Gone are the days when you need 10k followers to link a product in your Instagram Stories. That’s why in this blog post I’m going to tell you how you can make money using shoppable Instagram Stories stickers.
Now, with just one tap, your followers can get the product info they need, and you can avoid feeling overly salesy or spammy. Not sure if Instagram Stories are the right place to sell your products? Consider the fact that engagement rates for Instagram Stories are really high, with one in five stories getting a direct message from viewers.
If you need a refresher on how to create Instagram shoppable posts, I’ve got you covered. Here’s everything you need to know right here.
How to Make Money with Shoppable Instagram Stories
Until now, you might have asking your followers to “swipe up” or click the bio link to purchase your products. But now it’s time to make it even easier for people to shop right in your Stories.
Why?
Because people are hanging out in all of the Instagram “neighborhoods.” Whether your followers prefer to scroll through their feed or tap right into Instagram Stories, you want people to engage with your content. Even better, unlike your Instagram feed, you don’t have to limit the number of Instagram Stories you share. That gives you even more opportunities for people to see your products.
If that’s not enough to make you want to share shoppable Instagram Stories, consider the algorithm. It seems like the algorithm is always changing, but one thing that Instagram continues to prioritize is strong engagement. By sharing posts and Instagram Stories, you are being proactive about covering your bases.
Even if you are including posts and Instagram Stories in your strategy, don’t forget that you still need to diversify your content. People will stop tapping into your Instagram Stories if they see the same content from your feed.
One brand that’s really using Instagram Stories to their advantage is Mgemi. Take a look at how they use a combination of product shots (with a variety of angles) and lifestyle photos. They create Instagram Stories that are perfectly aligned with their product branding and aesthetic. It’s polished, high-end and shows off their shoes in an effective, non-salesy way.
Engage Your Instagram Followers
Selling just to sell in Instagram Stories is one of the fastest ways to sink your engagement rate. One of the best ways to strengthen your relationships with your followers is by staying tuned in, even when you’re not promoting a special product or offer.
Instagram features like stickers and polls help you to bring conversations into your direct message. Instead of making it a one-way conversation, now you have a chance to actually get to know your followers.
What kind of products are they looking for? Why were they drawn to your account? The possibilities for conversation are endless. Best of all, having conversations like this in the Instagram Direct Message – instead of in the feed – feels more natural. If you don’t know how to create engaging Stories that spark conversations in the Instagram Direct Message, don’t worry. This video will help kickoff your Stories brainstorm.
Nurture Your Instagram Audience
What does it mean to “nurture” your audience? Why bother?
Bottom line, Instagram’s algorithm heavily considers engagement. Being responsive to your followers and putting in the effort to build those relationships, will help to keep you top-of-mind. The more engagement you get; the more likely Instagram is to suggest your account to other people.
Not sure which content will help you nurture these relationships? Try this:
- Give a behind-the-scenes peeks at meetings, photo shoots, collaborations or conversations with happy customers
- Show stock or packaging so people know about your newest product arrivals
- Let your followers know when stock is running low so people know to act fast (this is when I usually add an additional shopping sticker)
Once you start sharing the engagement-friendly content that your followers will want to respond to, they’re more likely to keep tuning in or send you a Instagram Direct Message in the future.
A great example of this is Simplified. With their colorful planners and organizational tools, Simplified is always sharing the upbeat content that their followers want to see. Whether it’s a behind-the-scenes peek at their new planner designs or free downloadable phone backgrounds, Simplified takes the time to build follower relationships.
How Often Should You Use Shoppable Instagram Stickers?
There’s a lot of advice out there about how frequently you need to share shoppable Instagram stickers. This is my general rule: if your goal is to make money, you need to post at least once every 24 hours.
When you share this frequently, you will stay in the top of your follower’s Instagram Stories feed. This means they are much less likely to miss your content. I suggest posting 3-5 varied Instagram Stories each day to keep your engagement strong.
If you want to implement a strategy that converts, it’s important to share consistently. Over time, you’ll find that sharing Instagram Stories, even they don’t have a shoppable sticker, will lead to better sales in the long-term.
Ready to Use Shoppable Instagram Posts to Grow Your Business?
Getting started with shoppable Instagram Stories is easy, quick and can help you better leverage your Instagram’s growth and business.
Want to learn more about how shoppable Instagram Stories can kick your marketing strategy up? Check out The Complete Checklist to Selling Products Using Instagram Stories. It takes you step-by-step through creating a shoppable post so you can better leverage your Instagram marketing strategy.
