Instagram has become one of the most powerful platforms for businesses in the last few years, and it’s a great place for you to build brand, connect with your target audience, and ultimately increase sales.
But if you’re just starting out, knowing how to set up an Instagram account for your business can feel overwhelming. Luckily, it’s a lot easier than you might think.
Follow these steps to create a successful Instagram account for your business that has all the potential for growth!
1 STEP
SETTING UP YOUR ACCOUNT (THE FOUNDATION)
The first step in creating an Instagram account is surprisingly important: how you sign up and how you label your business can make all the difference.
To start, you’ll need to download the Instagram app from the App Store or Google Play, and sign up using an email address you use specifically for your business. Why?
This ensures that all communications and recovery options stay professional and don’t mix with your personal life. If your business already has a Facebook page, you can streamline the process by logging in with Facebook, which will also sync your accounts for cross-posting and analytics down the road.
Once you’re in, now it's time for switching to a business account. This might sound obvious, but many small business owners actually miss this detail. A business profile unlocks features like Instagram Insights, which provides detailed analytics about your followers, engagement, and post performance. Later on, you really need this statistics in order to figure out your best performing content and keep creating future posts in the same matter.
Besides, having a business profile allows you to add contact buttons (like “Call” or “Email”) directly to your page, making it easier for potential customers to reach you.
Another important step is to ensure the content you post (especially when we talk about reels) has the best quality possible.
For this go to Instagram setting->Media quality and enable option “Upload at highest quality”. This will prevent your videos from being compressed by Instagram.
✨ Pro tip:
When setting up your username, choose one that’s easy to search and matches your business name as closely as possible. Avoid unnecessary numbers or symbols, as this can make it harder for users to find you. If your exact business name is taken, try adding a keyword related to your industry or location (e.g. @YourBusinessNameCo or @YourBusinessNYC).
Consistency across all social media platforms is key to building a recognizable brand, that’s why try to stick to the same nickname across all your social media platforms (Facebook, Tiktok, Instagram etc.)
2 STEP
OPTIMIZING YOUR PROFILE FOR THE BEST FIRST IMPRESSION
Your Instagram profile is the first thing people see when they visit your account. Crafting a professional, optimized profile is essential if you want to turn visitors into followers, and followers into customers.
💡Start with your profile picture. For most businesses, your logo is the best choice as it reinforces brand recognition. But make sure it’s clear and high-quality. Instagram profile pictures are small, so opt for a simple, clean version of your logo that can be easily recognized on mobile devices.
💡Next, focus on your bio. This is prime real estate for delivering essential information about your business. Keep it concise but informative. Include what your business offers, what sets you apart, and a compelling call to action (CTA). For example, you might write: “Helping small businesses thrive with custom branding solutions. DM for inquiries or visit [link].”
💡The last part—the link—is especially important. Instagram only allows one clickable link in your bio, so make it count. If you have multiple links, consider using a tool like Linktree or Linkin.bio to house all of your essential links in one place.
💡Finally, don’t overlook the contact options. Instagram lets you add a “Call,” “Email,” or “Directions” button right below your bio if you’re a business account. Make it as easy as possible for your customers to get in touch with you.
Test your bio’s effectiveness by switching it up every few months. Track which version leads to more website clicks or direct messages. Sometimes, even small changes in wording can increase engagement.
3 STEP
CREATING A COHESIVE VISUAL IDENTITY
As Instagram is mainly a visual platform, it’s crucial to keep your branding on point. And it shouldn’t be complicated! But there are some things to keep in mind.
First and foremost, try to keep your branding consistent: images, colors, fonts, and the overall layout of your feed should be in the same vibe/style and reflect your brand. Creating a cohesive aesthetic not only makes your profile visually appealing but also helps to establish a recognizable identity which helps visitors to remember your business.
Begin by choosing a consistent color palette and style that aligns with your brand. For instance, if you’re a wellness brand, you might opt for soothing colors like greens and blues, paired with soft lighting. If you’re a bold, trendy fashion brand, brighter colors and edgy designs might be more appropriate. The idea is to create a style that your audience can instantly associate with your brand, even before they see your logo.
Take time to design templates for your posts and stories. Tools like Canva or Adobe Spark can be useful for creating these branded templates if you like DIY. But if you are not so good at designing or you don’t have enough time because you are busy with other business-related tasks, then choose our Instagram Bundles that are already predesigned for you and super easy to use:
Not only premade templates save you time, but they also ensure that each post fits into the overall look of your feed. You can choose templates for carousels, posts, reels, or any other recurring type of content you’ll be posting, and stick to this aesthetics.
Consistency doesn’t end with visuals, though. Your tone and voice in captions should also align with your brand personality. Whether you opt for a professional, friendly, or quirky tone, make sure it remains consistent across all content.
Create a content calendar to maintain a consistent aesthetic. Planning your posts in advance allows you to curate a well-balanced feed and ensures that every post aligns with your visual strategy. Go ahead and grab our free Content Calendar for Google Sheets or use this amazing online tool to preview your feed layout. Whatever works for you!
4 STEP
CONTENT CREATION AND ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY
When you’ve just created a brand new account, make sure you don’t go overboard with activity - use the first couple of days for starting to interact with your competitors accounts and their followers. But do it slowly so that Instagram doesn’t mark you as a spammer or bot.
In a few days, you can increase interactions. A good strategy is to spend 5 minutes engaging with people before and after posting your content.
The more you interact with your followers, the more likely your posts are to appear in their feeds. This means responding to comments, liking posts from your followers, and even engaging with other accounts in your niche.
When it comes to content creation, you should focus on providing value as well as to stay consistent (volume is important too!). Try to create every reel with a purpose - to educate, inspire, entertain, or convert. For example, product-based businesses might share behind-the-scenes photos of how their products are made, or tutorials on how to use them. Service-based businesses might post client testimonials, before-and-after photos, or tips related to their industry.
Stories and reels are particularly powerful tools for increasing engagement. Instagram Stories allow you to post content that disappears after 24 hours, making them perfect for more casual, in-the-moment updates. Use features like polls, questions, and countdowns to make your Stories interactive.
Reels, on the other hand, are short, engaging videos that often get prioritized in Instagram’s algorithm. Use them to showcase quick tutorials, product highlights, or user-generated content.
At the moment, the best strategy for reels is to post consistently 5-7 times per week for at least 90 days. The videos should be short (5-7 seconds) and use trending sounds & hooks.
The best ways to start out is by analyzing the most successful videos of your competitors, and recreating them by using your unique voice, style and expertise.
Encourage user-generated content by creating a custom hashtag for your business and asking your customers to tag you in their posts. Not only does this expand your reach, but it also provides you with a stream of authentic content to repost on your feed or stories.
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Knowing how to set up an Instagram account for your business is important for ensuring the future success of your page. By following these in-depth steps—from optimizing your profile to developing a cohesive visual strategy and engaging with your audience—you have everything you need for a great start!!
As always, let me know if you have any questions!
Are you ready to bring your business to the next level? Get a full rebranding of your business with our premade Branding Kits that includes everything from logos and business cards to flyers, brochures, ebooks, webinar slides and so much more!
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