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In its early stages, Instagram had very different ideas for its business and private accounts. Back then, both personal and business features existed in a single Instagram profile. There were no prime business features like Analytics, just a regular bio, and your Instagram feed.

Instagram integrated separate business profiles in 2016 and since then, they have heralded a new path to social media marketing. Today, Instagram spots a whole new look for business and private accounts.

The advantages of Instagram business profiles became substantial with features like contact buttons, Instagram shopping, and Instagram Analytics. Nowadays, everyone has an Instagram business presence, from large establishments to startups and even influencers.

In this post, we take a deep look at how to convert to a business account and why this simple change may have a significant impact on the success of your business.

What Are the Benefits of an Instagram Business Account?

A business account on Instagram offers several advantages. This includes insights into your audience, content, and interaction, as well as additional buttons that enhance your profile.

When a company owner switches to a business account, Instagram provides them with several capabilities, including:

• The opportunity to run advertisements and promote content
• Insights and analytics about your posts, stories, and audience
• The feature of adding call and email CTAs to your profile.
• A clickable address in your profile

All of these features enable you to broaden your reach, while also optimizing your profile and content for your audience.

A business account comes with several benefits and some of them are:

• Getting Recognized as a Business Entity by Instagram 

After switching to a business account, you are given a professional look and function with Instagram algorithms that support business development. Your bio can be structured differently than a personal account, which can make clients and customers find you effortlessly.

You can include a clickable address that opens up Google Maps for direct location data. Call buttons can also be used to e-mail or call you directly from your Instagram profile.

• Access to Instagram insights

Only business accounts can access Instagram analytics to get raw data on how their posts are performing. This information helps you track your growth and understand your audience’s needs, subsequently improving the success of your content.

You can find the analytics of your content by tapping the ‘insights’ button on any post on your profile. There, you’ll find information on metrics like your profile visits, replies, and how your post was discovered. For more detailed analytics of your account, head to the main insights tab.

• Run Instagram Ads

One of the most compelling reasons to convert to an Instagram business account is the ability to run ads that are visible to your non-followers. Instagram Ads help you advertise a product or an event, to increase brand recognition.

Sponsored posts can also help you reach new audiences, enhance interaction, and gain more followers. These can help you get fast Instagram views, likes, and comments.

• Use Instagram Shopping

After switching to an Instagram business account, you can now make shoppable posts so users can buy products directly from your feed. This is particularly beneficial to eCommerce businesses that provide products like accessories and clothing.

With the shopping tool, you can tag goods in a post to show prices and link straight to the page on your website where a consumer may purchase them. You may also tag numerous products in a single post so that they can checkout and finish their purchase on the Instagram app.

These are just some of the many benefits an Instagram business account has to offer. Now, let’s discuss how you switch from a personal account to a business one.

How to Switch Instagram to a Business Account

The transition from a personal to a business account is quick and simple, but the benefits are long-lasting, with a positive impact on your Instagram marketing plan. With a business account, the Instagram features you can use, how you create relationships with your followers, and how you gather data will all improve.

You should be aware that your account has to be made public before you’re allowed to switch to a business account. Your account cannot be both a private and a business account because of the general nature of a business account.

When you switch to a business account, your account will show no obvious changes. However, you will have access to analytics and features that personal accounts do not have.

To convert your Instagram account to a business account, follow the procedures below:

• Head to your Instagram account and tap the three lines in the upper-right corner.
• At the top, select “Settings.”
• Choose “Account,” then “Switch to Professional Account.”

• Swipe through the incoming screens to learn about the advantages of having a Professional Account.
• Then you’ll be able to select which category your business belongs to.

• Click “Done,” and then confirm that you wish to use a Professional Instagram Account.
• You’ll be led to a screen where you may choose between “Creator” and “Business.” Select “Business.” That’s it.

You can also connect your Instagram business account to your Facebook page. If your business is present on both platforms, Facebook displays your Instagram feed on your Facebook page hence, giving you more reach and engagement.

8 Helpful Tips for Beginners With a Business Account 

Switching from a private account to a business account requires getting accustomed to various changes. Below are some helpful tips for beginners after switching to a business account.

