The secret sauce behind Instagram’s best business profiles

The secret sauce behind Instagram’s best business profiles

These days, if you're not active on social media, you're missing out: it's a must for anyone looking to stay relevant.

Among the many platforms available, Instagram stands out as one of the most powerful tools for businesses of all sizes. With over 2 billion monthly active users, Instagram offers companies a unique space to showcase their brand, engage with customers and drive sales.

But to unlock its full potential, businesses should consider switching from a personal account to an Instagram Business profile.

How Instagram Business Accounts work

An Instagram Business account is a type of professional profile specifically designed for businesses, creators and brands.

Unlike personal profiles, business accounts come with a suite of tools tailored to meet marketing needs. These include analytics, promotional tools, call-to-action buttons, shopping features, and more.

Setting up an Instagram Business account is free and can be done by simply converting a personal profile in the app settings.

Key features and advantages

1. Insights and analytics

One of the primary advantages of an Instagram Business account is access to performance data. Instagram provides insights into:

• Post engagement (likes, comments, shares, saves)

• Reach and impressions

• Follower demographics (age, gender, location)

• Profile activity (website clicks, email clicks, etc.)
  

This data is invaluable for refining your content strategy and understanding what resonates with your audience.

2. Contact options and call-to-actions

Instagram Business profiles allow you to add buttons for actions like:

• Call

• Email

• Directions

• Booking an appointment or ordering food (integrated with third-party apps)
  

These options make it easy for users to interact with your business directly from your profile.

3. Ad campaigns and promotions

With a Business account, you can create and manage Instagram Ads directly from the app. This helps you:

• Reach specific demographics using advanced targeting

• Promote high-performing posts to new audiences

• Drive traffic to your website, product page or app
  

4. Categorized Direct Messages (DMs)

A standout feature for Business accounts is the categorization of DMs. Messages are automatically organized into:

• Primary: Important messages you want to keep track of

• General: Messages that don’t need immediate attention

• Requests: Messages from users you don’t follow
  

This system streamlines customer support and communication, helping businesses stay organized and responsive.

5. Instagram shopping and product tags

Businesses can tag products in posts and stories, leading directly to a product page for purchase. With Instagram Shop, users can browse your full catalog without leaving the app, a powerful feature for e-commerce brands.

Why switch to an Instagram Business Account?

Here are some compelling reasons to make the switch:

• Credibility: A business account shows users that you’re serious and legitimate.

• Data-driven strategy: Insights help you post smarter, not just more.

• Improved communication: Categorized DMs make customer management easier.

• Advertising access: Run targeted campaigns to boost visibility and ROI.

• E-commerce integration: Sell directly from your posts and stories.
  

Real-world case studies

1. Glossier (beauty brand)

Glossier, a beauty brand with a cult following, uses its Instagram Business account to drive engagement through user-generated content and product promotions. They take advantage of shopping tags, making it easy for followers to purchase items directly from their feed. Their aesthetic consistency and community-driven posts helped turn them into a $1.8 billion company.

2. National Geographic Travel

National Geographic Travel uses its Business account to share breathtaking photos and videos. With a strong visual brand, they use Instagram Insights to understand what content resonates most. Their strategic use of hashtags and location tagging increases visibility and follower engagement.

3. Frank Body (skincare brand)

Frank Body started as a small business and grew through clever use of Instagram. Their Business account helped them create viral campaigns (like their #thefrankeffect challenge), use DMs for customer inquiries, and promote new products. They also run targeted ads that have significantly increased their reach and conversions.

4. WeWork (Co-working Spaces)

WeWork uses its Business account to showcase its global office locations, events, and community stories. They regularly use Insights to fine-tune content strategies and track audience engagement. Their use of video stories, reels, and behind-the-scenes content gives a personal touch to the brand.

Conclusion

Switching to an Instagram Business account is a smart move for any entrepreneur, brand or company looking to maximize their online presence. From powerful insights and ad tools to DM management and shopping integration, Instagram Business offers features that can significantly boost your growth and customer engagement.

Whether you're a local coffee shop or a global brand, leveraging the full potential of Instagram Business could be the key to your next stage of success.