If I Had to Start My Instagram Account Again, Part 3
Optimising Your Profile for Success
In Part 1, we talked about defining your niche and target audience as the foundation of your Instagram journey. In Part 2, we discussed creating a winning Instagram strategy to ensure your efforts are aligned with your goals. Now it’s time to dive into one of the most critical aspects of your Instagram presence: your profile.
Your Instagram profile is like your shop front. It’s often the first thing potential followers and customers see, and you only have a few seconds to make a strong impression. Attention spans are short on this app! Here’s how to optimise it for success:
Craft an Attention-Grabbing Bio
Your bio is your chance to show visitors who you are, what you do, and why they should follow you. The why they should follow you is super important – most people really want to now what’s in it for them! So, make it clear, concise, and compelling.
- Highlight Your Value: What problem do you solve, or what value do you bring to your audience? For example: “Helping small business owners master Instagram marketing.”
- Include Keywords: Use words your target audience might search for, for example I would “Instagram coach” or “small business marketing.”
- Add a Call-to-Action (CTA): Encourage visitors to take the next step, such as visiting your website, downloading a free resource, or sending you a DM.
Choose the Perfect Profile Picture
Your profile picture should be professional and aligned with your brand. For personal brands, a clear and friendly headshot works best. For businesses, consider using your logo or a recognisable brand image. Now that said, people buy from people and for most small business owners, they are their brand! So most of the time, I recommend to my clients, small business owners just like you, that they use a picture of themselves.
Optimise Your Username and Handle
Your username and handle should be easy to remember and relevant to your business. Avoid complex symbols or excessive punctuation. If your ideal handle isn’t available, try adding a simple modifier, like “official”.
Use Your Link in Bio Strategically
Instagram allows up to 5 clickable links in your bio, so make em count! Use them to drive traffic to your most important resource:
- A landing page with links to your top offerings
- Your website or blog
- A lead magnet, like a free guide or checklist
You could consider using tools like Linktree or similar platforms to create a dynamic link that serves multiple purposes.
Leverage Instagram Highlights
Highlights are a fantastic way to showcase your best content and keep it accessible beyond the 24-hour lifespan of Stories. Create well-organised highlights with clear cover images and titles. Good examples include:
- “About Us” or “Meet the Team”
- “Testimonials”
- “Products/Services”
- “FAQs”
Write a Keyword-Optimised Name Field
The name field in your bio is searchable, so include keywords your audience might use to find you. For example, instead of just your name, write “Suze | Instagram Coach.” The key thing to think about here again is SEO: pack that name under your profile picture with keywords – the words that people would search for if they were searching for you without knowing your name!
Keep Your Profile Clean and On-Brand
Your Instagram profile’s overall aesthetic should align with your brand. Ensure your highlight covers, profile picture, and bio work together to create a cohesive look.
Test and Refine
Optimisation isn’t a one-time task. Regularly (about once a quarter) review your profile to ensure it reflects any changes in your niche, target audience, or goals (as discussed in Parts 1 and 2). Monitor your analytics to see if your profile is converting visitors into followers and customers.
By optimising your Instagram profile, you’ll make a strong first impression, clearly communicate your value, and encourage visitors to take action. This sets the stage for turning followers into loyal customers and clients, and advocates for your brand.🫶🏽
Let me know if you have questions or need help with any of these steps!
This is the kind of thing we could tackle in a Power Hour. This is an hour of my time and expertise to answer ANY questions you have about any aspect of Instagram. And we could definitely get your bio optimised in one hour so you can grow more followers and make more sales!
Email me at hello@tcbsocialmedia.com if you’d like to find out more.
Suze 🫶🏽
Category: Insta Tips, Marketing