Are you selling products on Instagram? Wondering how to create Instagram posts that interest shoppers?
In this article, you will discover four ways to showcase and promote your products on Instagram recommended by Social Media Examiner.
How to sell more products on Instagram: 5 tips that work
Trick # 1: Attract the right audience to convert into customers
To successfully sell on Instagram, you first need to build a following of people who have a genuine interest in your brand and products. If you don’t have the right audience, you’ll have a hard time converting them into customers.
One way to attract new followers is to use hashtags in your Instagram posts. Choose the hashtags your ideal customers might use, search for, or follow . Don’t be afraid to experiment. It may take some time to find the right hashtag combination that reaches your ideal followers.
If you are looking to create a branded hashtag for your brand or business we recommend that you check out our free guide on Instagram Hashtags . You can find out how to organize an effective Instagram hashtag strategy that will allow you to increase followers , their engagement and the effectiveness of your promotional campaigns on Instagram!
If you are a local business you should also add the geolocation of where your ideal customers are. Chances are they will be looking for a specific location and you will want to be there when they do.
Once you’ve developed a following that is likely to convert, here are some ways to promote your products on Instagram.
Read also: How Shopping Instagram works the new opportunity to sell
Trick # 2: Show off your products with these 4 Instagram image styles
Since Instagram is a visual platform, it’s the perfect place to share images of your products and brand. The key is to post photos that reflect your brand image and capture your products in a way that your followers like. You want them to actually show up using those products.
If you scroll through Instagram, you’ll see some flat poses, detail shots, model shots, and lifestyle images. Any kind of image can effectively show your products.
1. Photograph the products in a flat environment
If you want to capture your product in a flat position, choose a simple, neutral background for your shot. If you don’t have a working table or floor, purchase some poster paper from your local craft store. The best flat pose effects are achieved when shooting from above , so make sure you have a ladder or stool nearby to help you get the right angle.
When positioning the product in the shot, decide whether you want to leave room for a text or graphic overlay, then start shooting. Take lots of photos so you have more options to choose from. (Maybe leave room for text in some and not others.) With a little bit of editing, you’ll have beautifully drawn product photos.
2.Capture unique product details
Does your product have small and complex details? Is there some sort of electronic or complex component? A beautiful design on one side? Almost any product can benefit from close-up shots focusing on a unique attribute.
Whether you’re zooming in for clarity or to create a beautiful image, details are an effective way to make your product stand out.
3. Incorporate people into the shot
If you sell clothing, jewelry, or other wearable products, chances are you’ve already thought about using people to style your wares. Consumers tend to respond well to any image that includes people. Even if you’re selling coffee mugs, notebooks, or products that you wouldn’t normally associate with a model shot, consider putting someone in your photo to make it easier for followers to connect with your offer.
4. Share lifestyle images
Lifestyle images showing your products in use also work on Instagram. These images should be more relaxed and less stylized than model shots. Try to capture your products naturally so that customers can better visualize how they would use them in their own life.
5. Develop a coherent grid for Instagram
When showing products on Instagram, it’s important to create a consistent grid on your profile. There is debate over how important your grid is, but it’s best to go wrong on the side of a strategic, well-coordinated set of images.
If customers or potential followers come across one of your images, such as a hashtag search, and they like it, they’ll likely visit your next grid to see what else you sell. If your grid seems disconnected with a wide variety of image types and no apparent theme or plan, it could turn off potential customers.
Spending the time to create a visual style for the grill can have a big impact on consumers. See how all the image examples below fit together to create a well balanced grid? This is the goal!
Trick # 3: Encourage product browsing with shoppable Instagram product tags
After taking engaging photos of your products to share on Instagram, turn to simplifying the buying process . The easier it is for users to purchase, the better. By removing barriers to action, you can convert more of your followers into customers.
Purchasable product tags can help businesses increase traffic and revenue. When users tap on a tagged image to see the price, they are just a couple of taps away from putting it in the online shopping cart.
