Set up an Instagram Business account
Instagram is the one platform that requires a specific account type: Meta's publishing tools, which ZippityOne uses, only work with a professional account (Business or Creator) — the free type Instagram gives businesses and creators. Switching your existing account over takes about five minutes and doesn't touch your posts or followers.
What you'll need
- An Instagram account — a personal one is fine, you'll switch it in place
- The Instagram app on your phone, or a computer at instagram.com — Instagram documents both
- A category that describes your business (florist, restaurant, medical clinic, and so on)
- Optional: business contact details you'd like shown on your profile
Step by step
- 1
Know which type you're picking: Business
Instagram professional accounts come in two flavors. Per Instagram, Business accounts are best for retailers, local businesses, brands, organizations and service providers; Creator accounts are best for public figures, content producers, artists and influencers.
For a business, choose Business. (If you already run a Creator account, no need to switch — Meta's publishing tools, which ZippityOne uses, work with both professional types.)
- 2
Open your profile
In the Instagram app, tap “Profile” or your profile picture in the bottom right.
- 3
Open your settings
Tap the More (☰) button to go to your “Settings and activity”.
- 4
Start the switch
Below “For professionals”, tap “Account type and tools”, then select “Switch to professional account”.
- 5
Pick your category
Choose the category that best describes what you do, then tap “Switch to professional account”. Don't overthink it — Instagram notes the category you choose does not determine whether you get a business or creator account; that choice comes next.
- 6
Choose Business and finish up
Choose “Business” and tap “Next”. Instagram then walks you through optional setup — adding business contact details and choosing whether your category and contact info are displayed on your profile. You can change all of it later under “Edit profile”.
On a computer instead? At instagram.com, click More → “Settings” → “Account type and tools” (below “For professionals”) → “Switch to professional account”, choose Business, then pick your category and confirm. Full official instructions are in Instagram's help article, Set up a professional Instagram account.
Common snags
Your account can't be private anymore
Instagram is explicit about this: professional accounts can't be set to private, and any pending follow requests are automatically accepted when you go public. For a business profile that's usually the point — customers should be able to find you — but if your account is currently a private personal one, know that switching makes it public.
You don't need to link a Facebook Page for ZippityOne
Instagram recommends connecting a business Facebook Page “to get the most out of Instagram's business tools,” and the setup flow may suggest it. It's optional. The publishing setup ZippityOne uses works without one — Meta's own developer documentation states it “does not require a Facebook Page to be linked to the Instagram professional account.” Feel free to skip that suggestion.
One side effect if you do link a Page: Instagram will only let you cross-share your Instagram posts to Facebook through that one linked Page.
Picked Creator by mistake?
No harm done — Instagram lets you change your professional account type, or switch back to a personal account, at any time. And ZippityOne can publish to either professional type, so a Creator account won't block you from connecting.