Instagram has established itself as a formidable presence in the digital realm, boasting over one billion active monthly users. It serves as a potent tool for marketing and brand development. However, merely having a personal Instagram account is insufficient, especially if you’re aiming to establish authority as a coach, course creator, or knowledge entrepreneur.
Leveraging Instagram’s professional accounts tailored for entrepreneurs and creators is crucial. With a plethora of features and options, choosing the right type of account can be daunting. This blog will delve into the distinctions between Instagram Business and Professional accounts, guiding you to select the best fit for your enterprise.
Instagram Business account
A Business account offers enhanced methods for promoting products and services, making it ideal for marketing and performance analysis.
Pros
Business Accounts are equipped with exclusive features not available on standard profiles, including:
- Instagram Insights: This tool tracks business performance, providing valuable data on audience demographics, reach, engagement, and more.
- Contact button: Simplifies communication for potential customers.
- Swipe-up links: Enables you to add links in Stories to redirect your audience to other sites.
- Instagram Ads: Expands your reach by promoting your products or services to a broader audience.
- Shop: Facilitates direct purchases on Instagram and allows product tagging in posts and stories.
Cons
While an Instagram Business Account simplifies marketing and promotion, it does have some drawbacks:
- Lack of authenticity: The focus on product promotion may appear overly commercial, potentially alienating new audiences.
- Challenges in organic reach: Though Instagram Ads broaden your audience, the platform’s algorithm can hinder organic reach without paid advertisements.
Businessman creates an Instagram account
Instagram professional account
A Professional account is designed for those who wish to use Instagram to showcase their work, grow their audience, and gain brand partnerships.
Pros
A Professional account offers features similar to a Business account, such as a Contact Button and Instagram Insights, while introducing new tools focused on personal branding and content creation:
- Creator studio: This dashboard allows you to manage content on both Instagram and Facebook, offering enhanced control over your content, including comment restrictions and audience filtering.
- Branded content: Partner with brands to promote products or services, tag business partners, and track post performance.
- Shoppable posts: Although you can’t add a Shop to your profile, you can still tag shoppable products from other brands.
- Streamlined messaging: Messages are organized into Primary, General, and Requests groups, simplifying important conversations.
Cons
- Limited options for ad creation: Advanced ad creation features are more prevalent in Business accounts.
- Limited product promotion: The Shop feature is unavailable, so you’ll need to redirect the audience to another site for sales.
Which one should you use?
Now that we’ve explored the pros and cons of Business and Professional accounts, consider these factors to help you decide.
Goal
What is your primary purpose for creating an Instagram account? A Business account is ideal for promoting products or services. If you’re a creator, influencer, or public figure aiming to build your brand and showcase content, a Professional account is the better choice.
Content
What type of content will you post? If your goal is to engage your audience with creative works and insights, a Professional account is your best option. You can even collaborate with brands for greater engagement. However, if your focus is on marketing products and services, a Business account will suffice.
Audience
Who is your target audience? Are you aiming for a specific demographic or a broader audience? If targeting a specific age group or location, a Professional account may be more suitable, allowing you to tailor your content accordingly. But if you want a broader reach, a Business account with its advanced ad features might be more appropriate.
Get working
Both Instagram Business and Professional accounts offer unique features and benefits. Neither is superior; it all depends on your platform objectives. Selecting the right account type will help you achieve desired results and maximize your online presence.