How to Add Your Business Location on Instagram

Adding a custom business location to your Instagram posts is one of the most effective ways to boost local discovery and connect with your community. It transforms every photo or Reel from a simple piece of content into a digital breadcrumb leading people straight to your door. This guide will walk you through exactly how to create and use a custom location tag for your business, step by step.

But First, Why Should You Add a Custom Location?

You might be wondering if it's worth the effort. Is a location tag really that big of a deal? Absolutely. A custom Instagram location goes far beyond just showing people where you are - it’s a powerful marketing tool hiding in plain sight. When you have your own unique geotag, you unlock a new layer of branding and community building.

Here’s what a custom location tag helps you accomplish:

• Boosts Local Discoverability: When users search for locations near them, your tagged posts can show up. Someone looking for a coffee shop in your neighborhood might see a beautiful latte art photo you posted, tagged right at your business address. This is organic, highly relevant exposure.
• Drives Foot Traffic: Every tap on your location tag shows users a map, instantly connecting your digital content to your physical storefront. It makes it easy for potential customers to see exactly where you are and decide to pop in. For brick-and-mortar businesses, this is invaluable.
• Creates a Hub for User-Generated Content (UGC): This is a game-changer. When customers visit and post their own photos or Stories, they can tag your custom location. Now, every piece of content created by your patrons gets collected under your unique location tag, effectively creating a living, breathing gallery of social proof.
• Reinforces Your Brand Identity: Having "[Your Cool Business Name]" show up as a clickable location instead of just a generic street address adds a layer of professionalism and polish. It shows you’re a legitimate, established brand that’s part of the local fabric.
• Acts as a Community Rallying Point: Your location tag becomes a digital landmark for your community. It's not just a business, it's a place where things happen. Running a special event or a pop-up? Create a unique location tag for it to build buzz and collect all the event-related posts in one spot.

The Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Custom Location

Here’s the single most important thing to know before you start: you cannot create a new location directly within the Instagram app. Instagram pulls its location data from Facebook's database. This means you’ll need to use the Facebook mobile app to create your location first, and then it will become available for you to use on Instagram.

It’s a bit of a workaround, but it’s the only official method that works reliably. Let's get it done.

Step 1: Prepare Your Phone and Your Facebook App

Before you even open Facebook, you need to give the app permission to know where you are. This is required for the "check-in" feature to work properly.

• For iPhone/iOS: Go to Settings >, Privacy &, Security >, Location Services. Make sure Location Services is toggled on. Then, scroll down to the Facebook app in the list and set the permission to "While Using the App" or "Always." If you can, turn on "Precise Location" as well for better accuracy.
• For Android: Go to Settings >, Location and make sure it’s on. Then, go to Settings >, Apps >, Facebook >, Permissions >, Location. Choose "Allow only while using the app."

Ensuring this setting is correct will prevent a lot of headaches and save you from wondering why the location-adding feature isn't working later on.

Step 2: Use the Facebook "Check In" Function

Now, open the Facebook mobile app. You are going to create your location by pretending to "check-in" to it.

1. From the main screen, tap the "What's on your mind?" status update box as if you were going to write a new post.
2. Below the text area, you’ll see several options like "Photo/video," "Tag people," etc. Tap the "Check in" option. It looks like a red map pin icon.
3. Facebook will immediately start searching for GPS-enabled locations around you. Ignore these suggestions for now.
4. In the search bar at the top, type the exact name of your new custom location (e.g., "The Daily Grind Roastery"). It's important that you don't select any pre-existing location that might look similar. You're creating a new one.
5. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the list of location results. You should see a blue button with a plus sign that says "Add [Your Location Name]...". Tap it. Note: If you don't see this button, check the troubleshooting section below.

Step 3: Define Your New Custom Place

Once you tap the "Add..." button, you'll be taken to a "Create a Place" screen. This is where you finalize the details for your location.

• Place Name: This should already be filled in with what you typed. Double-check for spelling and capitalization. Make it look clean and professional.
• Category: This is very important. Start typing a category that accurately describes your business, like "Restaurant," "Coffee Shop," "Apparel &, Clothing," or "Bookstore." Selecting a relevant category helps Facebook (and thus Instagram) understand what your business is, which improves its discoverability in searches.
• Location/Address: You can either use your current location by tapping the small GPS icon or manually enter your physical address. Typing the address is generally more accurate. As you type, a map will appear. Move the pin on the map to get it exactly right - right on top of your front door if possible!

