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How to make an instagram shoppable


How To Create Shoppable Instagram Posts

It’s essential to create shoppable Instagram posts cause it is not only one of the social selling trends but also the best way to drive sales and traffic effectively for your Shopify businesses in 2021.

To fully leverage shoppable posts to get more sales on Instagram, businesses of all sizes and shapes should understand it clearly first. Afterward, we will guide you through all the simple steps to create and make an Instagram post shoppable. Let’s start with the definition first.

Table of Contents

What is a shoppable Instagram post?

‘Create Shoppable Instagram posts’ is a term referring to the action of tagging products to unpaid Instagram posts. The ultimate goal of product tagging is to lead users from Instagram to the brand’s websites where the tagged products can be purchased.

Add product tags to create shoppable Instagram posts

Business owners and creators can tag products to not only images but also videos, carousels, IGTV, Reel, Guide, and even Livestream. The maximum number of products that can be tagged to an image or video is 5. Also, you can add no more than 20 products to a multi-image post.

With product tags, Instagram users only need a tap to check out product details and make a purchase. You know what? Users can even do payments right on the platform with Instagram checkout.

Obviously, shoppable Instagram posts are changing the e-commerce game on Instagram. However, if you still doubt the efficiency of the shoppable posts, let us blow your mind with several reasons.

Why should you create shoppable Instagram posts?

First of all, shoppable Insta-posts offer your prospective customers a direct path to your brands and help you boost sales. Also, it makes the customer journeys seamless from seeing a product to make a purchase. These two factors will simplify the way customers shop as well as provide business owners with more slots to display and promote their products on social. Eventually, it drives up your sales.

Secondly, Instagram has proven itself to be a huge potential market for e-commerce with over 1.16 billion monthly active users. By showing your products on Instagram, you are approaching more prospective customers than ever before. 

Thirdly, no other better way to test your products on the real market than to create shoppable Instagram posts. By connecting with your customers on Instagram posts, you will be able to identify which products your target audiences will like and be willing to buy. 

Last but not least, shoppable Instagram posts eliminate the shopping barriers in comparison with other e-commerce platforms.  Nowadays, customers are savvy in social media ads and marketing, so it is very hard to convince them to buy directly on e-commerce platforms as before. However, if you approach them in an indirect way through Instagram posts, they tend to let the guard down and check out your products through Insta-posts.

Are these reasons strong enough to convince you to create shoppable Instagram posts? If the answer is yes, then we’re not gonna waste your time. Let’s craft your post that sells on Instagram now.

How to create shoppable Instagram posts easily?

Before you start to tag products to make your Instagram posts shoppable, you must set up Instagram Shopping first. To do so, your business must meet certain requirements:

  • Your business located in Instagram’s supported markets.
  • All your products are eligible to be sold.
  • Your business complies with Instagram’s Merchant Agreement and Commerce Policies.
  • Your business owns a website domain from where you intend to sell your products.

All done!? Let’s get to the first step to create shoppable Instagram posts. 

Step 1: Convert to the Instagram business account

First thing first, you have to switch your personal account to a business account. Do as instructed below:

On Mobile: Go to your Instagram profile > Click on the 3 lines in the top right > Go to setting > Account > Switch to Professional Account > Business > Done

On desktop: Go to your Instagram profile > Settings > Switch to profession account > Choose Business > Select your business category > Add business contact info or skip it > Done

Go to your Instagram account settings

Firstly, go to your Instagram account settings.

Switch your personal account to a business account

Then proceed to Switch to Professional Account.

Choose Business

You are given 2 options to turn your Instagram account into an account for Creator or Business.

Pick the category for your business

There are multiple categories to choose from. You should pick the most relevant category for your business.

Add your business contact information

Once you own a business account, you can add in relevant business information including business address, phone number, business email, etc. Then, you can also link your business account to your website.

Now, your Instagram business account is ready

NOTE: If you already have an Instagram business account, you can skip this step and proceed to step 2.

Step 2: Connect to your Facebook page

In this step, we are going to link your Instagram business account to your Facebook page. You can connect your Instagram business account to your Facebook page in two different ways:

From Facebook

Log in to Facebook > Select Pages > Choose Settings (From your Facebook page) > Scroll down and select Instagram > Click on Connect Account > Input your Instagram username and password > Done

Connect your Instagram business account to your Facebook page

From Instagram

Go to your Instagram business profile > Select Edit Profile > Select Page > Pick the Facebook page you want to connect > Done.

