Have you ever wondered what life would be like beyond the Instagram business account?
I‘m sure you set up that polished, professional profile for good reason. But times change. Your needs change. No judgement here!
Maybe managing all those analytics makes your brain fry. Or you simply miss having an account just for you and your friends.
If you can relate, this guide will hold your hand through the process of temporarily retiring that business badge and moving your Instagram presence back to a personal profile.
I‘ve organized everything into six key sections, covering:
- Business vs personal profile benefits
- Step-by-step walkthrough to switch types
- Reasons you may want to switch from business to personal
- Impacts and things to consider pre-transition
- Best practices for smooth changeover
- Extra pro tips for personal profile setup
My goal is to explore this topic from all angles – giving you the clarity, confidence and action plan to make the right choice for your needs.
Let‘s get started!
The Allure of Instagram Business Profiles
First, a quick refresher – Instagram offers two main account types:
- Personal profile
- Business profile
Let me guess – you currently have a business account? That makes sense! Afterall:
- 31% of all Instagram accounts are business profiles as per 2022 internal data
- Over 200 million businesses connect with customers via Instagram monthly
- 80% of users follow at least one business handle on the platform
For retailers, service providers, bloggers, creatives and entrepreneurs, the benefits are endless:
What Do Instagram Business Profiles Offer?
Instagram business accounts unlock powerful capabilities not available on regular personal profiles, like:
-
Valuable Analytics: Get insights into your reach, engagement rates, best content times, follower demographics and more to inform your strategy
-
Promoted Posts: Amplify any post and put it in front of new targeted audiences to drive website traffic, leads and sales
-
Shoppable Tags: Add clickable shopping tags people can use to browse and buy products right within the app
-
Clickable Contact Info: Share phone numbers, emails, addresses and more so it‘s easy for interested customers and fans to get in touch
-
Lead Generation Tools: Collect visitor information with lead forms and accelerate the sales funnel with zero manual follow-ups needed
With these advanced tools – plus many more like best-in-class advertising options, integration with Facebook business suites and easier messaging – it‘s no wonder businesses are ditching regular profiles.
But…what if you want to reclaim the simplicity of a personal Instagram existence?
You‘re not alone – and this guide will walk you through everything you need to know.
4 Simple Steps to Switch From Business to Personal
Let‘s not waste time! If you‘re sure you want to convert that business profile to a regular personal account, here is the quick and easy process:
Step 1: Access Profile Settings
- Launch the Instagram app and navigate to your profile page
- Tap the 3 line menu icon on the top right corner
Step 2: Select Account Option
- This opens a settings menu from the bottom
- Choose the "Settings" options (should be first on the list)
Step 3: Tap "Switch Account Type"
- Next select the "Account" tab if not already open
- Scroll down and you‘ll see the option to "Switch Account Type"
Step 4: Confirm Switch to Personal
- Instagram will ask you to confirm this decision
- Hit the confirmation dialog to complete the switch!
And just like that, your Instagram business profile has now transformed into a personal account. Almost anticlimactic, huh?
Wasn‘t sure what to expect going in? Let‘s talk about why you may have wanted to initiate this change in the first place…
Top 5 Reasons People Switch From Business to Personal
Assuming you didn‘t accidentally tap the wrong button, here are the most popular reasons folks make this account type switch as per my interviews:
1. Feeling Overwhelmed by Data
Arguably the #1 driver. As a business owner, you need to wear many hats. Constantly monitoring Instagram analytics can take time away from more profitable work.
Many entrepreneurs realize they don‘t actually use or need all that data. So why not simplify?
2. Needing a Personal Space Again
Another confession I‘ve heard is missing the good ol‘ days of having an Instagram sans professional agenda. Just you posting moments from your life for friends and family to see.
3. Changes in Business Priorities
Priorities in business and life naturally shift with time. Several folks shared they no longer needed an Instagram presence for their work. Some even sold companies or exited ventures altogether.
4. Privacy & Security Concerns
While at first minor, data and privacy violations issues creep up on social networks occasionally. Though rare, security vulnerabilities also surface. This makes some users uneasy.
5. Testing Account Options
Finally, some businesses try a business profile temporarily out of curiosity. When the novelty wears off but the followers remain, going back to personal just feels right.
