How to Setup Instagram Profile for Your Startup
- Rachel. M
- Oct 1, 2025
- 6 min read
Updated: Dec 2, 2025
Launching your business without a well-set-up Instagram profile is like opening a café and leaving the front windows covered — no one knows you’re there, and even fewer will come inside.
Instagram isn’t just a photo-sharing app anymore. It’s a search engine, a brand stage, and a relationship-builder rolled into one. But many founders don't have a strategy that builds it as a 24/7 sales and trust machine.
A Brisbane-based wellness coach we worked with had an Instagram page with the wrong username, no bio strategy, and poor search visibility. She was posting daily but getting almost zero enquiries. We re-built her profile using the exact framework you’re about to read. Within 6 weeks, her follower count grew by 52%, engagement doubled, and, most importantly, she booked out her one-on-one coaching spots three months in advance.
Let’s get your Instagram profile setup so it not only looks good but works for your business 24/7.
What Is Instagram?
Instagram is a social media platform where users share photos, videos, Stories, and Reels.
But for businesses, it’s more than a social tool — it’s:
A visual shopfront for your brand
A direct communication line with your audience
A lead generation platform
A community hub where trust is built
It’s where 80% of Australian internet users actively scroll daily, making it one of the best channels for discovery and conversions.
Why It Matters (And How It Impacts Growth)
Builds Trust Through Consistency
People buy from brands they recognise. An optimised profile makes it clear who you are, what you do, and why you’re worth following. Result: Faster trust-building, leading to quicker buying decisions.
Improves Searchability and Reach
Instagram is now a search platform. Keywords in your username, bio, and captions help you appear in searches. Result: More organic discovery without paying for ads.
Increases Conversions From Social to Sales
When your bio, highlights, and call-to-action align, you guide people from curiosity to conversion in minutes. Result: Higher click-through rates to your offers and website.
Positions You As the Go-To in Your Niche
First impressions happen fast — within seconds, people decide whether to follow or leave. Result: You stand out and attract the right audience immediately.
Real-World Example
An Australian boutique jewellery brand was struggling with slow sales despite having beautiful products. They’d invested $10K into a Shopify site, but Instagram was an afterthought — blurry profile pic, no keywords in the bio, and no link strategy.
We optimised their profile with:
A clear, keyword-rich bio
Professionally styled profile image
Story Highlights showcasing collections
Link-in-bio directing to their top 3 products
The result? 42% increase in website traffic from Instagram and a 27% boost in online sales — all within 45 days.
What You’ll Need Before You Start
Your brand name and clear positioning statement
Logo or high-quality headshot for profile pic
Short, keyword-friendly bio (mission + offer)
Brand colours + tone of voice guide
Website or landing page link
At least 3–5 high-quality images or videos ready to post
Mentor Tip:
Make sure your business handle / business name across all social media platforms is available. This is vital in order to avoid wasting time and you NEED CONSISTENCY for brand recognition across your social media platforms and your brand's digital footprint.
How to Set Up Your Instagram Profile:
Step-by-Step
Step 1: Create Your Account
Sign up at Instagram.com or via the app. Use your business email.
Result: Keeps business and personal accounts separate, making management easier.
Step 2: Choose the Right Username
Your username (handle) should be simple, on-brand, and easy to remember. Include a keyword if possible. Example: @SydneyYogaStudio instead of @Syd_Yoga123.
Result: Higher searchability and recall for potential followers.
Step 3: Add a Professional Profile Photo
Use your logo (for brands) or a high-quality headshot (for personal brands).
Make sure it’s centred and clear.
Result: Instantly recognisable in search and comments.
Step 4: Write a Compelling Bio
Your bio is prime real estate.
Use it to:
State who you help and how
Highlight your main offer or differentiator
Add a call to action (“Shop now”, “Book your free call”)
Result: Converts casual visitors into followers or leads.
Step 5: Add Contact Details & CTA
Use Instagram’s “Contact” buttons for email, phone, or directions.
