10 Elements of the Perfect Instagram Bio

One of the most significant aspects of a decent Instagram profile is the bio. Your bio summarizes everything you do on Instagram and gives your page visitors a quick impression of what your page is about. That’s why a well-written Instagram bio is essential in targeting the right audience and growing your Instagram organic following. 

But how do you create an Instagram bio that attracts organic followers?

With limited space and number of characters to work with, writing the perfect Instagram bio can sometimes make you want to pull your hair out. No worries, your hair is safe. We’re here to give you the deets on how to write an Instagram bio that will stand out from the rest.

Here are the ten elements of the perfect Instagram bio:

1. An Optimized Instagram Name

The first thing that you should think about when crafting your Instagram bio is your Instagram name or handle. It’s what your audience will see and what will appear in the search results. So you want your audience to easily connect with you, it’s crucial to optimize your Instagram name.

There are two basic questions you should ask yourself when choosing your Instagram name:

• Does it reflect who you are or what your business is?
• Will your audience be able to find you with that name?

With these, it makes much more sense to use the name that your target audience identifies you with instead of some awkward combination of words and letters that’s barely readable. In short, just use your name, brand name, or business name. 

For instance, if you’re an author, it’s easier for your audience to find you if you use your pen name. Or if you’re selling a product, use the brand name for that product. So when your target audience searches for your name on IG, you’ll appear on top of the search results instead of some impostor or a random account that has nothing to do with you.

Remember, however, that Instagram handles are only limited to 30 characters. That’s why keeping it basic with simply your name is much more practical.

Though, if you still have room for some more characters, it doesn’t hurt to include keywords relevant to your brand or business. Doing so not only makes it much easier for your audience to find your page. It also helps you reach audiences who may not have known you outside of Instagram but are interested in your niche.

Let’s say you have a baking business. When someone wants a feed with baked products, they’ll probably type in the word ‘bakery.’

As you can see above, using an optimized Instagram name increases your chances of appearing in the search results for suggested accounts. As you know, people tend to click on the top results. So even if they haven’t heard of your business before making that search, there’s a good chance they’ll click on your profile and follow you. This, in turn,  brings you one step closer to organic growth.

2. Reasons Why People Need You

Regardless of how you articulate it, the ultimate goal of your bio is to convey what you offer and why people need your services.

When new users find you on Instagram, you need to provide them with the information they require to keep them interested. Since keeping a user’s attention for long is next to impossible on social media platforms, it is wise to use straightforward language that gets your point across.

For example, have a look at this Knix company bio below. You can see how they use plain and basic terms to get their point across in the most straightforward manner. 

You also have the option of setting up a category on your business account. It shows up on the top of your bio and instantly lets users know what the page is about and what to expect from your account. It even has a different font color than the rest of the bio to make it more distinguished and eye-catching. They attract your potential clients by evoking their personal interest.

Take a look at the screenshot below and put yourself in the user’s shoes. If you look at a page and read the category, you’ll instantly know what the page is about even without reading the rest of the bio.

3. Personality and Character

The purpose of the bio is for you to talk about your personality and character to your audience. So go ahead and do it. Mention the distinguishing characteristics that help you stand out from the rest. But remember that this isn’t a biography. So keep things basic and only showcase key aspects of yourself or your company.

Nonetheless, before you start writing anything down, make sure you know exactly what you are offering and how you’re different from everyone else providing similar content. Ask yourself these questions: 

• What value does my account provide to my target audience? 
• Is it distinct from other accounts that offer a comparable service? 
• If so, how do I go about doing it? 

If you find that the answers are still a mystery to you, it’s time to go back to the drawing board and rethink your plan. But, more significantly, ensure that your content corresponds to the expectations of what you claim to be giving. 

Of course, you can write a bio that attracts followers by claiming to be the finest and most unique at what you offer. However, this will only create unrealistic expectations for your followers. And unless you keep posting excellent and relevant content, all of your fans will eventually unfollow you.

Therefore, when it comes to adding personalization and character, it is crucial that you stay true to yourself and not waste your time pretending to be someone or something you’re not. People are astute, and they will see right through you.

4. A Compelling Call to Action

Incorporating a call-to-action (CTA) in your bio can be beneficial. It guides your audience on what steps to take next. As such, CTAs increase the likelihood that users will do what you want them to do.

Here are some tips on how to formulate a compelling CTA:

• Be straightforward. For instance, you can say: “To browse our latest products, click our bio link.”
• Encourage consumers to share with a personalized hashtag
• Promote a contest with CTAs like: “Share for a chance to win!”

Leesa, for example, as you can see in the screenshot, has two CTAs: one where they are urging users to share and the other encouraging users to click the link to learn more about the company.

You can also use call-to-action buttons that are available for Instagram business accounts. This frees up your bio space and allows people to take direct action from your Instagram profile, making it easier for customers to perform actions that lead to the sale of your products. This feature can be used for shopping, booking tables, buying tickets, etc. If CTA’s are not really your forte, here are some CTA examples you can use.

