How to make money with Instagram shoppable posts
It's only been a couple of years since Instagram finally graced us with the ability to display products and link them directly to online catalogs, but we can assure you this has changed the game for businesses wanting to promote their brands. Discover how to set up Instagram shoppable posts and just how good they'll be for your business!
What are Instagram shoppable posts?
Let's get the concept straight first. Instagram shoppable posts are regular or organic Instagram posts in which you can "tag" your products and make them available for selling. Tagging products in a shoppable post is the perfect opportunity to add a link to your website in an organic way. You can spot a shoppable post when scrolling through your feed because these types of posts have a tiny shopping bag icon at the bottom left corner of the picture. Once you tap the picture (just like you would with user tags) the products tagged will pop up in little windows with more information such as price and description.
What type of businesses can use them?
If you're wondering if this is the right step for you we have good news: literally any kind of business that has physical products can benefit from Instagram shoppable posts! It doesn't really matter what type of business you run, it's a fact that products that can be clearly seen from the comfort of your phone are much more likely to be bought. So if you have a furniture store, a high end bridal boutique, a cool gadget brand or even a toy store, being able to promote your products directly from your social media will bring you many advantages.
How to set up a shoppable post:
Even though Instagram tries to be as user-friendly as possible and keep things simple,it's still important to do each step of the process right in order to set up shoppable posts on your account. Before you start, you have to double check that your business has an Instagram account (sounds obvious but not for some people), make sure you're within one of the 46 countries where this Instagram feature is available and have the latest version of the app either for Android or iOS. But the most important part is that you make sure the products you sell comply with Instagram's policies.
Turn your profile into a business account
Once you verified the information above, you must check the configuration of your Instagram profile. When anyone opens up an account it can be a personal account by default. Now, this is fine unless you want to start enjoying the benefits of having an Instagram business account. And what are those, you ask? A business account allows you to do shoppable posts, check detailed reports on your audience and account's engagement and even do promotions without leaving the app. To turn your Instagram into a business account make sure you have it in "public", go to the "gear" icon or "settings" icon on your profile, you'll find the option "Switch to business profile" and "continue". Follow the steps and make sure to state correctly your business information.
Make your catalog available on Instagram
Now, in order to complete this step you must do some stuff outside of Instagram. If you have a website platform such as Shopify or BigCommerce, you can follow the steps provided to create a Facebook catalog. If your website is on a different platform you can still link your catalog to your Facebook profile. And if you don't have a website you can always create your catalog directly on Facebook using the "Shop" feature. Whichever option you choose, make sure your products are uploaded correctly and display full name, price and stock. The next step go to the settings of your Instagram account and select "Shopping". Once your catalog is approved by Facebook and Instagram you'll see it on the list and be able to pick it, thus making it available on your profile.
Post and tag products
Now that your catalog is ready and running correctly it's time to create your first shoppable post. Start out by following the steps you normally do to post a picture or series of pictures; and when you get to the Share screen (where you write some copy, tag people and pick other platforms to share your post) you'll find a "Tag products" option. Tap on it and you'll be able to tag anywhere on your photo were your product appears, then all you have to do is write the name of one of your products and it'll appear on the screen. Click on "Share" and your first shoppable post is ready!
Check results
Another cool thing about a business account is that you can check results on each individual post, and this will also include your products once you start doing shoppable posts. To review your metrics just go to the post you want and look for the "View Insights" sign on the bottom left corner of the post. When you click it you'll see a small tab with the number of likes, comments, sent, saved, profiles visits and reach; but if you slide the tab it'll expand to give you further information. Right below the first data you'll see the "Products" section, where it shows you how many product page views has the post generated as well as the product button clicks.
How can Instagram shoppable posts improve my business?
The impact Instagram's shoppable posts have had on businesses is huge, and it's only been a couple of years since this feature was enabled. In fact, brands who've added shoppable posts to their Instagram business profiles have seen a traffic boost from 25% to 50% and sales boost up tp 15% in a matter of months. Asides from securing even more sales for your business, shoppable posts give you the opportunity to get people on your website without having to pay for publicity. Setting up Instagram shoppable posts is a no brainer, let your account start earning the money for you!