Instagram is one of the largest social platforms in the world, with over one billion users worldwide.

And your target audience isn’t just browsing the app – they are too shopping.

This means you have a huge opportunity to showcase your products or services in front of the people who need and want them – everyone has the opportunity to create a visual platform like the one provided by Instagram.

I’ve earned over $ 32,500 over the past five years on Instagram.

This is not my main selling platform. However, it is a great side income generator and a place I can have fun and experiment a bit.

With that said, because it is so popular, Instagram can also be jammed.

Here are some tips to help you find and be more successful in selling on Instagram.

1. Make Sure Your Account Is A “Business” Account

Before you can expect to earn a dollar on Instagram, you must have some foundation in place.

First: Make sure your account is a “Business” account.

This may seem obvious, but it is important.

Business accounts have certain features that make marketing easier, such as:

• Insights about your audience.
• More options to add important information to your profile to help people find/connect with you outside of the app.
• The ability to promote posts to reach more people.

2. Double-check Your Branding

Next, double check if your branding is consistent across channels, including Instagram.

It keeps your presence recognizable and unforgettable.

Your profile picture, the style of your posts, and even your bio should all be linked to your current brand presence.

For inspiration, check out accounts like @magnolia and @teachable.

3. Stay Consistent And Provide Value

How do you sell on Instagram when you have a presence there?

Like your other content, focus on consistency and providing value-not just sales.

A sales-y account is a big turn-off for many people.

If all you post are product features with links to buy, you won’t have a long-term engaged audience.

And, as you know, a engaged audience is essential to better conversions.

People who know, like, and trust you are more likely to buy.

Consistent, high-quality Instagram content is essential to the selling equation.

Regular posting-and not just on Reels or Stories-helps build that trust over time using the foundation of high-value, static, and carousel posts.

4. Create Quality Posts To Sell More On Instagram

High -quality posts help build your Instagram presence and attract new followers, who can eventually become customers.

What do high quality posts look like?

• High image quality that goes with your overall brand vibe.
• Important, relevant information – either in the photo of the post itself or in the caption – which proves your expertise, is relevant to your industry and gives your audience something to chew on (for less serious accounts, as well as the value of entertainment! ).
• Reliable posting reliable by your audience (i.e., you don’t disappear without notice for several days or weeks at a time).
• Part of a planned content schedule mapped weeks in advance as part of an overall content strategy.

4. Use Smart Tools

Manually managing your Instagram account is a recipe for headaches.

Posting daily, sometimes several times a day, in a variety of formats, can be tedious.

Luckily, several tools exist to help you plan your Instagram grid to look cohesive and stay consistent.

A great tool will also help you schedule posts and create captions with relevant hashtags.

Some tools to consider:

• MeetEdgar – Lots of great features, including an automatic content scheduler that fetches posts from your library.
• Later-An all-in-one tool with a bunch of flexible plans.
• Agorapulse – A tool for managing all your social accounts, not just Instagram.

5. Post Reels That Respond to Pain Points

For best results, use all the features you have available for sale on Instagram.

A good strategy is to post Reels that specifically address a difficult point of pain for your audience.

The solution you provide should be your product/service, which you can link to in your bio and mention on the Reel itself or in the caption.

6. Use “Link to Bio” strategically

To sell more on Instagram, don’t link to your homepage in your bio.

Instead, link to a targeted landing page where customers coming from the platform can buy.

You can change the link to point to different landing pages tied to specific products, then add CTAs to your “link bio” in static posts featuring those products.

Since you can’t link to static posts directly, this is a great way to cope with that.

For an example, check out this post from VSCO, and note where they will direct you to “Discover more via the link in our bio.”

7. Link To Products/Services In Stories

Getting to Stories and sharing about a product or service is another great way to sell on Instagram-especially since you can link directly to the product using a sticker.

Nor does it have to be pompous-talk about the product directly to the camera and show it, tell a story about a client who succeeded in a service, etc.

You can add a link sticker that points directly to the product page in the story itself.

By the way, this feature was previously locked for certain types of users, but Instagram recently opened it up to everyone.

8. Save Stories Featuring Products in Highlights

Did some of your stories featuring products work well? No need to let them get lost in the ether-save them to your Story Highlights!

Be sure to create a specific Highlight just for stories that feature products so customers can easily find them. See how Magnolia does it on their profile – they keep it simple and titled “shop” their product highlights.

You can also make different highlights for different product types, etc.

9. Promote Posts Featuring Products/Services

Promoting (or “boosting”) a product post is one of the easiest ways to create an Instagram ad.

This will get your post more visibility and traction and, thus, more eyes on your product or service.

In particular, promote posts that are pretty good in terms of engagement.

These posts have a better chance of performing in front of new eyes because you know they appeal to your current audience.

Check out Instagram’s short, visual guide to boosting posts for some more great tips.

10. Use Hashtags Wisely

Using hashtags with many of the sales tips in this guide can give your products/services even greater help.

The right hashtags can make a big difference in how easily new customers find you, your business, and your products.

Spend some time researching them and tag posts, Stories, and Reels accordingly.

Don’t forget about branded hashtags, either.

These are tags you create just for your brand and products and will help customers who shop with you find exactly what they’re looking for.

For example, Magnolia has the hashtag “#MagnoliaHomeRugs” so customers can find posts that feature this type of product.

11. Sell With Instagram Shopping

Finally, don’t forget that Instagram has launched a feature that lets you sell directly within the app: Instagram Shopping.

After you enroll and connect your online store, you can create a “shop” in the app and link directly to products in your shop in Posts, Reels, and Stories.

Start Selling On Instagram

It’s very easy to start selling on Instagram, whether you have an established brand with a website or are just getting into online selling.

That being said, a good content strategy will help you sell better.

After all, selling online these days is as much about trusting the brand as it is about displaying products wisely.

Once you’ve got two, heaven is the limit.

More resources:

---

Featured Image: Look at Studio/Shutterstock