Once you've filled everything in accurately, tap "Save" or "Done" in the top right corner. That's it! You've successfully submitted your new place to Facebook's database.

Got It! Now How Do I Add It to My Instagram Posts?

After creating your location on Facebook, it needs a little time to sync and become available on Instagram. This can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few days, but it usually happens within an hour. Be patient!

Once you think enough time has passed, here's how to use it:

For a Feed Post or Reel:

1. Open Instagram and start creating a new post as you normally would.
2. After you’ve added your filters and edits, you'll land on the final screen where you write your caption.
3. Tap "Add Location."
4. In the search bar, start typing the name of the custom location you just created on Facebook.
5. It should pop up in the search results! Tap to select it.
6. Finish writing your caption and share your post. Your custom location tag will now appear at the top of your post, right below your username.

For an Instagram Story:

1. Create your Story content (photo, video, etc.).
2. Tap the sticker icon (the smiley face square) at the top of the screen.
3. Select the "Location" sticker.
4. Just like with a feed post, start typing the name of your custom location and select it from the list when it appears.
5. You can resize and place the sticker wherever you like on your Story.

Help! My Custom Location Isn't Showing Up on Instagram

Sometimes things don't go as smoothly as planned. If you’re running into issues, here are a few common problems and how to fix them:

• The "Add a New Place" button is missing on Facebook: This happens occasionally. Facebook's interface changes, and this feature can move or become less prominent. First, make sure your app and phone’s operating system are fully updated. If that doesn't work, try typing a very unique location name that has zero chance of already existing. Sometimes a very generic name doesn’t trigger the "add" button.
• It’s still not showing up on Instagram after a few days: First, log out of your Instagram account and log back in. This simple refresh can often force Instagram to fetch a new list of locations. If that fails, go back to your Facebook post where you checked in to create the location. Make sure it was set to "Public" and confirm that the location tag is still there and correct.
• My location was working, but now it's gone: Facebook sometimes merges or purges what it thinks are fake or incorrect duplicate locations. The best way to solidify your location is to have more people check in to it. Encourage employees and loyal customers to use the location tag when they're at your business to give it more legitimacy in the system.

Beyond Tagging: Level Up Your Location Strategy

Creating a location tag is just the first step. The real value comes from how you use it to build your brand and connect with your audience.

Encourage and Showcase User-Generated Content

Your location tag is now a digital container for every photo and Story shared from your business. Make it a point to encourage your visitors to use it. Put up a small sign in your store or add a line to your menu that says, "Tag us at [Your Business Location]!" When customers see others doing it, they’ll want to join in.

Check your location's Instagram page daily by searching for it or tapping the tag on one of your own posts. You'll see a gallery of public content from customers. Share the best ones to your Story (always crediting the original creator). This not only provides you with awesome, authentic content but also makes your customers feel seen and appreciated.

Engage with Your Community in Real-Time

Don't just look at the UGC - engage with it! When you see someone has posted from your location, leave a genuine comment on their photo. A simple, "So glad you stopped by! Great shot!" can turn a one-time customer into a loyal fan.

This kind of direct engagement shows that you're more than just a faceless brand, you're an active and appreciative part of the community.

Use Creative Geotags for Events and Pop-Ups

Don’t limit yourself to just your primary business address. Are you hosting a summer pop-up shop at a local market? Create a unique location like "XYZ Brand Summer Pop-Up" to build exclusive buzz around the event. This organizes all the content from that specific event into one easy-to-find place and makes attendees feel like part of an exclusive experience.

Final Thoughts

Creating a custom location on Instagram, via Facebook, is a small technical step that packs a huge marketing punch. It makes your business more discoverable to local customers, builds powerful social proof through user-generated content, and adds a professional touch to your brand's presence on the platform.

Keeping up with all the engagement from your new location tag, planning content, and managing DMs can quickly become overwhelming, especially as your presence grows. That’s why we built Postbase. We designed it for modern brands and creators who need a simple, reliable way to manage it all. With our unified inbox, you can reply to all your comments and DMs in one place, while our visual calendar makes planning and scheduling content feel effortless, so you can focus on building that community connection.