NOTE: You only need a Facebook page to connect to your Instagram business account, not Facebook Page Shop.

Now, your Facebook page and Instagram business account are connected. 

Step 3: Upload product catalogs to Facebook

Since your Instagram business account already connected to your Facebook page in the previous step, all you need to do now is to upload products to your Facebook page’s catalogs, then the products will be updated on your Instagram account automatically.

To ease the process of creating Facebook catalogs and uploading products manually, we recommend you to use Socialshop.

With Socialshop, you can sync all your products from your Shopify/WooCommerce/BigCommerce to Facebook catalogs automatically in a click. 

Socialshop – Sync products from Shopify/WooCommerce/BigCommerce to Facebook automatically easier than ever

Once you’ve done it, all your products will be available on your Facebook page shop as well as on Instagram (As we linked Facebook page with Instagram business account). Let’s proceed to step 4.

Step 4: Submit your account for review

Next, you need to submit your Instagram business account for review. Follow the instructions below:

Go to your Instagram business page > Settings > Business > Shopping > Done

Now, you have to wait for a few days until your Instagram business account is approved for the shopping feature. However, the account review process sometimes takes you longer.  

In some cases, you are asked to prove your ownership of your website domain before submission, follow the instructions here to complete domain verification. Then, you can submit your account for review.

Step 5: Activate the Shopping feature

Once your account is approved for Instagram Shopping, you can enable the Shopping feature.  

Go to your Instagram business page > Settings > Business > Shopping > Select Product Catalog you want to link to your account > Done

After your Instagram business account is approved, you can activate the Shopping feature

NOTE: If you are unable to access Shopping, perhaps your account is still being reviewed or has not been approved for Instagram Shopping.

Step 6: Create shoppable Instagram posts

Finally, you are fully enabled to use product tags to highlight your products in Instagram posts.

It’s time to tag products to your Instagram posts

You can create a post as usual and add product tags to your video or images. As mentioned above,  you can add a maximum of 5 products to an image or video, and up to 20 tags for the carousel.

To tag products to your Instagram post, follow these steps:

Add photos/video > Add note > Click on Tag Products > Tap on the photos/video > Search products > Select products > Click on Done > Share.

Once you finished, your posts are shoppable now. Instagram users can check out all the products you tagged on your posts easily in a click.

Final thoughts

In brief, it is essential for you to leverage Instagram posts to promote your products and drive more sales. To create shoppable Instagram posts, you should follow our 6 steps:

  1. Convert to an Instagram business account
  2. Link your Instagram business account to your Facebook page
  3. Connect product catalogs to Facebook
  4. Submit your Instagram account for review
  5. Activate Shopping feature
  6. Craft a post and add product tags to make it shoppable

Let’s create your shoppable Instagram posts and rock your sales today! 

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Nearly half of people say they use Instagram to shop, weekly.1

So, what is Instagram Shopping?

Instagram Shopping is a set of features that allow people to easily shop your brand’s photos and videos all across Instagram.

It all starts with your shop, your storefront on Instagram.

People can shop your products throughout Instagram.

How to set up Instagram Shopping:

Open your shop by completing the set-up process below in Commerce Manager.

1. Make sure selling on Instagram is right for your business.

  • Review our Commerce Eligibility Requirements to ensure you sell eligible products and comply with our policies, like our commerce policies, terms of use, community guidelines and more.
  • Make sure your business has its own website domain. Your shop must contain product listings that are available for direct purchase from your business’s website, and you must represent the store or website associated with the domain provided.
  • Check to see if you are in a supported market.
  • Confirm that your Instagram profile is a business or creator account. You will need to connect it to a Facebook Page if you plan to sell on both Instagram and Facebook.
  • If you don’t have one already, set up a Business Manager account. You'll need a Business Manager account to set up your shop in Commerce Manager. Business Manager lets you manage your ad accounts, your pages and the people who might be working on them.

  • Review our Commerce Eligibility Requirements to ensure you sell eligible products and comply with our policies, like our commerce policies, terms of use, community guidelines and more.
  • Make sure your business has its own website domain. Your shop must contain product listings that are available for direct purchase from your business’s website, and you must represent the store or website associated with the domain provided.
  • Check to see if you are in a supported market.
  • Confirm that your Instagram profile is a business or creator account. You will need to connect it to a Facebook Page if you plan to sell on both Instagram and Facebook.
  • If you don’t have one already, set up a Business Manager account. You'll need a Business Manager account to set up your shop in Commerce Manager. Business Manager lets you manage your ad accounts, your pages and the people who might be working on them.

