While some influencers are hesitant to convert to an Instagram business account, others have long since gone for it, with mostly positive results. With Facebook rolling back access to Instagram's Public API this year, and the latest updates from Instagram centered on privacy and transparency, there's even more reason to convert to a business account.

Here's why we recommend converting now:

The shutdown of the public API means the industry has inevitably begun to favor creators with Instagram business accounts for Instagram campaigns.
Many influencer marketing and social media companies built their businesses on the ability to pull public Instagram data. As of April 2018, those models no longer stand. Collectively's technology partners weren't included in that group–their code has been developed on the new Instagram Graph API that allows us to automatically track expanded campaign content from Instagram business accounts that have authenticated on our platform.

Not having one could limit your Instagram campaign possibilities.
Now that many companies (like Collectively) will be tracking insights on privately authenticated business accounts, there will likely be a growing priority to partner with creators who've authenticated. Private APIs will continue to offer more transparency into reach and impressions, and many brands are asking for these "real" numbers.

Access to more metrics and insight.
A business account comes with access to business features and additional Insights. The additional metrics offered, including impressions, can help you determine with greater precision what content is working and what's not. Being able to track impressions, reach, profile visits, and Story metrics can help drive your content strategy. Some creators have reported a decrease in impressions after converting to a business account, but there's no way to tell if this is true because non-business accounts are not given access to impressions.

Boost your own content.
Having a business account can help you reach more of your followers through boosting. Content suppression from the Instagram algorithm is a reality, but boosting offers a solution. Some creators are afraid to boost for fear that Instagram will suppress their content even further if they don't continue to boost, but others have accepted boosting as a new reality and necessity.

Ready to convert?
Follow the steps below or see them on Facebook here. Converting to an Instagram business account is ultimately a personal choice, and Collectively does not require collaborators to have them. However, some of our campaigns may require it.

Convert to a Business Profile (from Facebook's guide):

• Go to your profile and tap on settings (wheel on an iPhone, or three dots on an Android)
• Tap Sign up for a Business Profile
• Tap Create New Account or Convert Existing Account
• (Optional) If you want to connect your account to an existing Facebook Page, you can, but it's not required. If you plan on using third party apps with your Instagram Business Profile, you'll need to connect it to a Facebook Page.
• Make sure your profile is set to Public. Private accounts can't switch to Business Accounts
• On the Set Up Your Business Profile page, review your business's contact information, make any changes and tap Done
• Note: Currently, a Business Profile on Instagram can only be connected to a single Facebook Page

Once you've converted your account, make sure to authenticate it on our platform. Here's how.