How to Make the Most of Instagram’s New Product Tags

Written on 12 April, 2018 by Julia Hammond
Categories Social Media

One of the most popular social networking platforms has taken the concept of shopping and connecting consumers to products to a whole new level. Visual content sharing platform, Instagram, has released something called product tagging, and the latest extension means that looking at your favourite brands and making a purchase just got easier.

Remember the days of finding an item on Instagram, admiring it, and then having to close the app and open your browser to search for it? That is now a thing of the past, thanks to Instagram Product Tags. “Shoppable media” is the easiest way for a consumer to make a purchase, by eliminating the need for a separate landing page. This allows a user to learn more about the product, or directly purchase from the Instagram platform.

A recent study conducted by Instagram noticed that 60% of Instagrammers say they learn about products and services on the app, while 75% say they take actions by sites, searching or telling a friend.

So, what does this mean for you?

Well, jumping on Instagram is still about the images, likes and comments but, if you sell a product, your chances of growing further online have now increased. With consumers using the app for more than 26.9 minutes per day, there’s even more reason to connect your shop and get selling.

The Process of Product Tags

It’s not all cheese and crackers. There are a few things you’ll need to do to get your Instagram ready for shopping:

  1. Your business must be selling physical goods, rather than services to use this new feature.
  2. Whether you’re on iOS, Android or Microsoft, ensure that your Instagram application is up to date.
  3. Change your Instagram account from personal to business.
  4. Ensure you have admin authority on the page or Business Manager account that you want to install shoppable media on.
  5. Ensure your product catalogue is connected with your shop on Facebook by connecting your ecommerce store to your Facebook Business page.

Product tagging does require approval from Instagram to see that you operate a legitimate business that sells products. So, you will have to wait for verification from Instagram before you can start tagging.

Once you’ve been approved, you’re ready for the next big step: enabling product tags!

  1. When you’ve uploaded a photo and included a caption, tap ‘tag products’ from the share screen.
  2. Depending on how many products are in the image, tap the products in the photo that you want to tag.
  3. Type the names of the products you want to tag in the search box and select them as they appear.
  4. Tap ‘Done’.
  5. Tap ‘Share’.

Your audience will now see a product tag when they see the image, including a description, its cost, and a link directing them to your website to make a purchase.

It’s not perfect yet, but it’s close

This is a new feature, so the kinks haven’t all been ironed out just yet. In the case that nothing seems to be working properly, troubleshoot it by using these techniques:

  • Make sure that you’ve got the latest version of the iOS or Android app. Uninstall or delete the app, then reinstall as a last resort.
  • Check that your Business Manager catalogue or shop is connected correctly to your Instagram account through the Facebook page.

Instagram product tags may be the latest way for businesses to set themselves apart in the ever-changing algorithmic newsfeed. It can also legitimise brands through this secondary level of verification. Linking your products through Instagram back to your site also adds a loop for the sales funnel and can help with future remarketing of products.

social media get a quote

Now that you’re all set and ready to go – what next? With the feature being implemented to most product-based business, it’s still worth ensuring that your shoppable posts are creative and standing out. You can do this in a number of ways:

Re-share user-generated content

With the user’s permission, share images of real people using or wearing your product on your Instagram and tag the relevant products. By using content from followers that includes your product, it will further develop your online community and strengthen your relationship with the customer. Plus, your customers will feel like stars if they’re picked to be the face of your brand for the day!

Post at the right time

Find out when your customers are most active and have your images with their tags ready and set to go. This will help increase not only views, but potential purchases. Once you get the hang of it, you should also test out which products work best at which times.

Use high resolution images

Top-of-the-line content will set your brand or product apart! Don’t attempt to sell your brand with pixelated, blurry images. Think about what’s attractive to a viewer and use that as your guide.

So, what will Instagram do next?

Product tagging is great, but it doesn’t cater to service-based business. Surely Instagram will begin to roll out the benefit of ordering coffee, food or even digital marketing services directly through the app. If we’re on the money, it will be the app that literally does it all!

Looking for some help with domains, hosting, web design or digital marketing?
 

Send me marketing tips, special offers and updates