I wanted to show you my foolproof method for setting up, Instagram, shoppable posts and tag on your account. Probably seen these before they're clickable tags that you can add to your post or story that take people directly to that product that you're selling. This is a fantastic feature for all product sellers and something that should definitely be taken advantage of because Instagram typically doesn't allow you to link to anything outside of your bio. 

Sell On Instagram Using Product Tags

So first things first, when it comes to setting up Instagram shoppable posts, you need to have a few things. Number one, you must sell a physical product. Instagram, unfortunately is not allowing digital product sellers like myself who have courses or downloadable guides to use this feature. However, I think I may have found a work around. So if you're curious, leave a comment below and I'll make a video on my findings to you must be in one of these countries in order to use the feature. 

Three, you need a Facebook business page. The products you'll be tagging will be pulled from a product catalog on Facebook, which is why we need this and why we'll be switching back and forth between the two platforms as we progress through this tutorial. Number four, your Instagram account must be a business profile. If you've checked off all of those things that then now we can get started. The first thing that you need to do is connect your Instagram account with your Facebook page, to do this, navigate to your profile, click edit profile, then select page from the public business information section. 

From here, you can connect to your Facebook business page. Now note that if you don't see this, you might not actually have a business profile. So be sure to switch to one by going to settings account and click the switch to business profile button next, navigate to facebook.com backslash commerce dash manager. From here, you can click on the blue ad shop button. 

If you have products already on an e-commerce platform like Shopify, then click the sync, a partner platform button on the right. If the platform you use is here, then follow the steps that they provide. When finished, you can go back to facebook.com/commerce-manager, and you should see your catalog here. And then you can skip to the next step. 

If your e-comm platform, doesn't show up as an option, then head back to the main page and follow the next steps. First you'll choose where you want your audience to check out. Be advised that if you choose checkout on Facebook, you will incur fees for anything that you sell. 

So it's best to have your audience checkout on another website instead then choose a which page you want your shop link to remember, this should be the same page you connected to your Instagram account. Then you'll be asked to create a catalog. Give it a name. This isn't too important. So just name it something simple. Then click next. Add your website. URL. Agree to the terms and click finish, set up. 

You'll then be directed to the commerce manager from here, select catalog on the left-hand side and click items. If you sync to your products with your e-comm platform, they will display here. If not select add items here, you'll fill out all the details, upload photos and set up price. Once you have your products in your store, or going to head back over to Instagram, click the hamburger icon, select settings, then business. 

And from here, you're going to click on the blue set up Instagram shopping button. Then you're simply going to follow the steps. The final page will ask you to submit your shop for review. So once you've done that, you'll have to wait up to a week to see if your store has been approved or not. So assuming you meet the criteria outlined on this page, you should be approved quickly when your shop is approved.

You'll notice that the business page has changed slightly. Now there is a shopping tab second from the top. So go ahead and click that and you'll be able to see your catalog and your products. And now when you go to upload a post, you'll see an option to tag products. Similarly, when you create a story, if you select the sticker icon, you'll see the product sticker where you can do the same. 

So there you have it, an easy step-by-step process to setting up Instagram, shoppable tags, Facebook and Instagram are changing all the time. So some of these pages that we visited today, or the menus on Instagram, may change in the future, but the steps should remain the same. [Credit: Alex Tooby]



Frequently Asked Questions

What is Instagram product tagging?

Product tags enable businesses to highlight products from a catalog and help customers learn more about what they're selling in Instagram Stories, feed posts, Live and Instagram Video (formerly known as IGTV). When people tap the product tag on a post or story, they'll be redirected to a product detail page.

Should you tag products on Instagram?

Being consistent will help boost your visibility within the app. The more products you tag, and the more places you tag them, the more likely you are to show up in users' Shopping explore page. According to Instagram, successful Shops post product tags at least five times per month.

Why is my product not tagging on Instagram?

Go to Settings > Shopping Partner Permissions and make sure that Allow Product Tagging is enabled. If you're trying to tag a new product, keep in mind that Instagram needs to review it first.


What is a product tag?

Product tags are descriptive tags put on products to help organize and track them throughout a warehouse, store, or shipment. Product tags may include the name of the product, a barcode for tracking, product information, and sometimes the SKU number.

How long does it take for Instagram to approve product tagging?

Usually, the review process only takes a few seconds, but sometimes we may need to review the item in more detail, which could take longer. If items in your posts or shop are pending: It's likely that your item goes against our broad-level policy.

Can you promote Instagram posts with product tags?

This allows more people to engage with your shoppable content and, therefore, increases the size of custom audiences that you can target with ads. Boost shoppable posts in app or set up ads with product tags in Ads Manager.


How many followers do you need for Instagram shopping?

There is no minimum number of followers required to have an Instagram shopping account. You can start tagging products on your Instagram even if you have no followers. If you have 10,000 followers, you can use the swipe-up feature in your stories, but that isn't related to a shopping account.

How is product tagging done?

Product tagging is the process of adding data to your products, including creating, assigning, and managing labels (or “tags”) for each product to describe, categorize, and structure its position within your inventory.

