Let's talk about your profile!

1. Profile Photo

-Should be eye catching, and preferably have a bright background. 

-Using faces is good! Using your own face is even better, if it's related to your content. If you post memes, for example, it's unnecessary

-People see your profile photo when you comment on something. So don't make it too complicated. If your photo has letters in it, make sure it's large enough to read. Furthermore, if you post on stories everyday, a circle forms around your profile photo.

This may make your comment on a post stand out!

2. Username

There are 2 parts of your Instagram name. 

One is the username, which must be unique. Try not to use numbers or a string of 'aaaa' in your usernames, makes it harder to search for you. Also try to make this name memorable and easy to say out loud. 

Secondly, we have the 'full name'. This part of your username is searchable. So use it to your advantage, put some keywords in here. 

In the screenshot above, Steven Mellor's username is 'thestevenmellor'. It is memorable, easy to remember.

His 'full name' says 'Steve Marketing + Branding'. So whenever people search up 'marketing' or 'branding' on Instagram, his account might appear.

3. Bio

Your bio appears underneath your username, and you only get 150 characters to say everything. 

-A. Niche statement: Who do you help? How do you help? Speak to your target audience here.

Vanessa's niche statement (screenshot above) is that she helps content creators become digital CEOs. This is very specific and helps people solve a certain problem. 

Mention clearly and precisely what results people can get. In her bio, Vanessa says, 'Digital CEO.' That's the result her followers want. 

What should your followers expect from you? What will YOU give them? What RESULTS should they expect? Think of what THEY want.  

Vanessa also mentions her business (and subtly advertises her course, The Bossgram Academy).

B. Fun Fact/ Achievements

This part you can use to interest potential followers. Vanessa says she has 500K on Youtube, which distinguishes her as an expert in social media. She also mentions she earns 7 figures, which is the result many people want. This gives them incentive to follow her.

If you don't have such an achievement, just put in a fun fact. 

C. CTA

The call to action! Vanessa invites people to click her bio link, which is one of the only links on Instagram which actually work. (Links do not work on most places in Instagram). 

You could also ask people to check your highlights. 

(Highlights are explained below)

D. Bio link

This is the most useful link in your page, because it's one of the links that only work. 

You only can use one link in your bio.

You could use a link service so clicking your biolink takes someone to a page with all your other links to. (Later, Linktree, etc provide these services for free). 

However, one thing to consider is that if there are many options, someone may choose to click NONE. If there is one option, a person on your profile is more likely to click your link. So you could instead put your most IMPORTANT link here. For many personal brands, this may be the link to join their email list or newsletter, or a freebie which you can only access by joining their newsletter.

Steven Mellor has another idea for this problem. He suggests putting a link that takes people to your e-mail list signup page. Once a person has signed up to your email list, the page should display your other links. This increases chances of you getting a new email list subscriber. 

One more thing to consider is freebies get more clicks than paid stuff. Let's say you're an author. You can either put the links to buy your books, or you can put link to join your newsletter. You have to choose which would be more profitable in the long run. 

(Why is an email list so important? Will be explained in a future chapter!)

E. Highlights

Highlights are a collection of your Stories, which appears under your bio. 

Stories disappear after 24 hours. But if you put your story in a highlight, it stays on your profile and people can see it any time.

Since 2021, Instagram allows 1 link to be used in each story. So you could create a highlight with your stories that link people to your other social medias. 

Highlights can also be used to introduce yourself, talk about your paid products (if you have one), and display your best posts. 4- 8 highlights are usually the best. Over 8 and people will have too many options and may choose to click none!

Things to Consider While Setting Up your Profile

1. 3 values, 3 content pillars.

Choose 3 of your content pillars. For example, Social media marketing, branding and entrepreneurship. Or nature photography of flowers, plants and forests, etc. 

Then, choose your values. Vanessa's may be honesty, high-energy and specificity. She maintains this value throughout her content. 

2. Keep your profile public

If you want to grow on Instagram, you gotta make your profile public. Lots of people refuse to. But making your profile private will much harder for you to grow.

-Non followers can't see your posts, so less engagement on your posts

-You won't get hashtag reach

-If people can see content on your profile, and they like some of the content, they are more likely to follow than if they see NONE of your content. 

3. Feed Test

This is a test deviced by Vanessa Lau. 

Cover your profile and bio. Look just at your content. Does it give someone who just visited your profile a good idea of your niche?

Now cover your content. Look just at your profile photo and bio. Does it give a profile visitor a clear idea of your niche?

If you pass both these tests, then you are good to go!