How to sell on Instagram

Instagram is more than just a place to post pretty pictures. It can be a powerful tool for selling products. According to a survey, 74% of women and 68% of men prefer to shop on Instagram over any other social media app. Of course, that raises the question of how to sell on Instagram. It's not just about posting photos or videos.

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This guide will give you the tools and strategies to successfully sell products on Instagram .

Why is Instagram a potential sales platform?

1. Reach: Instagram has over 2 billion monthly active users. You can be sure that your target audience is actively using Instagram every day. You have access to that huge pool of potential customers.
2. Visual Appeal: Instagram is a highly visual platform. It is perfect for showcasing products and services in an engaging way. With high-quality images and videos, you can grab the attention of your target audience and encourage them to make a purchase.
3. Targeting capabilities: Instagram's advanced targeting options allow you to reach specific demographics, interests, and behaviors. You can ensure your content is seen by the right people who are more likely to be interested in what you have to offer.
4. Engagement: Instagram is among the most engaged social networks. People actively engage with content on Instagram, making it a great place to showcase your products or services.
5. E-commerce integrations: Instagram makes it easier for businesses to sell directly on the platform with features like shoppable posts and tags. These integrations make it convenient for customers to make purchases without ever leaving the app.

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How to sell on Instagram

Shop on Instagram

Instagram Shops allows businesses to create a digital store within the app. This feature is only available for physical items and makes it easy for customers to browse and purchase products.

The great thing about stores is that you can direct users to a third-party site, like your website, to make a purchase, or you can set it up so people can make purchases directly through Instagram without leaving the app.

Shoppable posts

Shoppable posts are regular Instagram posts that are tagged with products from Instagram stores. When users tap on a product tag, they can see more information about the product and even buy it directly from the post. According to Instagram, these types of posts can increase sales by up to 37%.

Instagram Stories

With over 500 million daily active users, Instagram Stories have become a popular way for businesses to engage with their target audience. Story stickers like 'product' or 'swipe up' allow businesses to tag products in their stories and direct viewers to their online store.

Advertising on Instagram

If you want to reach more people and drive sales, Instagram advertising is an effective way to do it. With Instagram's targeting options, you can reach specific audiences and promote your products directly to them. When someone clicks on one of your ads, you can take them to your website or store.

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How to Start Selling on Instagram

Follow these steps to start selling products on Instagram.

Step 1: Set up a business account on Instagram

You can't sell on Instagram unless you have a business account. If you're using a personal or creator account, you'll need to switch. To switch to a business account, go to your account profile, select the menu, then " Settings and privacy ."

If you're using a creator account, tap " Creator tools & controls ." If you're using a personal account, tap "Account types & tools."

Once done, click " Switch account type " or " Switch to professional account ". Finally, select " Switch to business account ".

Step 2: Create your store using Meta Commerce Manager

The next step in how to sell on Instagram is to go to Meta Commerce Manager to set up your Instagram shop. You will need to use a desktop computer for this step.

Start by selecting ' Create Store .' Enter general information like your store name and website.

Next, if you are using a third-party shopping platform like Shopify, connect your Instagram platform to it. If you are not using any of these options, click 'I do not use these platforms.'

Next, choose the payment method you want your customers to use. Your customers can either check out on a third-party site (usually your own) or directly through Instagram. If you choose the first option, customers will be able to browse products on Instagram, but when it's time to buy, they'll be taken to a different site.

If the second option is selected, the customer can pay

Finally, you will choose the country to ship to.

Step 3: Add products to your Instagram catalog

You'll also do this in Commerce Manager. Technically, you can do it on your phone, but the screen will be very small.

Start by choosing how you'll add products to your catalog. There are three ways to do this:

1. Handmade
2. Through spreadsheet or other file
3. Automatically via Meta Pixel
4. Choose a method and start adding products to your Instagram catalog.

If you did everything correctly, you should now be able to sell products through Instagram.

Isabella Humphrey

Update 05 January 2025