1. Maximize Your Profile

Using Instagram for business means you have to try to  make the most out of the bio on your profile.

Firstly, you need to present a consistent profile image and an Instagram theme for easy identification. You can do this by using a consistent username across all your social media handles. This not only makes you easy to find but also easy to mention on posts across different platforms.

2. Remember to Place Your Website URL in the Bio

As a beginner, you may be overwhelmed by the different features at your disposal. However, never forget to put your website URL in your bio. This is the one place on Instagram you can post an active hyperlink so take full advantage of it.

In addition, carefully choose which URL to place there. You can change it as often as you’d like depending on where you want engagement.

3. Hashtags are Still Very Important 

Using the right hashtags can make or break your chances of reaching new audiences via your business account. Hashtags are an excellent method of increasing the visibility of your posts to gain new customers and bring in more revenue.

Choose at least five hashtags that are related to your content and business. Stay clear of the overly popular hashtags to give your account a better chance of exposure.

4. Learn to Diversify Your Post Content 

Many new Instagram business account holders often focus only on promoting their products and services. However, your content should not be solely about you or your products.

You may highlight and display them, but learn to include behind-the-scenes content and other posts that demonstrate the entertaining and passionate side of your brand.

5. Learn to Reply to Your Comments

Don’t forget to ask interactive questions on your posts and provide answers to comments that help promote your brand.

When users comment on your posts, it is important to take the time to respond accordingly. As your following progresses it will be impossible to reply to every comment. However, try and pick a handful at a time and respond to them occasionally.

Replying comments create healthy relationships between you and your customers, and will also boost your following.

6. Don’t share All Your Instagram Posts on Facebook and Twitter

Since you can easily connect your business account to your Facebook, don’t think you are required to share every instagram post on your Facebook page.

You can share posts to Facebook and Twitter on occasion, but not every time. You need to give your audience a reason to follow you on Instagram by trying to restrict your content to the platform.

7. Maximize Instagram Analytics

Determine your objective for each post and each feature on Instagram. For instance, set targets for ads or stories, and then use the insights tool to track your progress over time.

Your performance will be determined by the goal you specify, such as raising your follower count, generating traffic to your website, or turning Instagram followers into paying customers.

8. Check Out Other Business Accounts on the Platform 

Knowing what others in your field are doing is an excellent strategy to increase your chances of success.

This does not imply that you should adopt their tactics. Rather, you may search for holes in their strategy to choose where to focus your efforts,  or to guarantee that you stand out sufficiently from your competition. Find out what works and what doesn’t for them, and then learn from it.

Bottom Line 

Instagram made the process of switching from a private account to a business one very easy. By following these steps you can swiftly convert your private account to a business account and start marketing your products and services on the platform. With the tips we’ve provided, you should be able to smoothly transition and benefit from your new business account.

Casual dining restaurants are a staple in the food scene. They offer a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere where people can enjoy good food without breaking the bank. However, running a casual dining restaurant is not easy.

There are many things to consider, such as menu design, staffing, and marketing. A crucial decisions you will make for your restaurant is choosing a Point of Sale (POS) system. In this blog post, you will understand the merits of investing in POS software for casual dining restaurants.

What Is a Casual Dining POS Software?

A casual dining Point of Sale software is a type of software that helps businesses track sales, inventory, and customers. It can manage table reservations, take customer orders, and process payments.

A system can also help businesses generate reports, such as sales reports and customer loyalty reports. While casual dining software can be expensive to purchase and implement, it can save businesses time and money in the long run. It can help businesses improve their efficiency and accuracy, leading to increased sales and lower costs.

In addition, a point-of-sale system can help businesses build better relationships with their customers by providing them with valuable and timely insights into their ordering habits.

Merits of Casual Dining POS Software

There are many reasons why you should invest in POS software for casual dining restaurants. Here are some of the most important benefits:

• Saves Money

This system can help you save money by reducing the need for manual data entry. You will no longer need to hire someone to input sales data into your accounting software. In addition, a system can help you keep track of your inventory to avoid over-ordering or running out of stock.

• Improve Customer Service

This system may assist you in improving customer service by giving you insights into your client’s ordering patterns. This data might be used to alter your menu and offer to fulfill their demands better. Furthermore, it can help you keep track of consumer complaints and ideas to respond quickly to any concerns.

