How to Create a New Instagram Account

Creating a new Instagram account is the first move in building your brand’s presence, connecting with an audience, and sharing your unique story. This guide isn't just about the technical steps - it’s about setting you up for success from day one. We’ll cover everything from picking the right account type to optimizing your profile and making your first strategic moves.

First Things First: Choosing Between a Personal, Creator, or Business Account

Before you even tap “Sign Up,” it’s worth understanding the three types of Instagram accounts available. The one you choose determines a lot about the features you can access, so picking the right one from the start is a smart move. Don't worry, you can always switch later, but let's get you on the right track.

Personal Account: For Fun and Friends

This is the default, baseline account. It's meant for individuals who want to share photos and videos with friends and family. The biggest difference is that a Personal Account can be set to "Private," meaning only approved followers can see your content. However, it lacks all the professional tools - no analytics, no contact buttons, and no advertising capabilities. If you're building a brand, this isn't the account for you.

Creator Account: For Influencers and Public Figures

Introduced a few years ago, the Creator account is designed for influencers, artists, and public figures. It offers an excellent middle ground, providing access to valuable tools without being fully business-focused. With a Creator account, you get:

• Advanced Growth Analytics: Track follower growth and engagement with more detailed insights, including follow/unfollow data.
• Filtered Inbox: Organize your DMs into "Primary" and "General" folders to better manage collaborations and messages from friends.
• Flexible Profile Controls: You can choose to show or hide your category and contact information, giving you more control over your public appearance.

If you're a personal brand, artist, writer, or influencer, the Creator account is likely your best fit.

Business Account: For Brands, Retailers, and Organizations

The Business account unlocks Instagram’s full suite of professional tools. It's the go-to choice for companies, brands, local businesses, non-profits, and anyone selling a product or service. You get everything a Creator account offers, plus:

• Contact Information: Add a physical address, phone number, and email address directly to your profile, making it easy for customers to find you.
• Action Buttons: Integrate with third-party services to add buttons like “Order Food,” “Book Now,” or “Reserve” directly to your profile.
• Instagram Ads: The ability to create and run paid ad campaigns to reach a wider, targeted audience.
• Instagram Shopping: If you sell physical products, you can tag them in your posts and stories, creating a seamless shopping experience for your followers.

For most brands, starting with a Business account is the way to go.

The Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your Instagram Account

Ready to get started? The initial signup process is straightforward. Just follow these steps, and you’ll have an account live in minutes.

Step 1: Download the App and Sign Up

First, head to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and download the Instagram app. If you're on a desktop, you can also sign up at instagram.com. Once you open the app, tap "Create New Account." You’ll be prompted to sign up using either an email address or a phone number. Pro Tip: Using a business email address keeps your professional and personal lives separate.

Step 2: Choose Your Username (@handle)

Your username is your unique identifier on the platform. It's how people will find, tag, and talk about you, so it's a piece of prime digital real estate. Aim for a username that is:

• On-Brand: Ideally, it should be your exact brand name (e.g., @yourbrand).
• Simple and Memorable: Avoid long strings of numbers, underscores, or confusing spelling. You want people to remember and type it easily.
• Available: If your ideal handle is taken, try a simple variation. You could add a suffix like "@yourbrandco," "@getyourbrand," or a location like "@yourbrandnyc."

You can change your username later, but doing so means you’ll need to update your links everywhere else you've shared it. It’s best to get it right from the beginning.

Step 3: Add Your Profile Picture and Bio

This is where your brand's personality starts to take shape. A blank profile is a missed opportunity, so let’s fill it out thoughtfully.

Your Profile Picture

Your profile picture appears everywhere on Instagram - on your profile, in the feed next to your posts, in Stories, and in comments. It needs to be recognizable even at a small size.

• For Businesses: Use a high-quality version of your logo. Make sure it's clean, simple, and legible.
• For Personal Brands: Use a clear, professional headshot. Your face should be easily visible. A welcoming expression goes a long way.

Keep your profile picture consistent across all your social media platforms to build brand recognition.

