How to set up product tags on instagram

A Step-by-Step Guide to Product Tagging on Instagram

Image source: Getty Images

Shoppable Instagram tags can dramatically increase your website visitors and increase conversions. Learn how to experience increased revenue with product tagging.

Instagram has over 1 billion active users. Using Instagram for business is a great way to get your product in front of many consumers. Instagram now supports businesses with Instagram shoppable tags, which takes interested users directly to your website to make a purchase.

The ease of driving traffic with shoppable Instagram tags can dramatically increase your website visitors and boost sales. Natori was able to increase the traffic to its website by 1,417% using the product tagging feature. Magnolia Boutique saw a 20% increase in revenue when it used Instagram product tagging.

Overview: What is Instagram product tagging?

Instagram shoppable tags is an Instagram business feature that allows shop owners to tag products in their social media content. These tags then link back to a sales page. This allows users to make purchases from your Instagram store with just a few clicks.

Instagram product tagging is similar to the Swipe Up Instagram feature. It's a way to engage followers and direct them to your website or Instagram shop. Instagram shoppable tags direct customers to a product page where they can purchase items. Users no longer have to type in your website and find the products on their own.

How to create a shop on Instagram to tag products

Before you can start tagging away at all the wonderful products you sell, you must be eligible to use Instagram shopping. You will need to set up a shop and get it approved through Instagram first.

1. Determine eligibility

The first step will be to read and agree with Instagram e-commerce policies. You must represent your business and domain, demonstrate trustworthiness, and follow best practices. These criteria must also be met.

• You must be based in a country where Instagram shopping is available. Check the list.
• You must sell physical products.
• You need to have a business profile on Instagram. Change your settings to business.

2. Connect to your Facebook page

Once you have qualified and agreed to Instagram’s policies, you need to connect your Instagram business account to a Facebook page. This step maximizes the benefit of having an Instagram shop. Consider the benefits of linking your Facebook page to Instagram.

• Run Instagram and Facebook ads.
• Post efficiently. The linked accounts allow you to post on both platforms in one step. Your Facebook ads will reach more people because they also run on Instagram.
• Easily manage your messages. When Facebook and Instagram are linked, you can manage your messages from a single inbox.
• Sync business contact information.
• Gain access to cross-app tools. You'll gain access to appointment booking buttons, donation stickers, and camera effects for both platforms.

3.

You'll need to sign up for a Facebook Business Manager account to set up your shop in Facebook Commerce Manager. This lets you manage your ad accounts, pages, and the people who may work on them.

4. Set up your shop

Set up your shop in Facebook Commerce Manager. Select the checkout method and the sales channels to have a shop on Instagram or Facebook.

If you run your store with one of Instagram’s e-commerce platform partners, such as Shopify or BigCommerce, you can connect your catalog through them. This will automatically sync the product listings. Connecting your store through an e-commerce platform is recommended. It makes inventory tracking and managing orders much easier.

5. Add products to your shop

Once your shop is set up in Commerce Manager, you can add products by connecting to an existing catalog or add them individually.

During the setup in Commerce Manager, you will select an existing catalog or create a new one to hold inventory. Then you may add a catalog and products.

1. Go to www.facebook.com/products.
2. Click on Add Catalog.
3. Select the inventory type. Click Next.
4. Choose how you want to add items to your catalog. You can upload them yourself or connect to the e-commerce platform you use.
5. Select the Business Manager account associated with the catalog. Assign permission to people to work on the catalog.
6. Enter a name for the catalog.
7. Click Create.

6. Submit for review

After you have products in your online shop, it's time to submit it to Instagram for review. The Instagram review process only takes a few days.

1. Go to your business Instagram profile and tap the three lines indicating the menu.
2. Select Settings.
3. Sign up for shopping.
4. Follow the steps listed to submit your account for review.
5. Go to Shopping in Settings to check your status.

Sometimes businesses may need to provide Instagram with additional domain details. If you receive a notification, complete the domain verification process.

