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Instagram Rolls Out New Small Business Features
News | | 3 min read

Instagram Rolls Out New Small Business Features

Instagram has announced a new set of features aimed squarely at small business owners, rolling out globally over the next few weeks. The update addresses several pain points that small businesses have consistently raised: lead capture, analytics clarity, and the ability to convert followers into customers without needing a large budget.

What Is New

In-App Lead Forms. Business accounts can now add a lead capture form directly to their profile. Visitors can submit their name, email, and a short message without leaving Instagram. The forms integrate with popular CRM and email marketing platforms, making it easier to follow up with interested prospects.

Enhanced Analytics Dashboard. The Insights tab is getting a significant overhaul. Small business accounts will see clearer metrics around follower-to-customer conversion, content performance by format (Reels, Stories, carousels, static posts), and best times to post based on when their specific audience is most engaged. Instagram says the new dashboard is designed to surface “the metrics that actually matter for small businesses” rather than vanity numbers.

Quick Reply Templates. Businesses can now create and save up to 20 quick reply templates for DMs. Each template can include links, making it faster to respond to common inquiries like pricing questions, booking requests, or product availability.

Local Discovery Boost. Instagram is expanding its local search features, allowing business profiles to appear more prominently when users search for businesses in a specific area. Profiles with complete location information, active posting histories, and strong engagement will be prioritized in these local results.

Why This Matters for Small Businesses

Instagram has over 200 million business accounts globally, and the platform has acknowledged that many of its tools were originally built for larger brands with dedicated social media teams. These updates signal a shift toward making the platform more accessible and productive for businesses with limited time and resources.

The in-app lead form is particularly noteworthy. Previously, capturing leads from Instagram required directing users to an external landing page — a step where many potential customers drop off. By keeping the process inside the app, conversion rates should improve meaningfully.

If you start collecting leads through Instagram's new forms, make sure you have a system to manage and follow up with them. SMBcrm makes it simple to track every lead from first contact to closed deal.

How to Get Started

The new features are rolling out to professional (business and creator) accounts over the next two to three weeks. To access them:

  1. Make sure your account is set to a Business or Creator profile.
  2. Update the Instagram app to the latest version.
  3. Check your Professional Dashboard for the new lead form and analytics options.
  4. Complete your profile with accurate location, contact information, and business category.

Small businesses that take advantage of these features early — especially the lead form and enhanced local discovery — will have a window to capture attention before the tools become widely adopted.