When it comes to online shopping, it’s clear that the easier it is for the buyer, the more likely it is that the seller will make a sale. So how can you make it easy for your customers to shop? Since Instagram is a very popular social media site, it makes sense that a new shopping feature has been added to help brands and companies sell directly on Instagram.
One of the most popular ways for brands, companies, and influencers to connect with their audiences in real time is through Instagram Live. With the new Instagram Live shopping feature, Instagram users can now buy products and services from their favorite influencers or brands without leaving the app. Think about the shopping channels on TV that were very popular before the internet took off. People spend more time on social media than watching TV, so it makes sense to meet your potential customers where they are.
When you look at all the ways that sellers and dropshippers can benefit from Instagram Live Shopping, it’s clear that this new tool can be very helpful for businesses that want to reach more people and make more sales.
If you’re new to the idea of selling live on Instagram, we’ve put together a detailed guide on how to use Instagram Live shopping to boost your sales, connect with customers, and grow your business.
What is Live Shopping on Instagram?
With the new Instagram Live shopping feature, businesses can sell goods and services right on Instagram Live. This means that brands can now show their products to viewers in real time while interacting with their audience and answering questions. Viewers can also buy the products shown during an Instagram live without leaving the app.
Instagram Live shopping is a great way to connect with customers because it turns shopping from a one-way conversation into a conversation between you and your audience. By offering Instagram live shopping, brands can build stronger connections and relationships with customers. This can help improve customer loyalty, raise brand awareness, and boost sales.
Who Can Shop on Instagram Live?
Instagram Live shopping is a fairly new feature that helps businesses of all sizes connect with their customers and make more sales on Instagram. Instagram live shopping can help your business in many ways, whether you are a small seller or a large ecommerce company.
Instagram live shopping lets sellers talk to their customers in real time, which can create a more personal connection and build trust between the buyer and seller. This is a great way for all kinds of online sellers to build trust, get more people interested, and bring in new customers while also making sales.
But you have to meet certain requirements before you can use Instagram live shopping. For Instagram Live shopping to work, you need to:
- be in the United States
- Have an Instagram account for your business
- Be able to use Instagram checkout and have it set up.
- Add items to your Instagram shop that you can link to in your Instagram Live sale.
- As long as you meet all of the above requirements, you can try out Instagram live shopping on your Instagram account.
Pros of live shopping on Instagram
Now that you know what Instagram Live shopping is and if your account is eligible, you may be wondering, “Is it worth it to do Instagram Live shopping?” Even though it’s a new idea that not all brands or companies are using yet, there are many reasons why your business should use Instagram Live shopping. In fact, it might be smart to use this new way to sell before a lot of other people do. Here are just a few of the reasons why your business might want to give it a try.
Sell your products
The main reason to use Instagram live shopping is, of course, to sell your goods. With this feature, you can sell your products directly to your followers, making it easy for them to shop. You’re not only selling your products, but you’re also talking to people in real time. This means you can teach them about the products your brand makes, answer questions as they come up, and really sell the products you’re promoting to your audience. This is a lot more fun and interactive for your customers, which could lead to more sales.
Make connections in real time
Social media is meant to be social, so what better way to connect with potential customers than to go on a live stream and talk about your products while interacting with them in real time? This lets you connect with your customers and followers in a way that most other social media platforms don’t let you do. When you’re live, it’s easy to answer questions, give advice, and really connect with your audience on a personal level while promoting your products.
People are more likely to know, like, and trust your brand if they can talk to real people from it. This gives your brand a more personal, human side. This kind of honesty can make customers want to stick with you and set you apart from the competition.
Quickly get people interested
When you use Instagram Live shopping, you’re not only promoting your products, but also your brand. Most Instagram users follow brands that they already buy from or might want to buy from in the future. When people see posts from brands they like, it can really make them want to do something, whether it’s just interacting with the post or going to your store to buy something.
But if you interact with your customers and sell to them in real time, you’re more likely to get their attention and really get them interested. When people tune in, you will have their full attention and be able to get their attention in a way that a simple post might not be able to.
Shopping has become easier.
When it comes to selling things, your chances of making more sales go up if the process is simple and easy to use. People like it when things are easy, and showing them products on an app they already use is as easy as it gets. Your customers will find it easy to buy from you thanks to Instagram live shopping. By using the Instagram checkout feature during your live stream, buyers can finish their purchases without ever leaving the app. This makes the buying process smooth and easy. This will not only increase your sales during the live, but it can also make customers more likely to buy from you again in the future if they had a good time shopping with you.
Increase sales
Obviously, the point of Instagram live shopping is to turn potential buyers into actual customers and increase sales. By promoting your products live, you can tell your audience a lot more about them and really sell them, which you can’t do with a simple product page. During your Instagram live sale, you can make it easy for customers to buy things by using the checkout feature. This boosts your conversion rate and makes it more likely that you’ll make a sale.
Instagram live shopping is also a great way for people to buy things on the spot because they don’t have to think too much about it. It gives people a sense of urgency, and the fact that it’s easy can help your business make more sales and money.
These are just a few of the many ways your business can benefit from using Instagram Live shopping. If you haven’t used this powerful tool before, now is the time to do so.
