Your Instagram bio is one of the first things people see when they visit your profile. It allows you to make a strong first impression and clearly communicate who you are and what your account is about. Customizing your bio with relevant keywords, links, emojis, and more can help attract more ideal followers.
Here’s how to create an optimized Instagram bio that helps you stand out.
Table of Contents
Use Relevant Keywords
Include keywords and phrases that are relevant to your niche in your Instagram bio. This helps the Instagram algorithm understand what your content focuses on so it can show your posts to more interested users who may follow you.
Some keyword ideas to include:
- Your niche or industry
- Location
- Services or products offered
- Brand name
For example, a social media manager could include “social media expert based in Austin helping brands grow with Instagram”.
Add Useful Links
The one clickable link in your Instagram bio is valuable real estate. Use it to drive traffic to your website, online store, or landing page.
Some things you can link to:
- Website
- Blog
- Online shop
- Freebie opt-in page
- Link in bio service like Linktree
Using a link in bio service allows you to add multiple links under your Instagram handle.
Show Personality with Emojis
Emojis help show off your personality and make your bio fun and approachable. Use relevant emojis to quickly communicate:
- Your niche – 📸 for photographers, 👗 for fashion
- Location – famous local landmarks like 🗽 for New York City
- Brand persona – 🤓 for quirky, ✨ for dreamy
But don’t overdo it! Stick to 1-4 emojis in your bio.
Add Line Breaks for Readability
Long blocks of text are hard to read on small mobile screens. Add line breaks in your bio so it’s easy to scan.
On iPhone:
- Draft your bio in the Notes app
- Tap return after each line
- Copy and paste the text into your Instagram bio
On Android:
- At the end of each line, add a period or other punctuation
- Remove the punctuation once posted
Relevant niche hashtags help users find your profile when searching specific topics. Include 1-2 popular hashtags in your bio, like #foodblogger or #nycphotographer.
Change Up the Format
You can format your bio to stand out, for example:
- Bold key information
- Italicize your niche
- Capitalize your name and location
This adds visual interest and helps direct users to important details.
Refresh Your Bio Regularly
Your Instagram bio can change as your account evolves. Here are some reasons to update it:
- Launched a new product or service
- Hit a big follower milestone
- Rebranded your visual identity
- Moved locations
Revising your bio every few months ensures it accurately reflects who you are and what you offer right now.
Preview How It Looks
See how your bio will look before publishing changes using Instagram’s preview feature:
On iPhone:
- Tap profile icon
- Tap Edit Profile
- Make changes
- Tap Done
- Review changes by tapping Cancel
On Android:
- Tap ⋮ menu icon
- Tap Edit Profile
- Make changes
- Tap Temporarily Save
- Preview by tapping Back
This allows you to make sure formatting looks as expected before it goes live.
Use an Instagram Bio Planning Worksheet
Map out what you’ll include before you start editing for a strategic bio.
Include sections for:
- Keywords
- Links
- Emojis
- Line breaks
- Hashtags
- Formatting
- Changes to preview
Planning out your bio ahead of time allows you to optimize it before you publish.
Track Performance
See if your Instagram bio changes make an impact.
Track metrics like:
- Profile visits
- Website clicks
- Follower growth
Compare them before and after you make bio updates to see if they helped boost engagement.
Optimizing your Instagram bio helps users quickly see who you are and what you’re about when they land on your profile. A well-crafted bio makes a strong first impression and encourages visitors to follow you and explore your content. Use these Instagram bio tips to customize yours to attract more ideal followers.
