Professional vs. Personal Account on Instagram: Understand the Differences

There are three types of Instagram accounts – Personal, Professional, and Creator. You can switch to any Instagram account type in the app based on your preference and usage. However, which account type is ideal for you? Let’s understand the differences below.

What Is a Professional Account on Instagram

Instagram for Professionals unlocks more tools and add-ons for your account. You can boost your Instagram posts to reach potential customers worldwide, add quick replies, enter a contact button, create a shopping page, and more.

Professional vs. Personal Account on Instagram

A personal account is ideal if you primarily use Instagram to stay in touch with friends and family. However, if you want to level up your Instagram experience with useful tools, you can’t go wrong with a professional account, either.

Notably, a personal account can be set to private so that only your followers can see the content you post, while a professional account is set to public.

Advantages of Using a Professional Instagram Account

1. Instagram Insights

For a successful business strategy, you’ll need access to analytics tools. Instagram Insights lets users check their account’s reach, engagement, total follower count, and shared content.

2. Boost Posts

When you switch to a professional account on Instagram, you’ll see the Boost button next to your posts. Tap it, choose a goal, add a URL and action button, and reach relevant audiences on the platform.

3. Create Quick Replies

If your Instagram business account has thousands of followers, you may get several messages and inquiries daily. Managing these messages can take time and effort. Instead, use the quick replies function to create answers to frequently asked questions.

4. Enter a Contact Button

A professional Instagram account lets you add a dedicated contact button to your profile. The contact menu allows you to add your call, email, and WhatsApp details.

5. Instagram Shopping

This is for retailers and users running an e-commerce website. You can activate the Shop tab on the profile and let your visitors browse all your products directly from the app.

6. Automate Your Content

Being a creator or professional, you may have several social media accounts to handle. Instagram lets you schedule your content in advance to hit perfect hours. To do so, connect your Facebook account with Instagram.

Professional Account	Personal Account
Can automate content through Facebook Business Manager	Can’t automate posts through IG’s services
Can create quick replies	Can’t create quick replies
Can show a dedicated contact button to better user interaction	Unavailable for personal accounts
Always Public	Can be private or public
Can gauge a post’s reach by referring to Instagram Insights	Must rely on likes and comments alone to gauge engagement

Switch From Personal to Professional Account on Instagram

Now that you know the benefits of using a professional account on Instagram, use the steps below to make a switch.

Step 1: Launch the Instagram app and tap your profile icon at the bottom-right corner.

Step 2: Tap the three horizontal lines at the top and open Settings & privacy.

Step 3: Select Account type and tools.

Step 4: Tap Switch to professional account and follow the on-screen instructions.

It may take a while to enable business tools for your account.

Tips to Grow Your Professional Account on Instagram

Here are some tips you can apply to grow your Instagram reach:

• Fill out your Instagram profile with contact details.
• Post consistently on the platform.
• Invest in creating better photos, videos, stories, and reels.
• Track Instagram analytics.
• Use hashtags smartly to reach more audiences.
• Reply to your customers, interact with comments, and answer queries quickly.
• Boost your Instagram posts.