More than 700 million people across the world use Instagram on a monthly basis, tapping away at their displays (data from Statista). Furthermore, whereas 93% of marketers utilise Facebook for business, just 36% are using Instagram (source: ecommerceCEO).

Think about how crowded and competitive Twitter or Facebook already is, let alone the fact that you need to spend money on advertisements or algorithms to get noticed. Instagram, on the other hand, allows brands to break through the noise.

This is why we’ve decided to walk you through the process of creating an Instagram account so that you, too, may reap the benefits of this platform. But first, you’ll need to sign up for Instagram.

Creating a Professional Instagram Account

Make sure you’ve thought through how you want Instagram to help your business before establishing a whole new account (or deciding it’s time to update an existing one). While this social media platform may help you accomplish a wide variety of business goals, you’ll have to be specific if you want to see real results. Always remember the need of both consistent and high-quality material.

When you upgrade to a business profile, you may include things like business hours, an address, and a phone number. You may also undertake sponsored advertising and get real-time analytics on the success of your articles and stories. Finally, if you want to utilise a third-party service (like Sendible) to schedule photographs for upload to Instagram rather than using your mobile account or a third-party mobile app, you’ll need to switch to an Instagram Business Profile.
If you already use Instagram, you may move on to the third step.

Creating an Instagram Business Profile is a breeze:

• First, get the app (It’s available for iOS, Android, and Windows) and open it. Once it has downloaded, you should launch it.
• The second step is to click “Sign up” and then provide your contact information (email or phone number). You may also use Facebook by clicking the “Sign in” button. Pick a login name and finish signing up. The next step is to launch Instagram on your mobile device and log in.
• Follow Step 3 by going to your profile (home page) and clicking the gear icon in the upper right corner. The “Switch to Business Profile” option should then be accessible in the “Settings” drop-down menu.
• The fourth step is to press “Continue” till the “Connect the Facebook Page” page appears.
• Fifth, connect your business’s Facebook page to your Instagram by choosing the page. Keep in mind that only Facebook Business Pages will be displayed, and that you may only link pages that you are an administrator for.
• Complete your profile, make several posts (see below for suggestions), and use the updated stats to evaluate their efficacy.

Explain why you’re starting this channel

Determine your goals for using the social media platform. Should my goal be to only broaden awareness of my company, or to also provide a forum in which buyers may showcase their wares in photos? It’s also possible that you’re trying to woo potential employees by emphasising the softer, more human aspect of your firm and its culture.

Develop a plan to expand your Instagram following

You will need an Instagram marketing strategy if you intend to use this platform seriously. In our last webinar, we discussed the many advantages of using Instagram for business, the tools you’ll need to succeed, and the steps you can take to create a plan that can scale to accommodate a large number of customers.

Make your profile shine

It’s important that your account’s name and username both reflect your company’s identity. Include a description, or bio (up to 150 characters), to introduce yourself and the channel’s purpose.

Use the link in your bio instead of the ones in your articles since they actually function. Don’t squander it on a boring homepage. Maintaining an active connection requires regular maintenance, especially during major events, product launches, and promotional periods.
Now that Instagram has Business Profiles, companies can provide more detailed contact information and use more in-depth statistics to learn more about their audience. Even while many businesses may benefit from the new Instagram Business Tools, not everyone has made the leap yet. Connecting to the company’s Facebook Page is a must for switching to a business page, and some worry that this would reduce the reach of future posts. Here are the steps to convert your existing Instagram account into a Business Account.

Make fantastic content

Due to the visual nature of Instagram, it is essential that you have the ability to produce material that is engaging and useful to your followers and potential consumers. Instead of trying to sell them on your goods, focus on motivating and entertaining them.

Instagram users may share photos and short videos (up to one minute) in either the traditional Instagram square format or, with the advent of Instagram Stories, the new Vertical format. It is possible to upload photos and videos in landscape orientation, but the preview will be distorted.

Take the time to connect with those around you

Get started by reading up on the leaders and publications that matter in your field. Don’t overlook companies with whom you’ve worked or brands with which you’ve done business. Tag your coworkers in the descriptions of your Instagram posts to encourage interaction and even a reshare from them.

Before you go following a tonne of accounts, make sure you have the proper bio and a few updates made. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to be seen by influential people by leaving your profile blank when they check to see who has followed you recently.