Instagram For E-Commerce: Driving Sales & Conversions

You might be wondering how to successfully use Instagram for e-commerce, especially as it’s one of the 3 platforms with the highest ROI in social selling. 

With evolving algorithms and fleeting consumer trends, raising online sales today demands more than traditional strategies. But just when you think you’ve hit a wall, Instagram for e-commerce opens up new possibilities, your new ticket to secure checkouts.

In this article, we will show you how to turn your Instagram account into a shop that sells with 8 strategies. We will also dive into the best practices you can do to maximize your users’ online shopping experience.

By the end, you’ll be ready to tap into millions of Instagram users and draw them in as eager potential customers.

8 Best Instagram E-Commerce Strategies To Elevate Shoppable Posts

Keep an eye on the “hows” to master Instagram shopping and turn casual app browsers into followers.

1. Use Instagram Stories To Launch Flash Sales

This leverages Instagram stories’ fleeting nature to prompt quick buyer action and tap into the thrill of snagging a great deal.

To apply this tactic, create engaging stories with product photos in action. Then, highlight key product benefits and savings if they buy now. Use shoppable stickers to guide users to tap on your product tags. Here’s how to add the product stickers:

Additionally, adjust your posting times as needed to improve your flash sales’ success. Use Hopper’s analytics features to analyze when your audience is most active. It features a toggle that lets you see when the most or least of your followers are online. 

This helps you plan when to launch your flash sales to maximize likes, comments, shares, and cart additions. For instance, if you discover through Hopper’s analytics that your audience is most active from 2:00 to 6:00 PM on Wednesdays, schedule your flash sales during these peak times. 

To further boost your flash sales campaigns, hire an experienced virtual marketing assistant to:

• Manage real-time responses to customer queries and build rapport with them.
• Monitor analytics to schedule stories at the best times when most followers are online.
• Make sure your Instagram business account operates smoothly during high-traffic flash sales.

You can leverage hiring platforms like Genius to get an assistant so they can handle the recruitment process for you. So, this frees up your time for more strategic tasks to grow your e-commerce store while keeping your budget intact.

2. Gamify Instagram Users’ Shopping Experience

Turn product discovery into an interactive game on your Instagram business account. With this strategy, you can make shopping fun and engaging to entice users to buy. It also prompts shopping enthusiasts to explore your Instagram feed more. 

Here is why you should do it:

To gamify their experience, set up a scavenger hunt that guides users through your posts. Let’s say you sell sports equipment like various golf rangefinders. You can create content that incorporates a series of engaging clues within your product images.

For example, post a shoppable photo of a rangefinder against the backdrop of a well-known golf course. In the caption, include the first clue: Where champions play, find the course to unlock your way. 

Ask your followers to DM their guesses; anyone who answers correctly unlocks the next clue. Each subsequent post will reveal another rangefinder with a visual or textual clue in a different setting. Then, gradually build up to a finale where participants can win a prize or exclusive discount.

But make sure to set clear instructions before starting the game. For instance, you can say that they must follow your account and like the photo first before DMing their guesses. You can also announce that the first 15 guessers progress to the next round. From there, only the fastest 10 will continue advancing.

3. Leverage Nano Or Micro-influencers In Niche Markets

Why nano or micro-influencers? They have a strong connection with their followers. Despite their smaller following, their audience is highly engaged. You can use the collaboration to highlight the products in your shoppable posts.

Plus, they are more cost-effective, especially for smaller businesses with limited budgets. Macro to mega influencers can cost between $5,000 and $10,000 per post. In contrast, nano and micro-influencers charge only $10 to $500 per post.

These influencers can authentically showcase your products through stories, reels, and feed posts. With this content, they encourage their loyal followers to purchase from your brand.

A prime example is Transparent Labs. Although they work with macro influencers, they still tap nano and micro-influencers like Kyle Cummings to boost their brand on Instagram. 

Kyle is a fitness enthusiast. He shares quality images and detailed captions about the benefits of Transparent Labs’ Whey Protein Isolate. This helps attract new customers who trust his fitness advice. 

Plus, he has a strong 3.96% engagement rate that is well within the optimal 1% to 5% range. With such active and loyal followers, Kyle is a good asset to make the brand’s Instagram e-commerce strategy more effective.

How do you do the same?

Use tools like Upfluence to find influencers who align with your brand’s values and audience. You just have to input keywords about your industry and adjust the filters to refine your search. You can also use it to contact potential influencers with your proposal. 

Find The Right Influencers to Explode your Business with Upfluence

Once you partner with an influencer, collaborate on exciting content. For instance, have them share photos using your products in daily life. Each image can become a shoppable post that links directly to the product detail page.

4. Promote Bundle Offers Through Shoppable Posts

Did you know that 70% of shopping enthusiasts turn to Instagram to discover products?

Bundles offer an attractive way to capitalize on this trend since grouping complementary items at discounted rates lets them explore more pieces in 1 post and 1 tap. Plus, it inflates the perceived value and encourages quicker purchasing decisions.  It also increases your average order value.

