How to Choose Your Instagram Business Account Category?

Though not officially confirmed, adding your business category can help you reach a larger and better audience.

Instagram offers tailored content to users in its explore section based on their interests.

For example, if a user likes or engages with a post about, say classic American muscle cars, they are more likely to see similar content. It could be posts of classic cars like Mustang, Charger, and Chevelle and their restoration, etc.

If you are in the car detailing or restoration business, you can publish your works on the platform. Such content-driven marketing will help you reach a more relevant audience.

Adding a business category does not guarantee going viral on the platform.

However, with the advent of short video content like Reels, going viral on Instagram can be unbelievably quick.

You could see significant improvement in reach and engagement in a matter of days—sometimes hours. But your chances are higher if you keep giving Instagram a better context of your profile. In this case, your business.

It includes signals such as your Instagram username, profile display name, description, hashtags in your posts, posting consistently, and of course your business category.

By adding a category, Instagram can better understand your profile. Eventually, it will help the algorithm to promote your content to the interested people, i.e., your target audience.

If your Instagram account is still a personal account, here are the steps to change it into a professional (business/creator) account.
Step 1: Log in to your Instagram Account
Step 2: Go to your Profile
Step 3: Click “More” > “Settings”
Step 4: Click “Switch to professional Account” in Menu on the left
Step 5: Choose Account Type. i.e., Business Account
Step 6: Click “Next”
Step7: Search and Select Your Business Category
Step 8: Check “Show Category on Profile”
Step 9: Click “Done”
Step 10: Review (or update) your Business Contact info
Step 11: Check “Show Contact info on profile”
Step 12: Click “Save” (or “Don’t use my contact info”)
Step 13: Click “Done”
Easy as a breeze!

But one challenge that you might encounter is choosing the appropriate category for your business on Instagram. It is because Instagram lists more than 1000 categories for businesses of all shapes and colors.

Also, if you are a startup still figuring out where your business belongs or a business offering a range of services, the niche categories may not fit yours.

You may choose one of these categories for your business for the time being. But, you can always change it when you have better clarity on how your audience sees your business.

Here’s how to identify the right category for your business on the platform.

The effective way to choose the best Instagram Business Account category is to figure out how your existing repeat customers define your business.

Define how you want to present your brand to your audience. Open your Instagram account, search, and shortlist all the categories related to your business.

If you have loyal repeat customers, reach out to them. Conduct a simple online poll or a customer survey. Ask them to pick and choose which category would best fit your business.

You can also make it a part of your branding or marketing strategy by involving your loyal customers in the decision-making process.

Here is a list of all business account categories for all types of businesses.