Today’s shoppers are digital natives who have grown up with the internet and its infinite possibilities. As a result, they demand frictionless experiences that don’t leave them switching tabs between websites, searching for that one filter or article on how to use a certain app.
Users demand seamless experiences where everything is in one place and easily accessible. It is for this reason that e-commerce businesses must step up their game and implement strategies to engage customers on all fronts.
Instagram, now the third-largest social network with over one billion users, has become an important ally of retailers looking to increase customer engagement. With its strong visual appeal, Instagram is the perfect platform for brands to showcase their products in ways other channels cannot achieve.
Read on to discover more about Instagram shopping and how you can use it to increase your customer engagement in-store.
What is Instagram Shopping?
Instagram shopping allows users to browse products, select the ones they want, and add them directly to their shopping carts, all while they are on Instagram. This feature is similar to Amazon’s “buy” button which allows shoppers to purchase items directly through Instagram and have them shipped to their homes.
Instagram shopping, however, is currently available only for select brands and products. You can view a full list of retailers on Instagram’s website.
Instagram Shopping Includes:
- Shops: Instagram shopping enables people to shop directly on their profile pages by creating a customizable storefront.
- Shopping Tags: You can link to products in your catalog from tags to help direct customers to make purchases on your website or in-app.
- Shop in Explore: A tab that allows people to browse through shoppable content that has been tagged by brands and creators.
- Collections: A collection of products that businesses can compile for their store in order to assist customers in locating the items they love.
- Product Detail Page: A product-focused page that shows relevant item information such as pricing and product descriptions, pulled from your product catalog.
- Ads with Product Tags: Ads Manager and the Instagram app can be used by businesses to increase the reach of their shoppable content by creating new ads with product tags or boosting existing shopping posts. These ads drive conversions, link clicks, and post engagement.
How to use Instagram Shopping
If you are one of the lucky brands that can utilize the Instagram shopping function, the first thing you’ll need to do is select which products you want to make shoppable on the app.
This can be done through the “Products” tab within the business settings. From here, select the product you want to add to Instagram and select the “Make it shoppable” option. You have the option to either make the product shoppable on the feed or in an individual post.
To do this, you’ll need to select the “Type of post” option and choose one of the two options. Once the product is shoppable, you can add it to any post you want. The only thing you need to remember is to remove any hashtags, as they will not be clickable.
Strategies for Successful Instagram Shopping
If you want to reap the benefits of Instagram shopping, there are a few things you can do to make the most of this feature. First, make sure that your product feed is up to date. This means that all images should be product-focused and relevant to your brand.
Consider adding a product summary with the product’s description and price to provide an extra layer of information for your customers. If you want to increase the number of sales from Instagram shopping, you can use special tags within the caption to indicate that the product can be purchased. Add a shopping bag icon next to the price to make it more visible.
If you want to increase the number of sales from Instagram shopping, you can use special tags within the caption to indicate that the product can be purchased. You can also add a shopping bag icon next to the price to make it more visible.
Build a Strong Brand Presence with IGTV
While Instagram shopping can help you increase customer engagement, you can also build a stronger brand presence by creating content with the launch of IGTV.
This is Instagram’s new long-form video feature which allows users to upload videos up to one hour long. You can use this to your advantage and create visually appealing videos that capture your customers’ attention and help them learn more about your products.
Use Rich Product Content and Ads in IG Feed
If the products you want to make shoppable are already in your feed, you can use the “product tagging” feature to make them more visible to your followers. This feature allows you to tag products in your feed posts to make it easier for your followers to find them.
Use ads in your feed to increase the visibility of products you want to sell more. To do this, select the “Ads” option in your Instagram business settings. From here, you can choose from various ad types, targeting options, and scheduling methods to help you reach the right audience and boost engagement.
Increase Customer Engagement With Video
An excellent way to engage customers on Instagram is through video. You can create visually appealing videos that would not be possible to create on other channels such as Twitter or Facebook.
These videos can be used in a number of ways, such as product unboxing videos or tutorials on how to use a certain product. You can also create videos that entertain your followers. You can do this by creating videos that are meant to make people laugh or react positively. These types of videos can be used as a way to create engagement and help you increase followers.
Summary
Instagram is the perfect channel to drive brand awareness and acquire new customers, but only if you know how to use it. Make sure your posts are fresh and visually appealing and use shoppable product tags to make it easier for customers to add items to their carts. You can also use video to engage followers and create brand awareness.
Finally, use IGTV and the long-form video feature to create even more engaging content. With these strategies, you can increase customer engagement on Instagram and drive more sales for your business.
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