Overview
Instagram is incredibly valuable for businesses and marketers, especially since users are so excited to engage with brands on-platform. More than 80% of users follow at least one brand, and more than 120 million users as of 2017 had gotten in touch with a business through a CTA button on the business's profile. Instagram users are regularly discovering new brands and new products on-platform, and they're making purchases, too.
If you want to see those results, of course, then you need to be doing everything in your power to engage in Instagram best practices. Plenty of brands are able to get the basics down: slap on a few hashtags (ideally, between 8-11), share some great pictures and include some Stories into the mix. Where many starts to let things slide, however, is the details. And with the devil being in the details, as they say, this can cost you.
One of those details is their profile picture. This is one thing that most people don't give a lot of thought to, even though they should.
Instagram profile picture size is important for many reasons. Upon browsing the Instagram profile you will notice that the profile picture is a square photo that is not large enough. There is no built-in Instagram feature that could display the profile photo in large size.
How to Change Your Profile Picture
Now that you've learned all of the best tips and tricks for shooting a great Instagram profile picture, it's time to update it. While there are no hard and fast rules for how often you should update your profile picture, it's wise not to change it up too often. If you keep the same profile picture (and use it on your other social media platforms), your followers will be more likely to identify it with your content.
Changing your profile photo on Instagram is simple. Here's how to do it.
1. Open your Instagram app.
2. Press the icon of your current profile photo at the bottom right of the screen.
3. Tap the Edit Profile button below your bio.
4. Then tap Change Profile Photo.
5. Select Choose From Library.
6. Navigate to the photo you wish to use in your Camera Roll.
7. Press Done.
After selecting Change Profile Photo, you also have the option to import a picture from Facebook, take a new profile picture with the in-app camera, or remove your current photo, which will leave just a black circle on your Instagram profile.
More Related
The same guidelines apply here as with all your Instagram content. You want to be intentional with your Instagram profile picture and use it as a way to communicate your message to new followers. The tips listed below will help you do just that.
1. Match your aesthetic and brand
When choosing your Instagram profile photo, it's essential to consider the rest of your feed. You want your profile picture to make sense on your page and match the aesthetic of your personal brand.
2. Make sure it's evergreen
While your Christmas vacation to the Alps may have resulted in a charming picture, save it for your feed. You want to keep your Instagram profile picture as evergreen as possible because using a holiday-themed or seasonal photo may lead new followers to think your account is inactive or that you don't regularly update it.
3. Keep your background clean
Because profile photos are so small, it's essential to ensure that the subject of the picture - which will most likely be you - is clear. Avoiding overly cluttered or busy backgrounds will make it easier for followers to see you and identify your page.
4. Keep the subject front and center
Again, you don't have much space to fill with your profile picture. So whatever you want to use as the subject of your photo, make sure it is close up and in the center of the image. A subject that's too far away from the camera or off to one side will make it harder for followers to recognize you and your page.
5. Consider using a prop
Beyond colors and backgrounds that match your brand, there's another fun way you can use your profile photo to show new followers what your account is all about: props.