Many social media users have stopped seeing them as just a source of entertainment and are using the services as advertising platforms and online stores. In 2019, web resources provide unlimited opportunities for entrepreneurial individuals. This article will discuss how to add products to Instagram.
Shopping Tags – what it is and how it works
Shopping Tags on Instagram is a new feature that provides a range of different tags necessary for promoting products on the social network. In fact, the option is set up for collaboration with clothing, cosmetics, furniture, and similar household item stores. As for food products, users will need to obtain certification and confirmation.
Not every online store can use shopping tags. These capabilities are provided to the business owner who fills out the appropriate product cards on the website, has a catalog, and connects to various resources.
The list of options included in Shopping Tags includes brief information about the items being sold, the price of the product when the screen is clicked, and a list of the overall products depicted in the photo or video content.
This type of tag is more similar to friend tags, but it is directly related to sales and is aimed at placing orders on Instagram. Before using the program’s capabilities, the service needs to be set up correctly.
It is worth noting that the resource administration did not provide the option to all users, and the country in which the online store owner resides plays a particularly important role. For example, residents of Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia cannot use the services of shopping tags. Activation is possible through the ADS Manager website, where an Instagram business profile is registered. As for tags, they only work on 5% of accounts, and it is impossible to independently connect the option.
First, you need to make sure that there are tags, for which there are the following signs: a section of settings is replenished with a new item “Shopping,” and during the placement of publications, a tab “Product Tags” appears at the bottom of the screen.
Every user who wants to activate the function must comply with the following conditions: the business profile must work in tandem with a Facebook account, the user must have a Facebook profile, the phone number must be confirmed, the Facebook page must support the store function, and the product catalog must contain no less than 10 items.
Any web surfer can create a store on Facebook. To do this, you need to add an item to the profile settings: open your own page on Facebook, open the previously created business profile, open the settings at the top of the screen, and click the “Shop” button.
Attention! This instruction is performed both using a computer and a mobile device.
Registration of an account in Business Manager
The consumer needs to create a new Instagram account and add it to Business Manager. Advertising content will be placed based on this resource. In the Business Settings parameters, select Instagram Account and follow these steps:
- Add the network account to the corresponding Business Manager window;
- Add your own Instagram profile by authorizing it.
In any case, Business Manager will request a connection between the Facebook advertising profile and the Instagram account. Only after this will the advertising platform be created.
How to create a catalog
As previously mentioned, it is possible to create a catalog on Instagram through the social network Facebook by filling out product cards. Returning to the social network page, we set up the activated store by:
- Adding a photo or video description, and then entering the product;
- Specifying the name and price of the item;
- Indicating the exact description of the product (color, configuration, dimensions, weight, volume, etc.);
- Opening visibility to all users;
- Entering a brief description and uploading to your own store.
Upload your products to Facebook
Naturally, at the beginning, it will be necessary to set up a Facebook business page, which includes a shop and product catalog. Only after that will it be possible to add shopping tags on Instagram. To start, you need to go to the FB account settings and find the “Shop” tab. Under it, there is a section called “Shopping”, select it and activate it. Eventually, the option will be enabled, and consumers can add products to their shop.
Attach the catalog to the business page
The operation is easy to perform, you need to:
- open the “Diagnostics” section;
- select the “Facebook Page Shop” tab (not to be confused with the Instagram shopping button);
- connect the product catalog to the business profile associated with the Instagram account.
If the user does not see the “Facebook Page Shop” section, it means that the catalog has already been linked to the page. You can check the quality of the connection in the settings.
Check if the products have been reflected on Facebook
To view the availability of the product, you need to open the settings of your own project on the Facebook page and make sure that the checkbox is checked in the display window.
Add a Shopping tag to the photo on Instagram
You can tag a product in a photo using a VPN application. “Tunnelbear” is used on Android devices, and VPN Proxy Master is used on iOS. First, make sure you have the IP address of the country where the shopping tag is officially available. Here’s what you need to do:
- Open your Instagram profile settings and click on the “Shopping” menu (appears within 5 days after activating products in the catalog);
- Select the activated product catalog;
- Open your latest post and click “Edit”;
- Select the product tag and indicate the location on the photo where the tag will appear.
Important! The web surfer can tag products in new posts and in the 3 most recent posts after activating the option.
How to bypass restrictions and limits if the user is from Russia
Entrepreneurs living in Russia should not be upset about restrictions and limits, as it is possible to bypass the ban using VPN applications. If your iOS or Android OS does not support it, you can install the corresponding program on your PC. With the help of this business tool, the consumer will need to activate the IP address of the country, detailed instructions are provided above.
It should be noted that there is a list of addresses on the internet where Shopping Tags work. Choose a suitable one and enter it into the program window. If the actions did not lead to a positive result, then you need to contact support.
By studying the presented material, the user will be able to register their profile in the Business Manager service and add products to Instagram. To avoid unpleasant situations, it is important to follow the instructions precisely.