What Type of Instagram Account to Use with BOKBOK

Why You Need an Instagram Professional Account

BOKBOK requires an Instagram Professional Account to connect and enable chatbot features. Regular personal accounts don't have the necessary API access that BOKBOK needs to send automated replies and manage conversations.

Instagram Professional Accounts (which include both Business and Creator accounts) provide the integration capabilities that allow BOKBOK to:

Receive and respond to direct messages automatically
Access conversation history and manage customer interactions
Connect through Facebook's messaging platform
Provide analytics and insights about your chatbot interactions

How Instagram Connects to BOKBOK Through Facebook

Instagram doesn't connect directly to BOKBOK. Instead, you need to connect your Instagram Professional Account to a Facebook Page, and then connect that Facebook page to BOKBOK.

The Connection Flow:

Convert your Instagram account to a Professional Account
Connect your Instagram Professional Account to a Facebook Page
Connect that Facebook Page to BOKBOK
BOKBOK can then manage messages from both Facebook and Instagram

This setup allows BOKBOK to handle messages from both your Facebook page and your Instagram account in one place, making it easier to manage all your customer conversations.

How to Convert Your Instagram Account to a Professional Account

Follow these steps to convert your personal Instagram account to a Professional Account:

Open Instagram Settings

Open the Instagram app on your mobile device. Tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner, then tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) in the top right corner. Select "Settings" from the menu.

Access Account Type

In Settings, scroll down and tap "Account". Then tap "Switch to Professional Account" or "Switch Account Type".

Choose Account Type

Instagram will show you two options:

Business Account: Best if you have a business, brand, or organization
Creator Account: Best if you're an influencer, content creator, or public figure

Either option works with BOKBOK. Choose the one that best fits your needs.

Complete Your Profile

Instagram will ask you to add or confirm your contact information (email and phone number). You can also add a category that describes your business or content. Fill in these details and tap "Next".

Connect to Facebook Page

Instagram will prompt you to connect to a Facebook Page. This step is required for BOKBOK integration. You have two options:

Connect to an existing Facebook Page (if you already have one)
Create a new Facebook Page (if you don't have one yet)

Select or create a Facebook Page and complete the connection. This links your Instagram account to Facebook's messaging system, which BOKBOK uses to manage conversations.

Finish Setup

Review your profile information and tap "Done" or "Complete Setup". Your Instagram account is now a Professional Account connected to a Facebook Page.

How to Connect Your Instagram Professional Account to a Facebook Page

If you didn't connect your Instagram account to a Facebook Page during the conversion process, or if you need to change the connection, you can do it through Facebook's settings. Important: You must connect to a Facebook Page, not a personal Facebook profile. Here's how:

Method 1: Using Facebook Settings

Log in to your Facebook account and go to Facebook Settings → Linked Accounts
In the "Linked Accounts" section, you'll see options to connect your Instagram account
Click on "Connect" next to Instagram
Enter your Instagram username and password when prompted
Important: When prompted to select a Facebook account, make sure you select a Facebook Page (not your personal Facebook profile). If you don't have a Facebook Page yet, you can create one during this process.
Authorize the connection between your Instagram account and the Facebook Page
Confirm the connection

Once connected, your Instagram Professional Account will be linked to your Facebook Page, and both accounts will share messaging capabilities that BOKBOK can access.

Method 2: Through Instagram Settings

Open the Instagram app on your mobile device
Go to your profile and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines)
Tap "Settings" → "Account"
Tap "Linked Accounts" or "Page"
Select "Facebook" from the list
Important: Choose the Facebook Page you want to connect (not your personal Facebook profile). If you don't have a Facebook Page, you can create one during this process.
Follow the prompts to authorize the connection

This method works directly from Instagram and is convenient if you're already in the app.

💡 Quick Access to Linked Accounts

You can manage all your linked accounts (Instagram, Facebook Pages, etc.) at any time by visiting: Facebook Settings → Linked Accounts

This page allows you to view, connect, or disconnect your Instagram account from Facebook Pages (not personal profiles), which is useful if you need to change the connection or troubleshoot any issues. Remember: BOKBOK requires a Facebook Page connection, not a personal Facebook profile.

Next Steps: Connect to BOKBOK

Once your Instagram Professional Account is connected to a Facebook Page, you can connect that Facebook Page to BOKBOK:

Log in to your BOKBOK dashboard
Go to the integration or connections section
Select "Connect Facebook Page"
Authorize BOKBOK to access your Facebook Page
Once connected, BOKBOK will automatically handle messages from both your Facebook Page and your Instagram account

Your Instagram messages will appear in BOKBOK's conversation management interface, and the chatbot will be able to respond to Instagram direct messages automatically.

Important Notes

⚠️ Keep Your Connection Active

If you disconnect your Instagram account from the Facebook Page, or change your Instagram account type back to personal, BOKBOK will lose access to your Instagram messages. Make sure to keep the connection active for continuous chatbot functionality.

💡 Both Accounts Work

Both Instagram Business Accounts and Creator Accounts work with BOKBOK. Choose the one that best fits your needs—the functionality for chatbot integration is the same.

Summary

To use BOKBOK with Instagram, you need an Instagram Professional Account (Business or Creator) that's connected to a Facebook Page. The connection flow is: Instagram Professional Account → Facebook Page → BOKBOK. This setup allows BOKBOK to manage messages from both platforms in one place.

Converting to a Professional Account is free and takes just a few minutes. Once set up, you'll have access to BOKBOK's powerful chatbot features for your Instagram account.