For many local businesses, an Instagram profile is the first place customers check them out – they look at the photos, the opening hours and how the business communicates. You can create one in a few minutes, but setting it up so it brings you customers takes a bit more. Here’s a step-by-step guide, including the things people most often forget when setting one up.
What to prepare before you sign up
- A business email address or phone number you’ll still have access to in a few years – not an employee’s personal email.
- A high-resolution logo that looks good even in a small circle.
- A short description of your business – what you do, for whom and where.
- A link where you want to send people from Instagram: your website, online store or booking form.
- A few photos or videos for your first posts, so the profile doesn’t look empty after launch.
Step 1: Download the app
Download Instagram from Google Play (Android) or the App Store (iPhone). You can also manage your profile from a computer, but creating the account and most of the settings are easiest in the mobile app.
Step 2: Sign up for a new account
- In the app, tap “Create new account”.
- Enter your business email or phone number and confirm it with the code you receive.
- Create a strong password and save it in a password manager, not on a sticky note by the register.
- Choose a username – ideally your business name without unnecessary dots, underscores and numbers. If it’s taken, add your town or industry, for example yourbusiness.bardejov.
If you already have a personal account, don’t use it for your business – create a new one. Instagram lets you stay logged into multiple accounts in the app and easily switch between them.
Step 3: Switch to a professional account
- Go to your profile and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner.
- Select “Settings and privacy”.
- Find the “Account type and tools” section and tap “Switch to professional account”.
- Choose the category that best describes your business, such as restaurant, clothing store or construction company.
- Select the option for a business, not for a creator.
- Confirm your choice and fill in the contact details you want to show on your profile.
Menu names occasionally change slightly in new versions of the app, but the process stays the same. A professional account unlocks insights (reach, interactions, where your followers are from), contact buttons and the option to promote posts.
Step 4: Fill out your profile so it sells
Profile picture
Use your logo or its symbol, centered so nothing gets cut off in the circle. Use the same picture on Facebook and in your Google Business Profile, so people recognize you at first glance.
Name field
The “Name” field isn’t the same as your username, and Instagram uses it in search. Besides your business name, feel free to add what you do, for example “Business Name | Florist Bardejov”. That way, people will find you even if they don’t remember your exact name.
Bio
You have 150 characters for your bio, so don’t waste them on generic phrases. Write what you do, for whom and what people should do next. For example: “Custom cakes and desserts in Bardejov. Please order at least two days in advance. See our full menu on the website.”
Link and contact details
Add a link to your website – ideally straight to the page with your order form, booking or price list, not just the homepage. Fill in your email, phone number and address so contact buttons show up on your profile. If you have a brick-and-mortar location, the address also helps people looking for businesses nearby.
Step 5: Connect Instagram with Facebook
If you have a Facebook business page, connect the two networks through Accounts Center. It makes scheduling posts and replying to messages from one place easier, and above all it simplifies advertising, because you then manage Facebook and Instagram campaigns together. You’ll find the whole process in our guide on how to connect your Facebook and Instagram business profiles.
Step 6: Prepare your first posts
Before you start sending people to your profile, make sure they’ll find something there. A proven way to start:
- An introduction – who’s behind the business, what you do and for whom.
- A product or finished project showcase – ideally with a short story behind the job.
- Behind the scenes – how your product is made, what a regular day at your business looks like.
- Practical info – opening hours, how to order and where to find you.
Save important stories to highlights right on your profile, for example Prices, Reviews and Where to Find Us. They work like a small menu that quickly gets new visitors oriented.
The most common mistakes when setting up a business profile
- The profile is registered to the personal email of an employee who leaves the company – and takes access to the account with them.
- A username full of numbers and underscores that nobody can remember.
- An empty bio, or a bio without any information about where the business operates.
- The link in the profile leads to a broken or slow page.
- Enthusiasm for the first week, then months of silence.
We cover more mistakes that hold back profile growth in our article The most common mistakes on business Instagram.
Frequently asked questions
Does a business Instagram have to be connected to a Facebook page?
No, the profile works on its own too. But connecting them pays off if you want to run ads or handle messages from both networks in one place.
Do you have to pay for a professional account?
No, switching to a professional account is free. You only pay when you decide to promote posts or run ads.
Can you switch a professional account back to a personal one?
Yes, in the same section of your settings. But you’ll lose insights and business features, so it doesn’t make sense for a business.
How often should I post?
As often as you can keep up in the long run. Consistency and quality are worth more than posting in bursts. You can quickly find out whether your followers are really paying attention with our Instagram engagement rate calculator.
Want a profile that’s more than a shop window?
If you don’t want to handle content, insights and ads yourself, we’ll help. See how we do social media marketing – from setting up your profile and planning posts to campaigns that bring in customers.
