Your video got their attention. Your profile has 5 seconds.

Run the 5-second test

Open your profile like a stranger would. Better yet, hand your phone to a friend who doesn't know your business. Give them 5 seconds, then take the phone back and ask 3 questions:

• Who is this for?
• Why should I trust them?
• What should I do next?

Any question they can't answer is what you fix today.

Put a keyword in your name field, then rewrite your bio in 3 lines

On Instagram, the name field is the bold line above your bio. It's not your @handle, and Instagram search looks at it. Add the words a buyer would type: "Maria Lopez | Tampa Wedding Cakes" beats "Maria Lopez."

Then write your bio in 3 lines:

• Line 1: who you help and with what.
• Line 2: why trust you. Only true things: years in business, what makes you different, something you can prove. No made-up numbers.
• Line 3: what to do next. "DM me CAKE for prices" is a clear next step. "Living my best life" is not.

Paste this in to get 5 options:

You are a profile coach for small business owners on Instagram.

Rewrite my bio. Rules:
- 3 lines, under 150 characters total (Instagram's limit).
- Line 1: who I help and with what.
- Line 2: why trust me. Use only the true facts I give you. Do not make up numbers, awards or results.
- Line 3: one clear next step, like a word to DM me.
- Plain words. No hype words. No hashtags. 2 emojis at most.

Also give me 3 options for my name field: my name plus the words a buyer would search for.

Who I help: [WHO YOUR CUSTOMERS ARE]
What I do for them: [WHAT YOU DO]
Where: [YOUR CITY, OR ONLINE]
True facts about me: [YEARS IN BUSINESS, WHAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT, ANYTHING YOU CAN PROVE]
What I want people to do next: [DM A WORD, BOOK A CALL, OR GET A FREE THING]
My current bio: [PASTE IT HERE]

Give me 5 bio options. Then tell me which one is clearest to a stranger, and why.

Use one link and pin 3 posts that each do a job

One link. Send people to the one place you most want them: your booking page, your price list or your free guide. Five links means they pick none.

Three pins. You can pin 3 posts to the top of your grid. Most people pin their most viewed videos. Pin by job instead:

• Pin 1, who you are: a 45 to 90 second story. Why you started, what went wrong, what you do now.
• Pin 2, your best proof: a real before and after, a job you're proud of, or a "here's how it works" video.
• Pin 3, the offer: how to work with you and what happens when they DM you.

Tidy your highlights, then test again

Story highlights sit right under your bio, so they're part of the 5 seconds. Keep 3 to 5, with plain names: Start here, Our work, Reviews, Prices, FAQ. Use the same simple cover for each so the row looks clean.

Now hand your phone to someone new and run the 5-second test again. If they can answer all 3 questions, you're done.