Instagram has become an essential platform for businesses looking to connect with customers, showcase products, and drive sales. With over 1 billion active monthly users, Instagram offers massive potential reach. But to fully harness the power of Instagram for your business, it‘s crucial to properly set up and optimize your business account settings.
In this ultimate guide, we‘ll walk you through exactly how to change your Instagram business settings step-by-step. Plus, get expert tips on using Instagram‘s business features to grow your brand and engage your audience. Let‘s dive in!
Why Use an Instagram Business Account?
First, let‘s cover why you should consider converting your Instagram account to a business account:
- Access Instagram Insights to track your account‘s performance and learn about your followers
- Add contact information like your business address, phone number, and email
- Run Instagram ads to reach new audiences and promote your products
- Sell products directly on Instagram with shoppable posts
- Use Instagram‘s API to connect third-party tools for scheduling posts, analyzing your account, and more
An Instagram business account gives you access to powerful features not available on personal accounts. So if you‘re using Instagram to promote your brand, switching to a business account is a no-brainer.
How to Change to an Instagram Business Account
Changing your Instagram account to a business account is a quick and easy process:
- Open the Instagram app and go to your profile
- Tap the three lines in the top right corner to open the menu
- Tap "Settings"
- Tap "Account"
- Scroll down and tap "Switch to Professional Account"
- Select "Business"
- Connect your Facebook business page (optional)
- Add your contact information and business category
- Tap "Done"
That‘s it! You‘re now the proud owner of an Instagram business account. Note that you must have an existing Facebook business page to complete step 7. If you don‘t have one, you can always add it later in your settings.
Instagram Business Settings Menu: Overview
Now let‘s take a tour of the different sections and features available in the Instagram Business Settings menu. To access it:
- Go to your Instagram profile
- Tap the three lines in the top right corner
- Tap "Settings"
- Tap "Business"
Here you‘ll see several options:
Ad Payments
Manage your payment information for Instagram ads. You can add or update your credit card, view invoices, and adjust your ad account spending limit.
Branded Content
Tools for creating branded content on Instagram in partnership with other brands. You can approve partner requests, create a list of preferred partners, and view insights on your branded content posts‘ performance.
Branded Content Ads
Amplify your branded content partnerships by promoting them as ads. You can select which branded content posts to promote, choose your target audience, set a budget and duration, and track results.
Response Suggestions & Saved Replies
Create and manage suggested responses and saved replies to comments and messages on your posts. This can save you time responding to common questions or comments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Create an FAQ section on your business profile to address common customer inquiries. You can add questions and answers which will appear on your profile for visitors to browse.
Welcome Message
Write a welcome message to greet users when they message you for the first time or view your story. This is an opportunity to introduce your brand and set expectations for your interactions.
Minimum Age
Set a minimum age for your account if your business targets an adult audience. You can choose to make your account visible only to users over 18, 21, or custom age.
Monetization Status
Check your account‘s eligibility for monetization programs like Instagram Shopping and branded content. If eligible, you can sign up and complete the required steps to start earning money on Instagram.
Help/Set Up a Shop
Access resources and instructions for setting up an Instagram Shop to sell products directly from your posts and stories. You‘ll need to connect a product catalog, usually through an ecommerce platform partner like Shopify or BigCommerce.
Tips for Optimizing Your Instagram Business Settings
Simply converting to an Instagram business account is just the beginning. To make the most of Instagram‘s business features, implement these tips:
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Complete all fields in your business profile, including contact info, business hours, and story highlights. This makes it easy for users to learn about and get in touch with your business.
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Use Insights to track your account‘s reach, engagement, and audience demographics. Identify your top performing posts and use these learnings to refine your content strategy.
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Set up automatic responses to common questions or comments using the Saved Replies feature. This can improve your response time while still providing a personal touch.
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Establish a branded hashtag and encourage customers to use it when posting about your products. Then use the Branded Content tools to partner with influencers and track these posts‘ performance.
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Experiment with different ad formats like photo, video, carousel, and story ads to see what resonates best with your target audience. Use A/B testing to optimize your ad creative and copy.
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Create shoppable Instagram posts by tagging products from your catalog. Make sure your product descriptions and images are compelling and include clear calls-to-action.
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Regularly review and update your Instagram business settings as your account and goals evolve. Don‘t be afraid to try new features and strategies!
Instagram Business Accounts in Action: Examples
Want to see Instagram business accounts done right? Check out these examples for inspiration:
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@mejuri – This jewelry brand uses a mix of product shots and lifestyle content to showcase its pieces. Its shoppable posts make it easy to go from inspiration to purchase.
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@later.com – This social media scheduling tool practices what it preaches with a visually stunning grid aesthetic. It highlights customer stories and offers social media tips to its audience.
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@allbirds – The sustainable footwear brand focuses on storytelling content that reflects its values while also showing off its products in action. Its consistent pastel color palette is instantly recognizable.
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@plantpeopleco – This plant company shares detailed care tips and tricks alongside gorgeous greenery shots. It leverages story highlights to educate followers on plant parenting 101.
FAQs About Instagram Business Settings
Still have questions? We‘ve got you covered:
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Is an Instagram business account free? Yes, converting your Instagram account to a business account is completely free. You only pay if you choose to run ads.
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Can I switch back to a personal Instagram account? Yes, you can always convert your business account back to a personal account in your settings. However, you‘ll lose access to business features.
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Do I need a certain number of followers for an Instagram business account? Nope! Whether you have 10 followers or 10,000, you can switch to a business account at any time.
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Will my posts look different with a business account? Your existing posts will remain the same when you convert to a business account. However, you‘ll be able to access additional business features for your future posts, like the ability to promote them as ads.
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Are Instagram ads worth it? It depends on your business goals and target audience, but Instagram ads can be a highly effective way to reach new customers. You can start with a small budget and scale up as you see results.
Wrapping Up
Whew, that was a lot of information! We hope this guide has given you a comprehensive overview of how to change your business settings on Instagram. Remember, an Instagram business account is a powerful tool for growing your brand and engaging your audience. By optimizing your settings, creating compelling content, and leveraging features like ads and shopping, you can turn your Instagram into a revenue-generating machine.
So what are you waiting for? Go forth and conquer the ‘gram! And if you have any other questions about Instagram business settings, feel free to ask in the comments. Happy ‘gramming!