All you have to do is curate bundles that include complementary products and showcase them through shopping posts. For instance, let’s say your e-commerce business focuses on skincare. 

You can introduce a “Summer Glow” bundle that includes new product launches with older items. So combine a newly launched aloe gel with established favorites like sunscreen and hydrating mist. 

Use engaging visuals and add descriptions to explain each product’s benefit in the bundle. You should also highlight the savings and convenience of buying them all together. 

To further boost your bundles, you can leverage Instagram ads to broaden your offer’s reach. But say that the bundles are available for a limited time only to make them feel a sense of urgency. 

If you want to maximize your ads, consider hiring a digital marketing agency to handle your social media marketing. With this, you can be sure that your ads are well-managed and that they bring you results. Also, digital marketers can expertly make the most out of your budget.

5. Do User-Generated Content (UGC) Contests

UGC contests work for Instagram e-commerce because they provide authentic social proof that can influence others. When users see real people enjoying a product, their trust increases, making them more likely to buy.

This also enriches your e-commerce brand with diverse customer perspectives and experiences to help broaden its appeal. Plus, every participant’s post acts as free advertising that can improve word-of-mouth.

How do you apply this?

Decide on a compelling incentive, like free shipping or a discount. Then, announce the contest on your IG business profile. But specify that they should tag you and include a unique, branded hashtag to track entries. Offer clear guidelines so entries stay relevant and high-quality.

For instance, let’s say you are selling renewable energy products like these solar generator kits. Launch a contest inviting customers to show how these solar kits power their outdoor or indoor appliances. You can also ask them to share how they set up their solar kits. 

Check out this UGC post from Shop Solar for ideas on what to encourage your customers to share:

In the post, instead of having just 1 photo to show the end result, images show a holistic view so others can see what materials they used to set up the kit, like a wood plank. Meanwhile, the testimonial is not your typical “It’s great!” 

The customer mentioned how he assembled the panel from spare parts in his house. With this, you can give valuable insight into how your products can be used. For instance, this gives interested buyers the idea that they can use old materials instead of buying a new elevated platform to set up their kits. 

Also, tell them to use hashtags like “#Poweringthefuture” or “#[brand name]GreenLiving” when they submit their posts. Otherwise, they will not be included.

Then, pick the entries that best show how versatile and effective your products are and post the winning entries on your account. But be sure to add product tags to your chosen content to transform them into shoppable posts.

6. Post Lifestyle Integration Shots

Showcase your products as part of everyday life or put them in aspirational settings to tap into the platform’s visual nature. Since it is known for its aesthetic content, 27% of social media users look to platforms like Instagram for inspiration.

Additionally, it gives a practical context to what you’re selling, helping shoppers visualize themselves using your products. With that, they are more likely to tap into the Instagram app’s shopping features.

Here’s a great example of lifestyle shots from Tala, an activewear brand:

To do this, simply leverage what you already know about your target audience and their interest. Then, refine that knowledge with Instagram’s built-in analytics.

These tools show what content grabs your audience’s attention the most. Use this insight to craft shots and create similar aesthetics that draw users in. So, if you are selling wellness products and find that your audience prefers food-related posts over workout ones, take more photos that involve the former.

In addition, use relevant hashtags to broaden your reach and guarantee that your posts are discoverable. You should also consistently engage with your audience and ask them to share how they might use your products in their lifestyle.

7. Create An Exclusive ‘Instagram Only’ Line

Offer products that are only available through your Instagram account to boost engagement and create a sense of exclusivity and urgency. Tap into the audience’s desire for unique items.

To do this, pick products that align with your brand and appeal to your target audience. For instance, let’s say you sell sports and fitness gear. 

You can create an Instagram-exclusive product line for different seasons, say summer. Add specific summer-specific products like tanning oil, trendy swimwear for athletes, and sunscreen. 

These complement your usual offers in your online store. Plus, it can offset slower summer sales of regular fitness gear, as many switch from workouts to other activities. It also keeps you relevant to your established market. 

Next, set up a dedicated section in your product catalog specifically for these items. Promote these exclusives heavily through your regular posts, Stories, and Reels. You should also highlight the ‘Instagram Only’ nature to encourage people to follow and check your account often.

As seasonal campaigns ramp up orders, consider accepting internship applications. This flexible support ensures you are not stretched thin. With an extra pair of hands, you can minimize mistakes and delays, as well as keep up with customer queries. 

Also, this is beneficial if you have a small business since you won’t have to commit long-term yet still have someone to help manage the increased workload for the season.

8. Produce Behind-the-Scenes Product Journeys

Share your product’s creation process, from initial idea to final sale. This strategy gives your audience a clear view of how you make your products. This helps create trust and deeper connections with your followers. 

