As an e-commerce business owner, you’re constantly looking for ways to reach new customers and increase sales. With over a billion active users, Instagram has become a treasure trove of opportunities for online retailers. One of the most effective ways to tap into this massive audience is by adding an Instagram store to your business profile. In this article, we’ll walk you through the process of setting up an Instagram store and explore the benefits it can bring to your business.
What is an Instagram Store?
Before we dive into the setup process, let’s take a step back and understand what an Instagram store is. An Instagram store is a feature that allows businesses to tag products directly in their posts, stories, and reels, allowing customers to purchase from their feed without leaving the app. This seamless shopping experience has been shown to increase conversions and drive sales.
Benefits of Adding an Instagram Store
So, why should you add an Instagram store to your business profile? Here are some compelling reasons:
- Increased conversions: With Instagram shopping, customers can buy from your feed directly, reducing the friction between discovery and purchase.
- Improved customer experience: By providing a seamless shopping experience, you can increase customer satisfaction and loyalty.
- Enhanced brand visibility: With shopping tags, your products become more discoverable, increasing your brand’s visibility and reach.
Eligibility Criteria for Adding an Instagram Store
Before you start setting up your Instagram store, make sure you meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Business profile: You must have a business profile on Instagram, which means you need to switch from a personal profile to a business profile.
- Approved countries: Instagram shopping is currently available in select countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and several others.
- Product categories: Your products must fall into one of the approved categories, which include clothing, accessories, beauty products, and home goods, among others.
Setting Up Your Instagram Store
Now that you’ve met the eligibility criteria, let’s walk through the step-by-step process of setting up your Instagram store:
Step 1: Switch to a Business Profile
If you haven’t already, switch to a business profile by following these steps:
- Go to your Instagram profile and tap the three horizontal lines on the top-right corner.
- Tap “Settings” and then “Account.”
- Tap “Switch to Business Profile” and follow the prompts.
Step 2: Connect Your Facebook Page
To add an Instagram store, you need to connect your Facebook page to your Instagram business profile. Here’s how:
- Go to your Instagram profile and tap the three horizontal lines on the top-right corner.
- Tap “Settings” and then “Account.”
- Tap “Linked Accounts” and then “Facebook.”
- Enter your Facebook login credentials to connect your page.
Step 3: Add a Product Catalog
A product catalog is a collection of your products that you can use to tag in your Instagram posts and stories. You can create a product catalog using Facebook’s catalog manager or a third-party e-commerce platform like Shopify or BigCommerce.
- Go to Facebook’s catalog manager and create a new catalog.
- Add your products to the catalog, including product images, descriptions, and pricing information.
Step 4: Submit Your Catalog for Review
Once you’ve created your product catalog, submit it for review by following these steps:
- Go to your Instagram profile and tap the three horizontal lines on the top-right corner.
- Tap “Settings” and then “Business.”
- Tap “Shopping” and then “Get Started.”
- Select your product catalog and submit it for review.
Step 5: Wait for Approval
Instagram will review your product catalog to ensure it meets their guidelines and policies. This may take a few days, so be patient.
Tagging Products in Your Instagram Posts and Stories
Once your catalog is approved, you can start tagging products in your Instagram posts and stories. Here’s how:
Tagging Products in Posts
- Create a new post or edit an existing one.
- Tap the “Tag Products” option from the editing menu.
- Search for the product you want to tag and select it from your catalog.
- Add the product tag to your post.
Tagging Products in Stories
- Create a new story or edit an existing one.
- Tap the “Shopping Bag” icon from the editing menu.
- Search for the product you want to tag and select it from your catalog.
- Add the product tag to your story.
Best Practices for Instagram Shopping
To get the most out of your Instagram store, follow these best practices:
- Use high-quality product images: Make sure your product images are clear, well-lit, and showcase your products from different angles.
- Optimize your product descriptions: Write detailed and accurate product descriptions, including product features, pricing, and availability.
- Use relevant hashtags: Use relevant hashtags to increase the discoverability of your products.
Measuring the Success of Your Instagram Store
To measure the success of your Instagram store, keep an eye on the following metrics:
- Conversion rate: The percentage of customers who make a purchase from your Instagram feed.
- Average order value: The average amount spent by customers who make a purchase from your Instagram feed.
- Return on ad spend: The revenue generated by your Instagram ads compared to the cost of running those ads.
By following these steps and best practices, you can unlock the full potential of your Instagram store and drive sales for your business. Remember to stay up-to-date with Instagram’s shopping policies and guidelines to ensure your store remains active and successful.
What is Instagram Shopping and how does it work?
Instagram Shopping allows businesses to tag products directly in their Instagram posts and stories, making it easy for customers to purchase from their brand without having to leave the app. This feature is available to businesses that have an Instagram Business account and have connected their product catalog to Facebook Shop. When a customer taps on a tagged product, they will be taken to a detailed product page where they can learn more about the product, view prices, and make a purchase.
To use Instagram Shopping, businesses need to have a professional Instagram account, agree to Instagram’s merchant agreement, and connect their product catalog to Facebook Shop. Businesses can then upload their product catalog to Facebook Shop and tag products in their Instagram posts and stories. Instagram will review the business’s application and ensure that their products meet Instagram’s commerce policies.
Do I need to have a Facebook Shop to use Instagram Shopping?
Yes, to use Instagram Shopping, you need to have a Facebook Shop connected to your Instagram Business account. Facebook Shop is a feature that allows businesses to showcase their products and enable customers to purchase from their brand directly on Facebook. When you connect your Facebook Shop to your Instagram Business account, you can share your product catalog across both platforms and tag products in your Instagram posts and stories.
Having a Facebook Shop connected to your Instagram Business account also allows you to manage your product catalog and inventory in one place. This makes it easy to keep your product information up-to-date and ensures that customers have a seamless shopping experience across both platforms.
What types of products can I sell on Instagram Shopping?
Instagram Shopping allows businesses to sell physical products, such as clothing, accessories, home goods, and beauty products, as well as digital products, such as ebooks, courses, and music. However, Instagram has certain commerce policies that restrict the sale of certain products, such as weapons, tobacco products, and illegal substances.
Before setting up your Instagram Shop, make sure to review Instagram’s commerce policies to ensure that your products comply with their guidelines. You should also ensure that you have the necessary permissions and licenses to sell your products in your region.
How do I add products to my Instagram Shop?
To add products to your Instagram Shop, you need to upload your product catalog to Facebook Shop and connect it to your Instagram Business account. You can upload your product catalog manually by creating a CSV file with your product information, or you can connect your e-commerce platform, such as Shopify or WooCommerce, to Facebook Shop.
Once you’ve uploaded your product catalog, you can start tagging products in your Instagram posts and stories. To tag a product, simply tap the “Tag Products” option when creating a post or story, and select the product from your catalog. You can add up to five products per post and up to 20 products per story.
How do I get approved for Instagram Shopping?
To get approved for Instagram Shopping, you need to meet Instagram’s eligibility requirements, which include having a professional Instagram account, agreeing to Instagram’s merchant agreement, and connecting your product catalog to Facebook Shop. Once you’ve met these requirements, Instagram will review your application to ensure that your products comply with their commerce policies.
The review process typically takes a few days, but it can take longer in some cases. Once your application is approved, you’ll receive an email notification from Instagram, and you can start using Instagram Shopping.
How do I track sales and analytics on Instagram Shopping?
Instagram provides businesses with insights and analytics on their Instagram Shopping performance, including the number of people who have viewed their products, the number of clicks on their products, and the number of conversions. You can access these insights through the Instagram Insights tool, which is available to businesses with an Instagram Business account.
In addition to Instagram’s built-in analytics, you can also use third-party tools, such as Google Analytics, to track sales and conversions from Instagram Shopping. You can also use UTM tracking codes to track the performance of your Instagram Shopping campaigns.
Can I use Instagram Shopping with my existing e-commerce platform?
Yes, you can use Instagram Shopping with your existing e-commerce platform. Instagram allows businesses to connect their e-commerce platform, such as Shopify or WooCommerce, to Facebook Shop, which enables them to sync their product catalog across both platforms.
Once you’ve connected your e-commerce platform to Facebook Shop, you can use Instagram Shopping to tag products in your Instagram posts and stories, and customers can purchase from your brand directly from the app. This integration also allows you to manage your product catalog and inventory in one place, making it easy to keep your product information up-to-date.