Since Instagram added shopping options to the newsfeed and more recently to the stories feature, more businesses are finding ways to showcase their products to potential customers. Shopping posts appear as sponsored ads as users scroll through their Instagram account or when they are watching a series of stories. Instagram shopping posts allow you to tag products so that customers can click through to your website where they can purchase the specific item you are advertising.

In order to use Instagram shopping you simply need to set up a business profile in Instagram and add a shop section through your Facebook business page. Your Instagram account will then be reviewed and approved so that you can have access to the shopping feature. Once the feature is available you can add product tags and stickers to your posts and Instagram stories.

The shopping feature is beneficial to both businesses and customers alike because it allows brands to increase their visibility while helping shoppers find the products they will love. Businesses can provide appealing images of their products and tag up to five products per photo or video. With Instagram stories you can add one product sticker per story with colorful text that users can tap on to see more details about the item.

Instagram may also add a shopping channel on the Explore page which will allow users to browse through multiple brands and products based on their interests. People will be able to discover new businesses as companies also will be able to expand their reach to a bigger audience. The shopping feature overall is a way for people to view products that they might not have found on their own.

Using Instagram shopping is crucial for both small businesses and larger companies that want to reach people where they spend the most time online.

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