How Instagram Product Tags Work
Clicking on a purchasable image displays the tags with the name and price of the product. If users click on the tag, they see a page with multiple images and a description of the product. If they click the link to your website, they are taken to a product page where they can easily add the item to their cart and take a look.
The simplest part of the experience is that the buying process never takes customers outside of the Instagram app ; it is not possible to switch to a browser. It’s a seamless shopping experience.
How to set up Instagram product tags for your business
To start using product tags for your Instagram business account, you need to be approved for shopping on Instagram . One of the requirements is that your products are listed in your Facebook catalog. (No, they don’t need to be listed publicly, they just need to be archived there.) Then, with a few authentication steps, you can start tagging products in your photos and stories.
Any marketing strategy implemented should be traceable so you can see how effective it is, and shoppable tags are no exception. Within Instagram Insights , you will be able to see how many followers have viewed your product information or moved to the product page.
Also Read: 8 Free Ways To Marketing On Instagram
Trick # 4: Place Purchase Call to Action (CTA) in Instagram Stories with the Swipe Up feature
The popularity of Instagram Stories makes them a perfect place for brands to connect with their followers. The swipe up feature, which is unlocked after your account reaches 10,000 followers , allows you to direct your followers directly to your website.
Once you’ve created your story (whether it’s a video, image, or boomerang), tap the chain link icon and type in the web address you want to reach.
It’s also a good idea to include “Swipe Up” or some other call to action (CTA) in your visuals to encourage followers to take action. This is especially important for people who don’t watch your stories with the sound on. The See More link at the bottom of the screen can be easy to miss!
Author and motivational speaker Rachel Hollis always uses the swipe up feature. If you are linking to a podcast; an article about you, your company or your books; or a product, his stories usually have at least one linked post. For example, in one post she included a CTA to encourage people to get her latest book.
The Instagram Stories of the online clothing brand asos are full of related products. They also did a vacation-themed story where they talked about what people typically forget to pack on vacation. It’s a great way to be on time, relevant, and make an impact.
If you plan to use the Swipe Up to Sell feature, make sure you have a strategy to use it . You don’t want your stories full of “Hey, buy this” and “Swipe up to buy this”. The scroll feature can easily lose its effectiveness if overused or used just to try to sell.
Trick # 5: Announce sales and discounts with custom graphics
Instagram captions are the places where your brand personality can really shine, but sometimes your followers overlook them, especially when they scroll quickly. To draw attention to important posts about big sales or events, create custom graphics to announce them while staying on brand.
A common way to do this is with good old-fashioned discount graphics.
Your Instagram graphic can also announce big openings, new arrivals, featured items, and so on – the possibilities are endless. .
Designing beautiful branded graphics is important, but not everyone can afford to hire a graphic designer. Fortunately, you will find many convenient tools that allow you to easily create professional images.
You’ve probably heard of Canva before , which is a free drag-and-drop tool that’s intuitive to use, even for non-designers. With Canva Pro ($ 12.95 / month for each team member), you can upload your own fonts or an entire branding kit to have easy access to your branding elements.
Crello (free and paid plans, starting at $ 79.99 / year) is another excellent graphic design tool that provides templates, editing tools, and custom font uploads. Browse the inspiration library if you are looking for ideas.
Conclusion
Instagram is one of the fastest growing and most popular social media platforms, especially for businesses. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s easy to see a good return on your investment.
To find success selling on Instagram, you first need to develop a following that has a genuine interest in your business and products. Then use the five tactics seen to convert those followers into paying customers. So remember to:
1. Attract the right audience to be converted into customers
2. Showcase your products with the 4 Instagram image styles
3. Encourage product browsing with purchasable Instagram product tags
4. Place Purchase Call to Action (CTA) in Instagram Stories with the Swipe Up feature
5. Announce sales and discounts with custom graphics
What do you think? Which of these techniques will you start selling the most products on Instagram today? What tips can you offer that have worked for your business?