In addition, showing the meticulous care, quality materials, and innovative techniques used can set your brand apart from other e-commerce businesses. It humanizes your brand and adds a story to each product that resonates with customers. This authenticity lets you build a loyal audience and improves your ability to sell products effectively.

How do you produce BTS content?

Document your product development’s various stages. If possible, include staff commentary to explain more about the process or the inspiration behind the products. Then, share your content as shoppable videos or IG stories. You should also post the design process, material sourcing, and production photos.

For example, if you sell handcrafted jewelry, post an IG reel or IGTV series showcasing the crafting process from sketching designs to the final polishing. 

Also, write captions to explain each step’s significance. If this is a challenge for you, take advantage of our AI-powered caption generator to have engaging, creative social media copy. 

Now, you’ve got the strategies to supercharge your posts and boost e-commerce sales. But to make them work to the fullest, you need to implement best practices for IG posts to make users tap and engage seamlessly.

Instagram For E-Commerce: 5 Must-Do Practices To Maximize Your Shoppable Posts

Maximize your use of Instagram’s shopping features with these 5 best practices. But take note of the quick and easy tactics to implement these.

A. Regularly Check Inventory

Customers expect quick and reliable access to products they see on Instagram. So, make sure all shoppable links in your posts lead to in-stock items so customers do not get frustrated.

To get this practice in action, consistently monitor your overall inventory to keep your product availability current. If you have a Shopify account, use its built-in inventory tracking feature. 

But if you are using another e-commerce platform, leverage software like inFlow Inventory to get real-time insights into product movements. Use the data to either update your customers about availability or replenish your stocks.

B. Tag Multiple Products

Tagging multiple products maximizes exposure because shoppers can view and shop for several items without leaving the post. This can increase product mentions, encourage browsing, and drive sales from a single post.

For example, you post a lifestyle shot of a living room. You can tag the sofa, coffee table, and lamp. This lets users envision the complete set and purchase multiple items that complement each other.

How do you do this?

Arrange products to create visually appealing groupings that naturally complement each other. With this, your Instagram content becomes cohesive and aesthetically pleasing. Then, tag products directly in the photos, like this post from Wayfair:

But make sure each tag is accurately placed over the correct item in the image so customers can be redirected to their respective product pages.

C. Enable Instagram Checkout

Instagram checkout is a shopping feature that lets customers buy products without navigating to a separate website for a better overall shopping experience. Additionally, simplifying the checkout process helps you reduce online shopping barriers, like cart abandonment.

To enable this feature, have a Facebook business account because this feature will only work if it is activated on FB and IG. Here’s how to set it up:

• Go to the Commerce Manager on FB and select your shop.
• From the left-hand menu, choose ‘Settings’, then ‘Checkout method‘.
• Click the gear icon next to your current method, select ‘Checkout on Facebook and Instagram’ from the dropdown, and then click ‘Change’.
• Follow the prompts to provide details about your business, like shipping and payout preferences, and confirm your changes.

With this feature, you keep the entire purchasing process within the Instagram app. However, as of now, only approved US businesses can apply this.

D. Educate Your Audience About Instagram Shop

Post content that explains how to use Instagram’s shopping features. Highlight how quickly they can discover and buy products and services. 

Knowledgeable customers are more likely to engage confidently with Instagram shops since they know what to click and do next. Plus, it streamlines their shopping experience since they do not have to go to your website and browse all over again to find the item they want.

To implement this, regularly share advice and tutorials on how to navigate your IG shop. Use Instagram Stories or posts to demonstrate how to access features. 

For example, post a reel or IGTV on your Instagram profile showcasing what happens next when they click the shopping tags in Instagram photos. Walk users through finding product details and purchasing directly from a post.

E. Maintain An Organized Instagram Shop

Categorize your products to help users easily navigate your Instagram account and locate their desired items. This makes shopping on Instagram more convenient. It also encourages:

• Longer browsing sessions.
• Increases the likelihood of purchases.
• Helps customers find exactly what they’re looking for with minimal effort.

To organize your shop, group your similar products into clear categories. Then, use descriptive titles for each category to guide users. Regularly update your collections to reflect inventory changes and seasonal offers.

For example, if you are selling athletic wear, you could organize your shop or IG highlights into categories like:

• Men’s Sportswear
• Women’s Yoga Gear
• Running Accessories

With this, your users can follow your latest collections while not having to browse through your thousands of posts.

Conclusion

Instagram for e-commerce is changing the digital shopping game, use these strategies to build a strong foundation and sustain your followers’ interest in this dynamic social network. 

But as you adopt these strategies, continue to assess and refine your approach to make sure it continues to meet your evolving goals. So, review your current Instagram setup, apply the improvements discussed, and monitor their impact to keep your selling tactics sharp.

To help you achieve your targets, use Hopper HQ. Our platform is a one-stop shop to make your mark on digital shopping. It lets you fully automate posting, generate captions, upscale images, get hashtag suggestions, and many more. Start your free trial now and boost your Instagram brand.