Instagram was once known for sharing travel photos and following celebrities, now, it’s a lot more than that. Businesses of all sizes are leveraging Instagram’s immense reach to connect with customers, build brand awareness, and drive sales.
The social media giant has over two billion monthly active users, which is a great market to tap into. However, understanding the different account types on the app is crucial to tapping into its potential.
With this article, we’ll walk you through professional accounts on Instagram and why you might need one.
Why Create a Professional Account?
While personal accounts are great for everyday media sharing, professional accounts offer a package of features designed especially for businesses. These include:
- Insights: These help you gain valuable data on your audience demographics, post performance, and engagement metrics. With this tool, you can identify what resonates with your followers and tailor your content accordingly.
- Contact Buttons: Make it easier for potential customers to connect with you. Add buttons for email, phone calls, or even directions to your physical location. No one wants to scroll through your bio searching for that contact link.
- Shoppable Posts: Sell your products directly through Instagram. With this feature, you can tag products in your posts, allowing users to seamlessly navigate to product pages and complete purchases.
- Advertising: Targeted Instagram Ads let you reach a wider audience that is interested in your products, increasing conversion rates. Promote your latest campaigns, showcase new products, and drive traffic to your website easily.
- Branded Content Tools: Professional accounts can partner with influencers and collaborate on branded content campaigns. This expands your reach into new audiences.
- Professional Look: Professional accounts have a category label beneath your profile name showing what you do. This adds credibility and legitimacy to your brand.
Types of Instagram Professional Accounts
Instagram offers two main professional account types: Business and Creator. These accounts are made with specific individuals in mind. Though they share many features, there are key differences to consider:
- Business Accounts: This is designed for businesses selling products or services. They prioritize features that boost sales and conversions, like product tagging and shoppable posts.
- Creator Accounts: This account type is made for influencers, artists, and public figures. They emphasize on tools that enhance content creation and engagement, such as access to live video features and audience insights categorized by follower type.
How to Convert Your Account From Personal to Professional
Migrating to a professional account on Instagram is a breeze. There are no follower requirements for the conversion, so you can switch anytime. Here’s how to do it:
- Open your profile: Open the Instagram app and tap on the profile photo at the bottom right of your screen to get to your profile.
- Open the ‘Settings and Activity’ menu: Tap on the hamburger menu icon at the top right of the screen to open the Settings and Activity Menu.
- Click on ‘Account Type and Tools’: Scroll down to the ‘For Professionals’ section and tap on ‘Account Type and Tools’
- Switch to a professional account: Tap on ‘Switch to Professional Account’. You’ll be asked to pick a category that describes your business.
- Pick between ‘Creator’ and ‘Business’: Now, choose between the Creator and Business accounts. Once you’re done, you’ve gotten a professional account on Instagram.
With the features of a professional account, you can transform your Instagram presence from a personal pastime to a powerful marketing tool. So, switch to a professional account, and watch your brand flourish.
