Learn all about Instagram and how to grow your small business 

 

Below you will learn everything necessary to create an Instagram Store for your business.  E-commerce, online sales, is definitely the way of the future and where you need to grow your business.

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The way in which your customers shop is changing. Many more people are shopping and playing on line including mobile gamers who are enjoying playing at an Intertops mobile casino.  We have seen major changes in 2020 and Instagram is definitely the way forward. The way to reach many people for free.   Instagram e-commerce enables small businesses to compete with large companies. You can be seen on everyone’s Instagram feed.  It is now possible to buy and sell via your Instagram feed.

Can small businesses benefit from social media and particularly Instagram e-commerce?

Using Instagram is a daily habit for roughly 63% of users.   Instagram has over 1 billion users which makes it one of the largest social media apps.   When you as a business post something on Instagram, the content is seen immediately by a huge number of people.  Using hashtags will increase the number of people you can reach with those searching for tags in your field. Instagram has made you visible to these potential customers who may begin to follow you regularly.   Now, especially in 2020 every small business should have an Instagram page.

Instagram E-commerce explained.

E-commerce refers to online buying and selling.  Instagram is no longer just a popular social media app.   They have created a way to carry out commerce that is incorporated into any account and it is free of charge.   It is possible to set yourself up within the hour and begin selling products anywhere.  Your post will be seen by your followers on their phones.   This will not only increase your online sales but will also create more walk- in sales in your local store.

Why Instagram e-commerce is good for small businesses

You can put your products out there directly to your customers who will see them on their phones.  Instagram users are more likely to purchase on line than non- users. The more you interact with your audience, using interesting pictures alongside products you are selling, the more personally connected they will become.  For instance, Macaire Douglas from Take Half Pint Shop who began her business using Instagram says “I bounced ideas off my following and knew that if they didn’t go crazy over a type of brand, it wasn’t a good investment.”

So, e-commerce on Instagram can trigger interest in your product without pressing people’s buttons where they feel irritated that you are trying to sell them something. Creating an Instagram store is a way to sell your products but it is also a way to promote and build your brand.   You will reach your local audience but the more you post, you will also expand to a larger nationwide audience.

Setting up your Instagram e-commerce for your local business

First if you are already using Instagram, change your account to a business one. In order to do this, you will need to connect your Facebook business page to your Instagram.  Go to the menu on your Instagram page.  Go to settings and then you’ll see “switch to business profile”.   Next, flip through until you see “choose a page” and then set to public. Instagram will need authorization from your Facebook business page in order to proceed.  Once your Instagram account is connected, Facebook will need some information concerning your business.  Finalizing the set up requires that you add in your phone, email and land address of your business. Press “done” and you are ready to go. Your store can receive it’s first post.

Adding items to your Instagram Store

Now you need to add your products to the “Catalog Manager” on your Facebook page. Just take a photo of the item on a white backdrop and then add the information about it. In the catalog manager it is possible to edit all the information concerning the product. If you are just beginning, now is the time to post all your products that you want to sell online.

Take a photograph of the item and be sure to show it in its natural environment.  People will want to see how the item is really used.

Tagging products

In order that people can buy your product from your page, you will need to tag it. Basically, choose “tag a product” and click near the product you want to sell in your post.   When people see your post, they can go into it and get all the information about the product and a link where they can buy it from.  If you have incorporated your website they can also go in and view the product there.

Attracting and keeping the attention of your audience

How and what you post will determine how your audience interacts with your business.   The posts need to be relevant to what your brand.   When thinking about the content of your post you should ask yourself:  Who am I? What kind of image should I create and how does the product represent this image.

How to develop local business Instagram stores

Building a following does take time. However, once your page really gets going things will start to move.   It is not necessary to focus only on paid ads to increase sales and followers, it is possible to increase your followers free of charge.  Below are a few ideas. that will help to boost sales and get people interested in your business, when posting content.

Give your Bio a make-over

You want to make a good first impression. Make your bio interesting and fun and what makes you different. A good example is the “all -natural bone broth” brand Kettle and Fire.  They make huge sales selling their products through Instagram with “Simmer. Sip. Smile. This is better bone broth for better living”.   They get straight to the point, leaving little for the customer to figure out.  People will likely log into their website.

Mix up the content of your posts

You want to keep your followers interested.  Mix up the content.  It is good to post a mixture of discount ads but also Engagement and Call-To-Action posts.

Engagement posts encourage your audience to enter into a dialogue and comment on your posts.  These posts can help to increase your following.   These will also help to improve your standing in Instagram’s algorithm.

Call-To-Action Posts. These posts are direct calls to your audience to click on the product and buy.   They are good for sales but they do account for the lowest engagement figures from followers. This in turn effects, and lowers Instagram’s algorithm and will impact attracting new customers.

Connecting with local micro influencers

If your business is located in a city there are usually many micro influencers that you can hook up with.   These accounts will have a following that is located in your area. Connecting with these will enable you to post your products with them for free. Perhaps giving them a free gift of one of your products.  This will push their followers to access your page and also adds to your credibility because they may say to themselves ‘the product must be good if they, the micro influencer, is posting.

To conclude

If you incorporate all these factors you will be ahead of the game, and far ahead of other small businesses who don’t have an Instagram store.   You do need to put in the work in order to grow your following but if you persevere you will have a second channel of income other than your physical store and it will be well worth it.

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