How to Sell on Instagram: Your Step-by-Step Guide

If you’re looking for a post on “how to sell on Instagram,” chances are you’re already considering monetizing your Instagram.

That’s awesome! Instagram really is THE place to be for all businesses right now.

Here’s why:

Whether your business is related to physical products or digital services, this article will show you how to sell on Instagram.

From setting up an account to optimizing your posts for sales, we’ll cover everything you need to know about how to sell on Instagram. I will also provide some insights and tips on how to sell on Instagram effectively.

Buckle up, you’re on your way to becoming an Instagram mogul!

4 Different Methods to Sell Products or Services on Instagram

Instagram is an incredibly versatile platform in terms of sales and marketing. In this section, let’s take a look at the four main methods you can use to sell your products or services on Instagram:

1. Create Shoppable Posts

By using shoppable posts on Instagram, users can discover and purchase products without leaving the platform.

When they tap the shopping icon in a post, they'll be able to view product details such as pricing and descriptions in an embedded product detail window.

Users can then add products directly into their checkout cart and complete the purchase process all within Instagram. This eliminates any friction or hassle during the buying journey for customers, making them more likely to buy from you.

Shoppable posts also help increase customer loyalty by giving customers a seamless experience from discovery to purchase. This creates an easier, more personalized shopping experience that customers are likely to return to.

2. Run Instagram Ads

As Instagram is part of the Meta family, you can use Facebook Ads Manager to create ads to target potential customers on the platform. With Instagram ads, you can create highly-personalized content tailored to your target audience.

You can also choose from a variety of ad types, including Carousel ads, video ads, and Story ads. This allows you to create an effective mix of visual content that will resonate with people in different ways.

The best part about running ads on Instagram is that you can access analytics tools in real time. With access to key metrics, you’ll be able to optimize your campaigns for better results.

3. Influencers and Collaborations

A well-known influencer is likely to have tens of thousands (if not millions) of followers who already trust and respect their opinions. By partnering with an influencer, you can tap into that trust and use it to promote your products.

Another benefit of collaborating with influencers is that it adds a certain level of credibility to your brand. After all, influencers are seen as thought leaders in their respective fields.

When they share something about your product, people will be more likely to trust what they’re saying. This can give your brand a major boost in terms of visibility and reputation. As a result, it can boost your sales as well.

When you collaborate with influencers, they can create sponsored posts, Stories, or ads. Or if you are feeling creative, you can let them take over your business account as well or run a giveaway.

If you need help running influencer campaigns on Instagram, you should check out my detailed guide here.

4. Instagram Live and Stories

Instagram Live lets you go live with your customers and show off your products or services in real time. This gives you the opportunity to build closer relationships with them, answer their questions, and demonstrate how your products work.

You can also use Instagram Live to create a sense of urgency among viewers by announcing limited-time offers or discounts. This will encourage customers to take advantage of the offer before it's gone and increase sales for your business.

Furthermore, you can use Instagram Stories to promote your live streams and build an audience before the event. This will help you maximize the reach of your live stream and ensure more people are watching.

There is another method as well to sell products on IG – you can set up an Instagram shop. But since it’s not available everywhere currently, I haven’t included it in this list.

I’ll discuss the details in the next section.

How to Set Up an Instagram Shop For Your Business

Instagram shops are designed to help businesses tell their stories and promote product discovery. They provide a full-screen, immersive experience that provides a seamless shopping experience on Instagram.

To set up a shop on Instagram, you should have a business Instagram profile. Users can visit your shop via your profile or via their feed and your IG Stories.

From your Instagram shop, users can browse your products and make a purchase without leaving the IG app. They can even complete their transactions via the Checkout feature.

Currently, Instagram is rolling out this feature in a phased manner. They are reaching out to eligible businesses via email and plan to expand access over the next year.

How to Sell Products on Instagram: 12 Tips to Help You Out

Selling your products on Instagram isn't a one-size-fits-all process. You'll need to be creative and find the best way to present your product or service to potential customers.

Here are some tips on how to sell on Instagram to help you get started:

1. Get to Know Your Ideal Customer

Finding the ideal niche to sell products on Instagram can be overwhelming. You’re likely wondering: What if I pick the wrong one? Where do I even start?

Don't worry, I've got you covered! The first step to selling products on Instagram requires getting to know your ideal customer and understanding their pain points.

That's why it's important to first identify whom you're targeting and what problems they need solving.

For example, if you have a product that saves time in the kitchen, target busy moms/dads who don’t have much time to cook! On the other hand, your product could also be useful for working professionals or students.

Think of all the different types of people who would find your product useful. To get more clarity, you can create multiple buyer personas for your brand.