Of course there can be other reasons too! But in my experience the above cover most cases for seeking that blue and white personal profile icon again.
Now let‘s talk about what you‘ll lose – and things to consider before converting your account.
Impacts of Switching From Business to Personal on Instagram
While the switch process itself is simple, it‘s a big shift. You‘ll go from a feature-packed business profile to a streamlined personal account.
Before you transition, be aware of some critical impacts:
Vanished Analytics and Insights
This one hurts the most. All your historical Instagram business profile data will be wiped clean instantly. Follower demographics. Content performance. Interactions over time. Poof!
So I advise folks to export analytics reports covering the last few years for future reference. You won‘t be able to recreate such a rich data foundation.
Say Goodbye to Exclusive Business Features
We covered some awesome capabilities earlier that personal profiles just don‘t have. Things like promoted posts, lead generation tools, clickable contact info, etc will all disappear overnight.
It means losing touch with new potential customers and parting ways with some hard-won elements that made your business thrive on social media.
Potential Dip in Audience Reach
Personal profiles have lower visibility in search and recommendations by default. Unless you inform your followers of the change, the switch cancause a huge, sudden drop in impressions and engagement.
So you‘ll need to put in effort to regain momentum: hashtag research, cross-promotions, running contests, etc.
Limited Profile Information Visible
Unlike business accounts that can display addresses, menus, hours and external links…personal profiles just give you name, bio and posts.
Fans and existing customers may get confused or be unable to find your contact details or locations when they need it.
While the adjustments may seem drastic, many still choose to switch because the benefits outweigh these concerns. But smooth transition planning is a must.
Best Practices for Seamless Account Switching
Based on prior experience both personally and with clients, here are my top recommendations for ensuring minimal disruption when you disable your Instagram business profile:
Back Up Historical Analytics
I‘ll say it again for good measure – export those reports! For tech geeks, use automation or SQL exports. For everyone else, manually save copies over time ranges that matter via the app.
Give Followers a Heads Up
Let your audience know you are transforming your Instagram presence to a personal account. Give them the new handle if it changes. And explain why if you feel comfortable sharing.
Build Up Personal Profile Gradual
Don‘t just abandon your business profile instantly. Spend a few weeks posting simultaneously to your new personal handle too while directing folks there.
Keep Contact Info Updated
Make sure website, mailing lists, external directories etc have your latest Instagram handle listed so customers can stay in touch.
Recreate Branded Elements
Hashtags, aesthetics, captions style and any other branding your followers recognize should be reestablished on your rebranded Instagram existence.
Monitor Performance Changes
Watch metrics like follows, comments and story replies in the initial few weeks after changing account types. Address issues promptly.
With prep work done right, no one will even notice the transition happened! Except you of course – embracing your new personal profile freedom.
Which brings us to…
Leveling Up: Tips for an Awesome Personal Instagram
While I highlighted plenty of analytical capabilities you lose above, remember – that‘s exactly what you wanted!
To help this fresh start feel amazing, here are my favorite ways to make your revived personal profile totally you:
Visual Storytelling
Share real moments from your days, travels, family time and interests with visual stories people can‘t get enough of. No over-editing or posed shots!
Themed Days
Like #FollowFriday and #ThrowbackThursday – create your own personal post themes visitors eagerly await like #WatercoolerWisdomWed or #SundayFunday.
Utilize Close Friends
Leverage Instagram‘s close friends list to share more personal tidbits, life updates and candid thoughts with your inner circle.
New Feature Experiments
Have fun playing with sticker questionnaires, collaborative stories, tournaments brackets and other latest interactive additions when the pressures off.
At the end of the day, this account represents you now. Where you take it next with close connections or a broader community is 100% your call!
Let Your Instagram Evolution Continue
I hope walking through every consideration around deactivating your Instagram business profile and reverting to personal gave clarity.
Just remember – you can always switch this up again down the road as your needs change! For now though…
- Export analytics from business profile
- Inform your followers of the transition
- Gradually build up new personal presence
- Get creative making it fun and "you"
Now get ready to relax, reconnect with old friends and most importantly enjoy Instagram again!
Questions or feedback about this process I may have missed? Feel free to DM me anytime.
