How to Design the Ultimate Instagram Profile for Your Software Company

Instagram is a network that many B2B companies struggle with - particularly in the software space.

After all, it's difficult to know how to make your organization shine when you're not selling physical products that you can snap pictures of and highlight with filters.

However, Instagram isn't just for B2C companies selling #InstaFood, or makeup tutorial companies. It's a robust social media network with more than 1 billion monthly active users.

If you haven't started tapping into the benefits of Instagram for your software company yet, here's how you can get started with an incredible profile page.

1. Start by Going Public

If you're joining the 57% of B2B software marketers who are planning on investing in Instagram in the years ahead, take note. Standard Instagram profiles are great - but to stand out, you're going to need to go one step further, with a public business profile.

An Instagram Business profile will give you access to things like Instagram Insights where you can track your conversions and see where the majority of your followers are coming from. You'll also be able to access things like paid ads and promotions too. Once you set up your Instagram account, remember to head into Options and check that the "Private Account" feature is unchecked.

2. Choose A Memorable Username

When customers want to find your software company on Instagram, they'll look for your @Username. This is the handle that you'll have to add into your profile when you're establishing your account. Your username should probably your business name. If that's taken, consider something like:

• @YourNameApp
• @TheRealYourName
• @YourNameCommunity

It's best to keep things short and sweet too.

Notice that SAP uses "SAP" for their handle, not Systems, Applications & Products:

3. Take an On-Brand Profile Picture

When you're happy with your username, you'll need to pick your profile photo.

Remember, this image is the first thing that people see when they visit your Instagram profile. It needs to be something that your customers will be instantly familiar with.

For most Software companies, this is going to be a picture of your logo. However, you can also consider photographs of your products or a snapshot of your team too. Remember that your profile will show up as a circle, so make sure that there aren't any crucial details in the corners of your image.

For reference, remember that 110 x 110 pixels is the size of the Instagram profile pic. Check out how great it looks on Cisco's Instagram page:

4. Create an Engaging and Informative Bio

Next, it's time to share some useful information about your company.

What kind of software do you offer? How would you describe your business to other people?

Remember, you only have a max of 150 characters to let your people know what you do and how you do it, so make sure that you get your point across fast. You can include brandable hashtags like Cisco's #BeTheBridge to make your profile stand out more. Alternatively, if it's right for your audience, consider adding a few emojis too.

Most importantly of all, don't forget to include a link in your bio that you can change regularly.

You only get one link on an Instagram bio, so you'll need to make it count. Options include:

• A link to your software download
• Links to your news room/blog page
• A link to your website
• A link to your product page

Some clever companies even include links to dynamic pages, so that they can change the content they share week by week, without adjusting the link.

5. Share High-Quality Content

Finally, remember that making your mark on Instagram means creating plenty of high-quality, valuable content that your audience wants to see. The more useful information you can share about your business, industry and software company, the more likely you are to attract followers.

Filling your Instagram profile with plenty of great content includes:

• Taking high-quality photographs and videos: Make sure that you always use a professional camera so that your pictures don't look blurred and pixelated. Take the time to edit photos before you publish them too.
• Experimenting with different kinds of content: Don't just share photos - play around with Instagram Stories, videos, and other inspiring content too. Even pictures of your team can make your software company more compelling.
• Use highlights: When you do share Stories, make sure to save the most valuable ones on your Highlight reel. This gives an extra something special to your profile and makes you stand out from the crowd. Check out Sage's page below. The highlights under their bio make their profile look more "complete."

Don't underestimate the power of Instagram just because you're promoting a software brand. Let your personality, creativity and thought leadership shine through, one picture at a time.