Do you use Instagram as a platform for e-commerce? Want to find novel ways to increase your brand’s visibility and revenue?
If you want to increase your sales on Instagram but don’t have Instagram checkout, read on for five strategies.
Instagram’s Shops and Shoppable Posts: Why They Matter for Retailers
In the United States, shoppers may discover new products and complete a purchase without leaving the Instagram app thanks to the integration of Instagram stores and shoppable posts.
Even without Instagram’s in-app checkout, shops have the potential to significantly increase traffic to online stores. A Big Commerce study of 50 firms found that shoppable posts on Instagram can boost website traffic by as much as 1,416%.
There is no mistaking the emphasis Instagram is placing on stores. The icons on the app have recently been reorganised to make shopping easier. The Shop button has been relocated to the platform’s footer for the convenience of its users.
Make product tags a central element of your Instagram strategy, since users searching for products on the site will come to expect content to include such tags. You may reach new audiences and re-engage existing ones, increasing the likelihood of a purchase.
Follow these guidelines and you’ll be able to use product photographs into all of your content categories on a regular basis without coming across as overly promotional.
Adjust your product tagging to fit the habits of Instagram users
To get the most out of your Instagram store, just as with any other form of social media marketing, you need a well-thought-out approach. Consider the Instagram habits of your target audience as you craft your plan.
Instagram users aren’t there to make purchases, so you’ll need to find alternative ways to engage them and develop meaningful relationships with them through the content you share. Those who view your content likely have other priorities, so making it simple for them to buy something they enjoy is essential. Customers are more likely to make a purchase if the process is simple.
Consider the following guidelines as you create content tailored to Instagram users:
- Limit the number of tags you use for each product. Don’t cram a bunch of tags onto a picture or video and make them hard to tap.
- Tag just featured items so that consumers aren’t confused by tags for hidden items.
- Include product tags in any articles that discuss merchandise. To learn more about the product, users need only tap on the tag, as opposed to visiting your profile, locating the link in your bio, and searching your website for it.
- To avoid clients having to hunt around your website, link each product to its own product page if you’re not offering in-app checkout.
Make sure folks who use screen readers can understand what’s being presented in your Instagram posts by including a descriptive alt tag. Don’t stuff your alt text with keywords; instead, make sure it makes sense when read out loud.
Finally, pick pictures that show the range of your readers. Making sure your target demographic can identify with your content will encourage them to purchase your wares. All content, not just product-tagged content, is affected. It’s something to keep in mind with every Instagram you share.
Improve product discovery by giving preference to Instagram videos that are tagged with relevant products.
The advantages of posting videos to Instagram are considerable. People can’t keep reading the feed while a video is playing because of the motion (and the sound, if the volume isn’t muted).
A video can show customers how your product is manufactured, how it’s utilised, and why they enjoy it. For instance:
- Make instructional films for your followers.
- Showcase your product’s distinctive qualities by taking viewers behind the scenes of its development.
- Describe the various ways your items can be put to use and the advantages they offer.
- Get the answers to the questions that get asked the most often regarding your items.
Compile Instagram how-tos using content that features tagged products
Guides on Instagram function like an online magazine or catalogue and may be accessed directly from the app. With this function, you can compile a variety of listings from your company’s or other public accounts, such as blog entries or product descriptions. Every single post within of a guide can have its own description in addition to having a cover image, title, and brief introduction.
Here are three types of guides that companies selling physical goods could find useful.
Make a gift guide for holidays that are big for giving presents, like Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Mother’s Day. Promote not only what you’re selling, but also what you think your customers will find interesting. Including the products of other companies increases the possibility that your guide will be shared by those companies’ target audiences.
Encourage Customers to Add Items to Their Wishlists on Instagram
Instagram users can find new things to try by browsing company profiles and viewing content tagged with product searches. During Instagram Live broadcasts, American businesses can also tag products.
Instagram users who come across items they like can add them to a shopping collection they’ve aptly dubbed “Wishlist.” This is especially helpful for things that require more thought before purchasing, as the customer may save the item to a wishlist and be reminded of it whenever they revisit the page.