Back in 2016, Instagram first announced its plans to explore the use of product tags for e-commerce on the platform. As a result, this effectively allows brands to promote their products on Instagram and link back to their online store.
Since then, we have been waiting (not very patiently) for Instagram shopping to hit Australia. Now the wait is over! Introducing…shoppable Instagram posts!
To date, the only options for Australian Instagram accounts to direct traffic to their website have been through paid advertising, the ‘swipe up’ feature on Stories (for accounts of 10K+ followers) and the link in the bio. These limited clickable options have long been a frustration for businesses looking to really leverage their investment in Instagram.
Due to Instagram’s highly engaged user base, and a content feed designed to effectively showcase products through photos and videos, this is an exciting development for online retailers – and also for Instagram lovers! We asked Sophie from our social media marketing team why she is so excited about this announcement:
“I can’t wait to be able to shop my favourite influencer looks straight from Instagram (my credit card, however, isn’t as thrilled)! So often I find myself searching for products I see featured in posts, but lose interest as they’re not always easy to find. What a great new feature!”
No doubt there will be a fast response from Australian retailers as a result of this new feature. Since with over 9 million monthly active Australian users (@ February 2018), Instagram is one of the fastest growing social apps in this country.
Instagram has started working with key Australian partners such as Myer and Country Road over recent weeks to trial the new functions. Also, integrations with e-commerce platforms BigCommerce and Shopify are now live, with retailers reporting a measurable uplift in online sales.
Savannah Boysen from Tyme is quoted as saying: “Our traffic from Instagram has increased 44% since implementing shopping on Instagram. It’s a clean and simple way to show your product in a lifestyle setting, without impacting the user experience.”
To help you identify if Instagram Shopping is right for your business, we’ve pulled together some more info for you in the questions below:
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Can I set up shoppable Instagram if I use WooCommerce?
YES, YOU CAN! The ability to tag products is managed via setting up a Facebook product catalogue in Facebook Business Manager.
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Do I need to have a Business profile on Instagram to tag products and enable shopping?
Yes, your Instagram account must be converted into a business profile.
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Can any Australian business set up Instagram shopping?
No, your business must meet Instagram’s requirements. In addition, your business must sell physical goods that comply with their merchant agreement and commerce policies
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Do I have to pay to set up products?
No, at this stage approved business profiles can tag products without advertising
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How do I get approved for shopping on Instagram?
To become approved for shopping on Instagram, your profile and account must fulfil the requirements set out here.
We are really excited about this new feature and working with our clients to implement it on their Instagram. If you think Instagram shopping is a great option for your business, and would like a helping hand, get in touch!
Want to know how Social Tap can help you get started selling your products via Instagram? Complete your details below and one of our team will give you a call to have a chat!
