How To Create A Good Instagram Bio

Writing a good Instagram bio might seem straightforward, but it actually requires some strategy and creativity.

According to researchers, within the first 7 seconds of meeting you, people will have a solid impression of who you are — and it can be even shorter online.

So, if you're using Instagram for Business, you'll want to make a good first impression with your Instagram bio, and use it to attract new followers and potential customers!

Ready to craft an Instagram bio that convinces visitors to click the "follow" button? Here's how:

6 Tips for Creating a Good Instagram Bio

Optimize Your Name for Search Queries
Add Your Skills & Target Audience
Include Relevant Keywords
Optimize Your Website Link
Share Your Contact Information
Get Creative & Show Your Personality
Instagram Bio Checklist (bonus!)

Tip #1: Optimize Your Instagram Name

The first step to creating a good Instagram bio is making sure that your Name Field is optimized with your name and/or a searchable keyword.

For example, if you're in the healthcare industry, you may want to include your full name along with your job title. This way, when people search for you on Instagram, they'll be able to easily find the correct account.

Take note of how therapist Meghan Watson uses the Name Field to include her occupation for extra clarity:

Instagram also considers the name and username fields in search queries, so it's a great idea to make sure they're optimized.

With this in mind, you may want to use keywords that potential followers may search for. Do you offer a specific service? Are you known for something in particular?

Take chef and writer Hannah Che, for example. She uses the Name Field to include her name and a keyword: vegan recipes.

Now, whenever someone searches "vegan recipes" on Instagram, her account will be among one of the first they see. And her simple and to-the-point Instagram bio let's visitors know what her posts will be about.

Ready to make your Instagram bio stand out? Download our free Instagram bio worksheet to help you start planning:

Tip #2: Highlight Your Skills & Target Audience

A good Instagram bio explains what your business does and who it's for (aka your target audience).

Goldleaf checks every item on the list with their Instagram bio:

They include "science-forward journals and decor" at the beginning of their bio, and mention they're for "cannabis patients, growers, and enthusiasts". Right away, new visitors will know exactly what the brand sells and if their products fit their interests. Short and sweet.

If you're an entrepreneur or creator, you can also use your Instagram bio to help set you apart in your industry. Think about your skills or any experiences that might be of interest to potential followers.

Candace of @candaceabroad, is a travel blogger who uses her bio to highlight that she's an American expat living in London:

Not only will this tidbit serve as an introduction to her profile, but it lets people know she'll be exploring London and creating guides from the perspective of someone who moved abroad (with proof that they can do the same!).

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Tip #3: Use Relevant Keywords

Using targeted keywords in your bio won't improve your searchability on Instagram (except, as we mentioned above, for your name and username) but it can help give your account more focus and connect you with like-minded followers.

It can also get your purpose across at a glance, which is important when you have a limited amount of characters to play with.

When deciding what keywords to include in your Instagram bio, think about your core values and interests, and those of your target audience.

The Chalkboard Mag does this by using keywords like "wellness", "nutrition", "self-care", and "design":

If you use Instagram for business, spend some time creating a "persona" of your ideal follower.

What are their pain points or interests? What keywords will resonate with them?

Using keywords that target your audience and niche will help users better understand who you are, what you have to offer, and whether or not your account is relevant to them.

Check out how Headspace use keywords like "happiness" and "meditate" in their Instagram bio to explain what they do and connect with followers:

Tip #4: Drive Traffic with Linkin.bio by Later

The link in your Instagram bio is easy to find and readily clickable, making it one of the most valuable traffic-drivers on your profile.

And the good news is, with Linkin.bio by Later, you can turn your whole Instagram feed into a clickable landing page and drive traffic to your online store, event page, video, or blog.

This means, you can add links to any of the Instagram posts you've published, which helps direct your Instagram audience to the right content or products on your site.

And if you're on a Later Growth or Advanced plan, you can connect your Shopify account to Linkin.bio! In a few clicks, tag Shopify products in your Linkin.bio posts and make it even easier to shop your feed.

Ready to turn followers into customers with a shoppable Instagram feed? Start using Linkin.bio today !

Tip #5: Add Your Contact Information

With an Instagram business profile, you can add contact information to your Instagram bio. This includes your email address, phone number, and brick-and-mortar address.

The best part? It doesn't take up any character space in your bio!

Skincare company Eluo Beauty and jewelry brand Greda Co. have contact information available for new visitors and their followers:

The benefit to adding contact information is that it makes it easy to contact you. It can also act as a visual prompt for someone to reach out if they have a question or inquiry.

Tip #6: Get Creative With Your Instagram Bio

While it's important to convey who you are and what you do in your Instagram bio, you should also think of it as a space for you to show off your personality and have fun.

Here are 3 ways to insert some creativity:

Use Emojis to Space Out Your Text

One way to space out the text in your Instagram bio is by incorporating emojis. You can use them to break up any text-heavy sections in your bio, like Poppy's Happy Doodles or Sam Ushiro:

You can also use emojis to highlight any CTAs (call-to-actions) or add some pizzazz to your bio, like Later:

Include a Branded Hashtag

Whether you're promoting an Instagram contest or UGC (user-generated content) campaign, including a clickable branded hashtag in your Instagram bio can help drive engagement.

Beverage brand Sunwink encourages followers to use #DrinkSunwink for a chance to be featured:

Including your branded hashtag in your bio is also a great way to get your followers into the habit of using it, like Apartment Therapy:

Plus, users can now follow hashtags on Instagram, so if they follow your branded hashtag, it can help keep your brand top-of-mind.

Add Line Breaks to Your Bio

Adding line breaks to your Instagram bio is a great way to make the information more bite-sized and consumable.

The easiest way to add line breaks to your Instagram bio is to format it on the web version of the app. Once done, you'll have a bio that's easier to read, like Darryl Cheng's @houseplantjournal:

Instagram Bio Checklist

A good Instagram bio is one that creates a great first impression and convinces users to click the "follow" button on your account. Here's a recap of what we covered:

Explain who you are and what you do
Target your niche audience with specific keywords
Link to your website or blog using Linkin.bio
Provide additional ways for your followers to get in touch
Show your personality

Whatever approach you decide to take for your Instagram bio, it's worthwhile to invest some time and effort in the process.

Once you have a bio you're happy with, ask a few people in your network what impression they get when they visit your profile and use their feedback to help make any adjustments.

And as your business grows and evolves, you can set time aside every few months to review your bio and make sure you're always telling the story you want to tell.

Ready to save time and optimize your Instagram bio? With Linkin.bio by Later , you can turn visitors into customers. Get started for free now!