The Instagram Shop Now Button: Everything You Need to Know About the New Shoppable Feed

Hey there! Have you heard about Instagram‘s shoppable posts feature? It‘s an exciting new way for brands to tag and sell products directly within the Instagram app. Users can now tap to view product info and make purchases without ever leaving Instagram.

In this post, we‘ll explore everything brands need to know to leverage Instagram‘s shoppable feed in 2024. I‘ll cover what shoppable posts are, their benefits, requirements, how to create them, tips for optimization, and what the future holds for social commerce on Instagram. Let‘s dive in!

An Overview of Shoppable Posts on Instagram

First, what exactly are these newfangled shoppable posts?

Shoppable posts allow brands to tag products within their Instagram feed images or Stories. When a post is shoppable, a tiny shopping bag icon appears on the top right corner.

When users tap the product tag, a pop-up appears with details like:

• Product description
• Price
• Color/size options
• A Shop Now button linking directly to the product page

This gives users an easy way to learn about and purchase products they discover on Instagram – all without having to leave the app. No more losing those coveted items!

According to Instagram, over 130 million people tap to reveal shoppable tags each month. The feature provides a seamless shopping experience for mobile users while allowing brands to drive traffic and sales through their Instagram content. It‘s a win-win.

Now let‘s explore why brands should be excited about shoppable posts…

Why Shoppable Posts Are a Game-Changer for Brands

Enabling shoppable posts can provide a variety of benefits for brands and businesses on Instagram.

Increased Website Traffic

The direct linking to products provides a frictionless path for users to visit your website. Rather than having to search for the product, it‘s a couple taps away.

According to Instagram, shoppable posts drive an average of 2x more website traffic than regular content. For larger accounts, that number jumps to 10x increase in traffic.

Higher Conversion Rates

By removing barriers in the shopping journey, shoppable posts lead to higher conversion rates for brands.

Shoppers are more likely to purchase when the product is clearly identified and the path to purchase is simplified right within the Instagram app.

More Interactive Content

Shoppable functionality encourages brands to create more interactive and engaging post content that showcases their products – like demos, tutorials, unboxings or style guides.

This content performs better as it provides more value to the user.

Valuable Insights

The built-in analytics on shoppable posts give brands crucial data on:

• Impressions
• Reach
• Taps
• Product views
• Purchases

These insights help identify your top-performing products and optimize your Instagram strategy.

New Revenue Stream for Influencers

For influencers and creators, shoppable posts present an exciting new way to earn revenue through their content.

Influencers can earn commissions on user purchases made via shoppable posts – providing a lucrative new monetization stream.

Now let‘s explore why users love shoppable posts…

Why Consumers Are All About Shoppable Posts

Users are embracing shoppable posts for a few key reasons:

Seamless Shopping Experience

Shoppable posts allow users to browse and buy products directly within the convenient Instagram interface. No need to switch between apps or tabs.

More Product Discovery

The immersive, visual nature of Instagram makes it easy for users to discover and engage with new products and brands through their feed.

Users can organically find products they love just by scrolling and tapping to learn more.

Mobile Optimization

As a mobile-first platform, the streamlined shoppable format works perfectly on smaller screens. Minimal taps provide key product info.

Saves “Liked” Items

Users no longer have to worry about losing track of products they wanted to buy later. Saved posts act as a wish list.

By removing friction, shoppable posts meet users’ expectations for quick and intuitive mobile shopping.

Now that we’ve covered the benefits, let’s look at how to actually set up shoppable posts for your brand on Instagram…

How to Set Up Shoppable Posts: Requirements for Brands

Instagram has a few requirements that brands need to meet before gaining access to shoppable post capabilities:

• Have an active business profile on Instagram

• Connect your Instagram account to a Facebook page

• Link your Facebook page to a Facebook commerce shop

• Upload your product catalog to Facebook

• Be based in the US

• Sell products listed in US dollars

These requirements help ensure the analytics, tracking and shopping functionality connect properly.

Once your Instagram and Facebook accounts are linked up, you‘re ready to start tagging products in posts!

I‘ll explain the step-by-step process next…

How to Create Shoppable Posts on Instagram

When your accounts are connected, you can easily turn your Instagram posts into shoppable content.

Here is a simple 4-step process:

Step 1: Upload Product Images

Add all product images you want to promote into your Facebook product catalog.

Step 2: Draft Instagram Post

Create your Instagram post copy and visuals as you normally would.

Step 3: Tag Products

Use the “Product Tags” sticker in Instagram Stories or posts to tag each product included. You can tag up to 5 per post.

Step 4: Add Shopping Bag Icon

Sticker the Instagram shopping bag icon in the top corner so users can identify the content as shoppable.

And that‘s it! Now your product is shoppable and ready to generate sales directly through Instagram.

