographers.” They’re addressing you as the viewer and they’re emphasizing the benefit you’ll get by following their account.
Alternatively, you could write something that presents your brand’s personality and deeper mission.
This is what Starbucks has done: “Inspiring and nurturing the human spirit – one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time.”
But note, it’s still about how they aim to benefit their customers.
If you want to keep things simple and effective, just summarize what you do and how it benefits the user. Then include a call-to-action. (We’ll dive deeper into your Instagram call-to-action in a sec.)
This is exactly what Headspace has done:
A summary of what they do and the key benefit:“Headspace is meditation made simple.”
The key benefit explained: “Learn to meditate whenever you want, wherever you are, in just a few minutes a day.
Finish with a call-to-action: “Download the app 👇”
It’s not exactly Shakespeare, but simple copywriting formulas like this can work extremely well.
Also, consider using the occasional emoji – especially if you’re targeting a younger audience. In just a single character, an emoji can help to bring your words to life.
On our Instagram profile, we’ve used emojis instead of bullet points:
In summary: Make sure you use your Instagram profile bio to showcase the benefit that your business provides.
Step 6: Include a Compelling Call-to-Action
A call-to-action (also know as “CTA”) should urge visitors to take a specific action which moves them further along the buyer’s journey.
This could be something like, “Call us now!” or “Subscribe to get more free insights!”
If you’re unsure what CTA to include, consider the action you want users to take to move them closer to buying or using your products.
If you have an expensive product, it’s likely people will want to learn more before purchasing. In this case, you might like them to sign up to your mailing list and download a free guide. That way, they can learn more and you can market to them via email.
Foundr Magazine prompts users to check out their free course in order to capture contact details.
Note how they use the “FREE” emoji to draw people’s attention to the benefit and use a pointing-down emoji to highlight the link.
In this next example, Harper’s BAZAAR sends viewers to a page featuring their most recent articles.
They also include an arrow emoji to highlight the link.
Mercedes-Benz takes a different approach and asks people to share their Mercedes-Benz photos using a dedicated hashtag.
This is a great way to find user-generated content to share – a smart move when you consider that user-generated content has a 4.5% higher chance of conversion.
Alternatively, if you sell products which are often bought on impulse, you might want to encourage people to shop your feed.