Are you wondering how to get a business profile on Instagram? We have good news: anyone who wants it can get it.
An Instagram business profile is a powerful tool in your digital toolbox. After all, Instagram has about 1 billion monthly active users, and many of these people enjoy following brands.
In this article, we’ll walk you through how to set up your business profile, the four benefits you’ll get from switching, and how to remove it if you change your mind. In addition, we’ve included a handy chart to compare business profiles, personal profiles, and author profiles.
How to set up a business profile on Instagram
“Of course,” you think, “you claim it’s easy to switch, but how do you get a business profile on Instagram?”
Relax, we have you. Here are step by step instructions on how to change your Instagram profile to a business profile.
1. Go to your Instagram profile page and click on the hamburger menu in the top right corner.
2. Click “Settings”at the top of the list.
3. Scroll to Account, then scroll to the bottom of the list.
4. Click Switch to Professional Account.
5. Select “Continue”and follow the instructions starting with “Get Professional Tools”.
6. Select the category that best describes you or your brand and click Done.
7. Next, you will be asked to answer if you are a creator or a business. Click “Business”and “Next”.
8. Review your contact information and decide if you want it to appear on your profile (be sure to enable this option if you wish). Click next.
9. Connect your Facebook page. If you don’t have one, you can either create a new Facebook page or scroll to the bottom of the page and click “Don’t connect Facebook page now”. It’s perfectly fine to have an Instagram business profile without Facebook, and the next step is the same whether you’re connected to Facebook or not.
10. Next, you will be asked to set up a professional account. Here you can view your new features and tools.
Get Inspired will prompt you to follow other companies or creators. Grow Your Audience will prompt you to invite friends to follow your account. And the Share Content to View Stats feature will encourage you to post new content so you can review your ideas. Or, if you click the X in the top right corner, you’ll be taken straight to your business profile!
11. Select Complete your profile and fill in the missing information. Be sure to include a URL here so people know where to find your business outside of Instagram. And voila! Do you officially have a business account on Instagram?
Whether you’re just getting started or just curious, here’s a step-by-step guide on exactly how to use Instagram to your advantage.
Why Switch to an Instagram Business Profile
Since 90% of people on Instagram follow a business, using the platform is a breeze.
But if you’re in doubt about whether an Instagram business account is right for you (without judgment), let us change your mind. An Instagram business profile has benefits that will help you save time and grow your audience.
You can schedule posts
This might be the most important feature because you can save time by being a very busy content creator, business owner, or marketer. With third-party apps like Hootsuite, you can schedule your batch posts well ahead of schedule. It’s easy to do and your audience will appreciate the consistency.
Learn more about using Hootsuite to schedule Instagram posts and reap the benefits.
Access to Instagram statistics
Instagram insights may not be a crystal ball, but they are a great tool for understanding your followers.
A business profile gives you access to detailed insights into your audience’s profile views, reach, impressions, and demographic information. You can tailor your posts to appeal to specific interests when you know more about the people who follow you.
If you’re serious about improving your content, you’re not limited to Instagram’s built-in analytics tools. When you use Hootsuite Analytics with your Instagram business profile, you can track Instagram metrics in more detail than native Instagram stats.
The Hootsuite Analytics Dashboard allows you to:
- Explore data from the distant past
- Compare performance over specific time periods to get a historical perspective
- Find the best time to post based on past interactions, organic reach, and click data.
- Create downloadable custom reports
- Look at the performance of a particular post using your preferred metrics.
- Rank Instagram comments by mood (positive or negative)
Try Hootsuite for free. You can cancel at any time.
Access to Instagram Store Features
If your business is selling products, you’ll need access to the Instagram Store features.
In Stores, you can upload a product catalog, label your products, and (in some cases) even process sales right in the app.
You can also create product collections (such as new or summer styles), commercials that you can buy, and create brand partners that can share and sell your products for a commission. And you have access to Instagram store information.
Here’s more information on how to set up your Instagram store. Get your product flying off the digital shelves.
Control who promotes your products
If you have a business account on the Instagram store, you can control who tags your products. And, once you’ve given the author permission to tag your products, they can allow you to promote your posts in the organic branded content feed as an advertisement.
Influencer marketing works – people trust other people more than brands. Thus, partnering with creators who love your products can be a profitable marketing strategy.
Here’s more on how to maximize your Instagram advertising strategy.
Business Profile vs Personal Instagram vs Creator Profile
Here’s that handy chart we promised you! It has all the features of each profile type at a glance. If you’re looking for more information on what creator accounts actually look like, head here.
| Peculiarity | Business Profile | Personal Profile | Author Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Features of a closed profile | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Insights and growth analytics | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Creative studio access | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| sortable mailbox | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Ability to create quick replies for private messages | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Show profile category | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Contact information in profile | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Profile Location Information | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Integration with third party applications | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Instagram Storefront with items to buy and store information | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
How to delete a business profile on Instagram
Knowing how to delete an Instagram business profile is pretty simple. But first, let’s be very clear about what you mean, because you can’t go back to some of them.
If you just want to remove the “business”part of your profile, you can always change your account back to a personal one. Just go back to settings (using the hamburger menu in your profile). Go to account. Scroll down to Switch Account Type at the bottom and click Switch to Personal Account.
If you want to delete your entire account, remember that your profile, photos, videos, comments, likes, and followers will be gone forever. If you’re not entirely sure, you can also temporarily deactivate your account. But if you are sure, go here to delete your account.