Guide to Instagram Shopping

As social media platforms like Facebook continue to integrate ecommerce functions, it is important to consider how your business can leverage them. One such growing platform that is proving to be lucrative for businesses is Instagram. On Instagram, more than 200 million users visit at least one business profile on the platform every day. Furthermore, one-third of the most viewed stories on Instagram come from businesses. For a business that looks to use social media to grow, Instagram can no longer be ignored.

We’ll show you how to get the most out of Instagram Shopping. To begin, we will explain exactly what Instagram Shopping is.

What Is Instagram Shopping?

The Instagram Shopping Feature gives you the ability to tag five of your products per image that you upload. You can also tag more than twenty products per carousel as well. When users tap on your tags, they are then able to buy items from your online store.

When using Instagram Shopping, it is important to come up with shopping captions for your posts that seamlessly use Instagram tags. Below, we’ll provide you with some tips that can help you create proper tags.

How To Use Product Tags

There are a few simple steps you can take to begin tagging your products in posts and ads:

1. Select the photo you want to upload. In the options presented, tap on the “tag product” option.
2. If your photo includes various products, touch each of them to place different product tags.
3. Find the products in your catalog and link them to your photo.
4. Hit “Done” and then tap “Share”.

The good thing about product tags is you do not have to limit them to stories and images. You can also use them in your post captions. Product tags are very flexible, but the most important thing is making sure they are used seamlessly and remain relevant to your target audience.

It’s also important to not make your images or captions too “product-centric.” Making your post an experience instead of a sales pitch will set you apart from competitors on Instagram.

Make sure you always use tags only for the items that are seen in the image or video you post. This holds true for variations, too. For example, if you are selling a t-shirt, you need to tag the same t-shirt, in the same color, in your product tag.

Ads

To get the most out of Instagram shopping, you must make sure that users tap on your tags or use the in-app checkout option. To do this, you need to promote your offering – and the best way to market your product on Instagram are ads.

Instagram offers several ad types, including:

• Photo
• Sponsored
• Mapped-guided
• Story
• IGTV
• Carousel

When it comes to ads, if you want to increase your reach you would need to opt for a sponsored ad that will feature in the feed of your target audience. On the flip side, Instagram Stories are a great way to engage your existing followers. You can add product tags to your stories or use the “Swipe up” feature to direct your followers to your product page.

In Summary

Social media is proving it can be more than just a place to share pictures and catch up with friends. It is now an important tool for growing your reach, developing your brand, and increasing sales. Instagram Shopping is only one of your options for increasing your online presence and sales, but it is important to consider incorporating it into your ecommerce mix.