7. Turn on shopping feature

Once Instagram approves your account, you can turn on the shopping feature. Follow these simple steps.

1. Tap the three lines on your business Instagram profile.
2. Select Settings.
3. Tap Business and then Shopping.
4. Choose the Product Catalog you want to connect.
5. Select Done.

8. Upload and tag photos

Upload photos as you would for a regular post. You can tag up to five products for each photo.

Type the names of the products you want to tag. They must correspond to the product name in the catalog. Select them as they appear in the search box.

1. Tap Add photo.
2. Add a caption.
3. Click on Tag Products.
4. Click on a photo.
5. Search for a product.
6. Click on the product from the catalog.
7. Tap Done.
8. Click Share.

Finisterre UK tagged their insulated jacket with a shoppable tag. Image source: Author

Tips for creating engaging Instagram product posts that convert

The last thing you want is to create a ton of Instagram product posts that no one cares about. Before you plan out your social media content strategy, make sure you're following some simple guidelines that boost the conversion rate of product posts and increase your post visibility.

Create a lookbook with carousel posts

You can tag up to 20 products in a carousel post with ten photos. That gives you a chance to showcase a lot of great products at one time. A carousel post can function as a lookbook for a new collection. You can also use it for a special campaign and incorporate shoppable tags.

Use descriptive hashtags so your products are searchable

Help users find you with descriptive hashtags. Hashtags ensure the post is searchable on the Explore page. Many Instagram users follow hashtags, so when you use them they're more likely to show up in their newsfeed.

Saythelees used the hashtags #NARSissist to help users discover the radiant creamy concealer. Users can easily click on the link to put the concealer in the cart and purchase it. Image source: Author

Promote a giveaway

Giveaways are a great way to hook your target market. People love to get something for free. When you create a promotional giveaway, include a hashtag to make it searchable. Include instructions for followers to share the giveaway with their friends. This will increase your reach and drive traffic to your promotion.

Giveaways are a great way to feature the products you want to sell with shoppable tags. Not everyone will want to wait until the giveaway ends. Some people may want to purchase it right away. Tag the products you plan on giving away to allow followers to purchase them immediately.

Share user-generated content

Many businesses share user-generated content to build their brand on Instagram. They ask customers to share product reviews or photos featuring real buyers using the products. Then they share these posts on their profiles and mention the customer. The products in the pictures can be tagged with shoppable tags.

User-generated content increases social proof for your business. It increases customer loyalty, expands reach, and establishes trust for the business.

Post consistently

Create a regular posting schedule. The Instagram algorithm displays posts of companies with regular engagement and interaction with their followers. Schedule Instagram posts when your target market is most likely to be online and able to interact with your posts. Social media management tools can help you keep track of what and when you post.

Instagram product tagging boosts sales

A social media strategy that includes Instagram shoppable tags can be a great way to grow your business. Tagging user-generated content demonstrates social proof. It shows off your products in context. This can help the customer envision themselves using the product.

Instagram product tagging also shortens the steps customers have to take to make a purchase. Customers no longer have to leave Instagram to find the product they're interested in on the company website. They can simply click on the product from the picture from their mobile device. These additional conveniences increase customer sales.

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How To Set Up Shoppable Posts on Instagram

2018 is already pumping out marketing game changers.

Similar to finding an item on sale or watching your sports team pull off a hail mary, Instagram went for the kill with shoppable posts.

If you don’t already know about shoppable media, oh, do you need to catch up.

Shoppable media gives eligible businesses the ability to tag products in their posts. Check out Instagram’s explainer video through Vimeo for an illustration of user experience.

Essentially, consumers can view product details through Instagram then complete the transaction on a separate landing page.

However, there’s hype around eliminating the need for a separate landing page. In other words, consumers would be able to buy while remaining in the Instagram app. Leaving room for a new level of marketing.

Unfortunately, info on Instagram’s shoppable posts is kind of hard to follow. No worries though, we cracked the code right from Instagram itself.

