Instagram Bio Tips Independent Artists Need to Know
“First impressions are the last impression.” is a very popular saying that I’m sure most of you have heard of. Your Instagram is like a modern-day resumé and gives your visitors an idea of who you are as a person, what you do and, why they should invest their time in your profile. Yes, your Instagram bio is the second most important thing about your page. To increase your reach, reconsider your current bio and see what works best for you. Think of it like this, you’re planning your wedding and tasting various types of cakes, trying on different dresses, suits, and lights to find what fits the idea of you perfectly.
Here at JV Agency, we researched some of the most influential components of your Instagram bio and how you can optimize it to attract more followers.
Name
Bio
Link with a call to action
Highlights
Bonus [the MOST important of them all]
Name
If you are a relatively small following, the name section on your profile needs to be optimized. This means that you write a keyword of what you or your page offers next to your name. Are you a vocalist? Or a writer? Are you a graphic designer? Adding this next to your name allows for a higher possibility of your page showing up in search if anyone is searching for those specific keywords.
Bio
Having a distinct Instagram bio has significant uses and allows your visitors to know what to expect from your page and helps decide whether your music or your content or the product is for them or not; what do they get out of following you. Always keep in mind that the information you provide is catered for your target audience and what you want them to know about you. One of the other perks of having a clear bio allows people working in the same industry as you or others, to reach out and see if they could collaborate on projects.
Link + Call to Action
You must have heard of the famous Instagram algorithm. Having a link in your bio has been known to have an impact on that very same, the very mysterious Instagram algorithm. So, let your fans know where your music is streaming, or where they can download your free samples. We’re not finished with this one. It’s great to have a link on your page as it boosts the algorithm but it’s equally or even more so important letting people know where the below-mentioned link will take them. I for one am very sceptical about clicking on links I don’t have any information on. Turns out, millions of us feel this way. So, a call to action is important for links as you’re letting people know what link they will be looking at.
Highlights
Recent research shows that highlights are something that has been gaining non-followers attention. So use it to your advantage and give a preview of the different things that you do. You might be a writer AND an avid baker. Show people what your personality is made of. And if they like your page, that’s great. If they don’t, you move on. Not everyone is going to be a fan.
Profile Picture [Bonus]
Picture yourself as an executive at a company. One of your responsibilities is to hire employees. When you have interviewees come into your office, you take a glance at how they present themselves. The same way when someone first lands on your page, the first thing they look at is your profile picture. So take a bit of an effort in choosing a profile picture that is clear and shows your face.
The key takeaway from all of this is that you cannot expect to make all these changes at once and hope for the best. You make some changes and see what works for your profile and what doesn’t with the good ole trial-and-error method. So, take your time and break a leg.