How to Set Up an Instagram Shop (To Make More Money)

Introduction

So wait, you don't have an Instagram Shop? In this economy? Well, let's fix that today.

Hey, I'm Joey from Later and if you're a brand or business selling products on Instagram, you've got to set up a shop. Today, I'm gonna walk you through a step-by-step guide on how to get your Instagram shop off the ground so that you can start making money fast. So let's get into it.

What is an Instagram Shop?

First off, what exactly is an Instagram Shop? Well, that's a great question. An Instagram Shop essentially acts as a virtual storefront for your business. That way, users can browse your products directly from Instagram and checkout without ever having to leave the app. If that sounds good, let's set this feature up. 

Are you Eligible for an Instagram Shop?

Now, the first step is to see if you're eligible to have an Instagram Shop. In order to set one up: 

1. Your business must be located in a supported market. 

2. Your business has to have an eligible product.

3. Your business complies with Instagram's Merchant Agreement and commerce policies.

4. And finally, your business owns a website domain that has your product assortment. 

Oh, and creators, this feature is only available for business accounts, so you'll need to make sure that you're using a business account on Instagram before you can access it.

Step #1: Link Your Business Account to Your Instagram

Now, if you have a business account, you'll need to link it to your Instagram.

So let's start by opening up your Instagram and heading to your profile. Click "Edit Profile" and under Public Business Information, select "Page" and then choose your business page to connect. That's it. So far, not so bad, right?

Step #2: Upload Your Product Catalogue

Now we need to upload your product catalogue. And there's two ways to go about this.

The first is more of the do-it-yourself method found within the Facebook Business Manager using the Catalog Manager. The second way is by using an e-commerce platform partner. So, if your website is currently using something like, say, Shopify or BigCommerce to sell your products, then this is typically the most popular way to upload your catalogue.

Uploading Your Catalogue Using Shopify or BigCommerce

If you're using an e-commerce platform partner, you'll want to follow this flow.

• Log into your Facebook business account, head to Commerce Manager and select Catalog. 

• Next, select “Data Sources” and from there, “Add Items”, then “Partner Platform”. Hit “Next” and you should see a list of e-commerce platform partners. 

Go ahead and select yours, and we'll guide you through the remaining steps.

Step #3: Submitting Your Shop for Approval

Once you've connected a product catalogue to your Instagram, you'll need to submit your account for review by these following steps. 

• Head to your business' Instagram Profile and tap the Menu icon. 

• Select “Settings → Sign up for Shopping”, and follow their steps to submit your account for review. 

• And while you wait, know that you can check your status anytime by going to the Shopping section under your settings. Normally, it takes a couple of days.