UPDATE! – It’s Happening:

Yahoo Finance reports: Instagram is becoming an e-commerce platform! Payment features were recently introduced allowing users to add debit and credit cards to their profiles, set up security pins, and start purchasing products without leaving Instagram. Note that this is currently in a test phase, so it’s only open to select users.

REPEAT: People will be able to buy items on Instagram! 

UPDATE! – Need to know:

Instagram announced mid-March that these shopping features will open to thousands of businesses that sell apparel, jewelry, or beauty products! And this is no longer a feature in the US.  Now, Instagram offers the same shopping experience in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and in the UK.

Want to get ahead of the curve? Here’s how to prep for Instagram shoppable posts.

Back in 2016, Instagram introduced the idea of shoppable media from researching the rise in mobile use, buyer behavior, and digital shopping experience.

Why Instagram? Consider this:

1. Instagram feed, Stories, and Live become big opportunities for retailers to make an impression and inspire.
2. According to Instagram Business, “80% of Instagram accounts follow a business to feel a closer sense of connection to it—making many feel like they’re part of an exclusive group as a result.”
3. Plus, data gathered in 2016 showed, “Consuming 2X more content than non-shoppers, people shopping on Instagram spend 85% of the week exploring the newest products and services.”

Sold on this yet? Good, let’s get into the nitty-gritty.

So, how do you know if your business will get approved to take the leap of Insta-shop? The criteria:

1. Make sure you have the latest version of the Instagram app.
2. Convert your Instagram account into a business profile.
3. Be an admin on a Page or Business Manager account.
4. You must have a product catalog associated with a shop on Facebook.
5. You must sell eligible physical goods, meaning no services.

Words of wisdom from Instagram, “We’re giving businesses the power to create and tag a post with products directly from their iOS mobile phone. Once a business has a product catalog connected to their account, tagging a product is as simple as tagging a person in a post.”

Note: If you use Shopify or BigCommerce, you can easily set up shop on Instagram through those platforms.

Next question: How do you get approval?

After you complete the steps above to gain eligibility, Instagram will automatically review the account for feature accessibility.

Don’t get too excited though because next comes…waiting. According to Instagram, this review process could take “a few days,” or just “longer” if the review needs completing with higher detail.

You’ll receive a notification on your business profile when approved for product tagging.

Probably won’t take too long, but just saying, prepare to wait in line like it’s a grocery store at noon on a Sunday.

Okay, so you fit the eligibility criteria and set everything up for the review process, and holy target lady you’re a match!

Here’s your next move: Enable product tagging through your Instagram account.

These product tags provide discoverability and help users buy through posts. Below shows the steps taken by consumers during the product tag experience.   

Here’s how to get set up with product tags:

1. Go to your profile.
2. Tap the Get Started alert at the top of your profile.
3. If you don’t see the alert in the image above, tap options or the gear wheel.
4. Tap Products.
5. Tap Continue.
6. Select a product catalog to connect to your business profile.
7. Tap Done.

Note: If these options aren’t available to you then you have not been approved yet. Take the rain check and try again another sunny day.

Now, let’s turn the set-up process into a completed process. To tag products in Instagram posts, here’s your to-do list:

1. After you’ve selected a photo and added a caption, effects, and filters, tap Tag Products from the Share screen.
2. Tap the products in the photo you want to tag.
3. Enter the names of the products you want to tag, then select them as they appear in the search box.
4. Tap Done.
5. Tap Share.

Note: Instagram recommends your tags touch directly on the related product. You can also preview tagged products or save a draft.

Other product tagging rules and guide to success:

• From your business profile on Instagram, tag products from new and existing posts.
• Tag 5 products per one single image post or 20 products per multi-image post.
• You can not tag boomerangs, videos, or animated gifs.
• When a user taps on a product tag they will see an image of the product, a description, its cost and lastly, a link directing them to your website for purchase.