Here are a few pro tips when creating effective shoppable posts:

• Show products in context – get creative with unique styling!
• Use high-quality photos/video – focus on showcasing product details
• Write clear, concise copy highlighting product features
• Promote trending products or new arrivals
• Leverage shoppable carousels and Stories in addition to feed posts
• Tag relevant accounts like influencers or brand partners to help amplify your content

Now let’s explore how to optimize your shoppable posts…

Optimizing Your Shoppable Content Strategy for Success

Simply enabling shoppable posts isn‘t enough – you need to actually generate clicks and drive conversions from these posts.

Here are some tips to optimize your shoppable content:

Promote at Strategic Times

Pay attention to when your target audience is most active on Instagram and schedule posts during those high-traffic windows.

Run Targeted Instagram Ads

Use Instagram advertising to promote your shoppable posts and expose them to new audiences that will be interested.

Partner with Relevant Influencers

Work with nano or micro-influencers in your industry to have them create and share shoppable posts as well, leveraging their engaged followings.

Cross-Promote Posts

Share your shoppable Instagram posts across other channels like Facebook ads or Pinterest to maximize reach.

Offer Exclusive Discounts

Provide special promo codes or discounts only available to users who shop directly from your Instagram posts to incentivize action.

Host Contests or Giveaways

Boost engagement on shoppable posts by running contests or giveaways requiring users to like, comment or tag friends.

Using these tips will help drive more traffic to your shoppable content and, ultimately, more sales.

Now let’s look at some creative ways to develop compelling shoppable posts…

Shoppable Post Ideas to Engage Your Audience

When it comes to shoppable Instagram posts, you‘re only limited by your imagination. But if you need some inspiration, here are a few engaging ideas to help ignite your creative spark:

Product Spotlight Images

Get creative showcasing singular products in lifestyle settings – office, kitchen, etc. Help users visualize using or wearing the product.

Outfit of the Day (#OOTD)

Style products together in complete fashion looks. Helps showcase how pieces pair together.

Unboxing Videos

Let users peer inside delivery boxes and see new products first-hand through short unboxing clips.

Haul Videos

Record a quick video haul showing off a bunch of new products or inventory.

Tutorials

Post tutorials demonstrating how to use certain products – like makeup, cooking tools, tech, etc. Educational and engaging.

Shop by Room/Category

Curate shoppable posts featuring products for different rooms like ‘Living Room Shop‘ or categories like ‘Gift Shop‘.

Behind-the-Scenes

Give a peek behind the curtains showing how products are made, packaged, etc.

Limited-Time Offers

Promote sales, flash deals and other specials to incentivize quick purchases. Drives urgency.

User-Generated Content

Reshare shoppable UGC content from satisfied customers organically using your products. Gains trust.

Let‘s check out an example from a fashion retailer:

![Example of a shoppable Instagram post by a fashion brand showcasing a new dress arrival.]()

Posts like this grab attention while seamlessly promoting specific products. Get creative with your own shoppable post ideas!

Now, let’s look to the future…

What’s Next for Shoppable Posts on Instagram?

Shoppable Instagram posts have already made a huge impact, and they‘re still just getting started. This feature formed the foundation of Instagram‘s social commerce strategy.

We can expect expanded shoppable capabilities in the future as Instagram continues positioning itself as a social shopping platform.

Here are a few potential evolutions on the horizon for Instagram shoppable posts:

Expanded Global Availability

Shoppable posts are currently limited to the US, but global expansion is inevitable as demand grows globally. Instagram is already testing in other countries.

Enhanced Mobile Checkout

Allowing in-app checkout could streamline the process even more versus redirecting users to websites.

Shoppable Video

More interactive shoppable video formats like shoppable live streams or IGTV would provide additional engaging shopping content.

Social Commerce Stores

Instagram may eventually facilitate "stores" within the app and integrate further with ecommerce platforms.

AR Capabilities

AR try-on technology could allow "virtual fitting rooms" to preview products through shoppable posts.

As the shoppable experience advances, Instagram will likely roll out tools to make social commerce more seamless across the user journey – from product discovery to purchase and beyond.

The platform will aim to provide diverse opportunities for brands to inspire, engage and convert shoppers without ever needing to leave Instagram.

Key Takeaways about Instagram Shoppable Posts

To recap, here are the core things brands should know about shoppable Instagram posts right now:

• Shoppable posts allow users to view products and purchase directly within the Instagram app via tagged posts.

• To access the feature, businesses need an Instagram business profile connected to Facebook shop and catalog.

• Shoppable content presents a major opportunity for brands to drive website traffic, sales and engagement through Instagram.

• When creating shoppable posts, focus on lifestyle visuals, clear copy, strategic tagging and cross-promoting content.

• Optimization tactics like ads, influencers and UGC can boost engagement and conversions from shoppable posts.

• Instagram will continue expanding shoppable post capabilities cementing its position as a social commerce leader.

• Forward-thinking brands that embrace shoppable content early will gain an advantage as social shopping evolves.

The future looks bright for brands ready to take advantage of these new Instagram shopping capabilities! Let me know if you have any other questions.