If you have an ecommerce store, one of the main things you need to consider is how you plan to market it. After all, without customers you won't have much luck running a successful business or bringing in a profit. One of the best ways to market your business these days is using social media. You can tap into a huge network of people who are already online browsing through their social media accounts and also open to finding out about new products. Instagram is an awesome tool for marketing, and if you know how to take advantage of it you can quickly and easily spread the word about your store. Read on to find out more about using Instagram for ecommerce.
Why using Instagram for ecommerce is a good idea
There are plenty of ways to market your business but many of them rely on ranking high in Google - which is harder and harder to do these days. If you want to get your brand in front of people quickly, Instagram is one of the easiest and most effective ways to do so. It gives you the ability to go where your potential clients are and get their attention. It also helps you compete with big companies that have a much bigger budget than you. Social media matters and it should be part of your ecommerce business plan.
Facebook hasn't proven to be as strong of a marketing tool for ecommerce businesses as Instagram. It has seen a 115% increase in organic marketing reach since 2012. And it has 58x more engagement per follower than Facebook. Plus, the average order value of an engaged follower on Instagram is $65 versus just $55 on Facebook.
Facebook hasn't proven to be as strong of a marketing tool for ecommerce businesses as Instagram.
In addition to these numbers, Instagram is vital because it is driven by visuals. If you have an ecommerce store, chances are you want to display photos of your products or of people wearing or using your products. Instagram has grown to over 500 million monthly active users and, out of these, 300 million users log onto the platform every day and are active Instagram followers. You can connect your online store to your Instagram account so that users can click and purchase directly from your handle. It's a great way to bring in more ROI for your business.
What kind of ecommerce products work well with Instagram
If you're a savvy marketer, you can sell pretty much anything on Instagram. But these industries do particularly well on the platform:
- Apparel
- Accessories
- Health & Beauty
- Home Decor
- Arts & Paintings
- Jewelry
- Fitness
Brands that have tangible products that can be displayed visually can kill it on Instagram because you can get creative and post beautiful photos that create instant appeal.
Tips for using Instagram to sell products and market your store
Like we said, pretty much anyone can sell on Instagram, but you do have to know the ropes in order to make it work. Here are some tips to help you get started.
Know Your Audience
Before you get started on your Instagram account, make sure you know who you are posting for. Building out buyer personas can be super helpful with this. You want to focus on personal characteristics such as age, interest and income as well as important elements like Motivation and Concerns. You want to flesh out their personas so much that they feel like real people. All of this can help you carve out a niche for your business so you know who you are speaking to.
You want to flesh out their personas so much that they feel like real people.
Share content related to your brand
L2's Instagram report found that 65% of the best-performing posts on Instagram feature products, while 29% feature a brand ambassador or influencer. Not everything should be a photo of your product. You want to have a mix of posts and shared posts that are relevant to your reader.
65% of the best-performing posts on Instagram feature products.
Be Consistent
Consistency is crucial when selling on Instagram. Whether you are posting product photos, non-product photos or shared photos, you want them all to have a similar aesthetic. Then you can decide how often to put each one in rotation. Keep in mind that the visuals, such as the border, filter, color scheme, etc. should all fit into a theme that supports your overall brand.
Post Regularly
Sticking to an editorial calendar is the only way to make sure you have a happy audience. Inactivity can lead people to unfollow you because they are bored or disappointed. Posting 1-3 times a day is ideal. Your audience will have a regular chance to engage with you but they won't feel bombarded by your posts.
Ask questions and reply to their comments - it's fun and it will get people excited about you and what you are selling.
Be Authentic
These days, authenticity is everything. Showcase your real personality on Instagram and engage with your audience! Ask questions and reply to their comments - it's fun and it will get people excited about you and what you are selling.
Instagram can be an amazing ecommerce marketing tool if you know how to use it correctly. You can quickly gain followers and increase sales on your site. If you don't already have one, set up an account and connect it with your ecommerce store today!