Whether you own a content creation agency or an online store for fashionistas, all businesses want to be active on social media, especially Instagram. It is trendy and allows businesses and brands to deepen their connections with their customers. Even more so, studies predict that there would be around 1.2 billion Instagram users globally by 2023.
To manage your account settings effectively, including switching between business and personal accounts, it is important to use the Instagram app.
However, at the same time, you should know how to turn off business account on Instagram. If you face any troubles, such knowledge will be beneficial.
In case you are wondering, there are three ways to remove an Instagram business account:
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Switch to a personal account
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Deactivate your business profile
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Delete your business account
This blog post outlines what an IG business profile is and why you may need to remove it. We have also described in detail how you can get rid of your IG business account.
Keep reading!
What Is an Instagram Business Account?
A business account on Instagram is an account created specifically for growing and scaling your business on the platform. Unlike personal Instagram accounts, business accounts offer distinct tools and functionalities such as access to analytics, contact information, and promotional options. With such an account, you can access how-to guides from other small businesses on starting a business and growing your brand. Your customers can easily find you on the platform, as IG lets you add a URL and a description to your business profile - something that is not available in a personal account.
The platform further shows you insights for each post, including reach, impressions, and the number of saves. Boosting your Instagram posts also becomes simpler with access to advertising options.
Plus, when you are busy running your business, you can use social media scheduling tools to schedule your posts, too.
However, if something happens to your business, you may need to know how to turn off a business account on Instagram.
Understanding Instagram Account Types
Instagram offers two main types of accounts: personal and professional. A personal Instagram account is designed for individual users, allowing them to share content, connect with friends and family, and engage with their favorite brands. This type of account is perfect for those who want to keep their social media experience casual and personal.
On the other hand, a professional account is tailored for businesses and organizations, providing them with additional features to help grow their online presence. Professional accounts on Instagram are further categorized into two types: business and creator accounts. Business accounts are ideal for retailers, local businesses, brands, organizations, and service providers. They offer tools like insights, promotions, and contact information to help businesses reach their target audience and drive engagement.
Creator accounts, meanwhile, are designed for public figures, content producers, artists, and influencers. These accounts provide features that cater to the unique needs of creators, such as detailed analytics and flexible profile controls. Both types of professional accounts offer access to a range of features that can help businesses and creators grow their online presence and connect with their audience more effectively.
Why Would You Turn Off Your Instagram Business Account?
You might need to remove your IG business profile due to the following reasons:
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Your business has failed or is already on the rocks
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You need a break from social media interactions and other communication
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The target audience for your business has moved from Instagram to other social platforms like Reddit or Snapchat.
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Bots have attacked your business account
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Your IG business profile is receiving a lot of hate comments and cyberbullying for some reason or another.
Using a personal Instagram profile has its advantages and disadvantages compared to a business account. While a personal profile allows for more privacy and limited contact options, it lacks some of the business features like analytics and promotional tools.
Features You’ll Lose When Switching to a Personal Account
When switching from a business account to a personal account on Instagram, you’ll lose access to several features that are exclusive to business accounts. Here’s a rundown of what you’ll be giving up:
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Insights: Business accounts come with in-app analytics that provide valuable information about your account’s performance, including reach, engagement, and follower growth. Without these insights, it will be harder to measure the success of your content and understand your audience’s behavior.
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Promotions: You won’t be able to promote your posts or stories using Instagram’s advertising tools. These tools are crucial for increasing your reach and driving traffic to your website or online store.
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Contact Information: Business accounts allow you to add a contact button to your profile, making it easy for customers to get in touch with you directly. Switching to a personal account means losing this convenient feature.
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Instagram Shopping: If you rely on Instagram to sell products, you’ll miss the ability to tag products in your posts and stories. This feature helps drive sales and increase revenue by making it easy for followers to shop directly from your content.
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Meta Business Tools: Business accounts have access to Meta Business Suite and Meta Ads Manager, which provide additional features and tools for managing your business presence on Instagram. Losing access to these tools can make it more challenging to manage and optimize your marketing efforts.
How To Turn Off Business Account on Instagram
Switch to a Personal Account
If you are not sure whether you want to permanently get rid of your business account or not, don’t worry. The easiest way to remove your business profile is to switch to personal Instagram. This lets you remain on the platform while keeping your posts intact.
However, switching to a personal account will remove the ability for followers to access your Facebook page and other contact options.
On a Smartphone
Here is how to turn off business account on Instagram using your smartphone and switch back to a personal account:
Step 1: Log in to Instagram with your username and password.
Step 2: Go to your business profile page after logging in.
Step 3: Click the hamburger menu (the three-line menu icon) at the top right corner of your screen and select the ‘Settings' option from the pop-up menu.
Step 4: In the new list that appears, select the ‘Account' option on your smartphone. In the next list, scroll to the bottom of the screen and choose the ‘Switch account type' option.
Step 5: This will bring up two options: Switch to Personal Account and Switch to Creator Account. Choose the first option, that is ‘Switch to Personal Account'.
