How to Set Up Instagram Shopping to Increase Conversions

In our last blog we took you through what Instagram shopping is and the countless benefits it has to offer. Now we’re here to guide you through how to set up Instagram shopping to increase those conversions, grow brand awareness, tap into new markets and improve your profit margins.

Before reading further we know that setting up Instagram shopping may require a bit more time and effort, which is a rare commodity for business owners, but we guarantee that the juice will be worth the squeeze. How so, you may be wondering? Let’s look at the numbers.

• Instagram was in the top five most downloaded apps in 2020 with 13 million downloads.
• Over 130 million users engage with shopping posts monthly.
• Over half of all accounts browse the explore section at least once a month.
• Instagram has more engagement than both Facebook and Twitter.
• 81% of users say they use the platform to research products and services.

Convinced? We thought so. Now it’s time to take you through these five simple steps to get you set up for Instagram shopping to elevate your business growth.

It only takes 5 steps

1. Meet the requirements

First things first. To have a successful Instagram shop, you need to tick a few boxes and meet the requirements. Here they are:

• Only businesses that sell physical, eligible products can set up an Instagram shop.
• Your business must have an e-commerce website. Don’t have one? Don’t stress. Speak to us about how to set you up.
• Your country must support the feature.
• Businesses must follow Instagram’s commerce policies and guidelines, or risk having their accounts blocked.
• You need to have the latest version of the app downloaded.

Good to go? Great! Let’s head over to step 2.

2. A business profile is non-negotiable

It may sound obvious, but many brands don’t have a business or creator account on Instagram. If we’re talking to you, it’s time to bite the bullet and convert your profile. And there are so many reasons why you should:

• Most importantly, you have access to analytics.
• More information can be added to your bio.
• You can boost your engagement with ads.
• Instantly connect with your audience with quick replies when they direct message you.
• You can schedule your posts in advance.

It’s so easy to convert too. Just head over to your account settings in the app and tap “switch to Professional Account.” Simple, easy and free!

Before we head over to the next step, be sure that your Instagram and Facebook business accounts are linked. Not sure how? We’ll run you through it.

• Click on “edit profile” in your Instagram app.
• Select “Page” under Public Business Information.
• Connect your existing Facebook Business Page.

And that’s it! Your Instagram and Facebook pages are connected in 3 simple steps.

3. Connect your catalogue from your online store

The third step is the most important one, so pay attention. It’s time to connect your online store to your Instagram page. Remember that Facebook owns Instagram, so you need to add your catalogue to your Facebook shop first.

To add your catalogue from your online store to your Facebook shop, follow these simple steps. We’ve used Shopify as an example of how to do so.

• Connect your e-commerce store with your Facebook page via the sales channel on the back end.
• Add a sales channel and select Facebook.
• Once connected, add your online product catalogue to Facebook.
• On your dashboard go to your products.
• Click “Make Products Available”.
• Select Facebook.
• Once you’ve completed this process for Facebook, follow the same simple steps for Instagram.

Simple enough? The good news is it’s smooth sailing from here.

4. Wait for approval

Now that you’ve done the groundwork it’s time to sit back and wait for your Instagram shop to be approved. This can take a while so don’t feel anxious if you haven’t had any feedback for a few days.

5. Turn on shopping

You have now reached the final stretch and it’s time to turn on your Instagram shop and start increasing those conversions. Once approved you will be notified, and you will need to confirm which Facebook shop you want to connect your Instagram business profile to.

Head over to your business settings. Select “Get Started”. Tap on “Shopping”, and choose the Facebook shop you want to connect to. Ta-da! Your product catalogues are now synchronised across all your channels and you’re ready to start earning those pounds.

Tips for your Instagram shop

Now that your IG shop is ready to start welcoming your audience and generate sales, we’ve compiled our top tips to make your Instagram shop a cut above the rest to drive engagement.

• Use high-quality images that are interesting to look at and don’t be afraid to get experimental to draw attention. If you need some help on how to create epic content on a budget, read this blog on how to set up a DIY home studio.
• Video content is king and is great to increase engagement. Create short videos for product demonstrations, tutorials, and behind the scenes.
• Add hashtags to make your products searchable and increase the likelihood of your brand being seen by someone new.
• Run a promotion to drive sales and increase engagement, especially if your IG shop is new.
• Be authentic and think about what makes you stand out against your competition. Is it your images, humour, captions or aesthetically pleasing feed?
• Stick to a style that fits your brand to establish a brand identity.
• Share user-generated content to help boost your credibility, build trust and humanise your brand. UGC is a fitting example of social proof and can diversify your feed to highlight your community.
• Use strong call-to-actions that encourage the audience to act.

Although setting up an Instagram shop can seem like a mammoth task, this feature will only grow in popularity so it’s best to get on board before it’s too late. Take some time out of your day to follow these effortless steps, and before you know it, you’ll be reaping the rewards of the digital shopping space.

Keep an eye out on our next blog on tips to create an aesthetically pleasing Instagram feed.