• Build Better Relationships

As mentioned earlier, a system can help you build better relationships with your customers. By providing them with valuable insights, you can show them that you care about their experience at your restaurant. In turn, this might lead to increased customer loyalty and repeat business.

• Better Managed Inventory

The software will also help you better manage your inventory. By keeping track of what is being sold, you can avoid overstocking or running out of items. In addition, a Point of Sale system can help you keep track of expiration dates and shelf life, so you can ensure that your food is fresh and safe to eat.

• Hassle-Free Transactions

A POS system may also increase the efficiency and convenience of transactions. You can reduce the need for manual data entry by automating the procedure of placing orders and payments. It implies that you will handle your clients faster and improve their overall experience.

Features of a Point of Sale System

Now that you know the positives of investing in POS software for casual dining restaurants, you might be wondering what factors and attributes to look for in a system. Here are some of the essential features to consider:

• Sales Tracking:  

The ability to track sales is one of the essential features of a Point of Sale system. This data can generate reports, such as sales reports and customer loyalty reports. In addition, tracking sales data can help you identify trends and make informed decisions about your menu and offers.

• Inventory Management: 

This is another feature to look for is inventory management. The software can help you keep track of your inventory to avoid over-ordering or running out of stock. A system can also help you keep track of expiration dates and shelf life, ensuring that your food is safe and fresh.

• Employee Management:  

Another essential feature to consider is employee management. A POS system can keep track of employee hours and sales to ensure that your staff is productive and efficient. In addition, a system can help you monitor employee performance to identify any areas where training might be needed.

• Cloud-Based Intelligent Dashboard:

To manage all these features in one place, you need a cloud-based intelligent dashboard. This type of dashboard gives you the ability to view all your data in one place and make informed decisions about your menu and offers. In addition, a cloud-based intelligent dashboard can help you track customer loyalty and employee performance.

• Loyalty Programs

Customer loyalty can be tracked using a POS system, and you may establish loyalty programs that reward your most loyal customers. It can also assist you in evaluating employee performance and developing rewards for individuals who sell more items or services.

As you can see, there are many advantages of investing in POS software for your casual dining restaurant. It can help you track sales, manage inventory, and employee performance. When choosing software for your restaurant, consider all the features that are important to you.

You’ve certainly gone to a web page’s Contact Us section and noticed that salespeople or employees have email accounts having their usernames + gmail.com many times. The ordinary individual will question if that’s their actual personal email account, regardless if it isn’t the most crucial measure of a company’s quality. Companies with foresight will see the value of having something more professional.

Why not take advantage of your hosting account’s free domain email, for example? Using email addresses such as username@yourdomainname.com will compared to utilizing a personal email address appear significantly more professional. The bottom line is that if you’ve paid for a domain, you should at the very least purchase it from a domain registrar that provides email forwarding for their accounts. You can also use the cpanel given by your hosting company to create a domain email address; they’ll also give you at least one free email address.

The Issue with Leaning on Others’ Platforms

The massive six-hour outage of all Facebook-based programs, which occurred at the beginning of October 2021, can be claimed to have had both major and secondary impacts. While the primary ones were expressed in concrete figures in the form of direct financial damage to the company and its customers, indirect ones were more difficult to quantify. One of them was that, with the demise of the Facebook platform, the whole business, marketing, and sales platform of those tiny and micro-businesses that rely on it as their sole (or dominating) digital business-sales area also descended.

This incident posed another question to the business community: can business owners equally be overwhelmed by the strategic decision to entrust their correspondences by e-mail to platforms that aren’t under their control?

The Domain Name Also Determines the E-mail Address

One of the major steps toward developing a modern brand and digital presence, in general, has already been mentioned: selecting the right domain extension and domain name. A well-designed and well-located corporate website is a critical component of modern business from which everything begins and over which its owner has complete and irrefutable authority. Trust is an asset that’s exceedingly uncommon and sought after in the online environment, and a well-designed and realized web presence generates trust and improves the relationship between the site owner (and the brand behind it) and its users.

