Why should your small business use Instagram ecommerce? In addition, over 500 million Instagram Stories users use the channel every day, so don’t be shy about making video content for the constantly (and quickly) growing platform.
HootSuite reports that 80% of people using Instagram tend to follow one or more businesses on the platform, and 70% prefer to buy from mobile devices? Those sales could very well be from your business! Your business can benefit from the many opportunities this lucrative ecommerce channel offers. Here’s how it all works:
What you need to know about Instagram shopping
In order to begin your product catalog, you must verify your eligibility and create your Instagram online storefront for ecommerce. Let’s check first:
- A supported market is where your business is located.
- Physical goods are sold by your business.
- Instagram’s commerce policies apply to your business.
- There is a business account set up for your Instagram account.
- Facebook business pages are connected to Instagram accounts.
1. Set up your catalog and connect it
Then, based on your preferences, let’s sync up Facebook shopping catalogs with your Instagram account. If you need to launch a new product or conduct a special promotion soon, try to make it happen as soon as possible, even if it takes a few days to set up.
– With Catalog Manager, you can do it yourself
Are you still without a catalog? Make one! Do you already have one? Connect with us!
Choose the “E-Commerce Catalog” option if you are creating a brand new catalog, unless you are in the real estate, auto, or travel markets and one of these options is more appropriate. Visit the Facebook help section to learn more about creating a catalog.
– Partner with Facebook to lend a hand
Small businesses are time-strapped, which means that setting up Instagram shopping is important, but running the company takes priority. Shopify or BigCommerce can simplify the process for you if you would rather have assistance versus the DIY version above.
Adding your business Facebook account which is also linked to your Instagram account will accomplish this. For instructions on connecting your Facebook account to one of the certified partners, check out Shopify or BigCommerce. After you’ve completed that step, your account will be submitted. Be sure to check back later, as the review process can take time. The app will notify you once everything has been reviewed and approved.
2. Create an Instagram Shopping account
Has your Instagram account been connected to your catalog? In that case, sign up for Instagram shopping on the Instagram app. In the settings, select Business > Shopping from your profile. Then wait. You may need to wait a few days for your account to be reviewed for Shopping. As soon as Instagram confirms your application, you will receive a notification, so that you can set up your Shopping settings so you can start sharing your products.
3. Make your products tagged
Your Instagram feed and Instagram stories should both tag your products to sell more. Follow these steps:
– Adding tags to your posts
The number of products you can tag in your posts varies depending on whether your post contains an image, video, or multiple images. Make sure to tag the products that you have previously featured in your catalog if they are still available in your catalog. They may generate more sales for you.
– Incorporating tags into Stories
At this time, only one product can be tagged per story when tagging products. Adding more stories to your website will encourage users to click through and buy more products. If you can do a series of three, include some new products, designs, or product lines as part of it. The product sticker’s text and color can be customized as well.
– Using organic and paid posts for engagement
As soon as you have Instagram ecommerce up and running, you should look for other ways to engage your community. Although paid promotion can increase your reach, organic posts can help to establish your brand’s reputation and establish a sense of community. Here’s how:
– Put up user-generated content
Your community will appreciate your efforts if you post user-generated content. As well as helping you achieve brand trust, this will also expand your reach and perhaps drive some sales. Get started by requesting reviews and photos of the product. You can tag your business account on the photos if you ask your customers for them. It gives you the chance to easily reshare it on your profile and credit the customer for it. In addition to creating a sense of trust and involvement, this will also help you attract more customers.
The content is also “free”. Your followers will benefit from this, as they will be better able to manage their expectations regarding your products. You can also ask people to “tag us in your bio to be featured!” to get more user-generated content.
– Ads on Instagram can be useful
By investing some of your dollars in Instagram Ads, you will be able to expand your reach and visibility. You can reach your target audience using paid promotion on Instagram if you want to target them based on interests, behaviors, and other demographics.
Measuring the success of Instagram ecommerce
Your efforts are being made, but do you know whether they are successful? You can view your Instagram analytics, including likes, comments, and purchases, through your Instagram business account. Just click through to your profile, then click on the Insights tab. As soon as you understand how your Instagram posts and Stories perform, you’ll be able to gather valuable insight into which products and posts are most popular, what you should focus on promoting more frequently, and what inventory to add.
Your Instagram business profile also lets you view gender, age, and geographical information about users who interact with your posts and those who follow you, in addition to the above insights. You can also access Facebook Ads Manager reports on the go once you start running Instagram Ads, so you can have a larger picture of your reach, impressions, and more.
Closing Thoughts
When you’re ready to launch, strategize your Instagram posts and Instagram advertising efforts using your Facebook and Instagram assets. In addition to driving more sales, increasing revenue, and better understanding your customers, you will drive more sales with organic and paid content. You can leverage Instagram to grow your ecommerce business by having fun, getting creative, and getting the most out of the existing and upcoming opportunities!
