BrandRuns

Setup guides

How to set up a business account on every platform

A professional account is the foundation everything else sits on. These are the durable steps that matter, in plain language, without the guesswork.

Instagram

Best for visual businesses: food, retail, real estate, trades, beauty, fitness.

Set it up

  1. Download the app and sign up with a business email you will keep, not a personal one you might lose access to.
  2. Pick a handle that matches your business name. If it is taken, add your city or trade (for example, @rivetcoffee_pdx), not random numbers.
  3. Go to Settings, then Account type and tools, and switch to a Professional account. Choose Business, then the category that fits you.
  4. Connect it to your Facebook Page during setup. This unlocks scheduling, insights, and running ads later, and it is required for most posting tools.
  5. Add your logo as the profile photo, a clear one-line bio, your city, and a link to your website or booking page.

Optimize your profile

  • Use the same profile photo across every platform so you are recognizable at a glance.
  • Write the bio for a stranger: what you do, who you help, and where you are. Add one call to action.
  • Turn on the contact buttons (call, email, directions) so people can reach you in one tap.
  • Fill your first row with a few strong posts before you promote the account anywhere.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Do not keep it as a personal account. You lose insights, scheduling, and contact buttons.
  • Do not stuff the bio with hashtags. One or two branded tags at most.
  • Do not leave the website field empty. It is the only clickable link most visitors get.

Facebook Page

Still the default for local discovery, reviews, and reaching an older audience.

Set it up

  1. From your personal Facebook account, open the menu and choose Pages, then Create new Page. Your personal account stays private; it only manages the Page.
  2. Enter your business name, category, and a short description.
  3. Add your profile photo (your logo) and a cover image that shows your work or storefront.
  4. Fill in the About section completely: address, hours, phone, website, and service area.
  5. Add a call-to-action button (Book now, Call, Send message, or Shop) at the top of the Page.

Optimize your profile

  • Turn on reviews so happy customers can vouch for you.
  • Set your hours accurately, including holidays. Facebook shows an open or closed badge.
  • Assign a second admin (a partner or trusted staffer) so you never get locked out.
  • Link the Page to Instagram in Meta Business settings to manage both in one place.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Do not build your business on a personal profile with friends. It breaks the rules and has no business tools.
  • Do not skip the address and hours if you serve a local area. That is what powers local search.
  • Do not use a busy cover image with tiny text. It is unreadable on phones.

LinkedIn Page

Best for B2B, professional services, consultants, and hiring.

Set it up

  1. You need a personal LinkedIn profile first. From the home page, click For Business, then Create a Company Page.
  2. Choose the Page type (Company is right for most). Enter your name, website, industry, and size.
  3. Upload your logo and a banner image. Write a tagline that says what you do in plain words.
  4. Complete the About section with an overview, specialties, location, and a link to your site.
  5. Add yourself and any colleagues as admins, then invite connections to follow the Page.

Optimize your profile

  • Post as the Page for company news, and from your personal profile for your own voice. Personal posts usually reach more people.
  • Add a custom button (Visit website, Contact us) to the top of the Page.
  • Ask your team to list your company as their employer so their networks find you.
  • Keep an eye on the tone: LinkedIn rewards useful, specific posts over hard selling.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Do not leave the tagline or About empty. An unfinished Page reads as inactive.
  • Do not only repost sales offers. Share what you know; that is what gets followed.
  • Do not forget you need the personal profile to manage the Page. Keep that login safe.

TikTok

Best for reach and discovery through short video, even with zero followers.

Set it up

  1. Sign up with your business email, then go to Settings, Manage account, and switch to a Business Account.
  2. Pick the category that matches your work so TikTok shows you the right tools.
  3. Set your handle to your business name, add your logo, and write a short, clear bio.
  4. Add your website link and, once eligible, your contact options in the business tools.
  5. Watch a few creators in your field to learn the format before you post.

Optimize your profile

  • Keep videos short and get to the point in the first two seconds.
  • Show a face and talk to the camera. People follow people, not logos.
  • Use captions on screen; most people watch with the sound off at first.
  • Reply to comments with a quick video. It is the fastest way to grow.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Do not repost watermarked videos from other apps. TikTok limits their reach.
  • Do not make it a commercial. Teach, show, or entertain, then mention the offer.
  • Do not delete a slow video too fast. TikTok can surface it days later.

YouTube

Best for how-to content, tutorials, and building lasting search traffic.

Set it up

  1. Sign in with a Google account for the business, not your personal one.
  2. Create a Brand Account channel (in YouTube settings, add or manage channels) so multiple people can help run it.
  3. Name the channel after your business, add your logo, and design a banner that states what viewers will learn.
  4. Fill in the channel description with what you do, who it is for, and a link to your site.
  5. Verify your account by phone to unlock custom thumbnails and longer uploads.

Optimize your profile

  • Write clear, searchable titles. People find YouTube videos the way they find Google results.
  • Add a custom thumbnail with a few large words. It is the single biggest driver of clicks.
  • Group videos into playlists so one view leads to the next.
  • Answer common customer questions on video. Those keep getting found for years.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Do not use a personal Google account. A Brand Account keeps access shared and safe.
  • Do not upload with a default title like IMG_0423. It will never be found.
  • Do not ignore the description. It helps search and holds your links.

Google Business Profile

The most important listing for any local business. Do this one first.

Set it up

  1. Go to google.com/business and sign in with a business Google account.
  2. Search for your business in case a listing already exists. Claim it if so; create it if not.
  3. Enter your exact name, category, address (or service area), phone, and website.
  4. Verify the listing. Google confirms you are real by phone, email, video, or a mailed postcard.
  5. Once verified, add your hours, photos, and services.

Optimize your profile

  • Add real photos of your work, team, and location. Listings with photos get far more clicks.
  • Keep your name, address, and phone identical everywhere online. Consistency helps you rank.
  • Ask happy customers for reviews and reply to every one, good or bad.
  • Post updates and offers. They show up right in search and on Maps.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Do not stuff keywords into your business name. It can get the listing suspended.
  • Do not use a fake or virtual address if you do not meet customers there. Set a service area instead.
  • Do not let hours go stale. A wrong closed sign sends customers to a competitor.

Accounts ready? Now keep them fed.

The hard part is not setup, it is posting every week. BrandRuns writes and schedules your posts so your new accounts never go quiet.

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