A Quick Guide to Maximizing Your Instagram Bio

February 11, 2016

Although Instagram is all about the visuals, your profile or bio, is a powerful tool, friend! So let’s make sure you’re taking full advantage of those 150 characters. Instagram gives you a limited amount of space to describe yourself, your business, your location, or whatever information you want to share. Although 150 characters isn’t much, it’s important that you make the most of that available space to share who you are, what you do, where people can find you and a little peek into your personality.

a quick guide to maximizing your instagram bio via b is for bonnie design

Introduce Yourself

If your Instagram handle is your business name, share your name in your bio so people know who the heck you are! If your username is your name, like mine is, then include your business’s name so people can start to associate you as the face of your company. Do you have a specific title or specialty you want to share? Let people know if you’re the boss lady, CEO, or full-time dreamer behind your brand! You can stay professional and to the point here, or you can get a little creative if space allows.

Then, tell people what you do. So you’re the head designer at your company. What is it that you do? Does your business have a niche or speciality? I personally share that I’m a brand stylist for intentional boss ladies. I’m also a small business coach and founder of the illume retreat, so I include that information, as well. Since we’re working with only 150 characters and space is a little tight, you can let some light-hearted personality shine through by abbreviating here and there, too. I wouldn’t recommend abbreviating every other word in your bio, but do feel free to personalize it in a way that showcases who you are. Don’t be afraid to personify your brand and have a little fun! Use buzz words that will catch your ideal audience’s attention and reel them in.

Location, location, location!

Don’t forget to tell them where you are! If you’re based in the middle of nowhere, that’s okay. Just list the closest big city for reference. Giving people a rough geographical location will open you up to local collaborations between artisans, will help you connect with potential clients in your area, and will associate your name with a specific market. Let’s say a fellow creative is coming through your area. They’re much more likely to reach out to you to grab coffee if they know you’re going to be where they are. If you don’t list any sort of location info at all, then they won’t even bother. It’s a simple addition, but it does open you up to connections of all kinds!

Use the Hyperlink in Your Bio

This one simple misstep can hinder your from converting followers into paid customers, or can make it impossible for them to truly connect with your business elsewhere online. And it’s all because of how we use the active hyperlink in our bios.

Instagram allows you to direct your followers to a specific link on the internet. So where do you want to send them? You should be focusing on sending your followers exactly where they need to be, whether that’s a specific blog post they’ll find valuable, a free opt-in challenge you’re running, or the portfolio section of your website. In order to makes things as easy as possible, update the hyperlink in your profile, and then direct your audience to that link at the end of each Instagram post. Instead of your followers having to type in a URL, Google your website, or send you an email, they simply have to click on the correct link in your bio. No more missed connections or lost opportunities to direct your Instagram following to a more permanent location! Whether you choose to highlight your blog, website, or specific promotion, please don’t make the mistake of letting that one valuable live link go to waste.

Interested in taking your Instagram presence even further? This content is a bonus download taken from my top-selling course, Instagram with Authenticity. Join our waiting list to be the next to hear about future classes and new course additions!

  1. It’s amazing how often I see profiles without the location OR a link!! Crazy to think how much business these vendors miss out on!

  2. Heidi says:

    Great advice! Thank you so much for sharing.

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My name is Bonnie – I’m a brand designer, strategist, and writer which all adds up to one eclectic conglomeration of qualities that enables me to serve you well! Past clients have dubbed me "the Joanna Gaines of brand design," and I've had more than a few call me a dream maker, a game changer, and a design wizard (my Harry Potter-loving heart didn't hate that one, let me tell you!). At the end of the day, I'm a big-hearted creative who will get teary-eyed as you share the heart behind your business; who will lose sleep over the perfect font pairings and color selections to bring your brand to life visually; and who will work tirelessly to empower, encourage, and equip you to share your work with the world intentionally. 

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