With smartphone shoppers spending upwards of £130bn in 2017, it’s not surprising that Instagram, arguably one of the biggest social media platforms, has decided to make product tagging a thing. Shoppable media is taking off rapidly and if you don't already know about it, it’s time to catch up.


How it works

You’re possibly familiar by the phrase product tagging already, but for those of you who aren’t yet, it looks something like this:



Kit Smith (brandwatch)

Instagram usage has doubled in the last two years. It clocks up 3.5 billion likes every day and on an average day, 80 million photos are shared. Now imagine being one of those few businesses not using Instagram? Thats a lot of potential customers your missing out on there! 


What's in it for you?

The new Instagram product tagging feature is just one of many ways for consumers to shop via social media platforms. From ‘swipe up’ to buy Snapchat Ads, to product feeds for Houzz, and those ‘add to basket’ buttons on Pinterest, Shoppable media is by far the easiest way for retailers to get their products in front of their customers, on the networks they look to for inspiration.

It’s a way to give eligible ecommerce businesses the ability to tag products in their posts, which then links the customer directly to the item on their website within just 2 taps. 


Customer journey & shopping experience

This new feature makes shopping simple for consumers. It's quick, easy and you don't even need to leave the app! That being said, there are a few things to consider as a retailer, before setting up your social catalogue. 


  • What does your account's imagery look like? Are they clear and showcase the products well?
  • Is your mobile site user friendly? Considering the customer will be taken directly to it within the app, it's important that your CTA buttons are prominent and the content moves fluidly from desktop to other devices well. 
  • Whats your checkout like? Could it benefit from being streamlined at all to get the customer through quicker? The sale is crucial to tracking how well the feature performs for you, so it's important that it's fully optimised. 

Tracking your sales

Everyone loves to see hard work pay off, so of course Instagram didn't overlook tracking! You'll get insights such as reach, likes, impressions, outbound clicks and so much more, all directly from the app at the touch of an icon! 

 

Are you interested in getting your customers from post to purchase in just 2 taps? If so, get in touch! 


25th February 2019