The Anatomy of the Perfect Instagram Profile
First impressions are just as important online as they are offline. When meeting someone in the physical world, they can gauge how they feel about you in a matter of seconds. In the digital world, it’s even less. The moment someone looks at your Instagram, they immediately form an opinion based off of your profile picture, your bio and however else you’ve chosen to describe yourself. The information that you provide here is critical to someone clicking that follow button or inquiring about your services.
I want you to think about this inch on your screen as your business card. This is your shot to tell people exactly what you want them to know about you and how to get in touch with you.
You might be thinking, ‘Anna, there’s so much to know about me. How do I narrow it all down?’
Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Below I will walk you through how to create the perfect Instagram profile to ensure that your message is clear and not confusing.
Let’s Get Started:
Your Profile Picture:
Think of your profile picture like your logo, it should rarely change. Choose a high-resolution image that is up-close to show your features. This picture should allow people to easily recognize you and get a sense of who you are. Use this as your chance to brand yourself in someone’s mind because this is the image that they’ll think of when they hear your name. You may even want to consider working with a Personal Brand Photographer to ensure that your photo emulates your vibe.
Here are a few of my favorites:
Name:
Use your official title in lieu of your name. For example, I use ‘Personal Brand Strategist.’ This is another way to brand yourself as the thing you want to be known for. It also ensures people can find you when they’re searching for what you do.
Don’t have a title? No problem. This is where some soul-searching is required and a clarity call is helpful to really define what it is that you do. It might seem overwhelming, but don’t let this detail scare you away from optimizing your digital identity.
Username:
Always use your first and last name for your ‘username.’ Avoid using trendy names to describe yourself. This isn’t your fourth-grade email address; Katlover123 isn’t going to cut it. Your real name is prime digital real estate and never goes out of style. Avoid using periods and underscores, they dilute the impact of your full name. Stop hiding behind a disguise. This is your opportunity to be proud of your work and your name.
Bio:
Use a clear personal brand statement to explain what you do and who you do it for. Remember, clear > clever. It doesn’t need to sound fluffy, it just needs to make sense. I’ll give you an example. First I’ll show you what my full brand statement is and then I’ll show you how I reflect that on my profile.
As a Personal Brand Strategist, I teach entrepreneurs how to build their personal brand. My mission is to help my clients discover their purpose, clarify their message, and captivate their audience using social media.
To summarize on my profile, I simply state: I teach entrepreneurs how to build their personal brand.
Short, sweet and to the point. (If your bio is changing weekly, this is a sign that you may need to work with a Personal Brand Strategist).
Underneath your personal brand statement is where you can list your credentials. For example, have you been featured in any publications? Are you the founder of an organization? Do you host a podcast? Tell people what you’re up to, and show them where they can follow along. Try to refrain from using too many emojis as this can clutter the space. If you’re going to use them, make sure they’re appropriate and reflective of your brand.
CTA:
Underneath your credentials, leave a call to action (taking into consideration what your personal brand strategy is for 2020). Do you want people to apply to work with you? Send you a DM? Subscribe to your newsletter? Take your quiz? This is your chance to tell them.
Not everyone is going to want to work with you right off the bat. Your CTA should guide them in your desired direction and serve as the first step in the nurturing stage.
Website:
Always drive traffic back to your personal website (Don’t have one? Send me a DM). Avoid using third parties like Linktree because it hurts your SEO. Every time a person clicks the link in your Instagram bio is an opportunity to boost your own website page ranking. By using Linktree, you are giving away this ranking to them instead.
Think of it like this. Instagram is your welcome mat, but your website is your home. It’s a live portfolio of your work and achievements. Your website is a place where you can control the narrative and stand apart from the competition. Let this also serve as a reminder that you do not own your social media channels. However, you do own your website. Leverage it accordingly.
Highlights:
Use your highlight section to save your most valuable Instagram Stories. For example, any educational content that you share should be saved here so people can reference it. If you’re an entrepreneur, consider a ‘Results’ highlight tab to show how your product/service makes a difference. If you’re a photographer, use these as a way to categorize aspects of your portfolio. Whatever you may be, utilize the highlights section so when someone visits your page, they’re able to view featured content without having to stalk your page back to 2018. These should be pillar pieces of content that get people to want to work with you! Think: lots of tutorials, how-tos, and instruction.
I hope this was helpful! These tools allow you to control your narrative and deliver your message in an effective manner. By implementing clear and concise information to your Instagram profile, you’ll be putting your best foot forward to elevate your personal brand and business.
If you want to dive deeper into how to take advantage of your online presence, schedule a clarity call with me and we’ll get you set up.
