How to Use Instagram for Business in 2024: Boost Your Brand’s Success

Is your business still hesitating to tap into the full potential of Instagram? It’s time to stop scrolling and start strategizing. If you’re wondering how to use Instagram for business in 2024, we’ve got you covered. In this guide, we’ll share the top strategies to help your brand thrive on this ever-evolving platform.

How to Set Up Instagram for Business in 4 Simple Steps

Using Instagram for business is slightly different from using a personal account. But don’t worry, it’s not rocket science! Follow these four simple steps to get your brand up and running on Instagram.

1. Switch to an Instagram Business Account

Before you start using Instagram for business, you need to create an Instagram account dedicated to your brand. It’s free and easy to do. Simply follow these steps:

1. From your profile, tap the hamburger menu icon in the upper-right corner.
2. Tap “Settings and privacy” and scroll down to the “Account type and tools” menu.
3. Click “Switch to a professional account” to change your account to an Instagram business account.
4. Tap “Continue” and select a category that best represents your business.
5. Choose “Business” and opt-in or out of promotional emails.
6. Add or edit relevant contact details.
7. Connect your Instagram business account to a Facebook business page if necessary.
8. Customize your account with additional features (optional).
9. Done! Your Instagram business account is ready to go.

If you don’t have an existing Instagram account, you can sign up for a new one and convert it into an Instagram business account. Remember, you can have up to five Instagram accounts, so you can keep your personal account separate.

2. Add Business Information to Your Bio

In 150 characters or less, use your Instagram bio to describe your brand and showcase your unique voice. Make the most of other components of your Instagram business profile:

• Profile pic: Use your logo, sized at 320 x 320 pixels.
• Link in bio: Direct users to your website, blog post, or latest campaign.
• Contact information: Add contact details to make it easy for customers to reach you.
• Action buttons: Streamline the customer experience with buttons for booking, ordering, or other call-to-actions.
• Story highlights and covers: Organize your Stories into saved collections and create attractive highlights covers.

3. Connect Your Product Catalog

To tag products in Instagram content and run ads, you need to create a product catalog. Use Meta’s Commerce Manager to set up your catalog:

1. Head to Commerce Manager and select “Start Now” > “Create a catalog” > “Get started.”
2. Choose “Ecommerce” and follow the prompts to create your catalog.
3. If you have an ecommerce shop on platforms like Shopify or BigCommerce, connect it to your catalog.
4. If not, use “Upload product info” to manually create your catalog.
5. Add items to your catalog to start showcasing your products.

For more details on using Commerce Manager, check out our dedicated post.

4. Turn On Instagram Shopping

Once your catalog is complete, it’s time to turn on Instagram’s shopping features:

1. Go to the “Get started” page.
2. Select “Get started.”
3. Click “Create a shop” > “Get started” > “Next.”
4. Review and adjust sales channels as needed.
5. Connect your shop to the desired account/sales channel.
6. Choose the countries you want to ship to.
7. Add your business email for shop communication.
8. Select your business portfolio or create a new one.
9. Choose the catalog you want to use for your shop.
10. Review your shop details, agree to the Seller Agreement, and click “Finish setup.”

With Instagram shopping activated, you can tag products and make it even easier for users to make purchases through Instagram.

How to Use Instagram for Business: 8 Strategies for Success

Standing out as a business on Instagram can be tough, but these strategies will make it easier:

1. Research Your Audience

A solid social media strategy starts with understanding your audience. While Instagram’s overall demographic skews towards 18-34 year-olds, it’s essential to know who specifically engages with your brand. Use Instagram Insights, Meta Business Suite, or Hootsuite Analytics to gather demographic information.

If you’re just starting out on Instagram, analyze your audience on other social channels and your existing customer base for insights.

2. Figure Out Your Content Mix

Develop a content strategy that resonates with your audience and contributes to your business goals. Mix promotional content with user-generated content, industry expertise, and trending topics (when appropriate). Create content themes and regular series to streamline production.

3. Schedule Your Content in Advance

Use a content calendar or a scheduling tool like Hootsuite Publisher to plan and schedule your posts, Stories, and Reels. Take advantage of optimal posting times to ensure maximum engagement.

4. Tag Products

Make it easy for users to learn more or buy your products by tagging them in your posts. You can tag up to 20 products per photo feed post and use the Product Link sticker in Stories.

5. Track Your Results

Leverage Instagram’s built-in analytics tools and additional tools like Hootsuite Analytics to measure your content’s performance. Regularly check engagement metrics to understand what resonates with your audience and refine your strategy accordingly.

6. Treat Instagram as a Customer Service Channel

Engage with your followers by monitoring your DMs and responding to questions and comments promptly. Use Instagram’s DM features, like Primary and General tabs and saved replies, to manage customer service effectively.

7. Automate Content Creation

Streamline content creation by leveraging generative AI tools like OwlyWriter AI. Quickly generate social media captions and gain inspiration for your posts. Remember to review and edit AI-generated content before posting.

8. Elevate Your Grid Aesthetics

Make your Instagram grid visually appealing with Hootsuite’s Instagram Grid integration. Plan and rearrange your posts, schedule them in advance, curate high-quality content, and track your success—all from one dashboard.

FAQs About Using Instagram for Business

Is Instagram for Business Free?

Setting up an Instagram business account is free, as is promoting your business and setting up an Instagram shop. The only costs are ad fees for running Instagram ads and selling fees for Commerce Manager transactions.

What Is the Difference Between Personal and Business Instagram Accounts?

Personal accounts are for sharing your daily life, while business accounts offer tools like analytics, shopping, and advertising to promote and sell products.

What Is the Best Time to Post on Instagram for Business?

The best posting times depend on your target audience and content. Generally, mornings bring the most engagement, but industries like real estate and retail may see success with evening posts. Use our comprehensive guide on the best times to post on social media to find the ideal times for your brand.

How Does Instagram Work for Business?

By switching to a business account, you unlock valuable tools like Instagram Insights and Commerce Manager, which enhance your business’s visibility, reach, and customer experience.

What Are the Disadvantages of Using Instagram for Business?

Increased competition for organic reach, ongoing effort to manage a business account, and the need to maintain a good reputation are a few drawbacks to consider. However, with proper strategy and management, the benefits of Instagram for business outweigh the challenges.

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