How to Use Instagram for Ecommerce: The Ultimate Guide for Online Product Sellers

Instagram (IG) made its debut in 2010. In the beginning, like most social media platforms, it was a fun place for Instagram users to post pictures and keep in touch with old friends. But today, it has become a really powerful platform and has become a crucial channel for increasing e-commerce sales and raising brand awareness.

According to the Pew Research Center, 71% of American adults ages 18-29 use Instagram. A report from the Global Web Index shows that 27% of Internet users discover new products through ads on social media, and 23% find brands through comments or recommendations on social media. If your company isn't on social media (especially Instagram), you're missing out on a lot.

Instagram can support your e-commerce business in several ways, from increasing your reach to generating sales. Let's review the steps you can take to make the most of Instagram to achieve your business goals and reach potential customers.

1. Create a business account on Instagram
To get your best start on Instagram, it starts with making sure you have an Instagram business account, not a personal account or a creator account. Having a business account advertises your Instagram presence as a business and provides you with additional features that help generate leads.

Switching to a business account will give you access to Instagram analytics and statistics that show you demographic information about your Instagram followers. With this data, you'll be able to customize your social media content and even post it at times like me.

2. Share different types of content
You can share several different types of content with potential customers via Instagram; each has benefits.

- Instagram post with one photo:
Posting a single photo goes back to the platform's roots, where it all started. At first, Instagram users could only post square pictures that appeared on their profiles and

Their nutrition. Today you can be more innovative with image size, but you should make sure that the image fits the required dimensions for Instagram users (the ratios range from 16:9 to 4:5).

- Carousel pictures:
Instagram's Carousel Posts feature enables users to post up to 10 photos at a time, so users can scroll through photos as an album. Not only can you share more photos — perfect for showing all angles of a new product or collection — but this format also invites users to engage with marketing content on your Instagram.

Instagram user @boatsgonewild frequently uses the Carousel format to post several pictures of his yacht and luxury boats for sale in one post.

video:
While images are the most popular type of content on the platform, profiles with creative videos have a higher engagement rate on Instagram. Instagram automatically plays the video when the user hovers over it in their feed, and they don't even need to click to view it.

In 2020, some brands saw billions of interactions with video content across all social media platforms. When using Instagram for e-commerce business, it's worth taking the time to craft a video that catches the user's attention as they go through hundreds of posts!

IGTV:
IGTV is an Instagram feature that allows brands and creators to post videos of up to 10 minutes instead of limiting the video length to one minute (the maximum time allowed for videos posted in the feed). Users who own an Instagram store and watch IGTV content may notice its attractive nature as it fills the entire screen. Users can like, comment, and share videos.

Instagram Reels:
IG introduced the Reels feature in August 2020. Through Reels, creators, including those engaged in e-commerce via Instagram, can record and edit 15-second multi-tape videos with sound, effects, and creativity tools, then post and share them with followers on their feeds. Note that public accounts (those that can be seen by everyone - including non-followers -) can make these clips available to more Instagram users in the Explore space.

Instagram Live:
Instagram Live is an in-app feature that allows you to stream live from anywhere. You can choose to make your live broadcast public or private, and viewers can post comments and questions.

Instagram Stories:
An Instagram story is another way for Instagram users to share photos and videos. According to statistics from Statista, 500 million users watch Instagram stories every day,

This makes it a great opportunity for any e-commerce business. However, you should remember that Instagram stories disappear after 24 hours unless you save them to the “snippets” section of your profile.

Promotion of new products:
Due to the visual character of Instagram, this platform is an excellent way to make noise about new products through engaging photography or video. Try using infographics or quick movie clips to create a countdown that gets people excited about an upcoming launch.

The supplement company @Obvi is sharing its new products and related launches on its Instagram account in a great way.

Selling on Instagram through purchasable posts:
You can take advantage of social commerce to enable users to buy products directly from Instagram, reducing friction and providing a positive user experience.

In early 2019, Instagram made it possible for users to buy the items they see without leaving the app, turning the platform into a “digital mall,” where each profile has its own store on Instagram. Thanks to this feature, users can start and end their purchasing journey in the same place, paving the way for a quick and easy sale.

