Instagram Creator Profiles: Should You Make a Switch?

With 2 billion monthly active users and the most-engaged user base, Instagram has quickly become a popular tool for businesses and influencers to reach their target audience.

As a photo-sharing app, where visual learners spend much time scrolling the feeds, Instagram remains the top platform for influencer marketing. The demand for influencer endorsements is constantly growing, so it's no wonder that individuals are joining Instagram, some to showcase their lifestyles, interests, or talents, the platform is increasingly becoming a popular hub for content creators.

Brands have identified this growing number as an opportunity to promote their services and products organically. But for the longest time, content creators have been using business accounts with limited features.

Things changed in 2018 when Instagram announced the launch of its creator profile. It is a new account type between business and personal profiles, one that was designed with the sole purpose of helping content creators reach more people and engage their followers better.

Here's the informative visual on the main Instagram profile types and their differences:

If you create content for brands and make money on Instagram, switching to an Instagram creator profile can be a good idea. This article discusses all Instagram creator profiles and whether you should switch.

What Should You Know About Instagram Creator Profiles

Also known as creator profiles, a creator account is a type of an Instagram profile designed specifically for content creators and influencers.

It was developed to help them easily manage and track their audience analytics and collaborations with brands as well as view insights into their followers' demographics and interests.

Check out how an Instagram creator profile looks on the platform:

The profile also has additional features to make it easier for you to interact with your audience without worrying about spam or other negative feedback.

The main difference between a creator and business accounts is that the latter is mostly geared toward businesses and brands, with a clear monetization strategy. On the other hand, a creator profile is for individual content creators simply looking to gain exposure and build their brand.

Key Features of An Instagram Creator Profile

To help you determine if you should switch to a creator profile, here is a look at its key features.

• Professional Dashboard. Content creators need to manage their accounts and keep track of analytics effectively. The creator profile has a dashboard that lets you easily view insights into your followers, how often they comment, like your posts, and more.

You can also use the dashboard to measure the effectiveness of campaigns and collaborations with brands and influencers.

• Secondary Inbox. One key tip to becoming a successful Instagram influencer is to interact with your followers. But as a creator with a huge following, you may have difficulty responding to all messages. Things get more overwhelming when you differentiate between genuine messages, fan mail, and spam.

The creator profile has a secondary inbox that helps you easily manage your conversations with followers. This way, you can quickly sort through all the messages and respond in an organized manner.

• Creator Labels. The creator profile also has creator labels, allowing you to create a consistent identity across Instagram. This helps maintain your content's authenticity and keep your followers engaged. For example, you can add a label with your name and bio to all the posts, stories, and videos on Instagram.

Now that you understand the features that differentiate a creator profile from a business account, here is an in-depth look at why you should consider switching. Here are six reasons to make a switch to an Instagram creator profile.

1. Describe Yourself Better

Content creation is not just about posting great photos and videos but it is also about creating a unique identity. If you're a food blogger and you know how to create mouth-watering food images, it's a good idea to highlight it and therefore attract restaurant owners or cafe marketers for collaboration.

You can easily add labels to all your posts and stories with an Instagram creator profile.

A clear identity ensures that your followers know who you are and what you stand for, even when they do not have time to read the caption. In addition, this helps potential brands identify content creators quickly by simply going through their profiles.

For example, suppose you are a fashion influencer. You can easily add a label with your name and bio to every post. This way, you can create a consistent identity across Instagram without writing captions for every post.

Let's take a look at this creator's profile from the fashion industry:

2. Get In-Depth Analytics

As an influencer, you will likely collaborate with brands that expect you to bring them tangible results. An Instagram creator profile gives you an in-depth look at your followers and how they interact with your content.

You can view detailed analytics, including the number of likes, comments, shares, and views for each post or video. You can easily track your progress and make data-driven decisions to improve your performance.

Furthermore, you can get an overview of how your followers engage with the different platforms, including Instagram Reels and IGTV. This way, you can determine which content gets the most engagement and create more.

3. Create Shoppable Posts

Instagram shopping is taking the world by storm. With 87% of Instagrammers who discover and purchase products in-app, creating shoppable posts can affect impulse buying and drive sales. Simply put, shoppable posts can help content creators deliver better results for their partners.

If you collaborate with ecommerce brands who have a store or an e-commerce site, you can add shoppable tags to your posts and stories with the Instagram creator profile. This feature lets your followers easily purchase products directly from the post.

Check out how this strategy looks in action:

In addition, you can also create product collections that allow visitors to quickly access all the products related to one particular topic or look. For example, if you are promoting a collection of summer clothes, you can add all the items in one place so that people do not have to search for them separately.

4. Organize Paid Partnerships with Brands

Collaborating with brands is a great way to monetize your Instagram presence. Moreover, the popularity of Instagram branded ads, when businesses promote influencer endorsements on the platform, is growing.

With an Instagram creator profile, you can easily organize and track paid brand partnerships.

You can view all the collaborations in one place and measure their effectiveness with insights. This lets you quickly decide which brand offers the best ROI and secure more collaborations.

5. Improve In-App Communication

Influencers are mostly bombarded with messages such as 'where can I find such shoes? When do you plan a giveaway?'. An Instagram creator profile has an inbox feature that filters those messages and puts them in different folders, allowing you to quickly sort through all the messages and respond in an organized manner.

It helps to communicate with brands, followers, and friends without missing a single message.

For example, the primary inbox can contain messages from followers, while the collaboration folder can show brand messages. This feature helps quickly respond to inquiries and ensures nothing gets lost in the shuffle.

What is more, you get a chance to reply to messages from the desktop which can make it faster to type replies:

6. Secure More Collaboration Options

The Instagram creator profile also provides access to exclusive features and opportunities.

For example, you can be a part of the Creator Studio, which allows you to collaborate with brands on sponsored content without signing any contracts.

You can also apply for the Creator Fund, an exclusive grant provided by Instagram to help influencers grow their presence. Besides, you will gain access to insights-driven recommendations that help boost your reach and engagement rate.

Some brands may reach out to you asking for Instagram shoutouts, which may eventually turn into a business agreement. It’s all about consistency and authenticity.

How to Set Up an Instagram Creator Profile

If the primary reason you are yet to switch to a creator profile is that you are unsure how to get started, here is a quick guide.

To switch from a personal account to an Instagram creator profile, all you need to do is:

• Go to your Instagram profile and click on the settings icon
• Scroll down and select Account
• Tap the Switch to Professional Account
• Choose Creator

Now, you can select the appropriate category and additional details related to your profile. Worry not, as Instagram will guide you through the entire process.

Once you are done, all you need to do is click on Done, and your profile will be upgraded to an Instagram creator profile in no time.

Conclusion

An Instagram creator profile is undoubtedly the best way for content creators to maximize their presence on this platform. The account provides access to exclusive features, insights-driven recommendations, improved collaboration opportunities, shoppable posts, and more.

Switching to a creator profile should be your priority if you want to stand out from the crowd and take your presence to the next level.