How to Set Up Instagram Shopping for Increased Sales in 2025

Instagram has evolved from a simple photo-sharing app to a powerful platform for businesses to reach customers, engage with their audience, and drive sales. Instagram Shopping allows businesses to feature their products directly on their profiles, enabling users to browse, discover, and purchase products seamlessly. In this guide, we’ll walk you through setting up Instagram Shopping to boost your online sales in 2025.

What is Instagram Shopping?

Instagram Shopping is a feature that lets businesses create an immersive shopping experience on their profile. By adding product tags in posts, stories, and even Reels, businesses can convert their Instagram account into an effective sales channel. Users can tap on product tags to view detailed product descriptions, pricing, and a link to make a purchase.

Did you know that around 72% of Instagram users make purchasing decisions based on what they see on the platform? By using Instagram Shopping, you can turn your followers into customers, boosting conversions for your business.

Benefits of Instagram Shopping for Your Business

Instagram is home to over 2.4 billion active users, offering vast exposure to your products. Setting up Instagram Shopping helps you tap into this audience, attracting new customers and growing your business. Instagram Shop not only increases brand visibility but also helps generate more traffic and insights into your customers.

Instagram Shopping also reduces cart abandonment and encourages impulse purchases. A smooth shopping experience increases the likelihood of conversions, meaning more sales for your business. Since Instagram is a highly interactive platform, users engage with content through likes, shares, and comments, providing you with ample opportunities to boost your products.

Moreover, Instagram helps establish trust for your business. By showcasing your products through professional storefront features like product tags, you provide legitimacy to your brand. This level of transparency can enhance consumer confidence, especially for dropshipping businesses where customers may have concerns about product quality and delivery times.

Instagram Analytics and Insights

Instagram provides businesses with detailed insights to help track performance. You can monitor key metrics like views, clicks, and sales for your products. These analytics empower you to make data-driven decisions, optimizing your content and marketing efforts.

Additionally, since Instagram Shopping is integrated with Facebook, managing your product catalog across both platforms is a breeze. This integration streamlines your workflow and ensures that your products reach a broader audience.

How to Set Up Instagram Shopping

To begin selling on Instagram, you must first meet Instagram's eligibility requirements and get approved for Instagram Shopping. Here are the basic requirements for approval:

• Your business must be located in a market supported by Instagram (a complete list of supported countries is available).
• You must sell physical products.
• Your business must comply with Instagram’s merchant agreement and commerce policies.
• Your business must own an active online store or website.
• Your Instagram profile must be a business account.

Converting Your Instagram Profile to a Business Account

If you have a personal account, you will need to convert it to a business account to access Instagram Shopping. Here’s how to make the switch:

1. Go to your Instagram profile.
2. Tap the three horizontal lines in the top right corner.
3. Under "For professionals," select "Account type and tools."
4. Choose "Switch to professional account" and select the appropriate business category.

Set Up Commerce Manager

Commerce Manager is a tool within Meta (formerly Facebook) that helps you manage your product catalog and sales. Here’s how to set it up:

1. Log in to Commerce Manager via your Facebook Business Manager or directly through Facebook.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions to create your commerce account.
3. Choose your checkout method—either Instagram checkout or direct customers to your website.

Link Instagram to Facebook

Since Instagram Shopping is integrated with Facebook, you need to link your Instagram profile to a Facebook Page:

1. Go to your Instagram profile and tap "Edit Profile."
2. Under "Public Business Information," tap "Page."
3. Select the Facebook Page you wish to connect to.

Upload Your Product Catalog

Once your Instagram and Facebook profiles are linked, you can upload your product catalog. This can be done either manually through Commerce Manager or by integrating with your e-commerce platform (e.g., Shopify, WooCommerce). Here’s how to upload your catalog:

• Manually through Commerce Manager:
  1. Log in to your Commerce Manager account.
  2. Navigate to the "Catalogues" section and select "Add Products."
  3. Add product details like name, description, image, and price.
  4. Include links to your website and other relevant information like availability and shipping policies.
• Using an E-Commerce Platform: If you're using Shopify or WooCommerce, you can directly sync your product catalog with Instagram via Commerce Manager, simplifying the process.

Submit for Review

After uploading your catalog, you need to submit your account for review. Go to "Settings" and click “Sign Up for Instagram Shopping.” Once your account is approved, you can start using Instagram Shopping.

Turning On Instagram Shopping

Once you are approved, you can activate Instagram Shopping by:

1. Going to "Settings."
2. Clicking "Business" then "Shopping."
3. Selecting your product catalog and clicking "Done."

Using Product Tags in Posts and Stories

Product Tags allow you to tag your products directly in posts, stories, and Reels, making it easier for users to shop. These tags can increase sales by up to 37%, so utilizing this feature is a must for maximizing revenue.

To tag products in posts, simply select the photo or video, tap "Tag Products," and choose your products from your catalog. You can also add product tags in Instagram Stories and Reels by using the "Product Link" sticker.

Instagram Shopping Ads with Product Tags

Running ads with Product Tags can help you expand your reach and increase sales. Instagram allows you to run ads on posts, stories, and Reels, which can be targeted to specific audiences. You can create ads using Instagram Boost or Ads Manager for more targeted campaigns.

• Boosting Posts: To promote an existing post, click "Boost Post," define your target audience, and choose your ad budget and schedule.
• Using Ads Manager: For a more comprehensive ad campaign, use Ads Manager to target specific demographics, track performance, and optimize your ads.

Conclusion

Setting up Instagram Shopping is a powerful way to boost your sales and enhance the customer experience. By following these steps, you can tap into Instagram's massive user base, increase engagement, and ultimately drive more revenue for your business.