There are different ways customers can make in-app purchases. One way is through purchasable posts. These posts look similar to regular Instagram posts and stories, but show a small shopping bag icon. When a user clicks once on a post, it shows more information about the product, such as its name and price. If they click again, they'll be taken to the seller's Instagram store, where they can buy the product.

The clothing brand @Culturekings encourages its followers to buy directly through Instagram through its purchasable posts. As can be seen, the clothes are tagged and linked in the image so that the user can get more information about the product and go directly to the online store.

Selling on Instagram through purchasable stories:
A purchasable Instagram story also features a shopping bag icon, and users can click on any tagged items to get more information and complete a purchase without leaving Instagram.

With one more click, they can enter payment information and complete their purchase. Buying through purchasable stories is similar to buying through purchasable posts but requires fewer clicks (a shopper can buy the product directly from the story). Instagram story ads are another way to increase your domain and sell your products to your target audience within the app. These ads appear on Instagram when users view stories from their profiles that they follow and can consist of pictures or videos with a scroll up link.

Drag photos from Instagram to your e-commerce site:
It takes a lot of time and effort to create a great Instagram profile, so feel free to feature it on your e-commerce site.

When you integrate your feed with your website, they'll see your latest Instagram posts. Including your Instagram profile feed can make your site look more attractive, active, and authentic.

Adding your feed to your site is an excellent way to show your content to people who may not see it if they don't do so. Moreover, site visitors will be more likely to follow your Instagram account if they see the types of content that has been posted.

Engage customers using your products:
Using your Instagram account to engage with content shared by your customers can positively affect your social media presence and your e-commerce business. You can like and comment on a user's post, but you can

You can also share it on your brand account.

If your current customers are posting positive posts about your products, sharing those posts is a way for potential consumers to see real testimonials and prove that other people like your products. According to AdWeek, more than 93% of consumers read user content for information that affects their purchasing decision.

Hosting a competition:
Hosting an exclusive Instagram promotion will bring in new followers. You can use other social media channels to push people towards exclusive Instagram promotion only and even encourage site visitors to participate.

This promotion can be a special discount code for Instagram followers or a link that leads to a discount or cooperation offer. People love being in an exclusive group, and this kind of promotion can increase engagement on Instagram. Don't forget your brand hashtag to increase exposure!

Share behind the scenes content:
Posting behind the scenes videos or pictures is a great way to break down corporate walls and connect with your audience. Exclusive and private content makes viewers feel like they're getting an inside look, and will keep them coming back for more.

Don't forget the seasonal content:
Including content related to the moment (such as vacation-related posts) as part of your overall marketing strategy is a tried-and-true recipe for success. Not to mention, sharing seasonal or limited-time products fills viewers with a sense of urgency to buy, which can be good for sales.

Use national holidays or even creative holidays (hello, National Doughnut Day!) To display related products or launch new products. You can also generate interaction by sharing temporary deals and holiday tips and tricks.

Chat integration

The mechanism:
According to Outgrow, 80% of businesses are expected to implement automated chat in 2021. The automated chat offers instant customer service — even within the Instagram app — rather than forcing a customer to wait days to get a response.

A chat app, like the automated chat in Solutions, can lead customers to a series of repeated questions or provide them with a window of time to expect a response from a representative. The automated chat can also provide a discount code or product information.

Conclusion:
Instagram is a developing platform, and experts predict it will grow even more in the future. Instagram offers valuable benefits to e-commerce companies when used strategically, from increased website traffic and increased brand awareness to improved lead generation and sales.

To make the most of Instagram and get positive results from Instagram, take advantage of the tools available for business accounts. Show and link your products using purchasable posts and stories, and increase your reach using hashtags and user-generated content.

Once you find your site, build your follower base through Instagram-only promotions and partnerships with trusted influencers. Introduce your products in creative videos and encourage your popularity using user content. With proper planning, you'll start enjoying the benefits of using Instagram in no time.

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