The online identity of the company is embodied in the name of the Internet domain, which defines not only the address of the website but also the e-mail address. While the link between the domain name and the website’s web address is more well-known and discussed, e-mail is usually considered only when something goes wrong, which is a big mistake, given the importance of this service in digital business.

Reliable Service for Modern Business

Although it’s a technology that’s decades old, e-mail hasn’t lost its significance over time. On the contrary, it’s a cheap, fast, efficient, accessible, and widely used medium that, among other things, acquires new customers and users, informs the community about information relevant to the brand (mailing lists), and is a means of converting potential customers into concrete ones.

Giving up email as a marketing and sales channel, therefore, would by no means be a wise move. However, you should pay attention to the basic rules of its proper use, of which the most important is to avoid using all domain names that aren’t under your control and which can cause mistrust of recipients and other problems related to the security and integrity of message content.

We now delve deeper into the allegations made at the start of the article: one example is the usage of e-mail addresses obtained from one of the free/public, generic services for these purposes (Yahoo, Hotmail, Gmail, etc.). It may appear, especially for small firms, that relying naively and entirely on such platforms is a good idea because the corporations behind them also offer a variety of additional services that are tightly integrated with one another and with email. When we consider that the integration (convergence) was carried out with Android, the most popular mobile operating system, the choice of one @gmail address is, at first glance, completely straight-thinking. In actuality, though, things are very different.

Challenges and Risks of Using Public Email Services

The technical ease of sending mass e-mails from the Gmail platform carries with it significant challenges and risks:

Selection of the Sender’s Username

It’s extremely possible that the intended sender (e-mail account user) name is already taken in the case of rudimentary and free use of the Gmail service or similar generic service. This practically means that you can forget freely choosing the domain extension (it will always be @gmail.com), but also you can forget completely freely choosing the primary part of the email address (username).

Most likely result in addresses like dentalpracticejohnson1@gmail.com, dentalpracticejohnson 2@gmail.com, etc., which, you’ll admit, don’t seem well visually either are outcomes of your attempts to create many e-mail accounts, so you’ll have to be inventive…

Entrusting the Contact List to Someone Else’s Platform

Employing the Gmail provider requires laying out sensitive information with a third party, putting the service’s privacy, security, and integrity at risk. Unlike his, using third-party, i.e. email marketing services that include mailing list management and campaign creation, such as Benchmark, is quite all right.

Events Beyond Your Control

Although Google claims that its email service is available over 99% of the time, cases of system crashes, its unavailability, and emails that never reached the recipient aren’t uncommon and as a user, you have no influence on that.

You’re only one of the users on the platform and as such you depend on their professionalism and goodwill.

Issues Regarding Security

Hackers target public e-mail systems in particular because they can take control of a large number of accounts in one fell swoop and obtain access to a big amount of sensitive information stored in those accounts.

Data Privacy Issues

Despite the fact that each of these platforms has its own range of user agreements, monitoring mechanisms for protecting the privacy of supplied information and data play a special role, many of them haven’t proven to be special ‘champions’ in this area in recent years, and an additional level of caution in this regard is justified.

Recipient Trust – A Key Issue in Email Communication

The key point about choosing how to address your followers and clients via email is the issue of trust. Digital business experts point out that a domain name (and therefore email addresses) tailored to branding needs enhances credibility, builds a professional image, and positively impacts the overall brand. If, for example, you’re opening a dental practice, there’s a good chance that recipients would rather open an email from dr.john.johnson@dentalpracticejohnson.uk than dentalpracticejohnson1@yahoo.com.

Even though respectable entrepreneurs can use either address, a recent survey found that 79% of email users trust emails sent from a business address that includes the corporation’s domain name. The mentioned survey also pointed out that 72% of the respondents are more inclined to react to a mail from a branded business e-mail address than to one sent from a generic platform.

If the entire email service is under your direct control, you can easily develop marketing strategies and actions that include cross-branding – the contact email address on the brochure or flyer is in itself for promotion purposes, and in the case of using a public Internet service, it’s realistic to promote this service more than your firm.

When selecting a domain name, extra consideration should be given to the entire business segment that depends on email communication. In addition to standing the test of time and being used more than ever before, the thoughtful use of email will also serve as a method for building your web presence and the online identity of your business.