What happens if you went through all these steps, and Instagram just says no? First of all, it will be okay. Deep breaths.

What if you’re approved, but for some reason, you can’t tag products to your posts? Well, Instagram has a few suggestions to why this may be occurring:

• If you receive a message that says “No Products Found” after you tap “Tag Products” in the post creation flow or don’t see “Products” under settings:
  1. Make sure you have the latest version of the iOS or Android app.
  2. Make sure your Business Manager catalog or shop catalog is properly associated with the Instagram account through the Facebook Page.

Each Instagram account can only be associated with one Facebook Page and catalog at a time.

• If you don’t see the Tag Products option in the post creation flow, make sure you’ve enabled shopping on your account.

Note: Make sure you’ve enabled the feature by going through the steps given in this article. It never hurts to review your work on a clear head.

• Getting rejected after trying to tag a product?
  1. The most likely answer is that your tag probably went against Instagram’s broad-level policy.
  2. A set of commerce policies dictates whether your tagged product gets approved. This process is the equivalent to pending ad approval through Facebook ads.
• Make sure you’re tagging correctly from the get-go to avoid frustration when you actually do it.

As marketers, we love to see our hard work pay off. Instagram set up the shoppable feature with metrics attached. Because what’s a feature without data?  Worthless.

Posts with tagged products can collect data involving engagement and clicks. With the view insights option, you’ll access data on impressions, reach, likes, outbound clicks, etc.

Want to filter top posts by metric?

Instagram’s insight tool allows you to sort top shopping posts on various metrics. Here’s how:

1. Go to your business profile.
2. Hit (insert insights icon) in the top right corner.
3. Click See More in the Posts section.
4. Tap the header of the next page.

1. Stay in the know about this feature! It’s too good to not be the first using it.
2. User-generated content already fairs pretty well on Instagram. Imagine how much it could explode with shoppable tags.
3. According to TechCrunch, “Instead of taking a cut of the purchase amount, Instagram plans to monetize the feature by letting business accounts pay to display their shoppable photos in the feeds of users who don’t follow them already.

Okay, you’re all set. Happy tagging!

Looking for more insight like this? Sign up for our daily marketing newsletter, the Daily Carnage.

How to set up Shopping Tags in Russia. Guide for preparing an account for trade tags

Ask for the price in Direct)))

Such postscripts are an integral part of any store on Instagram*. The social network does not allow posting links, and far from all indicate prices in posts. So we went to Direct to find out the price of the clothes we liked. It was like that until Instagram rolled out the Instagram Shopping function, which allowed you to sell voltage ... But no, wait, it hasn’t been available in Russia since its launch. nine0005

Only a select few enthusiasts have learned VPNs and gray path workarounds to tag products in their posts and stories. However, this is coming to an end, because Instagram Shopping is fully launched in Russia. In this article, we'll show you how to prepare your account for the release of the feature, how to set up shopping tags, and what it means for your business.

See also:

Targeted advertising on Instagram: how to set it up inside the social network and through Ads Manager nine0005

Spoiler : that's good. But let's talk about everything in order.

What is Instagram Shopping

Launched in March 2019, Instagram Shopping is a social networking feature that turns your page into a complete online store. You get the opportunity to tag products in posts with shopping tags or, as they are called inside the social network, Shopping Tags.

Shopping Tags is a tag in a post or story that contains product information. Tapping on it, the user will see:

• price,
• description,
• link to the seller's site,
• seller contact form on Instagram,
• other products of the store.

Shop Tags look the same as people's tags. Posts with trade tags are marked with a special icon in the feed.

: labels are not displayed in the desktop version of the social network.

Here are some brands that use product labels:

• H&M,
nine0023 Cropp,
• COS,
• "Golden Apple",
• Dior,
• La Redoute Interieurs,
• JBL
• Beats by Dre,
• GIVENCHY,
• GoPro.

Instagram also has its own shop account, where the social network publishes the shops they like with product tags.

