If you want to get your brand in front of people quickly but don’t want to rely solely on SEO, then your next best move is to focus on Social Media like Instagram. See how the Instagram social media can help & boost your eCommerce grow and increase sales.
If you are running an eCommerce store, promoting your products on Instagram should be a top priority. Instagram has now grown to 2.4 billion active monthly users in 2024, all viewing, posting, and sharing photos and images. This helps make it an ideal platform to advertise your online store.
Being present on Instagram will help your brand reach a wider audience. Instagram will also enable you to create a community of followers with whom you can display your products. Ultimately Instagram will help you generate leads and increase your eCommerce sales.
However, as with all social media channels, there are no sure-fire rewards. The time taken to become a significant player on Instagram can be extensive. It can also be hard to track just how effectively Instagram increases and boost your eCommerce sales. So, what is Instagram’s best practice if you want to impact your online store revenue truly?
In this article, we will discuss actionable tasks to help you use Instagram to increase your eCommerce sales. We will look at how to get started on Instagram, get your images to stand out from the crowd, and what hashtags you should use. We will then consider how to create a real Instagram presence and how to use advertising to increase and boost Instagram traffic to your WordPress website.
Getting Started with Instagram
Instagram is quick to set up. Simply download the app for your smartphone from Google Play or the Apple Store. After a fast sign up you are ready to get started. It’s as easy as that!
Choosing a Profile Picture
Once you have set up your account, you need to upload a profile picture. Choose something relevant to your eCommerce store, ideally your logo. Always make sure it is something that people recognize and will remember. If you are the face of your business, it could be a picture of you, or if you sell one main key item, it could be a photo of that particular product.
Adding a Bio
Your bio is important because it tells your audience about your business, who you are and what you sell. The bio is only 150 characters long, so you need to pack as much information as possible into a short number of words. It is here you can add a link to your website, so make sure you add this at the end of your bio. This will help drive traffic to your WordPress site.
Upgrading to a Business Account
After you have completed your profile, you should upgrade to a business account. This is straightforward to do and free of charge, but you will need to add some contact details for your business and have a Facebook business page.
Although upgrading to a business account isn’t essential, if you are a severe eCommerce store then it is definitely advised. A business account allows you to display more information about your WordPress website and your selling products. Other benefits include insights into posts and followers, as well as the option of promoting images to drive business objectives.
Once your business account is set up it is time to start adding images…
Make Your Images Stand Out
Instagram is an image-driven social media channel, so it is crucial that your images are well thought out and top quality. Your ideas need to stand out from the crowd, so think about posting a combination of beautiful, original, fun, and thought-provoking photos.
Let’s have a look at what to consider when posting images and what tools you can use to make them that extra bit special.
Don’t Go for the Hard Sell
Instagram isn’t about the hard sell, so don’t just display an image obviously advertising products. Think about how you can subtly show your products in use. Displaying the lifestyle your product creates is an effective way of quietly promoting your products and boost sales on Instagram.
A great example of subtle lifestyle advertising on Instagram comes from Nike. The majority of images uploaded by Nike show athletes in action. It isn’t until you look more closely that all these athletes are wearing Nike. Here Nike is selling their products and the lifestyle their brand inspires. And who doesn’t want to be a famous athlete at the top of their game?!
Add Text to Images
Adding a text overlay to images is a great way to engage with your audience. Add an inspirational quote, ask a question, share news, or state an opinion on a photo. Adding this extra information to an image will encourage viewers to stop and consider your post.
When using text overlay, the bold and bright text is good, but make sure it doesn’t detract from the image. Adding text sharing your WordPress website URL, a discount coupon code, or a sale can be an effective way of driving traffic to your website. However, use this tact sparingly. Too much advertising on images will probably lose your Instagram followers.
Create a Collage on Instagram To Increase Engagement and Sales
Creating a stunning collage is another way to help your images stand out from the crowd. Telling a story through a college can effectively captivate your audience and generate interest in your products.
The free app Instagram app Layout allows you to create unique collages. These can then be uploaded and shared with your followers and potential customers.
Upload a Slideshow
In February this year, Instagram Slideshows came into being. Instagram Slideshow lets you upload 10 photos or videos to play as a slideshow on Instagram. This is ideal for an eCommerce store as it allows you to show a range of products across one slideshow. With slideshows still being a relatively new concept on Instagram, it is well worth taking advantage of this display option.
Use Video on Instagram to Increase Sales
To really impact on Instagram, it is important to publish various media to appeal to your audience’s different tastes and to hold your follower’s interest. Creating videos is another great way to appeal to your viewers and help set you apart from your competition. Moreover, it will boost sales on Instagram.
Instagram lets you add up to 15 seconds of video per upload. Use tape to demonstrate your product in motion, being used, solving a problem, or in some other relevant, fun, or exciting way.
Top Tips for Using Hashtags
Hashtags can be hard to get right. It is important to use a number of popular hashtags to get your images seen by a large audience. However, hashtags that are too vague will end up attracting people who don’t actually have any interest in the products that you are selling on Instagram.
Trending hashtags are also constantly changing, so make sure you research related hashtags every time you post a new image. Here are a couple of ways to find the right hashtags for your images…
Search for Related Hashtags
Two great places to look for appropriate hashtags are both on Instagram itself. Firstly, the search function on Instagram will give you a list of all relevant hashtags for your niche, eCommerce store, or product. Simply type in your keyword, and it will show you what related words are being searched for.
Secondly, check out what hashtags your competition is using on the Instagram social network to optimize and boost sales. You are looking to attract the same audience as your immediate competitors, so see what hashtags they are using to pull people in… and then use them too.
