Your Small Business Guide to Instagram - Part 1

Your Small Business Guide to Instagram - Part 1

We have completed a two-part guide to help small businesses out there make the most out Instagram accounts. Social media can be a little confusing and it’s ever changing so we want to share some valuable information that can help you get on the right track.

SETTING UP YOUR ACCOUNT

When setting up your Instagram account for your small business, be sure it’s a business account. An Instagram business account comes complete with the tools you need to post, promote, and measure your activities, unlike a regular Instagram profile. If you’ve already set up an Instagram personal account for your business, do not fret, it’s easy to switch! Simply go to your settings and click “switch to a business account.” Poof! You’re all set!

Once you secure your business account, enter all the necessary information like your phone number, email, website, and contact information. If you already have a Facebook account, you can also link it to your Instagram business profile. It’s always a good idea when setting up any new social media profile to make sure your branding is consistent. Having the same look and feel across all channels will help your customer recognize your brand.


You can also add a call-to-action button on your profile page. You can do this by clicking on your profile page, select edit profile and click contact options to select a CTA button. You’ll be prompted to choose from a variety of actions such as buy now, start a food order, book an appointment, or reserve (usually for tables at restaurants). These little buttons are a hidden gem and can really dress up your profile to make your CTA stand out.

During the set-up process, you’ll also be asked to select a category for your business. When selecting your category, be sure that it’s consistent with what’s on Facebook and other social media channels. Selecting a category and sub-category can help make your profile appear a little more professional and polished.

Something to think about: Currently, Facebook tends to limit business pages in their news feed. This could potentially happen at some point on Instagram as well. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of a business account vs. a personal profile on Instagram. Depending on your business, it may be good to consider setting up both. You may want to use your personal profile to promote your business occasionally. This seems to be acceptable through Instagram but fair warning, this may change in the future. 

OPTIMIZING YOUR CONTENT

Profile photos can say a lot about a brand. When selecting yours, make sure it’s a high-quality, clear photo, and that it looks good on any device. You’ll want a photo that best represents your business and its mission.

Make sure you’re searchable. You may or may not know but there’s a couple of tips for optimizing your name on Instagram. You can do this by adding keywords to your name within your profile. If you’re a dentist, simply list your name and the word “dentist” next to your name. Even better, localize your content to list your name and the word dentist and the place where you practice! This will help others find you when searching for your name and what you do. You can even add relevant hashtags as well.

When it comes to keywords, you want to make sure you place keywords that define your business in your description. You also want to make sure your profile is easy to read and scan, so people know at a glance what you’re all about. It’s also not a bad idea to scope out your competition when selecting your keywords to make sure the words you’re using are specific enough to your business but also different enough to set you apart. 

And finally, set a specific call to action that will make your audience want to click through to your website. If you’re a yoga instructor and offer free classes on Tuesdays, put that in your profile! Say something like, “FREE Yoga Tuesdays” and “Click Here to Sign Up.” This will help engage your audience and give them a way to learn more about the product or service you’re selling.

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