5 Ways to Update Your Instagram Bio in 2026
Published on 10th of September 2026Chances are you haven’t looked at your Instagram bio in a long time, possibly even the entire year. If that is true for you, your bio is likely outdated.
Do you even remember what you put in your bio? If not, it is time for a much-needed update.
After all, your Instagram bio is where people get to know you and your business/content when they encounter you for the first time. You get only one chance to make that all-important first impression in 2026.
The following tips will help you update to an improved Instagram bio.
Contents
1. Getting the Components Right Is the First Step
Right, so you’ve probably peeked at your bio now and realized that change is needed. Before you start putting the nice flowery stuff in it, you need to get the components right. You also need to know what the limitations are.
First of all, your bio must have your display name. This is the name that you want people to remember. It must also have your username and a professional profile picture.
Your text limit for explaining who you are and what you do is 150 characters. You also need to choose a category for your content and add a link to your website or product page.
Your bio text is very important. Within those 150 characters, you must be able to state clearly what it is you do or what your specialty is.
Add keywords and hashtags to make it easy for people to find you on Instagram. Your bio also needs to declare who your audience is and include a call to action.
Your profile picture serves as a visual representation of your business or your content. If you are a professional, a headshot is always the best way to go.
If you run a business, go with a logo. When it comes to usernames and brand names, choose something easy to remember.
Keep in mind that your display name is not the same as your username. You can change your display name, but not your username.
So, if your username is @pinkunicorns, your display name can be a variation, something like Pink Unicorn Shakes or Shake the Pink Unicorn.
2. Decide on Your Value Proposition or Unique Selling Point
An Instagram bio can be the deciding factor in whether someone follows you, but only if you add your value proposition or unique selling point to it.
That means you can’t just state ‘I sew curtains’ and expect people to be convinced. You have to tell them why your sewing and your curtains are different from the next person’s. To do this is not nearly as easy as it sounds.
For one, you need to be highly specific about what you offer. You should name your audience and clearly spell out exactly what you are all about.
For instance, instead of saying you sew curtains in general, tell people that you sew curtains for the professional career woman. You can also state that these curtains will impress guests at the next dinner party, because of their quality/style/wow factor.
Once you have the selling point down, you can think about hashtags and keywords. Ideally, each one of your hashtags and keywords must highlight your value proposition.
3. Don’t Forget About Contact Information
It is quite unbelievable how many content creators or business owners forget to add contact details to their Instagram bio.
Most of the time, people assume that Instagram users will reach out on the platform itself via DM. However, you cannot rely solely on that.
You need to link the contact buttons provided in your bio to your phone number, email, or address. The contact method is up to you, but your choice should make it easy for people to reach you.
4. Consider the Visual Appeal
When you have the technical components in place, you can start looking at the visual appeal of your bio.
You may have heard that emojis are not a good idea, but data shows that profiles with at least two relevant emojis can get 25% more engagement. Of course, you must always consider a good balance.
If you use too many emojis, it can look spammy, which will put users off. You can use them to replace certain words, which can bring a fun element to your bio.
So, when it comes to using emojis, use them sparingly and only if they really suit your content or message.
5. Improve Your Story Highlights
If your bio is the first impression, your Story Highlights are your portfolio. When users see your highlights, they get an instant idea of what you offer.
It is always best to organize your highlights according to the themes you want to promote. For instance, if you run a nail salon, you can arrange them according to ‘new,’ ‘classic,’ ‘reviews,’ and more.
Remember to give each highlight its own title and cover image. Each highlight should also have at least 10 stories, so that users can see the spectrum of what you offer.
What to Do After Updating Your Instagram Bio
Updating your bio is only half the battle won. You cannot update it and forget about it. Instead, add a quarterly audit to your Instagram content schedule. Every three months, you should be checking whether your bio is still relevant to your business or content.
Check that all your links still work and that your CTAs are unique and non-generic. Make sure that the visuals fit into your overall brand and theme.
Also, make sure that you regularly check the impact of the changes you make. This means checking how many profile visits you get, how many people click on your links, and how many conversions can be linked back to your bio.
The Bottom Line
Your Instagram bio might seem like a tiny part of your Instagram presence, but it packs a massive punch.
You can use your bio to earn the trust of non-followers and grow your audience. You can also use it to increase sales or leads.
The most important thing to remember is that you cannot be generic with any part of your bio. Use it as an opportunity to show your audience how creative you are and how your content or services can benefit them.
