Instagram Business Profiles: 6 Reasons You Need One

If you have not switched to a business profile on Instagram, then there is no time like the present to do so. The good news is that it is extremely easy to switch your regular/personal Instagram profile over to an Instagram business profile.

A business profile on Instagram provides you with access to a wealth of features that you otherwise would not have. In addition, making the switch will allow you to save several hours each week on your Instagram marketing since one of those features allows you to schedule posts.

To help you get a better understanding of just what a business profile on Instagram can do for you, here is a brief look at six of the fantastic features that you will be able to put to good use for your business.

1. Schedule Posts with a Business Profile

As previously stated, Instagram now allows the scheduling of posts. Before the updates to Instagram’s API, you would receive a reminder or notification that it was time to post your “scheduled” Instagram update. However, with the change, the process is now easier because the platform will automatically publish your post. There will be more push notifications, alarms or reminders when it is time for the post to be published.

However, there is one catch: this auto publishing is only available to business profiles on Instagram.

Thankfully, it is simple to make the switch. Simply connect your Instagram account to your Facebook page. From there, you are only mere clicks away from automatically scheduling and publishing your posts.

On Facebook, you can schedule your posts directly within the app. However, with Instagram, you will need to use a third-party scheduler, such as Later.

2. Instagram Insight Helps Track Performance

It is very important that you are familiar with what is and isn’t working when it comes to your marketing efforts on Instagram. This will allow you to fine-tune your overall marketing strategy, which will save you time and effort in the long run.

An Instagram business profile will provide you with access to a built-in analytics tool, which is known as Instagram Insights. This tool provides with you detailed data about your followers, such as who they are, when they are active, etc.

When it comes to measuring your marketing efforts on Instagram, here are a few of the most common metrics you will want to use:

• Traffic – The customers who are visiting your site
• Engagement Rate – Comments, likes, shares
• Sales – The conversions and revenues that are generated
• Brand Sentiment – How your brand is being talked about

By having access to this type of data, you will be able to measure how well your Instagram marketing strategy is working so that you can determine if you need to make any changes. For example, you may need to alter your content, choose a different target audience, or try posting at different times.

In order to view the Instagram Stories analytics, simply select the graphic icon on your profile, which is located in the top right corner. Your reach, impressions and various other important metrics will be displayed in your Instagram Insights. All of this data is key to familiarizing yourself with your audience, properly optimizing your content, and assessing your online presence.

3. Share Links within Instagram Stories

Since last year, links can be added to Instagram Stories. This is beneficial to publishers and brands. Through Instagram Stories, companies can now creatively drive traffic and generate sales.

The catch is that you have to have a business profile on Instagram as well as at least 10,000 followers in order to be able to add links to Instagram Stories. Before the new update rolled out last year, this particular feature was only available to Instagram accounts that had been verified through the proper channels.

If you are looking to drive traffic and/or generate sales for your online store, blog or website, then adding links to your Instagram stories can definitely help. Just keep in mind that adding the link won’t do it and you will have to ensure that you inform your audience of what they need to do.

4. Promoted Posts and Instagram Ads Help Enhance Audience Reach

More than likely, you have noticed that advertisements are becoming more and more prominent in your Instagram feed. Your business profile will provide you with access to Instagram ads as well as promoted posts, which offers you a variety of tools that will help you expand your audience reach and engagement.

Advertisements on Instagram make use of the same tools as Facebook, which means you can set up, operate, manage and track your campaigns similar to the way you do your ads on Facebook.

A recent report shows that about three-fourths of users on Instagram will take action (like visiting a site or purchasing a product) after looking at ads on Instagram. So, if you have not started with Instagram ads, it is time that you start considering the benefits of incorporating them into your marketing strategy as soon as possible.

This year, it is going to be harder and harder to get that high engagement that you need without paid support and/or strategy. Therefore, if you want to get or maintain a leg up on your competition, it is time to use paid advertising to optimize your Instagram marketing.

5. Instagram Shoppable Posts Helps You Make Money

Shoppable Posts has now been launched by Instagram. With this feature, it is easy for products to be tagged and shopped directly from your Instagram posts. Like with ads, though, shoppable posts can only be seen by users who have a business profile on Instagram. Therefore, if you want to generate more online sales, you need to make the switch now!

When it comes to shopping on Instagram, you have the ability to select the photos that you would ideally like to feature, tag as many as five products per image, or as many as 20 products per carousel, add captions or filters, and that’s it. When products that are tagged are tapped on in a post, the user will see additional information. This information includes pricing, details about the product as well as links to the website where the purchase can be completed in full.

Your followers will see tagged product posts in their feeds, but they will also be able to browse what is known as the “shop” feed directly from your Instagram business profile.

This whole concept allows businesses to quickly and easily connect with their target audiences with their products/services, eventually streamlining the buying journey on Instagram.

6. All Features Help to Reach Overall Engagement Growth

When you make the switch to a business profile on Instagram, the amount of features that you will unlock are enormous. These features can then be used to grow your overall engagement with your audience on Instagram.

New features are continuously being rolled out every several months, which provides users with brand new, fun ways to connected with their target audiences. By putting these tools and features to good use, you will be able to boost your engagement and ensure your posts are being seen.

You will gain access to the best of the best that is offered by Instagram. You will want to make certain that your eyes are peeled for the latest updates and experiment with the new features when they do roll out. In doing so, you will not only be able to expand your each, but you will also be able to stay one step ahead of various industry trends as well as your completion.

Setting Up a Business Profile on Instagram

So, are you ready to make the switch? It’s easy to set up a business profile on Instagram. In fact, here is what you need to do:

• Head on over to your existing Instagram profile.
• Click the “gear” icon.
• Select “Switch to Business Profile”.
• Choose the Facebook Page that you want to connect to your business profile on Instagram. If you don’t see it, then you need to go to Facebook and ensure that you have current administrative privileges for that Facebook page. You can do this in the settings menu. Once the Facebook Page shows up, you will select and click “Next”.
• The page that appears next is “Set Up Your Business Profile”. On this page, you will want to review the contact information of your business. This information includes your physical address, phone number, e-mail, etc. Once everything is set, click “Done” to save the profile settings of your Instagram business profile.

You do not want to miss out on an opportunity like this to optimize your marketing strategy on Instagram. With the various feature launches and updates that are rolling out this year, there is no better time to switch to a business profile on Instagram.