How to switch to business account on Instagram

If you're looking to promote your business on Instagram, one of the first steps you should take is to switch to a business account. Doing so will give you access to a range of useful features to help increase your presence and the conversion rate of your business. In this blog post, we'll walk you through the process of switching to a business account on Instagram and how to manage it better on SleekFlow.

First, what are the types of Instagram accounts?

There are 3 types of Instagram accounts:

• Personal account (private or public)

• Professional account or business account

• Creator account

There are absolutely no rules against using a personal account for your business; however, you will be at a disadvantage as Instagram personal accounts do not have access to helpful features such as analytics, Instagram API access, contact/CTA buttons, or ads with the “swipe-up” function in Instagram Stories.

Instagram Creator accounts will have all of those, except for the API access. Intended for influencers, they will also have a wider range of music to choose from. Nevertheless, unlike Instagram business accounts, they do not have a scheduling feature.

Here’s a summary of the comparison between the types of Instagram accounts:

Benefits of switching to an Instagram Business account

Switching to an Instagram Business account provides many benefits for businesses looking to grow and engage their audience. Here are some of the top benefits:

1. Instagram Insights: access to customer data including demographics, reach, impressions, and engagement rates

2. CTA on the Instagram Business profile: contact buttons for customers to get in touch with the business through email, phone, or address, or action buttons like "Book Now" or "Shop Now" for customers to take direct action from the profile page

3. Instagram Ads: paid effort for reaching specific audiences based on demographics, interests, behaviors, and more

4. Instagram Shop: tag products in their posts and stories for customers to discover and purchase products directly from the profile

5. Increased credibility: having an Instagram Business account indicates that the account is a legitimate business rather than a personal account

6. API access: the Instagram API for managing and scaling customer support through third-party tools like SleekFlow

Keen on exploring Instagram Business solutions? Find out what you can do on Instagram via SleekFlow.

Switching to an Instagram Business account on the Instagram App

Step 1: Log in to your Instagram account

The first step in switching to a business account is to log in to your Instagram account. If you don't have an account yet, you'll need to create one before you can proceed.

Step 2: Go to your profile settings

Once you're logged in, navigate to your profile settings by clicking on your profile picture in the bottom right corner of the screen. Then, click on the three horizontal lines in the top right corner and select "Settings" from the menu that appears.

Step 3: Switch to a business account

In the "Settings" menu, select "Account" and then click on "Switch to Professional Account." 

You'll then be prompted to choose between a business account or a creator account. Choose "Business" and follow the prompts to complete the process.

Switching to an Instagram Business account on the desktop

Step 1: Log in to your Instagram account

On the desktop, you will also have to log in to your Instagram account on the web page.

Step 2: Go to your profile settings

On the menu bar on the left, click on your profile. On your Instagram profile, select the “Edit profile” button right next to your Instagram handle. 

Step 3: Switch to a business account

At the bottom of the settings menu bar, click on “Switch to professional account”.

Similarly, you'll then be prompted to choose between a business account or a creator account. Answer the questions, select your business category, and follow through to complete the process.

Tips for your Instagram Business account

Optimize your Instagram Business profile

Once you've switched to a business account, it's important to optimize your profile to ensure that it's SEO-friendly. Here are some tips to help you do so:

• Choose a clear and descriptive username that reflects your business or brand

• Write a concise and compelling bio that includes relevant keywords and a call to action

• Add a link to your website or a landing page that's relevant to your Instagram content

• Use high-quality images and videos that showcase your products or services

• Add relevant hashtags to your posts to help them get discovered by users who are searching for related content

• Use an Instagram caption generator, that can optimize your business profile by providing engaging, relevant, and properly formatted captions that attract your target audience, improve discoverability, save time, and maintain a consistent presence on the platform.

By following these tips, you'll be able to create a profile that's both visually appealing and SEO-friendly, which will help your content rank higher in Instagram's search results.

Use Instagram's business tools

It's important to take advantage of Instagram's business tools to help you reach your target audience and grow your following. Some of the key tools you can use include:

• Analytics: Instagram provides detailed insights into your followers, including their demographics, location, and engagement metrics. Use this information to tailor your content to your audience's interests and preferences.

• Advertising: Instagram's advertising platform allows you to create targeted ads that reach specific audiences based on factors such as age, location, interests, and behaviors.

• Shopping: If you sell products, you can use Instagram's shopping feature to tag your products in your posts and stories, making it easy for users to purchase them directly from your profile.

By using these tools, you'll be able to create a more effective Instagram marketing strategy and grow your business on the platform.

Complete your Instagram business strategy via SleekFlow

While you can Meta Business Suite to manage your Instagram Business account, features can be quite limited especially if you’re looking to scale your business. Other than Facebook Messenger and Instagram DM, it is also essential to include other popular messaging channels such as WhatsApp, Telegram, LINE, WeChat, SMS, and more to complete your omnichannel marketing and retail strategy.

On SleekFlow, you will be able to reply to customers on their preferred messaging apps in the same inbox while collaborating seamlessly with your teammates. 

Additionally, by connecting your Instagram Business account to SleekFlow, you can leverage our advanced automation features, such as a customized chatbot, auto-assignment, and centralized social CRM on an omnichannel platform. 

Further reading:

• Automating post comment replies and chat replies for free on SleekFlow

• Mastering Instagram Business chat for effective customer communication

• How to create the best Instagram CRM strategy

• 13-step Instagram marketing starter kit plus unlocking Instagram autoreply and other extended features