Instagram's New Shopping Feature

Hej Allihopa!

We all know that Instagram had become more than just a “social app” for sharing pictures, people started to use it to support online business and many influencers adopted Instagram as their number one tool for promoting products/services. All these practices helped in shifting the app’s main purpose from a simple social app to an online business app.

In other words, “shopping process is sort of built in your profile”. Instagram was acting like a source of organic lead and it was a part of your purchase funnel. But as you can see, it was not directly affecting your shopping process.

But this have changed now, and we surely entered a new era!

Why? Simply because Instagram is considering the user experience in every stage of the app’s journey, they modified their features and UI to serve more of what the consumer wants, which is online shopping. Way to go Instagram!

So, let’s start with the exciting question, have you noticed Instagram new shopping feature? If no, let me give you a brief of what is it all about.

Clicking on the new shopping icon you will be shifting to another interface, which enables you to:

1-     Browse your favorite brands:

So, in the past, you were challenged to know what business accounts you are following and search for certain brands in yours list. If your very lucky your favorite brands updates will appear on your feed.

The new browse feature categorizes the business accounts your following and puts them all together in one place. So, it’s easier to surf and go through many of the brands your following and check their updates in a blink of an eye! This way it will be easier check if there are some items for sale or new collections coming up.

2-     View shop:

In the old Instagram, all accounts had the same layout whether it’s a business or personal account they all looked the same, the only difference was having pictures of products rather than personal pictures.

Now with this HUGE step of change, business and E-commerce accounts have a new different/fun/hip updated layout. Enabling them to demonstrate pictures of products just like a typical E-commerce website and focus on what products they want to highlight, creating collections of items and creating visit links to sub product pages.

3-     Buy links for every single product:

for every single item, when you press the buy link, you will be directed to the exact page of selling the item in the website. Talking about increasing those conversion rates!

4-     More shops suggestions for me:

Again, suggested accounts used to be swamped up in my feed, because they were all types of accounts suggestions (influencers, personal, business, hobbies and interest).

Now the “shopping accounts” are solely classified and I can get more suggested accounts to enhance my online shopping experience depending on what I like. Based on who I follow and who are they shopping with!

Wrapping Up

Can you imagine the magnitude of marketing boost this feature gives to online shopping brands?! If you are a business owner and focusing on Instagram as a part of your purchase funnel, Congratulations! Because you have just stepped up your game.