What is a professional account on Instagram?

Instagram is a social network launched in October 2010. Instagram was created by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger. Originally, it was an app for sharing photos with friends. Users could take photos with their smartphone, apply filters to give them a retro look, and publish them on their Instagram profile. The app was a great success, with over a million users in just two months.

Over time, Instagram has evolved to become much more than just a photo-sharing app. In 2012, Instagram was bought by Facebook for a billion dollars, which helped accelerate its development. In 2013, Instagram launched the video feature, allowing users to share 15-second clips on their profile. In 2016, Instagram launched Instagram Stories, a feature inspired by Snapchat allowing users to share photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours.

Instagram has also evolved to become a very important digital marketing platform for businesses and brand creators. Businesses can now create professional profiles on Instagram, allowing them to promote posts and access statistics on the performance of their posts. Businesses can also add call-to-action buttons to their profile and manage their direct messages from the app.

Today, Instagram has more than a billion monthly users and active users, making it one of the most popular social networks in the world. Although it started as a simple photo-sharing app, Instagram has become an indispensable tool for communication and digital marketing for businesses and individuals.

The benefits of a professional account on Instagram for your business

Better visibility for the business

1. optimized profile: with a professional Instagram account, you can add important information to your profile, such as your email address, phone number, and physical address. This can help users find your business more easily and contact your team;

2. post statistics: professional Instagram accounts have access to statistics on the performance of their posts, such as the number of impressions, views, likes, and comments. This data can help your business understand what works well on Instagram and adjust its strategy accordingly to maximize visibility;

3. promoting posts: professional accounts can promote their posts to reach a wider audience. You can target people based on their age, location, interests, and many other criteria. Promoting posts can help increase the visibility of your business and attract new potential customers;

4. hashtags: they are an important element of Instagram, and professional accounts can leverage them to increase their visibility. By adding relevant hashtags to your posts, you can connect with people who are actively searching for products or services similar to those of your business.

Better understanding of post performance

1. access to statistics: with a professional Instagram account, businesses have access to detailed statistics on their posts. They can see how many people have viewed their post, how many have liked, commented, saved, or shared their content. This information helps better understand the interests and preferences of their audience, as well as measure the impact of their digital marketing strategy;

2. better decision-making: by gaining a better understanding of the performance of their posts, businesses can make more informed marketing decisions. They can determine which type of content works best, what are the most effective times and days to post, and what are the emerging trends in their industry;

3. content strategy optimization: businesses can also use the statistics from their posts to optimize their content strategy on Instagram. For example, if a post featuring a certain image or message generated more engagement than others, the business may decide to post more similar content. Similarly, if a certain time or day of the week performs better, the business can schedule its posts accordingly;

4. targeted promotion: with a professional account on Instagram, businesses have the option to promote their posts to a targeted audience. They can reach people who do not yet follow them but are likely to be interested in their content. This can help increase the business's reach on Instagram and attract new potential customers.

The ability to directly contact customers or prospects

1. improved customer relationship: the direct messaging feature allows businesses to interact directly with their customers and prospects, which can help strengthen the customer relationship. Businesses can quickly respond to customer questions and concerns and help them solve issues;

2. increased customer engagement: by interacting directly with customers and prospects on Instagram, businesses can encourage greater engagement. Businesses can send personalized messages to users who have interacted with their posts, such as thank-you messages or special offers;

3. conversion of prospects into customers: direct messaging can be used to help convert prospects into customers. Businesses can use the feature to send follow-up messages to prospects who have expressed interest in their products or services, offering them special deals or advice to help them make a purchasing decision;

4. collecting feedback: businesses can use direct messaging to collect feedback and opinions from their customers and prospects. This can help businesses improve their products and services and better meet the needs of their audience.

The ability to promote posts

One of the most important advantages of creating a professional account on Instagram for a business is the ability to promote posts. This allows the business to reach a wider audience and promote its products or services more effectively.

Promoting posts on Instagram can be done in several ways, but the most common is the use of paid advertisements. Ads on Instagram can be created from the Facebook Ads Manager, which has been linked to Instagram since its acquisition by Facebook in 2012. Ads on Instagram can take the form of photos, videos, or carousels, and audiences can be targeted based on various criteria, such as age, location, interests, and much more.

When a brand or business promotes a post on Instagram, it can reach a wider audience than it would with a normal post. Additionally, ads on Instagram often have a higher engagement rate than ads on other social networks because Instagram is a visual platform, and ads are often very visually appealing.

Finally, businesses can use promotions on Instagram to achieve specific goals, such as lead generation, app downloads, or direct sales. Promotions can be set up so that users can purchase an item or product directly from Instagram, making the purchasing process easier for potential customers.

‍