Your Bio

You have 150 characters to make a first impression - make them count. A strong Instagram bio tells visitors exactly who you are, what you offer, and what they should do next. A good formula includes:

1. What You Do: Clearly state what your business or brand is about. Example: "Handcrafted leather goods from Austin, TX."
2. Who You Serve (or Your Value): Mention your target audience or the benefit you provide. Example: "Helping small businesses master their social media."
3. Your Link: This is the only place on Instagram where you can place a clickable link outside of Stories and Ads. Use it to direct users to your website, a specific product page, a blog post, or a landing page with multiple links.
4. A Call to Action (CTA): Tell people what to do with that link! For example, "Shop our new collection 👇" or "Grab your free guide 👇".

Setting Up for Success: Optimizing Your New Profile

With the basics in place, it’s time to switch to a Creator or Business profile and fill in the details. Head to your profile, tap the "hamburger" menu (three horizontal lines) in the top right, go to Settings and Privacy > Account Type and Tools > Switch to Professional Account. Instagram will guide you through the next few steps.

Fine-Tuning Your Profile Information

Once you’ve switched to a Business or Creator account, these additional options become available. Use them to provide context and make it easy for potential customers to connect with you.

• Category: Choose a category that best describes what you do (e.g., Restaurant, Digital Creator, Clothing Brand, Real Estate Agent). This appears in light gray text under your name and quickly tells visitors what your page is about.
• Contact Options: Add buttons for email, phone calls, or texts. If you have a physical location, add your address so it appears as a clickable link that opens in a map app. These options build credibility and reduce friction for customers trying to reach you.

Crafting Your Visual Identity with Your First Few Posts

Don't leave your profile empty. Before you start actively seeking followers, aim to have at least 6-9 posts on your grid. This gives new visitors something to look at and immediately helps them understand your brand's style, voice, and value.

Think of your first posts as an introduction:

• Post #1: Introduce your brand. Who are you? What is your mission? Share your story.
• Posts #2-3: Showcase your value. What problems do you solve? Share a helpful tip, display your product in action, or feature a glowing customer testimonial.
• Posts #4-6: Show some personality. Go behind the scenes, introduce the team, or share something related to your brand's values.

This initial base of content establishes a visual tone and demonstrates that your account is active and offers value, which makes people more likely to hit that "Follow" button.

Finding and Following Relevant Accounts

Starting with zero followers can be intimidating, but you can kickstart the process by strategically following others. Your "following" list is also a signal to Instagram's algorithm about your interests and niche.

Follow a healthy mix of:

• Industry Peers and Competitors: See what content is performing well in your space and draw inspiration.
• Complementary Brands: Find non-competing businesses that share a similar target audience. This opens the door for potential collaborations down the line.
• Influencers and Leaders in Your Niche: Stay on top of trends and engage with content that your ideal audience is already consuming.

By following relevant accounts, you begin placing your new profile within the right community from the very beginning.

Your Quick-Start Plan for the First Week

You’ve done the setup, now it's time for action. Here’s a simple plan to gain momentum in your first seven days.

• Day 1-2: Publish your starting posts. Get those first 6 introduction posts live on your grid. Tell a cohesive story.
• Day 3-4: Start engaging. Don't just publish content, be a part of the community. Dedicate 20-30 minutes to leaving genuine, thoughtful comments on posts from the accounts you followed. Interact with content under relevant hashtags.
• Day 5-6: Announce your new account. Let the world know you're on Instagram! Promote your link on your website, in person, in your email newsletter, and on your other social media channels.
• Day 7: Brainstorm your content. Now that you're started, think ahead. Decide on 3-5 core topics (or "content pillars") you will regularly post about. This strategic thinking will make content creation far easier in the long run.

Final Thoughts

Setting up a new Instagram account is a simple process, but creating one that’s prepared for growth takes a bit more intention. By choosing the right account type, optimizing your profile with a clear bio and professional picture, and seeding your grid with strong introductory content, you've already put yourself miles ahead of the competition.

Once your new account is up and running, the real fun begins: creating and scheduling all that great content. We know how managing even one new social platform can feel like a lot, which is why we built Postbase. Our visual calendar helps you plan your posts and Reels weeks in advance, so you’re never scrambling for ideas. You can see your entire strategy at a glance, schedule everything reliably, and spend less time jumping between apps and more time building a community around your brand.