Should I Have a Separate Instagram Account for my Personal Business?
I’ve been asked this question many times, and the answer is always: it depends.
The only time I give a clear yes to creating a separate Instagram account for your business is when there is not a lot of overlap between your personal life and your work i.e. you are not an artist, wellness practitioner or a freelancer.
For instance, while I post about my freelance work through Bea Rue Studios on my personal Instagram account, my wedding game rental business Upstate Jamboree has its own profile.
To get a better sense of where to draw the line, let’s go through the pros and cons of mixing or separating your personal and business social media accounts-
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PROS TO HAVING A SINGLE INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT:
Keeping one Instagram account (mixing personal + biz) is certainly easier and way more manageable than having multiple accounts. When you’re already juggling so much in your day-to-day, adding yet another task to the list may seem daunting. (I’m always a fan of streamlining processes whenever possible!)
Another benefit to having one Instagram account is that it will feature a mix of content- some focused on your business offerings, some on your personal life. This may offer up a stronger sense of personality and authenticity than a strictly business account might. Potential clients will feel more connected to you knowing your interests, philosophies and weekly meal prep routine.
Playing off the point above, if you consider your personality a part of your brand, then you should have one Instagram account. No need to drive yourself batty trying to decide which account to post to or duplicate content.
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PROS TO HAVING MULTIPLE INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS:
If you want to dive into analytics (i.e. behaviors and demographics), optimize traffic, and eventually advertise on Instagram, then It makes sense to create a separate business account. (Side note: in order to run ads, your Instagram account will need to be a business account linked to a Facebook page.)
If you love posting, you will likely find joy in managing multiple social media accounts. This will also give you an appropriate outlet for all those adorable baby and puppy pics you’ve been hoarding; as cute as they are, most clients will not want their feed inundated with them.
Having a separate business account offers privacy around your family, friends, and personal life.
If you don’t think your personal account’s followers are the right audience for your brand, creating a separate business-only profile will allow you to target your ideal client / customer.
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Still unsure if you should have multiple Instagram profiles? Ask yourself these questions:
Do you have the time and energy to curate and manage multiple social media accounts?
Do you plan to run paid ads on Instagram to promote your business?
Does the idea of mixing your personal life with your business and brand make you uncomfortable in the least bit?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then you should probably have separate personal and business accounts.
Ultimately you know what’s best. Follow your instinct, and be honest with yourself about the amount of energy you have to dedicate to social media and what your goals are. I’m confident you’ll do what’s best for you and your business. I hope this article has helped bring you some clarity!