Instagram marketing in 2023 has come a long way.
From finding your next holiday destination to seeing your favorite products in action, this social media platform has everything to hook users’ interest.
With over 2 billion active users, it's easy to predict that selling on Instagram can increase your chances of getting more sales and conversions.
So, whether you have an established business or a startup, you can use Instagram to create brand awareness...
... reach new customers.
... and provide a unified shopping experience.
And one of the most exciting features Instagram introduced in the last couple of years was Instagram shoppable posts.
Instagram rolled out this feature in 2018, and today, many ecommerce businesses are using it to grow their business.
So, if you haven't benefited from this feature yet, it's time to explore what Instagram shoppable posts are and how you can set them up for more conversions.
Why Use Instagram Shoppable Posts?
Having a feature-rich online store is a great idea.
But what if your customers want to purchase products right from the platform they've seen them on without having to visit your official website?
That's where Instagram shoppable posts step in.
With this feature, you can tag your products directly in your feeds, stories, IGTV videos, and more.
Customers can tap those tags to find out more.
They'll see more info about product details and buy using Instagram Checkout directly without leaving the platform.
It's important to know that Instagram's shoppable feature is currently available in 46 countries. Right now, only US-based businesses fulfilling certain criteria can access the Instagram Checkout feature.
Want to know how to make more sales on Instagram? Check out our Instagram marketing guide NOW.
But, now let's set up your Instagram Shoppable Posts.
Getting Started With Instagram Shoppable Posts
Creating Instagram Shoppable posts is easier than you think.
However, you need to get your ‘Shopping on Instagram’ account approved first before moving forward to the next steps.
Here are a few steps you need to follow before getting started:
Step 1 - Create An Instagram Business Account And Get Approval
You will need to have an Instagram Business Profile before you create Instagram Shoppable posts.
If you don't already have a business profile, you may switch from your personal profile to Instagram Business Profile.
After creating a business profile, the next step is to submit that for approval (it doesn't take a few days.)
When your account is approved, it's time to...
Step 2 - Connect Your Instagram Account To Your Facebook Page
The next thing you need to do is connect your Instagram Business Profile with your Facebook page.
For this:
- Go to your account's Settings.
- Tap Linked Accounts and select Facebook.
Then, we move on to the next step.
Step 3 - Create A Product Catalog On Facebook
It's time to create a Product Catalog.
You can use a Catalog Manager to create a catalog on Facebook.
If you don't have a shop on Facebook yet, you can create one using Shopify or BigCommerce.
After creating your product catalog, you should...
Step 4 - Link Your Account With the Product Catalog
Now, link your product catalog to your Instagram Business profile.
Just choose the right option from your Business Manager.
Okay, now it's time to...
Step 5 - Create Your First Instagram Shoppable Post
It's time for the most fun and exciting part.
Let's create your first Instagram Shoppable post.
Here's how you do it: Sign in to your account, compose a post, and tap Tag products.
To tag products, you can either choose products directly from your product catalog or enter the product ID.
That shopping bag icon on the lower left is a sign that you have tagged your products successfully.
Your first Instagram Shoppable post is now live.
Congratulations!
Now, lemme share some Global Brand that has seen significant results.
Success Stats From Global Brands Who Have Seen Extraordinary Results With Instagram Shoppable Posts
If you want to provide your customers with a direct route to shop on Instagram, shoppable ads can be your safest bid.
With these posts, you can streamline your buyer's journey and boost conversions. Not only this, but you can also partner with influencers and request them to tag your products in their marketing posts.
When you consistently create and share Instagram posts, your odds of getting featured in the Instagram Shop Discovery tab will also increase.
Because of these and many other similar reasons, many ecommerce brands leverage Instagram Shoppable posts to increase conversions.
Here are some examples:
Spearmint Love, the popular children's clothing brand, increased its traffic by a whopping 25% by using shoppable posts.
While Tyme saw a massive 44% rise in its traffic when it started creating Instagram shoppable posts.
If you're still not convinced, the following sections will help you get a simple idea of the pros and cons that come with Instagram shoppable posts.
Instagram Shoppable Posts - Benefits
Quick Conversions
Regardless of what you sell online, your goal is to have more sales and conversions.
You raise brand awareness, collaborate with influencers, and spend money on advertisements hoping to convert leads into paying customers.
Instagram shoppable posts streamline the customer journey.
They reduce the time and steps needed to drive those conversions.
Customers are no longer required to leave Instagram to search for your brand. If they like your posts and the products featured in them, they can buy them right away.
Amazing, right?
Shoppable Social Media Is The Perfect Environment For Storytelling
Did you know storytelling converts 22% more than presenting facts and figures?
Shoppable Instagram posts revolve around visual storytelling that appeals to and enthralls your audiences.
What's more interesting is that the customers always remember your products as they have seen them in action on your shoppable posts.
Helps You Connect With Warm Leads
Unlike other social platforms, audiences on Instagram are usually looking to buy things. You can benefit from this by introducing your products and services on Instagram shoppable posts in the best possible manner.