Step 6: On the ‘Switch to personal account?' pop-up box, select the red-coloured ‘Switch to Personal Account' option. Wait for a few seconds till Instagram grants your wish. You will get a notification in the middle of your screen that you have switched from a business account to a personal account.
On a Desktop Computer
When using your desktop to switch to a personal account, you can do it this way:
Step 1: Log in to your Instagram profile with your username and password, or via Facebook.
Step 2: Go to your business profile.
Step 3: Click the ‘Edit Profile' button between your username and the ‘Settings' gear icon.
Step 4: Scroll down to the bottom of the page. Then, select the ‘Switch to Personal Account' option below ‘Help'.
Step 5: On the ‘Switch to a personal account?' pop-up box, tap the red-coloured ‘Switch Back' option, and you are done.
Deactivate Your Business Profile
You may want to take a break from your business account on Instagram for a while. In this case, you can turn off your business profile temporarily, till you can return to it in the future.
So, the best option here would be to deactivate your business account. Follow these steps to deactivate your Instagram business profile:
Step 1: Log in to your business account on Instagram from your computer or your smartphone. If you are using your smartphone, sign in to your Instagram account on Google Chrome or any other browser.
Step 2: Go to your business profile page.
Step 3: Tap the ‘Edit profile' button below your Instagram bio on your smartphone. If you have logged in from your computer, you will find the ‘Edit Profile' button to the right of your Instagram username.
Step 4: Scroll down to the bottom of the ‘Edit Profile' page. At the bottom right corner, below ‘Similar Account Suggestions', click on the ‘Temporarily disable my account' option.
Step 5: Once on the ‘Temporarily Disable Your Account' page, Instagram will ask you to fill out some information. This will include your reason for disabling your account. Next, you need to re-enter your password, so that the app knows it is really you trying to disable your account, and not someone else.
Step 6: Click the ‘Temporarily Disable Account' button at the bottom of the screen.
This process will remove your business account from Instagram. You can reactivate your profile whenever you need it or you are ready to come back.
Delete Your Instagram Business Account
If you want to get rid of your business profile forever, you need to know how to turn off a business account on Instagram permanently. Here are the steps you will have to follow:
Step 1: Go to the ‘Delete your account' page of Instagram on your desktop or mobile browser. This page is not accessible through the app.
Step 2: Once you are on the page, log in with your Instagram username and password.
Step 3: After logging in to your business account, Instagram asks you why you want to permanently delete your account. Click the down arrow in the dropdown box to see different options. For example, you may wish to delete your business account because the app is displaying too many ads. Or you may be too busy to continue running your business profile. If your reason for deleting your account does not match any of the given options, select the ‘Something else' option.
Step 4: Once you have selected an option from the dropdown box, enter your password once again.
Step 5: Tap the ‘Delete account' button at the bottom of the screen.
Your Instagram business account will not get deleted immediately. However, the app will keep your profile hidden and delete it exactly a month later.
For example, if you click the ‘Delete account' button on April 14, 2024, Instagram will delete your account permanently on May 14, 2024. Between these two dates, the app will hide your business profile and account details.
If you change your mind and wish to keep your business account, after all, you can log in to your account before the date it gets deleted, that is, May 14, 2024.
Note: Instagram reserves the right to take up to 90 days to fully purge all your data from its servers.
What to Expect After Switching to a Personal Instagram Account
After switching to a personal Instagram account, you can expect a few changes to your online presence. Here are some things to keep in mind:
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Account Visibility: Your account will no longer be visible as a business account, and you’ll lose access to the features mentioned above. This means you’ll need to find new ways to track your performance and engage with your audience.
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Follower Perception: Your followers will still be able to see your content, but they may notice a change in the way your account is presented. A personal account tends to have a more casual and intimate feel compared to a business account.
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Content Strategy: You’ll need to adjust your content strategy to focus on more personal and engaging content rather than promotional or sales-driven content. This shift can help you build a stronger connection with your followers and create a more loyal community.
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Engagement Rates: You may see a change in your engagement rates, as personal accounts often have a more interactive relationship with their followers. This can be an opportunity to foster deeper connections and encourage more meaningful interactions.
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Alternative Promotion Methods: Without the promotional tools available to business accounts, you’ll need to consider alternative ways to promote your business or brand. This could include using other social media platforms, leveraging influencer partnerships, or exploring different advertising channels.
Overall, switching to a personal Instagram account can be a great way to create a more personal connection with your followers and focus on building a community around your brand. However, it’s essential to carefully consider the potential impact on your business and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Conclusion: Removing an IG Business Account
As you can see, we have probed three methods on how to turn off business account on Instagram. The platform does not impose any restrictions when removing your business profile.
However, before trying any of these methods, you should think it through. Especially, if you are deleting your business account for good, remember that there is no way to turn it back once you do it.
In case you are turning off your business profile because you cannot manage it anymore, there is no need to worry. Reach out to our Social Media Marketing experts at MyTasker to help manage your IG business profiles and scale your business.
