When it comes to digital marketing, the goal is always to grow your business and increase revenue. And the social media platforms absolutely understand that goal. So much so, that they continue to add features that help businesses do just that.
One of our favorite features of Instagram, especially when it comes to using Instagram for business, is Instagram shopping. This feature allows business profiles to tag specific products within their photos so that users can purchase those products while checking out the business's Instagram feed.
This is huge when it comes to digital marketing for business. If your business has e-commerce capabilities, you should be taking advantage of Instagram shopping. Not only does this mean you can accurately track Instagram's success for your business, but you can also use it to increase overall revenue and attract more customers.
Here are a few tips when it comes to selling on Instagram and increasing revenue for your business.
1. Tag a product in every possible photo.
If you're sharing a photo on your Instagram feed that includes a product shot, you need to tag that product in your photo. You can do this by setting up a business Instagram account and creating a shop with your Facebook Page. The products will then be available for you to tag in your Instagram photos and Stories.
Making sure that you keep up with product tagging in your photos is the best way to help more and more customers find and purchase your products.
2. Tag multiple products in a single post.
You can tag more than one product in a single Instagram post. And you should do this as well if you have more than one product in a post. Tag all of the products available to maximize the purchase potential within that post.
When you tag products in photos, they get added to that product's shot list. Tagging multiple photos with a single product lets your audience see how versatile that product is, further increasing the chances they will buy it.
3. Cross-promote your Instagram shopping experience.
Let people know on all platforms that they can buy your products through Instagram. Now that the app includes checkout, your audience can make purchases without ever having to leave the app. This opens up a lot of options.
First of all, you can promote your Instagram as a one-stop-shop, as your followers don't have to click over to your website, search for a product, etc. Instead, they can follow you, look to find products they love, and make a purchase all in one place. It's a seamless experience.
Second, due to this, you can even include all of your e-commerce capabilities through Instagram. Although you'll have to have a Shopify site or other third-party e-commerce platform to sync to Facebook/Instagram, you now have the ability to use Instagram as your storefront.
4. Use engaging hashtags.
Now it's all back to Instagram best practices. So you want people to find your products? Use relevant and engaging hashtags to ensure your target audience can see them. Users can even follow hashtags, so using a combination of niche hashtags alongside popular and heavily-used hashtags is a good strategy.
5. Use high-quality photos and videos.
If you want people to follow your Instagram, look through your products, and ultimately become customers, your photos matter. You can't take iPhone pictures in poor lighting and hope to generate a following. There are enough mediocre Instagram accounts out there.
If you want your products to catch the eye of your target market, you have to put a huge emphasis on your photography. Think product placement, hire a professional photographer to take all of your photos, and curate an Instagram feed that stands out to your audience. That's how you're going to get people to follow you and, ultimately, buy from you.
6. Put together a creative Instagram grid.
Your overall look and feel of your Instagram profile is your grid. How can you be creative with the photos and videos you're sharing? There are different types of grids you can take advantage of.
One popular and relatively easy type of grid is to share images by color. You can create a grid full of product images that include your brand color, or you can create an ombre or shade effect by going from color to color every three, six, or nine photos.
You can alternate between product photos and quote graphics every other photo or every third photo, etc. You can add a pattern or graphic element onto your photos in an image editor before sharing them, so they create a cohesive pattern.
There are so many different ways to create a fun and aesthetically pleasing Instagram grid. These are a great idea to play around with in your Instagram strategy because they can be extremely eye-catching and make even more people want to follow you.
7. Show your audience how to use your products.
You don't want to only share styled photos of your products up against a backdrop. Instead, you want to share images of your product in action. People styling your product if it's apparel or an accessory. People using your product to make their lives easier. Or using your product simply to make their lives better.
Although you might have a fresh product that can sell itself just by people seeing it and becoming aware of it, that's a rare case. Most of the time, people need to see a product being used before they're able to see why they need it. Use this knowledge to your advantage and within your Instagram strategy.
Start using Instagram to your advantage. Instagram shopping is a great tool to help grow your business and increase revenue. By utilizing these tips, you'll be able to make this feature work for you. To learn more about Instagram shopping and how to get it set up for your business, contact us.
Written By: David Carpenter