Think about the following details while creating these personas:

• Age
• Occupation
• Location
• Interests
• Values
• Pain Points

Here is a quick example of what your buyer personas should look like:

By doing this type of research ahead of time, you will be sure to find that ideal niche where your products can actually make a difference and earn money!

2. Create a Business Profile

Creating a business profile on Instagram can help you understand how your content is performing. You can also get access to sponsored posts, branded content, real-time insights, ads, and more. Plus, you’ll also be able to open your Instagram shop once you have a business profile.

Here are the steps to create a business profile on Instagram:

Step 1: Go to “Settings” in your Instagram profile.

Step 2: Click on the option for “Accounts.”

Step 3: Click on “Switch to Professional Account.”

Step 4: Choose a category that describes your business.

Step 5: Select “Business.”

That’s all for the setup. Next, you’ll need to add details related to your business in your profile. The process takes only 5-10 minutes and it’s free.

3. Create Engaging Content

When it comes to selling products on Instagram, less is more. So don't be that pushy salesperson who won't take no for an answer – no one likes them!

Instead, think of yourself as a clever marketer who knows how to get people interested without shoving the product down their throats. Yes, you still want to showcase what you have to offer, but in a way that's subtle and entertaining.

Showing off your brand's personality can go a long way when it comes to selling products on Instagram. Use funny memes, hilarious captions, and fun visuals – anything that'll keep your followers engaged and make them smile.

Plus, injecting some humor into your posts will help build trust between your followers and your brand – which is the key to successful sales.

For more inspiration, you can check out my post on meme marketing.

4. Post Content Addressing Pain Points

Let's face it, people love to buy stuff that solves their problems. And if you want your content to be effective for selling on Instagram, addressing pain points is the way to go!

But why should you address pain points? When you provide content that speaks directly to people's needs, they're more likely to engage with it and share it with others – giving your sales a major boost.

Plus, when you help relieve the stress or pressure someone might be feeling due to an issue they have been dealing with, they'll likely feel an emotional connection with you and your brand.

And who knows? They may even become a customer for life! So don't be afraid to tackle people's pain points head on – it will only work in your favor. Happy selling!

5. Add “Link in Bio” Smartly

Link in bio: the holy grail of Instagram selling. If you're looking to make some money off your Insta page, this is definitely something you need to know about! Think of it as a cheat code for getting more sales – add a link in your bio, and watch the dough roll in!

But don't take my word for it. This isn't just about throwing up any old link and expecting results. No, no. If you want success, then you have to think strategically about which link you are adding to your Instagram profile.

Ideally, you should add a landing page where people can purchase directly. You could also add a page that offers a seasonal discount.

If you want to sell multiple products, there is another way to go around it. You could add a link to a page where multiple landing pages are added. You can add “Link in bio” to your IG posts featuring all the products or services on that page.

6. Add Links to Instagram Stories

Adding links to your Instagram Stories is a great way to maximize the selling potential of your Instagram presence. When you use the Link sticker, your customers can shop away without even having to leave the app!

Not only does it drive traffic to your website and make it easier for customers to purchase, but you can also have some fun with it!

But what kind of Stories can you create where adding links would look natural?

Give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into crafting your products, or use creative storytelling techniques in order to get people interested.

You can even dabble in interactive elements like countdowns, quizzes, polls, and giveaways that encourage engagement from followers.

For added traction, you can also save such Stories featuring services or products to your Instagram Highlights. In fact, you can create Highlights for multiple products on Instagram too.

If you need help with it, you should check out my post on creating custom Highlight covers.

Being creative on Instagram isn’t just good for business — it's actually pretty enjoyable too! By adding product links to your Stories, you can make shopping easier and more fun!

7. Schedule Live Shopping Broadcasts

Scheduling live streams for product launches or other important events can be beneficial for several reasons. It allows you to plan ahead and prepare for the event accordingly.

This also helps ensure that you have enough time to promote your upcoming event across various platforms in order to gain maximum exposure.

Here is how you can schedule your live streams in advance on Instagram:

Step 1: Click on the icon that you see at the top.

Step 2: Click on “Live.”

Step 3: Tap the icon on the left.

Step 4: Add a title for your video.

Step 5: Select a start time and click on “Done.”

Step 6: Click on “Schedule live video” option at the bottom.

Step 7: Click on “Share” and choose how you would like to share it.

Note that all the posts and Stories you share via this method will include the video title and the start time of your live broadcast.

Users will also see an option to get reminders before the live broadcast begins. Once you schedule a live stream, Instagram will also show it under your profile description.

8. Use the Instagram Checkout Feature

The Instagram checkout feature makes it easy for customers to purchase products from your business directly on the platform.

This process can help streamline and improve the customer experience, making it quick and painless for them to make a purchase.