Why can't I promote a post with product tags?

You must be approved and set up for Instagram Shopping before you can tag products in your posts. Choose an existing Shopping post to run as your ad creative or create an organic Shopping post in the Instagram app by tagging products from your catalog.


Why can't I promote a post that has product tags?

To do this, you will need to make sure your account is: Converted to a business profile. Have a product catalog set up and associated on Facebook. Must be selling eligible physical goods (no services).

What are product tags example?

Product tags are keywords for product identification. They are used to sort products by a certain feature and enable a specific, narrow product search. For example, if you sell apparel and want to create tags for T-shirts, they can be, for example, "t-shirt," "cotton," "polo."

How do you tag products in ads?

At the ad level, upload a creative that you'd like to tag your products in. Single-media, carousel and video formats available. Businesses must add a product tag to every Carousel image in order to run it as an ad with product tags. Select Edit Media, then select Product Tags under Creative Tools.


How do I approve tagged items on Instagram?

Just scroll to the middle of the page and you'll find Chat Support. They should be able to review your account and send everything through the same day. You'll know you've been approved for Instagram Shopping if you see a notification at the top of the business profile that says, “Start Tagging Now.”

Can you tag products in an Instagram video?

During creation, you can tag up to 5 products per single-image or video post or 20 products per multi-image post. You can tag products in both new and existing posts from your Instagram professional account. Learn how to edit or delete product tags.

Why is my store not eligible for Instagram product tagging?

Your products or store do not comply with Instagram guidelines. If you're selling items that are prohibited on Instagram such as weapons, your account will not be eligible for Instagram Shopping. Your products must also be directly available for purchase on your Shopify website or Instagram.


Can you tag products in IGTV?

Now you can shop right on IGTV. The introduction of Instagram Shopping for IGTV means that businesses and creators will be able to tag shoppable products directly in their IGTV videos.

How long does it take for Instagram to approve product tagging?

Usually, the review process only takes a few seconds, but sometimes we may need to review the item in more detail, which could take longer. If items in your posts or shop are pending: It's likely that your item goes against our broad-level policy.

How many brands can you tag on Instagram?

Note: You can select up to two brand partners whether they've approved you or not. You can turn the Allow Brand Partner to promote toggle on , for ads to appear. If you don't want to promote, tap Done and then Share. Note: If you add more than one brand partner, your post can't be promoted.


Can you sell directly on Instagram? 

Yes, you can sell directly through posts, Stories, live streams, and ads with a Shoppable Instagram page.

Is selling on Instagram free?

With no associated cost to sell online with Instagram, it's a free marketing tool that can be used to expand your reach. And with over 1 billion users, why wait to set up your Instagram shopping page.

Can I sell my products on Instagram?

See if you are eligible to use Instagram Shopping and find a step-by-step guide to set it up for your Business Account here. Tell your customers that they can shop directly on your Business Account. For example, create a story telling your community they can now shop the products they see on Instagram.


Does it cost to sell on Instagram?

With no associated cost to sell online with Instagram, it's a free marketing tool that can be used to expand your reach. And with over 1 billion users, why wait to set up your Instagram shopping page.

Can anyone sell on Instagram?

Can you sell directly on Instagram? Yes, you can sell directly through posts, Stories, live streams, and ads with a Shoppable Instagram page.

Is selling an Instagram account illegal?

Although Instagram's terms and conditions strictly forbid users to “buy, sell, or transfer any aspect of your account (including your username),” accounts like these are sold on Facebook pages, in Instagram direct messages, and even on dedicated online marketplaces across the world.


Do social media influencers have to pay taxes? 

Typically, yes. As an influencer, you most likely work as an independent contractor for the companies you promote. Independent contractors are considered self-employed, so you must pay self-employment tax (SE tax) as well as income tax.

Is it legal to run a business on Instagram?

There are no legal repercussions, meaning that Instagram will not pursue any sort of legal claims for violating its Terms of Service, but it'd be impossible for you to get your account back.

How much does Instagram business cost?

It's free to have an Instagram business account, and there are no specific requirements in terms of followers or content.


How much do ads cost on Instagram?

Typically companies on average pay, $0.50 to $1 per click. In highly competitive industries, for example, apparel, you'll pay more. The cost of Instagram ads may go up to $3.00 per click.

How can I sell on Instagram without a website?

But you can still create a simple process without a website. One way to do it is by adding an online order form to your Instagram bio. You can quickly create one using a tool like Getform. You'll be able to customize the form and link to it right from your Instagram bio.

Can you dropship on Instagram?

Promotion of your products on Instagram is quite simple and immensely effective for a dropshipping store. Taking into account the huge popularity of Instagram and its focus on visual content, every store of this kind will find its receptive audience here.

Do I need a Facebook shop to sell on Instagram?

If you are directing buyers from Facebook commerce tools to a website in any supported market, you must provide Facebook with the single non-shortened domain through which you sell. Your Facebook Page or Instagram professional account must represent the store or website associated with the domain provided.