Instagram Shoppable Posts Enable Businesses To Collect Data
Without collecting valuable data, you can't make clever business decisions. The best thing about Instagram shoppable posts is that they enable you to gather user data.
With this information, you can figure out which posts are getting more clicks and likes.
Now, you can use this data to improve your future shoppable posts.
Instagram Shoppable Posts - Challenges
The audience on Instagram belongs to an 18-29 age bracket, which could exclude some key targets.
Also, Instagram only allows businesses to access limited user data. So you'll be missing out on a chance to maintain direct communication with your customers.
Can You Create Instagram Shoppable Posts for Different Countries?
Yes, you can!
You may, however, need to have a localized website to create shoppable posts in each country. For example, if you want to allow your Italian customers to purchase from your website, you'll need to have an Italian version of your website.
Besides that, you'll have to create secondary product feeds designed to cater to the needs of specific audiences (their local currencies, languages, etc.)
Tips To Create Instagram Shoppable Posts That Drive Conversions
Use Attractive Visuals
Instagram is all about enticing images, attention-grabbing videos, and visuals.
This enables you to present your product range creatively using eye-catching visuals to tell a story about your brand. With this technique, you can encourage and inspire customers to invest in your products.
I know what you're thinking, "I'm not a professional photographer or a videographer."
That's something you shouldn't worry about.
All you need to do is invest your time in learning new skills and working with the best videography and image editing tools. This will help you create stunning Instagram shoppable posts for your brand. Here are some Instagram Content Ideas.
Remember, there is no one-size-fits-all rule applicable when we talk about creating shoppable posts. From product-focused videos to lifestyle imagery - there are several ways you can breathe life into your shoppable posts.
Layer User-Generated Content In Your Social Strategy
Did you know why customers trust user-generated content more than anything else?
Because it acts as social proof which builds credibility and trust.
When your customers see your products being used by other like-minded individuals, they will feel more confident about your brand and its offers.
Check out the Instagram handle of the famous ethical fashion brand Kotn. They often share images and videos of their customers flaunting their products.
Also, they have tagged products in those posts to show direction to other buyers about how and where they can shop for similar products.
So, try to gather as much UGC as possible and showcase those posts on your feed to build trust.
Don't forget to seek permission from the original author and give credit to them while posting their content.
Leverage Instagram Guides
Instagram Guides is a new yet super effective Instagram feature that enables sellers to round up seasonal sales, gift ideas, and more.
By rounding up your several shoppable posts and creating a guide out of them, you can provide a better user experience to your customers.
Offer Exclusive Promotions
You can make more money from your Instagram shoppable posts when you include an exclusive discount or a deal with your offer.
Especially when you're looking for instant results, you can use this hack to capture the attention of your ideal customers.
You can also trigger urgency by creating the FOMO effect to encourage customers to take timely action before the offer ends.
What could be a better way to win more sales than creating an offer-rich post with attractive imagery and a robust CTA in the end? You got that, right?
Pay Attention To Product Tagging
Did you know what sets engaging Instagram shoppable posts apart from the rest? They come with unparalleled product tagging.
Now, what does that mean?
With product tagging, you can showcase the name and price of the tagged products, enabling users to have all information on the spot.
Here, it is critical to understand that most customers view your posts using their smart devices. That means you have a limited space to get your message across.
Remember, trying to tag every single post will make your entire post look confusing and cluttered.
So instead of tagging every product, you can tag two or three products that your customers can buy by tapping on them.
Partner With Influencers
You can also collaborate with any influencer working in your niche using the ‘Shopping from Creators’ feature.
With this option, you can allow your partners to tag your products in their posts.
This way, their followers can tap and purchase your tagged products directly from the post itself without even having to visit your Insta handle.
Present Your Entire Range Using Carousel Feature
The best way to display your products is by showcasing them through a product catalog. You can also implement the same strategy by combining the Instagram shoppable posts with the carousel feature.
The carousel feature comes with a range of options, including show closeup, lookbook, and more.
Experiment With Different Formats
Don't limit yourself to conventional Instagram features only. There's a whole range of ecommerce features you can experiment with using Instagram.
Whether it's Instagram Stories, IGTV, or Instagram Reels, you can drive tons of traffic by leveraging these amazing ecommerce features.
Use Hashtags Wisely
Sure, Instagram marketing revolves around visuals. But it also involves catchy captions and hashtags that add depth to your posts and streamline the entire communication process.
Research reveals that posts that include at least one hashtag can drive up to 12.6% more engagement than posts that don’t have hashtags.
Create cool captions for your posts that perfectly complement the visuals and strike a conversation with your buyers.
Also, attach branded hashtags, including the name of your business, so that potential customers can easily find your brand on Insta.
Monitor Your Performance
Instagram shoppable posts allow ecommerce sellers to keep track of CTRs and impressions. Analyze these statistics from time to time to identify which posts generate the most traffic and conversions.
Are you ready to take your business to the next level using Instagram shoppable posts? Why not do it with Debutify? Our theme has everything to help you get started.