Additionally, with Instagram Checkout, you can promote products right in your posts without having to redirect users to an external website.

Currently, only businesses based in the US have access to this feature.

9. Use Hashtags Strategically

Researching hashtags relevant to your business is essential in order to maximize the chances of increased sales.

You can check out specialized Instagram marketing tools like Inflact to conduct hashtag research thoroughly.

You can also include branded hashtags which help to promote brand awareness and recognition. Branded hashtags are tags that use the company’s name, tagline, or other relevant keywords associated with your business.

If used strategically, branded hashtags can help inspire the creation of more user-generated content and boost brand visibility online.

Coca-Cola’s #ShareaCoke campaign is a prime example of branded hashtag marketing done right.

For more information on how to use hashtags on Instagram, check out this Instagram hashtag marketing guide.

10. Add Product Stories to Highlights

Highlights are a great way to keep the most important or popular Stories at the forefront of customers' minds. By adding product Stories that get good engagement to Highlights, you can ensure these Stories remain top-of-mind.

If you have multiple products or services, I would recommend that you create separate Highlights for each of them.

11. Use Attractive Backdrops

Using attractive backdrops can help you create content that stands out from the crowd and attracts more potential customers. It will also make your products look more professional and increase their perceived value.

When choosing an attractive backdrop, be sure to consider the style and color of your product. You want a background that complements and enhances the product you’re selling, not one that detracts from it.

For example, if you’re selling tattoo accessories, pick a modern and colorful backdrop rather than something more rustic or traditional.

Remember to match your backdrop with the overall aesthetic of your page. This will ensure that all of your content looks cohesive and professional. Additionally, you can use the same backdrop for multiple products to create a series of posts that look consistent and attractive.

12. Tag Multiple Products in Your Posts

When you tag multiple products in your Instagram posts, you give followers more options to choose from. This increases the chances that they will find something they like and feel compelled to buy it.

By tagging more than one product, you're also giving your followers multiple chances to engage with your content and potentially make a purchase.

This boosts the visibility of the products you are promoting and increases the likelihood that they will be seen by potential customers.

When users click on the “View shop” option under such a post, they’ll be able to see images and pricing details of all the products. Here is an example:

Do You Need a Business License to Sell on Instagram?

No license is required to sell on Instagram! No matter how much money you make, there's no need to get a business license to sell on Insta.

Instagram has already done the hard work for you and is the perfect place to showcase your products, connect with customers, and make money. So don't worry about complicated paperwork – just get out there and start selling on Instagram.

However, to begin, you should meet the following commercial eligibility requirements to be able to sell on Instagram:

• Comply with Instagram’s Terms of Use and Community Guidelines.
• Your Instagram account or Facebook page should represent the domain you provide.
• Be located in an area that supports Facebook Commerce.
• Have a profile that demonstrates trustworthiness.

For more info, check out the details here.

Does it Cost to Sell on Instagram?

Yes, it costs to sell on Instagram—but not in the traditional sense. You won't be required to pay a fee or anything like that; however, you will need to invest some time and effort into setting up your shop and promoting it.

As with anything else in life, the more effort you put in, the better results you're likely to get! So if you want to make money selling on Instagram, don't forget: time is money too!

And keep in mind that there are plenty of free tools out there that can help you with Instagram marketing.

From hashtags to influencer partnerships, these tools can give your shop an extra boost – for no cost at all! So don't let a lack of money hold you back; if you're willing to put in the work, you can still make money selling on Instagram.

And who knows? Maybe one day, your business will be so successful that people are actually paying you to sell them stuff! That's the dream, right? So don't give up – and get ready to start selling on Instagram!

Is Selling on Instagram Profitable?

With the right strategy and some dedication, selling products or services on Instagram can definitely be profitable.

Here are some statistics that show why Instagram is great for advertising and marketing your products and services:

• You can reach over 1.2 billion users worldwide via Instagram.
• The estimated ad revenue from Instagram in the US in 2021 was 25 billion.
• 89% of marketers believe IG is the most popular platform for influencer marketing.

Using the platform’s features, you can target an audience in your niche by showing your products or services to the right people. You can also partner with influencers to get access to a wider audience to showcase your products to.

This makes it easier for users to buy directly from your website or through the built-in checkout without leaving the app.

FAQs

Ready to Start Selling on Instagram?

In conclusion, selling on Instagram is a great way to reach new customers and increase sales. It can be an intimidating first foray into digital marketing, but with the right strategies in place, you'll be well on your way to success. Use the tips mentioned above to get a head start on your Instagram sales.

We’ve covered everything here on how to sell on Instagram, but if you still have questions, please feel free to reach out. I’ll be happy to answer them in the comments section.