Use a Third Party Tool
A third-party tool, such as the Focalmark app, will help you find relevant Instagram-hashtags for each photo you post. Simply identify the focus of the image you post, and Focalmark will give you a list of popular hashtags for that subject. Choose the hashtags that are most suited to your eCommerce store and products in the image.
Establish Your Own eCommerce Store Hashtag
As your eCommerce store grows, you want your brand to be searchable via your own unique hashtag. This hashtag should be added to all images you post, making all your photos instantly searchable. You should also share your unique hashtag with your audience by adding it to your Instagram-bio.
Create a Presence on Instagram To Boost Your eCommerce and Sales
So far in this article, we have discussed how to set up an Instagram account, add a variety of show-stopping product images and media, and how to correctly label them with hashtags. However, just posting your own images is, unfortunately not enough if you want to use Instagram to increase and boost your eCommerce sales. So what else do you need to do to grow your Instagram?
Post Regularly
Creating a schedule of when you are going to post, and sticking to it, is important. Images should be posted regularly to maintain a constant presence on Instagram.
Using a scheduler like Later is easy to stay organized and up to date with your posting. Later enables you to visually plan and schedule Instagram posts, so you can see what will be published when. By professionally managing your Instagram account, you will be able to compete with the big brands in your industry.
Add Calls to Action on Instagram To Generate Sales
If you have added appropriate hashtags, you will get traffic to your images. So how do you go about getting this audience to follow you?
Under each image that you publish add a call to action to get people to interact with your photos. Ask them a question about the image and encourage them to share their thoughts. The more people engage with an image, the more likely they are to follow you.
Occasionally you can ask them to follow you, push a sale, or direct them to your WordPress website by adding the URL in the comments. However, don’t do this too often as you don’t want to appear sales-driven.
Follow, Love, and Comment
As well as regularly posting and commenting on your own photos, you need to spend time liking and commenting on other people’s images. Target images and users in your niche so those in your industry will start to recognize you as an expert in the field.
Ask questions in the comments, or add thoughtful opinions to engage with those posting the images or reading the comments. If people see you as adding value to a discussion then they will see you as someone worth following. This will help you build up an Instagram community that you can promote your eCommerce products and boost sales.
Use and Add Product Tags To the Products Pictures
Thanks to the growing popularity of branded sales, Instagram has introduced a shopping feature where consumers can now buy products directly from the app. The image above shows how the Shopping feature displays products available for purchase on Instagram.
This is gold for e-commerce brands as it makes switching from Instagram easier than ever. The Instagram Shopping feature displays images with product tags to provide more information to consumers.
After inserting the product label, a small shopping bag icon will appear on the image in the lower left corner. So when people click on the image, product details like name and price appear.
Instagram is no longer just a marketing hub. It’s a shopping place. According to reports, 130 million people each month type display product tags into shopping posts. Additionally, Instagram shoppers can shop and checkout directly on Instagram. There’s also a save for later option, which will keep you on the lookout for prospects.
How to Add Product Labels to Images To Increase Instagram eCommerce Sales
To add product tags to your images, you’ll need to get their permission by meeting Instagram’s shopping-enabled requirements. Additionally, follow the steps below to create a product catalog in your Facebook business account:
- Visit www.facebook.com/products.
- Select Create Directory.
- Then select your inventory type.
- Select E-commerce (Products), and then choose how you want to add items to the catalog:
- Select Upload product information to add items yourself.
- If you host your products on an e-commerce platform, select Connect e-commerce platform.
- Select the Business Manager account to which your catalog belongs. You must be an administrator of your Business Manager account to select it.
Enter the name of the directory. - Select Create, and you have now created a new directory. You can start adding items in several ways.
How to Enable Instagram Shopping
- Once approved, you should enable shopping in the Instagram app.
- Choose your product photos and add titles, effects, and filters.
- On the photo, tap the product you want to tag.
- Enter the product names you want to label; they must match the names in your product catalog. Then select them as they appear in the search box. You can tag up to 5 products per post and 20 with multiple images per post in new and existing posts on your professional Instagram account.
- Click Finish.
- Click to share.
- To preview the post or save a draft of the post, click View Featured Products or Save Draft.
Additionally, any products your account has flagged will appear in your profile under the Shopping tab.
Advertise To Increase Instagram eCommerce Sales
Advertising on Instagram can be a very effective way of driving your Instagram traffic to your WordPress website. There are a number of ways to advertise on Instagram. You can create a photo, video, or carousel advert and choose from numerous business goals.
When setting up your adverts, you first need to select the main objective of the advert. If you are looking to use Instagram to increase your eCommerce sales, then your advert’s aim needs to be ‘Conversion’. Opting for ‘Conversion’ will enable you to add a Call-to-Action (Shop Now) button to your Instagram adverts. When clicking on this ‘Shop Now’ button, your audience will be taken to a page of your choice on your WordPress website.
Through the Call-to-Action button, you create a way for your audience to access your site and products directly. This button is only available with paid adverts, and it is an option that eCommerce stores should consider.
Use Instagram with Your Website to Increase Your eCommerce Sales
Lastly – it’s important to feature your Instagram account or posts on your website. There are a few ways you can do this, but the easiest is simply using a WooCommerce ready theme that already includes a custom Instagram section or widget.
But if you already have a theme you love that’s lacking Instagram integration you can always embed your Instagram posts manually or grab a plugin from the WordPress repository to add your feed.
Tracking Results To Increase Instagram eCommerce Sales
It is essential to know whether your hard work is paying off and if Instagram is helping you to sell products. Iconosquare offers in-depth insights into your Instagram activity, audience, and conversions. Track your analytics carefully to see what is working and what needs improving. And always keep in mind the result… increasing your eCommerce sales.
What do you need to do to improve your Instagram presence and help increase your eCommerce sales? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
