Instagram has evolved from a social networking platform to a prime location for product exploration and sales, creating a significant opening for online merchants.
In response to product information shown on the platform, 87% of users go on to do one of three things: visit the company’s website or app, do more online research, or make a purchase.
It’s no surprise that many online retailers have jumped on the Instagram marketing bandwagon in light of the platform’s high levels of user interaction.
Missomma, a jewellery company, attracted over 45,000 new customers to their Instagram store with a mix of influencer marketing, organic content, and sponsored promotions in time for the 2020 winter holidays. A sponsored advertising campaign helped the online floral firm Bloom & Wild increase their order volume by 62%. Many other e-commerce businesses, both large and small, established and emerging on social media, are also enjoying tremendous success from their Instagram marketing efforts.
In what ways might Instagram help your online store?
Instagram is a goldmine for online retailers because it provides instant access to large audiences that are in the “shoppable” mindset when they browse the platform.
Here are three reasons why online retailers should be more active on Instagram:
Gain Complete Access To Your Target Market
Instagram is unique among social media platforms in that it gives companies the opportunity to develop in both organic and sponsored methods.
In 2016, the firm abandoned its chronological feed in favour of an algorithm that ranks content. Even though there was some pushback at first, people eventually saw that they were seeing more of their friends’ posts (up to 90%) and that their feed was more relevant as a result.
Get People To Visit Your Website
Instagram not only facilitates two-way communication between companies and their respective audiences, but it also generates substantial referral traffic by means of swipeable Story links, shoppable tags, bio, and ad links.
The app has become one of the most important referral traffic sources for ecommerce firms due to the continual release of shoppable features.
Boost Sales and Recognition of Your Brand
Instagram has become a major platform for spreading ideas and influencing fashion. Users use the site not just to browse for ideas but also to make purchases.
Hedonic purchasing, or purchases done only for their emotional or psychological benefits, has been shown to be significantly influenced by the platform. Consumers’ confidence in their purchases is bolstered by the wealth of information and peer endorsements available on this site.
Still, let’s be honest: not every online shop is killing it at Instagram ecommerce marketing.
According to a 2021 research by Social Insider, ecommerce firms get 0.37% more interaction per post on Instagram than they do on Facebook.
Get more likes, comments, and purchases with these eight strategies (and examples from other ecommerce companies)!
One Customer Service Strategy Employing Instagram
Instagram has become a valuable resource for people looking to learn more about their favourite companies.
Consequently, prospective clients and purchasers will each question you in their own unique ways. An immediate reply to a customer care question is crucial to 89% of consumers.
Advertising on Instagram to attract new and returning clients
Instagram advertisements are a reliable method of reaching a wider audience and re-engaging with those who have already interacted with your company on other channels (like your profile or physical shop).
According to data gathered by Smartly, ninety percent of stores used the service to purchase advertising last year. Instagram advertising outperform those on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for 42% of marketers, which is an interesting finding in and of itself.
Shoppable Posts
The platform’s algorithms do a good job of selecting and organising material for us to consume. Their scope has recently broadened to include Shoppable feeds and articles.
Users may now quickly evaluate previously encountered brands and the goods they’ve tagged. Depending on what you’ve been up to, Instagram will suggest different Shops, Editorial Picks, Shop Collections, and Explore Guides for you to check out.
Increased Conversion Rates Through Influencer Partnerships
More than two-thirds of businesses surveyed said Instagram will get the bulk of their influencer marketing dollars in 2018. More than six times as many as the next most popular influencer marketing channel, YouTube.
Why is Instagram the best choice? Multiple causes:
Instagram is a potent sales and brand-awareness booster for the following reasons: Over 40% of our clients utilise our influencer programmes to raise brand recognition, and 36% rely on them to generate revenue.
In a sense, it’s more specific and intimate. Instagram’s creators usually attract an audience with a shared interest in a certain topic, such a particular dog breed, style, or destination. With this degree of specificity, brands may better connect with niche audiences by tailoring their brand messaging to each individual’s interests.
Collecting Customer Insights and Data
Instagram users aren’t just there to take in information; they also want to actively engage with their favourite content producers and companies.
This trend may be used to learn more about consumers’ needs and guide future product iterations. Intriguing, right? Your polling can be “hidden” as interesting reading material.
You may use basic polls in Stories to get feedback from your target market on topics like new product varieties, user preferences, and routines.