2. Pick a tool to start the onboarding process.

You can choose to onboard onto Instagram Shopping by setting up your shop in Commerce Manager or a supported platform. Or, you can get started directly within the Instagram app.

You can choose to onboard onto Instagram Shopping by setting up your shop in Commerce Manager or a supported platform. Or, you can get started directly within the Instagram app.

3. Fill out your shop details in Commerce Manager.

  • First, choose how you want your customers to complete their purchase by selecting a checkout method.
  • Next, choose your sales channels by selecting whether to have your shop on Instagram, Facebook, or both.
  • Add products to your shop by connecting your existing product catalog or by creating a new one.
  • Finally, review your shop, then submit it to Instagram for review!

  • First, choose how you want your customers to complete their purchase by selecting a checkout method.
  • Next, choose your sales channels by selecting whether to have your shop on Instagram, Facebook, or both.
  • Add products to your shop by connecting your existing product catalog or by creating a new one.
  • Finally, review your shop, then submit it to Instagram for review!

GET STARTED IN COMMERCE MANAGER

Get the most out of shopping on Instagram.

@instagramforbusiness

How to buy things on Instagram without risk - Modnoe.TV

Where to start?

In general, first you need to find out from the seller himself the conditions for returning goods, the terms and procedure. After all, it is better not to fall for the tricks of scammers than to defend your rights in court later. If the seller is initially categorically set, then you should choose another one, serious companies usually value their customers and the procedure for returning low-quality goods is necessarily determined by them.

What if you already have the goods?

To begin with, let's determine how these relations are settled. The sale of products on instagram falls under the category of "remote selling" and is regulated by the law of the Russian Federation "On the Protection of Consumer Rights" (Article 26. 1). A significant disadvantage of this kind of purchase is the impossibility of a potential buyer to evaluate the goods with their own eyes, personally. We see only a picture and a description of the product, often embellished, but we don’t have the opportunity to hold it in our hands, test it, try it on. Serious companies strive to provide the client with as much additional, useful data as possible, attaching photos, videos, consumer reviews and a detailed description of the position to the description. Such exhaustive information eliminates the possibility of a selection error, which means that it significantly saves the costs of both parties for the return or exchange of goods.

What products can be returned?

You can return any non-food product that does not meet the declared quality or has a defect.

Some companies, misleading customers, prefer to refer to a special list of non-food products that cannot be exchanged or returned, even if they have quality defects. IMPORTANT! Article 26.1 of the Law on the Protection of Consumer Rights in the Russian Federation regarding distance selling does not contain anything of the kind, which means that you have the right to return such products back.

Which products cannot be returned?

Returned products must retain their consumer properties and presentation. Traces of use or breakage, scratches, dents are absolutely unacceptable. If the receiving party has any doubts, an independent examination will be able to resolve them. Another extremely important nuance: a return will not be possible if the products were purchased by the company under the order especially for you.

What can we demand from the seller?

If the items purchased on instagram turned out to be of inadequate quality, then buy in accordance with the Consumer Rights Protection Law, demand from the seller:
- pick up the defective item and issue a similar sample in return;
- replace with another product with cost adjustment;
- repair the item or reimburse the cost of the repair;
- markdowns of goods in accordance with the degree of marriage;
- money back.

The question necessarily arises: what caused the breakdown, is it the fault of the consumer or is it a consequence of a factory defect, and only a commission of specialists who will conduct an examination can resolve this issue. However, the exchange and return of goods on instagram is quite possible.

How do I make a return?

We draw up a claim in writing, in 2 copies.
In the header of the claim, we indicate our first name, last name, patronymic, postal details, telephone number for communication. We also indicate the name of the recipient's company (for example, IP ____ or LLC ____) and their legal address, as well as the postal address (you will need to find out all this from the seller).

We call this document Claim . In the introductory part of the claim, we indicate the circumstances that caused you the need to return the goods. ( I ______ , date _____, ordered goods from you _____, date ______, received the goods. The received goods do not correspond to the declared qualities, wrong size, defective, etc.

