Instagram has become a significant player in the eCommerce landscape. It offers a multitude of opportunities to drive sales and connect with a larger audience.
With its popularity and large user base, Instagram provides an excellent opportunity for your marketing and eCommerce strategy. Using Instagram can help you boost your brand exposure and drive product discovery. The platform's interactive nature can also help you engage with audiences in a more authentic and immersive way.
Let's delve into how you can make the most of Instagram to sell your products and services.
The first step is to create a professional account on Instagram. If you have a personal account you want to use for selling, you'll need to convert it to a professional account. This will unlock a range of tools and features to help you drive sales.
Here is the step-by-step process to get your Instagram shop up and running.
Building trust in your brand is a critical part of encouraging buyers to choose your products. Below we explore some ways you can start to establish an authentic presence on your Instagram channel.
To start selling products on Instagram, you'll need to create or connect a product catalogue. There are several ways to do this.
If you have a small number of products, you can manually add them to your Instagram shop via Commerce Manager. Facebook Commerce Manager is a Meta-owned platform you can use to manage your catalogue. It acts as a digital inventory of all the products you want to showcase and sell on Instagram and Facebook. Simply provide details such as product name, description, price, and images directly on the Instagram app and start selling.
If you already have an online store or use an eCommerce platform like Shopify, you can sync your existing product catalogue to sell on Instagram.
If you have a large product inventory or prefer a more automated approach, you can create a data feed in a compatible format, such as a CSV or XML file. This allows you to update your product catalogue and sync it with Instagram.
After you have created and connected your product catalogue, you'll need to sign up for Instagram Shopping. This step verifies your business and ensures you comply with their policies. It may take a few days for Instagram to review and approve your account for Instagram Shopping. Once approved, you'll be able to start tagging products in your posts and stories.
Instagram has several features to help you connect to customers and promote your products. These can include:
Instagram ads can help you get your products in front of your target audience and help drive more sales.
Below we breakdown how to get started.
Instagram offers different ways to showcase products and engage with customers. These include stories, highlights, reels and live videos. Each content format offers unique opportunities to captivate your audience.
Learn how video marketing can offer new ways to reach customers.
When you create a post on Instagram, include a call-to-action in the description. For example, you may want to encourage users to visit your online store. Add a direct link to the relevant product page, collection, or landing page. Don't forget to make the link easily clickable by using a URL shortener like Bitly or Linktree.
There are several techniques you can use to improve your conversion rate. These can include:
Organic growth and audience engagement are vital to building a strong Instagram presence. Organic growth involves attracting followers who are interested in your brand and what you have to offer.
Below we discuss some strategies you can try to grow your following.
Instagram is a visual platform. High-quality images or videos can help encourage engagement.
Content should add value to your audience in some way. This can be in the form of educational posts, inspirational content, entertaining videos, or behind-the-scenes moments.
Discover how to plan effective digital content strategies.
User-generated content (UGC) refers to any form of content created and shared by consumers or users of a brand. Content can include testimonials, reviews, photos, videos, or social media posts. UCG can be a form of social proof. It helps potential customers understand others' experiences of your products or services.
Consider reposting reviews or photos taken of your product onto your feed.
By using relevant and popular hashtags, your posts have a higher chance of appearing in search results. This can lead to increased engagement and attract new followers. Research the hashtags your customers use and include them in your posts.
Timely responses to direct messages and comments show that you value customers and their feedback. Address any queries, concerns, or compliments promptly and professionally. This helps build trust and encourages ongoing engagement.
Influencers have a dedicated and engaged following, which provides an opportunity for you to tap into their audience.
If you want to use influencers, identify those who align with your business's target audience and values. This can help you build awareness of your business among potential customers.
Use Instagram's search and explore features with influencer marketing platforms to search for relevant influencers in your industry. Analyse their engagement, audience demographics, and past collaborations to ensure they’re a good fit for your brand.
Find out how you can get started with influencers.
Instagram provides a great way for businesses to connect with their customers. The platform has a large, engaged user base which you can use to create social networks of customers. The platform also makes it straightforward to set up your business profile, identify target audiences and start selling.
When done right, building a business profile on Instagram can create significant opportunities to drive growth and sell to more customers.
Learn more on how you can use eCommerce platforms to reach more customers or increase sales with social media.
Originally published January 2024, updated March 2024
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