How to Sell on Instagram – 5 Steps to Set Up Shop on Instagram

Instagram is one of the most popular websites and mobile applications in the world today, making it an excellent platform for earning money. One of the simplest ways to achieve this is through Instagram shopping, which allows you to set up a shop directly on Instagram.

These shops, when established correctly, can be highly profitable, making the understanding of how to sell on Instagram a crucial component of any business plan.

That said, here is everything you need to know about making sales on Instagram.

How to Sell on Instagram

There are several ways to set up a shop on Instagram, most of which do not involve selling through a system directly authorized by the platform.

That doesn’t imply that the other two options are illegal or against the TOS; in fact, most shops utilize Instagram advertising while conducting their financial transactions off-site.

Let’s examine each of the primary methods of selling on Instagram in greater detail.

Selling Through Individual Posts

This is something anyone can do: even a personal account with a sufficiently large follower count can be utilized for this method.

Rather than establishing a professional account and creating a shop on the Instagram platform, you will instead share various products and services you offer as individual posts, presenting them to new customers directly on this social media platform.

This method is typically employed by amateur and beginner sellers who sell physical goods using a dropshipping strategy, as it increases sales while significantly lowering marketing costs.

With this strategy, your products serve as your content, eliminating the need to create additional content to attract more people to your account.

Finally, you can save your interactions and communications with your customers and share them on your Instagram page as a form of social proof.

This is one of the simplest social media strategies for sales and can be highly effective, as it does not require a registered business address and does not limit the number of posts you can make.

These shoppable Instagram posts comply with the TOS and are an excellent way to begin selling your products or services, particularly when combined with other social media platforms.

Utilizing an Instagram Ad Campaign to Connect with Your Target Audience

Another effective method of selling on Instagram involves creating an Instagram business account, building a substantial following, and then leveraging it to develop a successful marketing strategy.

This is achieved through sponsored posts, both on your own page and by funding others, as well as by creating stories that include shopping tags linking to your external website.

In contrast to selling on Instagram through individual posts, this method is relatively more expensive to implement, as it necessitates setting up and maintaining your own online store.

Nonetheless, it is an excellent way to enhance your sales, as a well-managed Instagram page can generate significant interest, enabling you to sell products much more quickly than you would otherwise.

The most effective way to utilize this type of Instagram shopping is to include a link to your landing page in your Instagram bio, along with multiple links throughout various Instagram stories and featured posts.

Additionally, if you have a dedicated store on another platform, such as your Facebook business page, you can include a link to that as well.

Setting Up an Instagram Shop

Ultimately, the most effective way to sell on Instagram is to utilize the platform itself as your shop. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to achieve this.

1. Create a Creator or Business Account

You cannot connect an Instagram shop to a personal Instagram account. Fortunately, creating an Instagram business profile or a creator account is quick, easy, and completely free.

First, navigate to the account settings of your existing account. Next, choose whether you want a creator or a business account. The differences are minimal, so simply select the one you prefer.

2. Continue Setting Up Your New Account

Depending on whether you selected a creator or a business profile, you will encounter different options and possibilities. However, if your primary goal is to sell on Instagram through an on-site online store, you can largely ignore most of this information and simply click next.

After you click “next,” the Instagram app or website will present you with the following options:

Use the textbox to find the description that best fits your newly created creator or business account. You can also have this description appear in your bio by simply clicking the checkbox. You will receive a final prompt to switch to a professional account.

3. Include Your Business Contact Information

To create a business account, you will need to provide Instagram with some additional information, including your address, phone number, and more.

This information will be displayed publicly on your profile, enhancing your online store’s credibility with customers.

4. Verify Your Eligibility for Instagram Shopping

Before creating your shop, you must first verify your eligibility. Instagram shopping has specific prerequisites. Some of these are geographic, as the option is not available worldwide, while others relate to your products. Visit the Instagram website for complete information before you begin setting up your shop.

If everything is in order, start setting up your shop.

5. Link Your Instagram to Your Facebook Page

One of the most important things to remember about Instagram shopping is that you can link your Instagram profile to a corresponding one on Facebook to enhance your visibility and utilize the Facebook Business Manager tool.

Additionally, you can include a link to your Facebook catalog, if you have one, allowing people to browse your complete offerings more easily.

6. Create a Product Catalog

Finally, before your Instagram live shopping platform can start generating revenue, you must upload all the products you offer, including links and payment options.

You will have access to all the tools that Instagram offers. If you have selected a business profile, you can also utilize third-party apps to enhance Instagram insights and explore additional ways to generate more traffic.

Once everything is complete, your Instagram profile will display a shopping bag icon that directs anyone who taps it to the online store.

How Many Followers Do You Need to Make Money on Instagram?

This question is not straightforward to answer, as there isn’t a single response. However, you typically won’t start making money until you reach 10,000 Instagram followers, with earnings increasing significantly after surpassing the 100,000 mark.

Consequently, you will require a relatively popular Instagram profile to serve as a foundation for your Instagram shop.

Why Am I Not Making Sales on Instagram?

Many people find themselves asking this question when their business isn’t meeting expectations. Selling on Instagram can be challenging, particularly if you have few followers or if your product tags are not effective.

If you are not making a profit, consider redesigning your store, investing in gaining more followers, and adding new products to your Instagram live shopping. Each of these actions can help increase your income.

Conclusion

There are several ways to sell on Instagram, ranging from adding an Instagram shopping link that directs users to a third-party website to creating a store that enables people to purchase your products directly through the app.

Each option has its advantages and disadvantages, and all should be considered regardless of what you plan to sell on this platform.

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