Instagram Shopping: What is it and how does it work?

Various social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, TikTok and Instagram have remained on the sidelines of the commercial sector due to their innovations and updates on their platforms.

This is mainly due to the fact that more and more companies, brands and businesses are seeking to expand their horizons through these channels .

Instagram is a special case, as it has been promoting Instagram Shopping for some time, a window that helps businesses and brands sell their products or services with the same experience as using this social network.

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What is Instagram Shopping?

Instagram Shopping is a tool from the same social network that helps sell products through the same formula as Instagram, that is, through photographs or any audiovisual resource.

It looks like a normal post, however, you have the option to tag up to 5 products per image and up to 20 different products per carousel.

Within the same publication, it is possible to create shortcuts to find out the prices and descriptions of the product. There is also a way to go to the store's website to purchase it.

In short, Instagram Shopping operates as a set of features that allow users to easily purchase products from the brands or businesses that interest them.

You can do this through photos and videos from any brand with an Instagram profile.

How does Instagram Shopping work?

This Instagram tool has a functionality that can be described as follows:

1. Creating a business account.
2. Design and creation of a product catalogue.
3. Labeling products so they can be purchased.
4. Purchase of products by the customer.
5. Making payment and shipping the product to the customer.

In a way, the buying and selling experience is made easier , as it becomes much more dynamic, innovative, creative and easier to live.

It also appeals to the visual sense to encourage customers to purchase something from our catalogue; that is the magic of Instagram Shopping.

Benefits of Instagram Shopping

Instagram Shopping takes advantage of the experience of browsing the social network itself to develop unique benefits of this tool. Some of these advantages are:

• Improve reach and traffic. Instagram is one of the most popular and used social networks in the world. It can naturally expand the audience size of any brand or business, as long as the right strategies are used.
• Increased sales. In addition to the previous point, sales can increase due to the reach that publications can have.
• Better visibility. Products will have greater relevance and visibility in the feed of active users. This will make it easier for potential customers to quickly identify a business.
• Improved customer experience. Instagram, on its own, is usually a social network characterized by visual resources and materials, meaning that text is almost non-existent. So seeing products directly without other resources stealing their attention can improve their experience.

Instagram Shopping Features Available

According to the official Instagram Shopping website, some of its main features are the following:

• Shopping tags: These are labels that are included in the publications so that the user can purchase the product from the application or through the website.
• Stores. These are digital and fully customizable shop windows where it is possible to purchase products from business profiles.
• Collections. As the name suggests, these are sets or groups of products that share characteristics or elements, so that customers can easily find their favorite products.
• Product tag ads. These are ads where posts are displayed on the home page of potential customers or people who are interested in the product.
• Product details page. This is a site where complete and relevant information about an item is displayed, from price to description.
• Product launches. This feature allows businesses to announce product launches on Instagram. This option is complemented by reminders that customers can schedule.
• Live Shopping. It follows the Live Shopping formula, where products can be purchased while the brand or business is broadcasting live on Instagram. This creates engagement and improves the relationship between the audience and the company.

As business needs evolve, new features, tools, and benefits may be added to Instagram Shopping.

How to put a catalog on Instagram?

Instagram is one of the most popular and widely used social networks in the world, with over 1 billion active users per month. One of the advantages of this platform is that it allows brands and businesses to showcase their products and services in a visual and attractive way, and connect with their potential customers.

In order to put a catalog on Instagram, you need to meet some prerequisites, such as having a business account, linking it to a Facebook page, and creating a product catalog in Facebook Business Manager.

Once this is done, you can activate the Instagram Shopping feature, which allows you to tag products from the catalog in Instagram posts and stories, and create a shop section in your account profile.

What is Instagram Market?

Instagram Market is a new feature that Instagram is testing in select countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada.

This is an e-commerce space within the app, where users can discover and purchase products from the brands and creators they follow, as well as other personalized recommendations.

Instagram Market is located in the bottom navigation bar of the app, next to the home icon, the search icon, the reels icon, and the profile icon. When you tap on it, a screen opens with different product categories, such as fashion, beauty, home, sports, etc.

You can also access exclusive Instagram collections, special offers and the most popular products among users.

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How to access Instagram Shopping

Instagram Shopping is a feature that allows business accounts to tag products from their catalog in Instagram posts and stories, and create a shop section on their profile.

This way, users can view product details and prices, and access the brand's website to make the purchase.

To access Instagram Shopping, you must meet the following requirements:

• Have a business account on Instagram, and link it to a Facebook page.
• Sell ​​physical products that comply with Facebook and Instagram commerce policies.
• Create a product catalog in Facebook Business Manager, or on a partner e-commerce platform.
• Have at least one post on Instagram.
• Be located in one of the countries supported by Instagram Shopping.

Once these requirements have been met, you can request approval for Instagram Shopping from the Instagram app by following these steps:

• Go to your business account profile, and click on the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner.
• Select the Settings option, then the Company option.
• Click on Purchases, and follow the instructions on the screen.

After submitting your request, you must wait for Instagram to review and approve it, which may take a few days.

Once approved, you can start tagging products from the catalog in your Instagram posts and stories, and create the shop section on your profile.

In conclusion

Without a doubt, this application is one of the fundamental ideas and tools that every business should have, as long as its products, items and population fit it.

Customer experience can be improved, as well as sales rates, through an innovative tool such as Instagram Shopping.

Written by Moises Hamui Abadi : I am an entrepreneur, founding partner of Viceversa and SoyMacho. After leading several digital businesses and advising several other businesses, I decided to form MHA Consulting, a digital marketing consultancy dedicated to growing and empowering digital businesses in more than 7 countries and generating more than 1,500 million pesos.

If you want more information on this topic or are looking for other options to profile your ideal client, at MHA you will find the solution you need. Schedule a call