How to Use Instagram Shop to Drive More Sales for Your Business

You're missing out if you're not using Instagram to market your products. Promoting your products on Instagram is essential in today's social media-driven world.

The good news is that Instagram added a new feature to help businesses instantly promote their products and sell them directly from their Instagram shop!

Amazing, right?

But what exactly is an Instagram shop, how can you use it for your business, and what is its benefit? We will discuss everything you need to know about the Instagram shop, so continue reading the blog.

What is Instagram Shop?

If you're looking to take your business to the next level, an Instagram Shop could be an excellent option for you. Integrating your product catalog with your Instagram profile allows you to reach a whole new audience of potential customers. And because users can access your shop directly from your profile, it's easy for them to browse and purchase your products.

Plus, with the ability to promote your products through posts, Stories, and the Explore tab, you'll have plenty of opportunities to get your products in front of potential buyers. 

According to research, more than 130 million people each month click on an Instagram Shopping post. So if you're ready to take advantage of all that Instagram has to offer, setting up an Instagram Shop is a great place to start.

How to Set Up an Instagram Shop?

If you're looking to set up an Instagram shop, there are a few things you need to do.

Step 1. Make sure you have a business or creator profile on Instagram

To do this, go to your profile settings and select "Switch to Business or Creator Profile." Once you've done that, you'll be able to add contact information, including your website URL, email address, and phone number. 

Plus, you can access other features to monitor your account status, all for free. You can check out our Ultimate Instagram Guide for Beginners to help you get started. 

Step 2. Connect your profile to your Facebook Page

It's important to connect your profile to your Facebook page. Follow these easy steps to link your account to your Facebook page:

1. Go to your profile page, and select edit profile.
2. Under public business information, select page.
3. Tap create a Facebook page or connect to an existing page.
4. Choose the page that you want to connect to, or if you still don't have one, you can create a page first.

Step 4. Upload your product catalog

You need to have a product catalog to set up your Instagram shop. It is a list of all the products your offer and the description.

There is two option to connect your product catalog to your Instagram account:

1. Creating a catalog in commerce manager through Facebook business manager.
2. Importing your catalog from a partner platform like Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento, etc.

Step 5. Submit your account for review

Once you upload or connect your product catalog, you need to submit your account for review. Here's how you can do it: 

1. Go to your Instagram business profile by tapping the three lines in the upper right corner.
2. Select settings.
3. Sign up for Shopping.
4. Follow the steps to submit your account for review.
5. Check your account status anytime through Shopping, under settings.

Step 6. Turn on your account's shopping feature

Once your account is approved, you will now be able to access the shopping feature. To turn on your account's shopping feature, follow these steps:

1. Go to your Instagram business profile by tapping the three lines in the upper right corner.
2. Tap Settings.
3. Tap Business, then select Shopping.
4. Select the product catalog that you want to connect to your account.

How to Use Instagram Shop?

Instagram Shop is a great tool to use if you're looking to drive more sales for your business. Here's how you can use it to your advantage:

1. Use high-quality photos and videos. Ensure that the images and videos you post on Instagram Shop are high quality. This will help capture attention and make potential customers more interested in your products or services.

2. Use eye-catching product descriptions. When posting photos or videos on Instagram Shop, include descriptive captions. This will give potential customers a better idea of your products or services and why they should buy from you.

3. Make Use of Hashtags to Get Recognized. Hashtags are a great way to reach a broader audience on Instagram Shop. Be sure to use relevant hashtags when posting about your products or services so that people who are interested in what you have to offer can easily find you.

4. Promote special offers and discounts. If you're looking to drive more sales, promote any special offers or discounts you may be running on Instagram Shop. This will help attract potential customers to buy from you.

5. Have responsive customer service. Providing responsive customer service when using Instagram Shop for your business is essential. This means promptly answering any questions or concerns that potential customers may have. You'll build trust and credibility with potential customers by providing excellent customer service, which will ultimately lead to more sales.

Benefits of Using Instagram Shop

As Instagram grows in popularity, it's also becoming a powerful tool for businesses.

Instagram has always been a visual platform, and that's one of the things that makes it so well-suited for selling products. With beautiful photos and engaging videos, businesses can show off their products in a way that is visually appealing to potential customers.

Check out these five benefits of Instagram Shop that make it a powerful tool for businesses.

1. Increased reach and exposure. By selling through Instagram Shop, businesses can reach a wider audience and get more exposure for their products and services. Customers who may not have heard of your business before can stumble upon your shop while browsing Instagram, leading to increased sales and customers.

2. Easy to set up and use. Instagram Shop is easy to set up and use, even for businesses new to selling online. All you need is an account and a product or service to sell. Once you have these setups, you can start selling right away!

3. Convenient for customers. Customers love being able to shop directly from the platform, which is very convenient. They can browse and purchase products without leaving the app, making for a seamless and easy experience. For example, you can now add links to product pages directly in your posts. Furthermore, you can tag specific products in your posts and add a "Shop Now" button that takes customers directly to the product page.

4. Boosts sales and conversion rates. By making it easy for customers to purchase your products or services, you are more likely to see an increase in sales and conversions. 

5. Helps build brand awareness. Customers who purchase from your Instagram Shop are more likely to remember your brand and become repeat customers. This helps increase brand awareness and can lead to long-term growth for your business.