7 Instagram accounts every small business owner should follow Learning to use Instagram to inspire, motivate and teach is a must if you want to succeed in the cutthroat world of business. Written by Ross Darragh Published on 23 March 2022 About Us We are a team of writers, experimenters and researchers providing you with the best advice with zero bias or partiality. Written and reviewed by: Ross Darragh Writer Direct to your inbox Sign up to the Startups Weekly Newsletter Stay informed on the top business stories with Startups.co.uk’s weekly email newsletter SUBSCRIBE Instagram shouldn’t be dismissed as a platform for Love Island influencers. It can offer entrepreneurs and small business owners inspiration, motivation and genuinely helpful business advice, practical tips and networking opportunities.In fact, one of the primary reasons we use Instagram is to be inspired by others, with around 80% of UK users looking for inspiration from the businesses and brands they follow.However, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by a sea of influencers, targeted ads, and your friend’s travel photos.We’ve put together this guide to help you follow the right Instagram accounts that will work for you as an entrepreneur and help you succeed, rather than distract, you on your business journey. Startups.co.uk can help your business succeed At Startups.co.uk, we’re here to help small UK businesses to get started, grow and succeed. We have practical resources for helping new businesses get off the ground – you can use the tool below to get started today. What Does Your Business Need Help With? Project Planning Creating a Website Getting a Business Loan Running your Accounts Get Started What kind of Instagram accounts will benefit you on your business journey?Accounts that offer genuine, practical business adviceThere are plenty of self-made millionaires and business moguls on social media, particularly on Instagram. Don’t get bogged down in these accounts as more often than not they are pushing a particular agenda for their own business purposes.You want to follow accounts that share helpful business tips and are designed specifically to support entrepreneurs.Accounts that motivate youRunning a business is tough, there is no doubt about it. Getting up every day and pushing yourself to not only motivate yourself but your employees can be a challenge.Following accounts that inspire you with positive messages, thoughts and stories is a must.Accounts that promote business networks and mentorshipAnother important aspect of running your own business is knowing you have a great network of like-minded individuals to talk to and receive support from. Instagram is an excellent tool to keep up to date with the latest events and networks.Accounts that understand your pain pointsWhether you are a female entrepreneur fighting against the unfair biases of funding, or a young entrepreneur with lots of ideas but little money to start a business, following an account that empathises and understands your journey will help inspire you to keep going and know that you aren’t alone.Accounts that offer financial adviceAt the end of the day, although money isn’t everything – you definitely need to be financially savvy. The first few years of running a business can be difficult financially, so receiving practical money-saving tips from experienced entrepreneurs can really help you navigate the difficult financial world of running a startup.Accounts you can aspire toFollowing brands and other businesses in your industry that have an incredibly successful digital marketing strategy and strong Instagram presence is a sure-fire way to be inspired when running your own social media accounts.Seeing how these strategies and creative posts gain attention will give you confidence that you can imitate that brand’s success on your own terms.Now you know what to look for on Instagram, how about some specific account recommendations to get you started?Our 7 top recommendations of Instagram accounts for entrepreneurs to followSteven Bartlett – @stevenWho are they?Steven Bartlett is one of the most popular and influential entrepreneurs in the UK right now. He is the co-founder of social media marketing agency Social Chain and is famous for being the youngest-ever dragon on Dragon’s Den.He’s also the host of the hugely popular podcast, The Diary of a CEO – currently top of the UK Apple Podcasts store.Why should you follow them?In a nutshell, he pulls no punches and says things as they are. His honest, direct style is refreshing and he shares simple but insightful lessons he’s learned as an entrepreneur with his followers.You’ll find his Instagram full of helpful business tips and advice showcased across a broad variety of engaging content including reels, video clips and images. He also shares clips from his podcast, with a variety of CEOs and entrepreneurs from different backgrounds offering practical and thought provoking business advice.Found & Flourish – @foundflourishWho are they?Found & Flourish is a group of purpose led entrepreneurs that encourage networking within the female and non-binary business community, through their media and events platform, founder interviews and ‘Bossing It’ podcast.Why you should follow them?You’ll find their Instagram constantly updated with insightful clips from the incredible ‘Bossing It’ podcast. They also regularly post weekly ‘What’s On’ guides which include networking events, co-working meet ups, and workshops.All of these are targeted specifically for female and non-binary founders, to help them build vital networks and find mentors.Girlboss – @girlbossWho are they?In their own words, “Girlboss is a community of strong, curious, and ambitious women redefining success on our own terms.” In our words, they are a great source of inspiration for founders everywhere.Why you should follow them?Behind the highly relatable memes and funny TikTok videos, is a team of dedicated women determined to help other women achieve their business goals. You can find lots of helpful Q&A videos for some of the most common issues women founders are having.As well as great tips from women founders, who have a real understanding and empathy about what it is like to be a female entrepreneur, they offer advice universally to all business owners.Tony Robbins – @tonyrobbinsWho are they?Tony Robbins is an American best selling author, coach and business strategist. Rising from poverty and hardship, he has sold more than 15 million copies of his self-help books and invested in several companies.Why you should follow them?Of all the Instagram accounts on our list, Robbins’s is the most motivational. You’ll find his feed full of rousing video speeches about seizing opportunities and not letting disappointment defeat you.Marie Forleo – @marieforleoWho are they?Forleo is a big name in the business world, quitting her corporate job to pursue her dream of building a coaching business from the ground up. A self-made millionaire, Forleo supports entrepreneurs through her online business programme B-School, her YouTube web series MarieTV, and her New York Times bestselling advice books.Why you should follow them?Forleo made her business empire from nothing, which means her advice to entrepreneurs starting out on a tight budget is invaluable. Her Instagram is full of a wide variety of content, including top tips and guidance from her YouTube channel and podcasts, and uplifting quotes and imagery to inspire you.Startups – @startups.co.ukWho are they?I mean if it isn’t already obvious who we are (the best small business publication in the UK) here is a little background…Startups was founded over 20 years ago by a serial entrepreneur. Today, our expert team of writers, researchers, and editors works to provide over 4 million readers with useful tips and information to help them succeed in the business world.Why you should follow them?We hate to blow our own trumpets but our Instagram content is wide, varied and very informative. Plus, our advice is based on real-life experiences and feedback from the small business owners we connect with and support.We regularly post top tips and insight from our successful entrepreneur stories, as well as promote some of our top campaigns including the Best Business Ideas and Startups Cities.If what you want in an Instagram account is practical, genuine business advice delivered in an engaging and creative way, then look no further!THIS – @this.ukWho are they?THIS is a vegan food company that has been taking the vegan food market by storm. Founded in 2019 by Andy Shovel and Pete Sharman, the business largely targets meat lovers looking for familiar tastes and textures.Why you should follow them?We wanted to include THIS as a prime example of how a small business should run its Instagram. The company’s unique marketing strategy has earned it over 100,000 followers, as well as nationwide coverage in several publications for its ingenious marketing stunts.If you are considering setting up your own social media accounts, and you want further guidance around using the platforms, you can visit our dedicated digital marketing suite of content.Or if social media isn’t your thing, why not get some inspiration from the top 5 business books for entrepreneurs. Share this post facebook twitter linkedin Tags instagram marketing News and Features Written by: Ross Darragh Writer Ross has been writing for Startups since 2021, specialising in telephone systems, digital marketing, payroll, and sustainable business. He also runs the successful entrepreneur section of the website. Having graduated with a Masters in Journalism, Ross went on to write for Condé Nast Traveller and the NME, before moving in to the world of business journalism. Ross has been involved in startups from a young age, and has a keen eye for exciting, innovative new businesses. Follow him on his Twitter - @startupsross for helpful business tips.