What Should I Put in My Instagram Bio? (Before & After Examples)

PROFILE MAKEOVERSUpdated: 20267 min read

If you are staring at a blank screen asking yourself "what should I put as my instagram bio", you aren't alone. Having a "good" bio is highly subjective depending on if you are a teenager, a business owner, or an influencer. Let's look at real examples of exactly what makes an Instagram bio "good" in 2026.

What is a "Good" Bio for Instagram?

A good bio immediately tells profile visitors three things: Who you are, what you care about, and what they should do next. If your bio just says "I love pizza 🍕", you are completely wasting your 150-character limit.

A great bio uses proper formatting, strategic emojis, and a clear call-to-action. Let's look at how to transform terrible bios into amazing ones across different niches.

Example 1: The Personal / Casual Account

Even if you aren't an influencer, you should still put effort into your bio. It helps long-lost friends find you and gives new acquaintances an idea of your personality.

The Bad Version

22 | LA
Penn State ‘24
Food lover

Boring, generic, hard to read, no personality.

The Good Version

Sarah | NYC 🗽
✨ Finding the best pasta in the city
🎓 Penn State Alumni
👇 My favorite spots in NY

Spacing is clean, uses an aesthetic hook, and ends with a CTA.

Example 2: The Creator / Influencer

If you want brand deals and loyal followers, your bio must act like a mini resume. You need to confidently state exactly what you do.

The Bad Version

Fitness is life.
Dm for coaching.
Never back down.

Doesn't show authority, vague coaching offer, cringe quote.

The Good Version

Mike ⚡ Online Coach
🏋️ Helping 100+ skinny guys build muscle
📍 Austin, TX
📱 Book your free 1-on-1 consultation ⬇️

Shows social proof (100+), names strict target audience, clear link offer.

Example 3: The Small Business

For businesses asking "what should I put for my bio on instagram", the answer is simple: Tell them what you sell, where you ship, and dropping a discount code.

The Ultimate Business Structure

Luxe Jewelry Co. ✨
18k Gold Plated & Tarnish Free 💧
🌍 Worldwide Shipping
🎁 Use code INSTA15 for 15% off!
Shop the summer collection 👇

Notice how every line serves a specific, money-making purpose. It handles objections (tarnish free), shows availability (worldwide), and incentivizes clicking (discount code).


The Universal Rules of a Great Bio

  • Space it out: Pressing return to create stacked, multi-line text is visually superior to paragraph blocks.
  • Emoji limit: Use no more than 3-4 emojis. If you use 10 emojis, your profile looks messy and spammy.
  • Update frequently: A good bio isn't static. Update it every season or whenever you have a new life event/launch to promote!

Give me a bio for Instagram right now!

Looking to instantly upgrade your profile without typing? Browse our vast collections of professionally written bios: