Did you know that you can sell things on Instagram? This popular app has evolved since its photo-sharing days, delighting businesses and brands all around the world. Due to its popularity, brands can tap into a large user base, and the chances of being discovered by a new audience are possible.
Instagram users spend around 145 minutes a day on the platform. With a billion users on the app, there’s a high probability that your products or services will catch some attention.
Besides boasting many users, Instagram is also an engaging platform that allows its users to build relationships and brands to build communities. It’s also well-known for influencer marketing. When you combine a highly engaging social media platform with marketing, you get one of the biggest shopping platforms ever.
In this article, we’re going to teach you how you can start selling your products or services on Instagram in 2022. If you’re just starting, don’t worry about getting overwhelmed— our guide is easy to follow, and you’ll have your Instagram shop up and running in no time.
Switch to a Business Profile
You first need to create an Instagram account and switch it to a business profile. All Instagram accounts begin as personal accounts, and if you are making a profile for your brand, you will need to switch it to a business profile.
Doing so will give you access to features such as insights, sponsored posts, ads, quick replies, scheduled posts, and even branded content. It also allows you to make shoppable posts, which we will discuss later.
Switching your account to a business profile isn’t as complicated as it may sound. You must go to Settings, click on Account, and then select “Switch account type.” Once you’ve successfully switched your profile to a business account, it’s time for the next step.
Open an Instagram Shop
Now that you have a business profile, it’s time to open your own Instagram shop. You can do this by logging into your account and going to the settings. You must tap on “Creator” to set up Instagram Shopping.
You will need to connect your catalog, enter your website, and set up your checkout settings. Once you set up your Instagram shop, you’ll gain access to a dashboard that lets you see detailed insights about your account.
Make your Posts “Shoppable”
Creating shoppable posts can make shopping easier for your audience. You can tap on your posts to shop for your products. Shoppable posts are great for driving discoverability.
These posts let users see the price tag and details like how your products would appear in a shop. They can also add the product to their cart or head on to your website to make a purchase.
When creating these posts, don’t forget to include a call-to-action in your caption, and make sure to insert your link in your bio so your audience can easily access it.
Create Valuable Content
Although an Instagram shop’s primary goal is to sell products and services, brands should never forget to share valuable content with followers. The platform isn’t just for selling products— it’s also used to engage with followers and share quality content.
So, don’t just focus on advertising and selling your products. No one wants to follow a page full of ads or an account that only focuses on selling products. Instead, aim to post a ratio of 80% content and 20% shoppable posts.
Utilize Stories
Instagram Stories are another way to sell your products and engage with your audience simultaneously. You can utilize stickers and GIFs and even communicate with your followers. If you’re looking for more engagement and connection with your audience, Instagram Stories is a great way to do so.
You can use Stories to give a behind-the-scenes sneak peek of your brand, share your thoughts and questions with your followers, and get to know your audience.
Keep your Followers Engaged
Lastly, don’t forget to keep your followers engaged and interested in your brand. The only way to do this is by keeping in touch with them and publishing content that they love. Instead of focusing entirely on selling your products, shift your focus onto your followers.
Get to know what type of content they love to respond to, what products they love, and what questions they have. You could also share user-generated content such as reviews, testimonials, or tagged posts. This way, you’re building more than a brand— you’re also building a community.
So, are you ready to start building your shop and selling on Instagram this year? Follow the steps above and start getting the sales you deserve today. We hope this article will help your Instagram shopping journey and if you have any additional tips, feel free to let us know!