Add your website link (or a Linktree/landing page if multiple links).
Result: Makes it frictionless for people to take the next step with you.
Step 6: Set Up Story Highlights
Organise your best Stories into Highlights:
About Us
Products/Services
Testimonials
FAQs
Result: Gives new visitors an instant crash course in your brand without scrolling.
Step 7: Optimise for Search (With Wix Option 2 SEO Tip)
Instagram is now an SEO game. Add relevant keywords to:
Your name field (e.g., “Sarah – Brisbane Nutritionist”)
Your bio description
Your captions and alt text
Wix SEO Tip: If your Instagram links back to a Wix website, use Wix SEO tools to align keywords across both platforms.
For example:
Match your Instagram bio keywords to your Wix homepage title and meta description
Use Wix’s built-in SEO patterns so every product/service page reinforces the same keyword strategy
Result: Better search performance both inside Instagram and on Google, driving more traffic to your site and profile.
What It Costs and How Long It Takes
1) Doing It Yourself
Time: 2–4 hours (if you have all your images ready)
Cost: Free (unless you hire a photographer for images)
2) Hiring a Specialist
Option | Cost Range |
Freelancer | $200 – $800/project |
Consultant | $150 – $350/hour |
Benefits of Hiring:
Professional copywriting for your bio
Strategic keyword integration for SEO
Consistent, on-brand visual design
Common Mistakes Founders Make
Even smart founders blow this step by rushing the setup. Here’s what to avoid — and what fixing it unlocks.
Using a personal profile (or the wrong account type)
Personal = no analytics, no buttons, no scale. Switch to Business/Creator so you can measure, optimise, and sell.
Blurry logo or off-brand profile image
If your avatar looks cheap, people assume the brand is too. Centre a crisp logo (or pro headshot for personal brands).
Clever bio that doesn’t say what you do
Cute ≠ clear. In 5 seconds users should know who you help, what you do, and where to click.
Dead or generic “link in bio”
Sending traffic to a homepage (or a crowded link tree) kills conversions. Point to a focused, on-brand landing page.
No Highlights (or messy, random ones)
New visitors won’t trawl your feed. Curate Services, Reviews, FAQs, About with branded covers.
Slow DMs and no quick replies
If you reply tomorrow, they buy from someone else today. Set instant replies and saved answers for FAQs.
Posting sporadically with no plan
Random posting = random results. Commit to 2–3 posts/week across 3–5 content pillars.
What to Do Right Now
✅ Book a session with Noize — we’ll plan, design, and optimise not only your Instagram Profile but all your social profiles, so your brand is on point [Noize.com.au]
✅ Get the StartupDeck — Fix the first impression that decides everything. The deck walks you through setting up all social media profiles—so more visitors become followers, leads, and customers. One deck, measurable lift this quarter; ignore it and you’ll relearn the same lessons next month. [theStartUpDeck.com]
COMING in 2026...
✅ Download our Instagram Profile Optimisation Checklist — the exact steps to set up a high-converting profile in under 2 hours. [ProDesk.com]
FAQs – Instagram Profile Setup
Do I need a business account on Instagram?
Yes — a business or creator account unlocks analytics, contact buttons, and ad tools you won’t get on a personal account.
How often should I post on Instagram?
Aim for 3–5 times per week to stay visible without overwhelming your audience.
What’s the ideal image size for Instagram?
Square: 1080x1080px, Portrait: 1080x1350px, Landscape: 1080x566px.
Should I use hashtags in every post?
Yes — but focus on 10–20 relevant hashtags, not spammy or unrelated ones.
Do Stories matter as much as posts?
Yes — Stories often get more views and keep you top-of-mind with followers.
Can I schedule Instagram posts in advance?
Yes — use Meta Business Suite or tools like Later, Buffer, or Planoly to batch content.
How do I drive sales from Instagram?
Use links in bio, product tags, and Story highlights to guide followers to your offers.
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