Selling your products on Instagram.

Some of our clients only sell their products on instagram- why? Well apart from the time in setting it all up there is no cost involved and for small businesses starting out or testing the waters they figure it’s a good place to start.

The Instagram Shop

An example of a post with a Instagram Shop set up (completely random post picked……)

Note that you can sell on Instagram using direct messages (DMs), even if you don’t have a website. To effectively sell through DMs, make sure your product posts clearly instruct customers to send you a DM if they’re interested. This way, you can share product details, answer questions, and provide payment links or instructions for alternative payment methods like PayPal. This method is slower and requires more effort for both you and the customer compared to checkout on Instagram or an online store. However it can be valuable for those small business who are still validating a business idea or to get things started while a website is being built.

Instagram itself has a guide on how to sell your products on instagram here.

While that is straight from the horses mouth we want to share a few things that have worked for our clients.

Know Your Audience. 

YES here we go again but we will die on this hill lol.

Before diving in, understand who you’re talking to. What are their interests, needs, and pain points? Tailor your content and product presentation to resonate with them, creating a connection that goes beyond just a product.

Craft Compelling Content.

High-quality visuals are essential. Showcase your products in a captivating way, using clear, well-lit photos and videos. Experiment with different formats like Reels, Stories, Carousels  to keep your audience engaged. Side note if you want to create compelling Product Photos using only your phone check this out.

The Power of Storytelling.

People connect with stories. Weave narratives around your products, showcasing how they solve problems, enhance lives, or add value. User-generated content (UGC) is a powerful tool here – share customer stories and testimonials to build trust and authenticity.

Interact!

Don’t just post and disappear! Respond to comments, answer questions promptly, and participate in conversations. Encourage interaction through polls, quizzes, and questions in your captions. Run contests and giveaways to generate excitement and brand awareness.

The Magic of Hashtags.

We have mixed feelings about hashtags but for selling products we believe that strategic hashtag use can help people discover your products. Research relevant hashtags, including industry-specific ones, and incorporate them into your captions but do not go overboard. Think minimal.

Call to Action (CTA).

Tell your audience what you want them to do! Whether it’s visiting your website, learning more about a product, or participating in a poll, a clear CTA encourages engagement and drives action.

Consistency is Key.

Develop a consistent posting schedule and stick to it. If you can post once a week do that, if you can post three times a day do that. Don’t get your knickers in a twist about it, you have to work out what will work for you- whatever that is be consistent with it. This helps build anticipation and keeps your brand top-of-mind for your followers.

Collaborate with Influencers.

Partnering with relevant influencers can expose your products to a wider audience and leverage their established trust with their followers. Choose influencers who align with your brand values and target audience. Read this blog post first though.

Analyse and Adapt.

Track your content’s performance using Instagram Insights. Analyse what resonates with your audience and what doesn’t. Use this data to refine your strategy and constantly improve your content creation.

If you want to combine the forces of Instagram and email to get sales our guide on that is here.

There is an excellent blog post here by Planable on setting up selling on Instagram for beginners.

If you have any questions regarding selling products on Instagram you can contact us here.