For example, in the screenshot below, you can see that the CTA buttons give customers the option of either following the page, messaging them, or going directly to their shopping page.

Further Reading: Best 25 Instagram Bio Ideas to Help Improve Yours (with Examples)

5. Relevant Keywords

Now that you have optimized your Instagram name, it’s time to make the most of relevant keywords. Again, keeping in mind the example of a bakery, if your primary keyword is ‘bakery,’ you might want to include secondary keywords like ‘cupcakes, ‘baked products,’ and so on.

In the screenshot above from Magnolia Bakery, their primary keyword is highlighted in red, and their secondary keyword is highlighted in orange.

Magnolia Bakery has done an excellent job in making an ideal bio with essential search-optimized keywords.

Hence, we can say that keywords are an excellent method to make your profile more visible online. SEO keywords will help your profile rank higher in various search engine results pages, resulting in more prospective followers.

You can also use services like Google Keyword Planner and other keyword research tools to help you locate the perfect keywords quickly. If you’re a local business, using localized keywords can also help you reach more audiences within your area.

6. Creatively-Used Emojis

Emojis are a fun way to express emotions creatively. But did you know that they also come in handy for a 150-word Instagram bio? Aside from being entertaining and memorable, they also add a sense of “comic relief” to your bio. 

If you thought that using emoticons in your Instagram bio would make it less interesting, you might want to reconsider. Emojis work well with both younger and older audiences, and there is an emoji for just about anything you want to say. This helps “humanize” your brand and makes it more relatable. Just look at this one:

7. Links to Website/Other Social Media Profiles

When an Instagram user says “link in bio,” they’re telling their followers to go to their profile’s bio section to get the clickable URL for the website or page they are advertising.

The phrase “link in bio” is a compelling call to action, promoting further information outside of Instagram’s confines. Through this link, you can redirect users to know more about your page and your projects and content in detail.

You can add a URL link to your homepage or add a link to new features and content you’re providing. You can also use tools like Tailwind’s Smart.bio to go around the single link limit and take your users to a landing page and other relevant links.

Further Reading: Instagram Link In Bio: 10 Different Ways You Can Drive Traffic from Instagram

8. Appropriately-Placed Line Breaks

By employing line breaks and spacing, you may make it easier for people to browse your bio. This is fantastic, especially if your bio contains too much information. It not only “declutters” your Instagram bio, but also makes it look like you really mean business.

You can also make your bio look unique and gorgeous with apt alignment. But how do you do it? Simply try to arrange your Instagram bio to achieve this kind of look:

9. Popular Hashtags

Aside from emojis, you can also express yourself in your Instagram bio using hashtags and profile links. You can now link to whatever hashtag or profile you choose, whether you’re a #musiclover or have a #makeup account. Simply tap Edit Profile and navigate to the bio section to add a hashtag or profile link to your bio. In the typeahead, when you type a # or @, you’ll get a list of suggested hashtags and accounts. Once you’ve chosen your hashtags and accounts, they’ll be linked in your bio immediately.

Using hashtags, like the incorporation of keywords, is yet another effective strategy to help you find what you’re looking for on Instagram. Aside from using terms popular for your niche, you can also create your own.

A unique hashtag will help you build a stronger relationship with your online audience and encourage your new followers to follow suit and utilize it as well. In addition, it’s more likely to be clicked on and used if it is visible through your bio.

Further Reading: 8 Powerful Ways How to Use Instagram Hashtags for More Exposure

10. Contact Information

In the list of what to include in an Instagram bio, contact information is one of those things that people frequently forget. They tend to think that their Instagram page is enough contact information. But that’s not always the case.

You see, there are a lot of reasons why someone can’t or won’t message you directly on Instagram. Some may not have Instagram accounts, or maybe they just want to talk to you directly. This is why it’s still recommended to include your contact information in your Instagram bio.

For example, an agency or a company may want to get in touch with you as a brand, and if they cannot find your contact information in your bio, you’ve already lost that deal. 

Contact information provides prospective customers with all the information they need to get in touch with your business easily, without having to go through hoops just to get your contact information.

It is good to add your phone, email, and location information if you have a business account. You can also use the email and contact buttons for this purpose so that you can highlight your contact information without taking up much space in your bio.

Final Thoughts

As highlighted many times throughout the post, a well-written bio is crucial in Instagram success. The above are just some of the things you need to craft the perfect Instagram bio that not only showcases your brand but attracts followers too. 

But at the end of the day, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to writing an Instagram bio. You should use your best judgment on what type of bio really fits your brand. If you think that emojis won’t work with your target audience, then feel free to not use them. Or if you think that hashtags are too cliché, then keep them off your bio. It’s your bio after all so you, of all people, know what’s best.

Further Reading: A 17-Step Plan to Launch (or Revise) Your Instagram Marketing Strategy

Author Bio

Mandy Schmitz is a freelance consultant and project management expert with 10+ years of experience working internationally for big brands in fintech, consumer goods, and more. Join her on Changeaholic.com to learn more about business, project management and to find the latest course reviews.

Hero photo by Mourizal Zativa on Unsplash