Did you know Instagram and Facebook are now launching a new feature called digital shop for business accounts? This is good news if you already have an ecommerce shop via spotify or woocommerce or other e-commerce platforms and want to reach more audience. Today I will take a closer look at this new features and look at what are the benefits and what is not so good about this.
Before you read the rest of my article I want to inform you according to best practices with information that may be important to you:
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New Possibilities with Instagram shops
To get access to run a free shop with Instagram will surely create a ton of new possibilities for you if you have a physical product or more to sell. You will be able to start a free business. This will definitely give a lot of people like you and me who already have an Instagram business account the possibility to work from home and create multiple income streams for free.
Facts about Instagram and Facebook shops
This feature is still undergoing a test launching period with a million of users who already are using shopify and Woocommerce and have Instagram business accounts verified for shopping. The launch will proceed gradually. The Instagram shops will be integrated with Facebook shops.
Create an Instagram or a Facebook business account
Create an Instagram or Facebook business account
Do you have an Instagram business account or a Facebook business account? Well, If you know you are planning to make an online shop for your products it is time to get an account and get verified for shopping.
Take the course offered in your Facebook for business account
(Printscreen from Facebook business account – norwegian text)
Go to the Facebook courses on your business account to see how you can create more growth in your business. Go to more courses to move your business online and choose businesses on Instagram and Facebook.
You need to have recieved an email that you are qualified to have an online shop from Facebook or Instagram on your business profile.
You must be a side administrator for the site connected to your business profile.
You need a computer to configure your shop.
And a verified business account
How to set up your shop
Go to the admin area of your business account to make collections for your shop display.
Every collection have between 6 and 30 products you can display.
You organize your products in collections with specific themes that will help your customers to find the relevant products.
You design the look on your shop
You publish your shop and wait for approval
Add a view shop button.
Can you use your logo in these shops?
Yes you can display your logo in the shop.
How do customers find my shop?
Your customers need to download the app to your shop and this way they will get much more relevant products presented to them based on their interest. Customers can add products to their shoppingbag or to their wishlist. And you get more specific information about your customers interest. A win – win situation for both the user and the seller.
New feature – Shoppable posts
Shoppable posts are:
Stickers with a direct link to the product you want to sell that you can share on stories.
A post with a tag in the photo to your shop your facebook page or Instagram page.
New Features coming soon
Live sales – You can sell during a live video from your shop.
The instagram shop experience – the feature allows your customer to browse products directly from explore page.
Customers can purchase via DM and track their products and chat functions allows you to keep contact and support your customers.
Benefits of Instagram and Facebook shops
There are many benefits with these new features. You can sell from both platforms at the same time which will save you a bit of work and valuable time.
You can use Tailwind for Instagram to find smart hashtags with the hashtagfinder, smart schedule, autopost and plan your traffic on Instagram and Facebook simoultaneously which will save you a tremendeous amount of time.
Businesses who use Instagram shop or Facebook shop will now suddenly get a global prescence.
You will be forced to know more about your customers interests and preferences to target your best audience.
You will be able to see what works on Instagram and what works on Facebook in terms of conversion and engagement.
What is not so good about this?
Many businesses have their shops connected to their websites. By connecting your shop to Facebook and Instagram you will always be under their rules. They own your shop in a way and they set the rules for ads and algorithms.
With your own website you have more control over your shop in terms of changes. See here how you can create a free website and get full training in setting up your business.
Another aspect is that Facebook and Instagram will most probably favor the ads that are connected to their shops in their algorithm, which is not so good for users who does not have a Facebook and Instagram shop and use ads on these platforms.
Alternatives
Pinterest shop the look is another free alternative for Pinterest Business accounts that is developing. Tailwind is an official partner with Pinterest too so it will be interesting to see how this will affect the engagements and conversions on Pinterest.
A new shopping experience
This will have an impact on the way we do our shopping online and for businesses that already are online with webshops. Exactly how is hard to say and whether it is positive or negative.
For businesses who have not gone online yet this will mark a new phase, because the tendencies are clear. More and more people will shop online in the years to come. Most people have mobiles and use apps.
With a sudden global business prescence this will become an interesting decade.
How will this impact our society not to mention our commerce laws.
It will definitely raise many new questions:
Will we be able to promote our products withouth any restrictions all over the world or will these online shops restrict our possibilities over borders?
How will this affect the algorithms on reach and ads online for businesses who choose to run their shops from their websites and not from their social media accounts?
And what about taxes?
It is no doubt that this will represent a golden opportunity for many small businesses in particular.
Will this change the way our goods will be delivered?
How will this affect the affiliate marketing industry?
Will there be created affiliate programs in addition to the loyalty programs?
How will this affect the engagement and conversion on Facebook and Instagram and other social media platforms?
Exciting times
We live in exciting times – a new decade often marks new ways of doing things and bring forward new creativity and new technology. I am looking forward too follow these new features and to see what will come during this year from a marketers perspective as well as a user.
I would love to hear what you think about these new features on Facebook and Instagram. What are your questions on this? Is this something you would consider using if you get the chance? Or do you think it is safest to run your business from your own website? Let me know below!
ONE thing before you go. Would you do me the favor and share this post on your social media or with a friend you think would love to hear about this?