In the reasoning part, we refer to Article 26.1 of the Law on the Protection of Consumer Rights in the Russian Federation regarding distance selling and other norms of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation and substantiate our claim from the standpoint of the law.

And at the end of the claim there is a pleading part. I ask: to return the money, exchange the goods for another, etc.
your signature;
date.

Next, we send a claim to the seller's address by registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt, in which case the company can no longer avoid an official response. Among other things, you may also need documents such as technical data sheets and warranty cards, of course, if available. A copy of the check must also be attached to the letter. By the way, please note that all of these documents, except for the claim itself, are sent to the responding party in the form of a copy, and not the original, so do not be careless, save the available evidence.

Where should I go if I haven't received a response to my complaint?

The deadline has passed and you haven't received a response? It's time to go to court.

Documents for the court are no longer being prepared in two, but in three copies. Attach to the statement of claim all the documents you have that confirm your correctness (when filing a statement of claim with the court office, attach copies of the documents, and present the originals directly during the court session). Be sure to keep one sample for yourself, which will indicate the date your documents were accepted for production.

Terms and procedure for returning goods

Return of goods via the Internet is made within a certain period of time. The minimum period for such an operation is 7 days. If information of this nature does not appear anywhere on the store’s page on instagram and in the documents received, then the procedure for returning goods can be started even in a longer time frame. Among other things, it should be remembered that the website of any company specializing in the sale of goods must necessarily provide information on the deadline and rules for returning goods in case of force majeure. Such data is not just presented on the Internet, they are duplicated on documents that are carried out at the time of the direct transaction.

How is the return of the goods, if the seller has made a positive decision on your claim?

After a positive decision has been made in your favor, it's time to think about how exactly the goods will be returned to the online store. Delivery is carried out by mail or courier. Important: the return of goods that do not fit according to the characteristics is carried out strictly at the expense of the buyer.

Basic information about the examination

The online store has the right to conduct an examination at its own expense and determine what caused the breakdown - the initial conditions or the actions of the buyer. By the way, at first the buyer may ask to exchange low-quality products for a working analogue at the same or lower cost (in the latter case, with an additional charge). In addition, you can require the responsible party to carry out repairs and identify existing defects.

"Answered in direct." How to buy branded items through Instagram, VKontakte and Telegram?

Sometimes you scroll through your Instagram feed and see a jacket of an incredibly beautiful Instagram diva. Overcoming the torment of embarrassment and doubt, you decide to ask: "Where did you buy the jacket?" and you get annoyed: “What, have you been banned in Google?” Social networks have figured out how to preserve the gentle psyche of bloggers, and at the same time benefit people and businesses: take and add a store option to Instagram or VKontakte. We tell you where to get a bag, like from a celebrity, and not run into unflattering answers in the comments.

Shop on the phone: Instagram Shopping

According to Instagram, 70% of people use the social network to find products, and 87% buy things under the influence of influencers. So, if the conditional Olga Buzova posted a photo with a cool handbag, you can not torment Olga with questions, where can I get the same one? Just click on the photo and a tag with a price tag and a link to the store account will appear.

The brand of the bag can be found using the Instagram Shopping option. This is a separate tab inside the official brand account: with products, descriptions and prices. The seller can collect goods in collections, for example, "TOP 10 sneakers for spring" or "How to please a father who is a fisherman."

Nike Instagram Store section. Photo: Vyberu.ru.

But sellers are in no hurry to connect the label option. To activate it, you need an Instagram business account and a link to a Facebook business profile. Most do not want to bother with new algorithms yet. And even if the brand marks a price tag on the purse, you will have to go to the seller’s website for the purchase - there is no built-in payment inside Instagram in Russia there is no .

The difference between the US and Russia

The functionality of the Russian segment of Instagram Shopping turned out to be rather limited. This caused discontent among business representatives, who are already not enthusiastic about Facebook's policy.

In Instagram Shopping, you can deploy a large-scale advertising campaign. But only to stores registered in the States. Many options are not yet available to Russian companies. For example, American brands can sell products during a live broadcast, prepare promotions with new product launches, and mark products in the text for publication.

And most importantly, sell products directly through Instagram, without switching from the application to other sites.

Whether these options will be available in Russia is not yet known.

How to buy in Russia?

Now you can go to the store, explore the virtual showcase with goods, find out the price, choose an interesting product and read the description. Or find with the help of tags on photos of celebrities where they bought an interesting thing.