Tags shorten the customer's path to purchase: no need to ask for a price in direct, look for information about a product somewhere, go from a social network to a site through a link in a pin and wade through whatever else is there. And the products you like can be bookmarked. nine0005

The seller, on the other hand, receives a set of tools with which he can turn a page on a social network into a full-fledged sales channel: with a catalog, detailed product cards and a feedback form. This is convenient if you do not yet have the resources to create your site.

See also:

How to make a lead form on Facebook* and Instagram*. We collect applications in an advertisement nine0005

In addition, posts with tags can end up in the "Interesting" section, where they will be seen by millions of people who are not your subscribers. You can also place a separate tab with a product catalog on your page, where all publications with shopping tags are collected:

In short, everyone wins. But there is one caveat. The function did not work officially, so earlier SMM specialists used tricks.

The key that unlocked the locked door to Instagram Shopping was a VPN. Since Russia was not included in the list of selected countries, the craftsmen put in the application the IP address of the states where the tags work, and already connected the function in this way. nine0005

This is a gray method that did not guarantee the correct operation of tags or the absence of complaints from Instagram and Facebook* moderators, but in the end, many Russian companies set tags on their pages in this way.

Now the social has already started a test function in Russia and randomly opened the opportunity for some business pages. Within a few months, Instagram Shopping will become available to anyone who prepares their account for the full release of the update.

Let's figure out how to connect Instagram Shopping to your account.

How to set up Instagram Shopping

Check if the account meets the basic requirements

Check the account against 4 parameters:

• Does Instagram Shopping work in your country?
• Do your products meet site requirements? Check Facebook's general advertising policy to be sure.
• Do you follow the rules of trade and the agreement for sellers on the site? nine0024
• Do you have a website for selling goods? So far, Instagram does not have the ability to buy directly, but they promise to add it in the future.

Is everything ok? Let's go further.

Change your profile to a business account

Your Page must be a business account in order to access Trademarks. To do this, you will need a pre-built Facebook brand page, where you must be an administrator.

Open your Instagram profile and go to Settings/Account/Switch to professional account. nine0005

The application will offer a choice between an author account and a business account, choose. Then log in to Facebook, select your company, fill in the contact details and confirm the information.

That's it, now you have a business account.

Download product catalog

Items in Instagram Shopping are pulled from Facebook. The catalog for the future showcase on Instagram can be filled in two ways.

1. Add products through Facebook internal tools. This requires a Business Manager account. Then, using the Commerce Manager, create a catalog according to Facebook's instructions and add products there. nine0024
2. Import products from Facebook partner sites. For example, if you have a store built using the Shopify website builder, you can import products from there. The only thing is that the goods will have to be loaded and edited manually. Instructions and all available sites are in the Facebook help.

Submit your account for review

After completing the preliminary steps, submit your account to the Facebook moderators for review, after which you will be granted access to the trading functions of Instagram. nine0005

The path is: Settings/Business/Set up Instagram Shopping. Instructions will appear on your smartphone, the application will show you how to submit your account for verification.

Verification may take several days, so please be patient. But so that the process does not drag out, it is better to check the certificate in advance so that the account exactly meets the requirements of the social network. Otherwise, you will have to not only wait, but then also redo something.

See also:

Shadowban on Instagram: how to recognize it and what to do if the account has already been banned?

Enable Instagram Shopping in your app

Once your account is approved, all you have to do is enable Shopping Tags in your app. Go to your account settings, find the Company there, and then select Purchases.

After that, the application will offer to link a catalog of products from Facebook to your account, which you should already have set up earlier. Select the desired directory and click Finish. Full instructions are in the Instagram help. nine0005

That's it, now you can tag products in your stories and posts. This is done in a similar way to the tagging you do when you tag friends on Instagram posts.

Conclusion

Prepare your account for checks, fill the catalog with goods and be fully prepared when Shopping Tags become available to all online stores in Russia.

Callibri has a telegram channel — join us so you don't miss the latest cases, blog materials and service updates. nine0014