How to Set Up Live Shopping on Instagram
If you want to take your sales to the next level, it’s pretty clear that Instagram Live shopping could be a good next step for your business. But you might be curious about how to use Instagram live shopping. If you haven’t used Instagram Live before, it can be hard to figure out how to get everything set up and ready to go for your first shopping experience. Here is a step-by-step guide to setting up Instagram Live shopping so you can sell your products.
Step 1: Set up your store and make checkout possible.
The first thing you’ll need to do is set up and turn on checkout for your Instagram Shop. To do this, go to the Facebook Commerce Manager and start setting up your store. There are a few steps you need to take to set up your shop and then send it to Instagram for approval, so do this as soon as possible.
Step 2: Put items in your catalog.
You’ll need products to link to in your Instagram Live shopping experience, so make sure you have items in your shop/catalog well before the sale. If you don’t add any products, you won’t be able to pin them to your Instagram live and let people buy them in the app.
Step 3: Open Instagram Live
Tap the “Your Story” icon at the top left of your Instagram feed. To get to the “Live” option, you’ll have to swipe left from there.
Step 4: Put your items on the live
On the left side of the Instagram Live screen, you should see a shopping bag. When you tap this, you can add the products from your catalog that you want to sell during your store’s Instagram Live sale.
Step 5: Start living
To start, you can tap the “Live” button when you’re ready. Make sure you have everything you need before you do this, and wait a few minutes after you go live before you start selling.
Step 6: Pin items
When it’s time to promote a product during your live, you can pin it to the screen so people can learn more or buy it. You can only pin one product at a time, so take the time to promote it, answer any questions, and encourage people to click the button to buy it before moving on to the next product.
All done! The hardest part is getting everything set up at first, but once you do, you can have regular Instagram Live shopping days that you regularly promote on your account to help you make more sales for your business.
How to Make Sales on Instagram Live Shopping
Now that you know how to use Instagram Live for shopping, it’s time to start making sales! Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your Instagram Live shopping sessions and make more sales.
Outline your live
Even though a full script isn’t necessary and can be boring, it’s still a good idea to plan out what you want to talk about in your Instagram live. Make sure to write in your outline what you’ll be selling during your Instagram Live shop, what you want to say about each item, and other details. This will really help you in the moment so you don’t lose your train of thought and forget to say important things about a product.
Stay on the level.
Even though it’s important to be friendly on social media, it’s also important to be professional. During an Instagram Live shopping event, this is especially important because people are there to buy things from you, so they need to be able to trust you. Make sure you can talk well, that your background is clean, and that you look good.
Get people excited about new products.
If you’re going to be selling new items during your Instagram Live shop, make sure to get people excited about them ahead of time. You can do this by talking about the product on your other social media platforms, giving a sneak peek live before the event in your Instagram stories or regular Instagram feed, and more. By making a big deal about the product, you’ll get people excited about it and encourage them to check it out at your Instagram Live sales event.
Give some how-tos
Depending on what you’re selling, it might be a good idea to do a mini-tutorial during your Instagram Live shopping session. This can really help people feel more confident about using the product, and it will also show all of the features and benefits of the product in a live setting. There is a big difference between looking at a picture of a product and seeing it in action. Because the customer can see everything for themselves, this kind of interesting content can help them decide to buy.
Be engaging
Try not to just talk to the camera like you’re making a video and not interact with the people watching. Social media is all about connecting with other people, so make sure you talk to your viewers during your Instagram Live shopping. Take the time to talk to people, answer their questions about the products, and be friendly in general. By doing this, you’ll make it more fun for people to watch, which will make them stay longer and maybe buy something from you.
Don’t oversell yourself.
During an Instagram Live shopping event, it’s important to talk about your products and services, but you don’t want to seem too pushy. This can make people stop watching and feel like they have to buy something they might not want or need. Instead, try to sell by being friendly and encouraging, but still a little bit sneaky. The best way to give your audience a good Instagram Live shopping experience is to keep things fun, helpful, and interesting.
Finish with a Q&A.
Having a Q&A session at the end of your Instagram Live shopping is a great way to connect with your audience one last time, answer any last questions people may have, and get feedback on your products or services. This is also a great chance to tell people where they can find you online and do a little self-promotion. With a good Q&A session, you can build good relationships with your customers and make them want to come back again. Even if they don’t buy anything during your Instagram Live shopping event, they will learn more about your brand and products and are more likely to buy from you in the future.
Plan out your time.
Even though you might not want to have an Instagram live sale every day, it can be helpful to have them often so that your customers know what to expect and may even make them a regular part of their schedules. Having a sale once a week or once a month can help your online store make more money and keep people coming back for more. Even people who don’t buy every time may come just to interact with and support your brand. Just make sure you give yourself enough time between sales so that you can always put out good content during your Instagram live sales, which will keep people coming back.
If you keep these tips in mind, you’ll always have a good time live shopping on Instagram. Instagram live shopping can be a great way to connect with your audience and make more sales for your online store, whether you’re just starting out or have been in business for a while.
Conclusion
Now that you know more about how to use Instagram Live shopping, do you think it would be good for your business? Online sales are moving in this direction, so if you want to try it, it’s time to put what you’ve learned to use! By following the steps above to get set up and the tips for having a successful Instagram live sale, you’ll be able to create an engaging and helpful live shopping experience that will help turn viewers into buyers.
