Shopping on Instagram
An Instagram shop lets you promote your product catalogue on your business’ social media account. This allows you to promote it directly to users through your posts and stories, allowing them to click through and buy.
Step 1: You need to connect your Instagram business profile to a Facebook catalogue.
Step 2: Once your account and catalogue are connected, you need to go to the Instagram app and sign up for shopping. Settings > Business > Instagram Shopping. Follow the steps as instructed and then your account will go into review, which may take a couple of days.
Step 3: Once this is done and you’ve been approved you can tap on your Instagram photo and tag products using the shopping features.
OK, now that you are all set up for the shopping features let’s take a look at what those are.
Tagging products in your Instagram photos
Instagram allows you to tag up to 5 products on one image and up to 20 products on multiple image posts. This makes your feed instantly shoppable and a great way to showcase new products or whole product lines. Where consumers previously had to work their way through your site to find the exact product page, product tags can direct them straight there.
Anything that you do tag in your Instagram posts then becomes part of your shopping feed on your profile, making it even easier for them to shop your products.
Product stickers on stories
Followers can tap on the product sticker to find out more about the product. This can be a more organic way to promote shopping and is a great way especially for small businesses to promote their products.
Benefits of Instagram shopping
It gets rid of any guesswork for the user as they can immediately go to the product page.
It acts as a virtual storefront and seamlessly fits in with your social feed as it is so easily editable.
You are tapping into an already engaged audience, they are already interested in the brand because they follow you.
There are some exciting features to come soon too. Checkout is currently only available in the US at the moment but soon individuals will be able to complete a purchase without having to leave the app at all. They are also testing out AR technology which allows people to try on products digitally within the app. Shopping experiences are becoming more advanced and it’s definitely one to watch.
If you need help moving your Instagram account to the here and now, get in touch.