How to market your side hustle on Instagram

Instagram can be a great way to promote your side hustle, whether that's dog-walking, tutoring, creating UGC, selling vintage clothes, or another moonlighting endeavor. 

But it can also be a complex platform to get right, with many features, many post types, and a frustratingly mysterious algorithm. So we've compiled a few tips to make your Instagram presence as great as the business itself.

Set up an Instagram Business account

One of the first choices you'll make is whether to make a new account for your side hustle or, if you have one, use your existing personal account. There are benefits to both approaches: Creating a new account can make your business look more streamlined and legit. Plus, you'll be able to start fresh by targeting the exact type of followers you want as your customers. 

There's one big advantage of using your personal account: existing followers. If you go that route, though, you might need to revamp your profile and delete — or archive— photos that aren't aligned with your brand. For example, if you're starting a babysitting business, you'll probably want to send your party pics to the archives — unless they're from your little cousin's Bluey-themed bash. 

Either way, you'll want to set up an Instagram Business account, which you can do under "Edit profile" in the Instagram app. (The Instagram help websitehas the full instructions.) You can also link the account to your business's Facebook page if it has one.

Embrace some light branding

No need to go wild on this one — we know it's a side hustle, and we know you're busy. Still, a little branding magic can go a long way, including:

• A simple, eye-catching logo

• A color palette (this can be as simple as picking three colors and sticking to them as much as possible)

• If you're using text in your posts, one or two go-to fonts

Nail your Instagram bio

Your Instagram bio is a prospective customer's first impression of your business, so make sure it's good! Here, you'll want to provide basic information about your business. Some suggestions:

• The goods and/or services you provide

• Where you're located — and, if you're selling physical products, where you ship

• Your credentials (for example, a tutor might mention that they have a degree in education)

• Contact information (an email address, for example)

• A cute, pithy slogan

Links are also important to consider — to your professional website, your portfolio, and such. Instagram allows you to add five links directly, or you can opt for a service like Linktree if you have more.

Keep the posts flowing

Now that your account's scaffolding is set to go, it's time to post. There's no "ideal" number for how often you should post — it depends on your business and audience — but a good rule of thumb is 3-5 times per week. Use these posts to introduce yourself, show off your product, and explain what your business offers. For example, a dog trainer might make a post detailing the services they offer, a post introducing themselves and their credentials, and a post showing off a perfect "sit" from a canine client.

Don't just concentrate on grid posts, either. Stories and Reels are also key ways to engage potential customers. Stories are a great place to share real-time updates — the dog trainer might post a fresh, positive review or a video of a pup in the middle of a training session, for example. Reels provide an opportunity to hop on trending audio and memes, increasing your chances of going viral and getting lots of eyeballs on your business.

Plus, once you reach 10,000 followers, you'll be able to use the "swipe up" feature on your Stories, which will bring users directly to your website. Don't forget us when you get there!