Hi.
I'm Pete from HubSpot.
And today I'm going to talk to you about how
to start selling on Instagram.
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Post any questions or suggestions
you have in the comments below.
Let's get started.
Back in 2018, Instagram launched a new feature
called Shoppable Posts.
Shoppable Posts make it easier than ever for brands
to connect directly with consumers
and sell their products right on Instagram.
With one billion monthly active users,
Instagram is an amazing platform to meet your target audience
where they're already spending their time.
Instagram Shoppable Posts are marked with a tap
to view products pop-up, a small white circle with a shopping
bag icon.
When users tap on a tagged product,
the name of the product and a price tag appears.
Tap the price tag and you'll be directed to a page where
you can purchase the product.
So how do you start using Shoppable Posts
on your own feed?
To get started, there are a few requirements
you'll have to meet.
First, you need an Instagram business account.
To switch an existing account to a business account,
open the Instagram app and tap on settings.
Then tap, switch to business profile.
Second, you must be on the latest version of the Instagram
app on either IOS or Android.
Lastly, your business must sell physical goods
that comply with Instagram's merchant agreement and commerce
policies.
You can find these on Instagram's website
under Help Center, Instagram for Businesses
Shopping on Instagram.
Once you've checked all those boxes,
it's time to connect your Instagram business
profile to a Facebook catalog.
A Facebook catalog in Facebook business manager
is essentially a file that contains
a list of all the products you want to sell.
To get started, head to the business manager
account in Facebook that owns the page linked
to your Instagram business account.
From your business manager account,
you can create a new catalog or identify
an existing catalog you'd like to use to sell on Instagram.
Start by opening your business manager settings
and clicking on people and assets.
Here, you'll find a catalogs option.
Click on Add and choose, create a new product catalog.
First, give your product catalog a name.
Then select the type of products you
want to add to your catalog.
Now you can add it to your product feed.
Remember, it's very important to keep your product catalog
synced with your Facebook page.
You also want to be sure that your product descriptions
and prices are accurate.
If you're running a sale or promotion,
make sure your product catalog reflects it.
If you're using Shopify or BigCommerce to sell
your products already, you can connect your Instagram business
profile to a Facebook catalog directly
within those platforms.
Once you've connected your catalog,
your account will be reviewed by Instagram
before you can access their Shoppable Posts feature.
The approval process can take anywhere from a few hours
to a few days.
Once you've been approved, you will receive a notification
letting you know you're ready to start selling on Instagram.
The next step is to connect your product catalog
to your Instagram account.
Head back to the Shopping section in your Instagram
settings and tap on products.
Here, you'll be able to select a product catalog to connect
to your business profile.
When you're finished, tap done.
Once you get access to Shoppable Posts on Instagram,
adding tags to your posts is super quick and easy.
You'll begin uploading a photo to Instagram
as you would for any other post.
After you've added your effects and filters, hit next.
When you have the product feature enabled
on your account, you'll find the option
to tag products on the screen where you normally
add your caption and other information.
Just enter the names of the products you want to tag.
Then select them as they appear in the search box.
Once you've finished, tap done, and share your post.
You can tag products in both new and existing posts
from your Instagram business profile.
You can also tag up to five products per single image post
or 20 products per carousel posts.
While selling on Instagram is easier than ever,
it's important to remember your audience shouldn't
feel like they are being aggressively sold to.
Businesses should maintain their current content strategy,
incorporating Shoppable tags on photos
that are a natural fit for their profile.
Looking for even more help with your Instagram marketing
strategy?
Click the link above to learn more.
Thanks for watching.
If you enjoyed this video, be sure to like it and subscribe.
Let me know how you're doing in the comments below.