Payment - only through the seller's website . There are no built-in purchases through Instagram for Russian buyers.

For example, we logged into the Nike account. In the "Shop" section there are selections of goods. We open, study the description and price. To buy, you need to click "Watch on site" and go to the official Nike portal.

Get Ready for Ads

After visiting a brand page, you will be followed by ads for the products you have viewed. The ads will have price tags.

In theory, advertising should lead the user to the page and allow them to buy the product directly from the promoted publication. But in Russia, this functionality, again, is curtailed. Therefore, you can get from the advertisement to the product details page. And then you have to go to the seller’s website using an external link: from Instagram to, say, mirobuvivalery. rf.

Let's recap : On Instagram, Russian buyers can find collections of products with brand descriptions, prices, and a link to the seller's website.

So far, sellers are in no hurry to set up the tag option and collaborate with bloggers. Therefore, in most cases, you still have to ask where the handbag or jacket is from, if the photo does not have a manufacturer's account mark.

Payment and delivery will take place outside the social network. You won't be able to shop inside one app.

Pizza via messenger: Telegram "Payments 2.0"

The other day Telegram has money transfer system "Payments 2.0" . The payment service has been working for the messenger since 2017, but in the updated version, you can pay for purchases in any chat. Payment for takes place in the application, there is no need to go to third-party sites.

Payment for purchases via Telegram. Photo: kod.ru.

Purchases are paid using one of eight built-in payment systems: YuMoney, Sberbank, Stripe, Tranzzo, Payme, Click, LiqPay and Ecommpay. "Payments 2.0" works in the mobile version and in the web version of the "cart". You can not only pay for the purchase, but also leave a tip .

Payments go through the Telegram bot. The seller needs to connect YuKassa in order to use the service. This means that the buyer will receive an electronic receipt for payment .

What are the risks?

According to Telegram developers, the service is safe and free. Messenger does not charge a commission for money transfer and does not store payment details of . Payment is sent directly to the seller.

However, if the phone is infected with viruses, application algorithms will not protect payment details , says Roman Romachev, CEO of the R-Techno agency. Hackers will be able to intercept payment details through an infected phone, a BFM.ru expert said. Therefore, it is better to pay for purchases from a separate card for online payments .

Let's summarize : purchases are paid within the application, it's convenient and fast. No need to click on third-party links. The application does not store payment details and sends checks.

Choose and pay: VKontakte store

The VKontakte online store is perhaps the most convenient trading platform within the social network for Russian buyers and sellers.

The service has a basket with a reminder, product selections, the option to pay with a bank card or VK Pay.

You can buy in several ways, depending on the settings of the seller's product cards:

You can pay for the goods upon receipt. The money goes to the store administrator's bank card, the payment history is stored in the "Money transfers" section: both the buyer and the store have it.
Purchase through the shopping cart from the seller. Photo: Vyberu.ru.

2. On the seller's website. For example, the store did not want to connect the internal payment service from VK and set up a transition via an external link from the social network to its website. You browse products, choose an interesting one and click on an external link. Go to the seller's website and make a purchase.
Purchases through the seller's website from Honor in VK. Photo: Vyberu.ru.

3. By agreement. The seller has no payment through the VK services and his website. Instead of a payment button, there will be a "Contact seller" button. You can ask if the item is in stock and how the seller accepts payment. Perhaps the store does not have payment by bank card number, only a current account.
Purchases through a merchant. Photo: Vyberu.ru.

Where can I find a store?

Brands place purchases under a "header" with a description of the group. For example, several cards with price and product information.

You can also go to the "Purchases" service and scroll through the feed, explore the offers and choose an interesting store. Basically, you will be offered hundreds of similar product pages from AliExpress or similar sites. But you can find Russian clothing stores, handmade stores, or official communities of major brands.

What are the risks?

The main danger when shopping in VK is scammers who pretend to be sellers . Usually, users who write in comments in the store community or under product cards become their victims. The crooks respond to the buyer in private messages, give their card or e-wallet number, and allegedly complete the purchase. As a result, they receive money and disappear. Usually they “sit” on one-day pages with fake names.

Therefore, ask questions about the product in private messages to the group or administrator .

The golden rule of online shopping in social networks is to buy on the official pages of brands. They are marked with a tick in a blue circle .

To summarize : it is better to write to the seller in a personal to ask questions about the product, rather than leave comments in the group.

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