The Secret to Selling on Instagram Without Spending a Dime

No links make it harder to sell on Instagram If you’re new to marketing on Instagram, you may not know that links don’t exactly work on photo posts like they do on other platforms. On Instagram, you can post a pretty product image and a description, but clickable links that take users to your site can’t be added. These posts allow users to click on products that you “tagged” in an image to be taken to the product page where they can make a purchase. When you post stories, your chances of your customers seeing them are much higher than if you post a regular image or video. Tons of users are probably already posting user-generated photos of your brand on Instagram. If you don’t, create one that users can add to images when they share product photos to their own pages. Every store features a customized link that users can post in their Instagram bio. You can sell directly through your posts with a shoppable Instagram page. Add a CTA to your bio (next to your link) and link out to an Instagram landing page that’s optimized for mobile users. Post behind-the-scenes content via Instagram Stories.

Instagram has become a powerhouse for businesses around the globe.

Scrolling through your Instagram feed allows you to get an up-close and personal view of products, places, and experiences that your friends recommend and share.

Brands are taking advantage of the word-of-mouth marketing features offered by Instagram, and they have quickly recognized the platform as one of the best places to make money.

However, Instagram ads cost money. But it’s possible to sell on Instagram without ever having to spend any of your hard-earned cash.

Creating an Instagram storefront that takes your sales up and away is easier than you probably think.

You’ve already got followers, prospective customers, and loyal ones waiting to buy. You just have to engage with them.

Here’s how you can sell on Instagram without ever having to spend a single dime.

No links make it harder to sell on Instagram

If you’re new to marketing on Instagram, you may not know that links don’t exactly work on photo posts like they do on other platforms.

That’s why it’s harder to sell on Instagram in comparison to almost every other popular social networking site.

On Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest, you can post links that accompany your images to direct users to landing pages or product pages where they can make purchases.

On Instagram, you can post a pretty product image and a description, but clickable links that take users to your site can’t be added.

Try and add one in and the link won’t turn into a clickable hyperlink, which might distract from the description or photo altogether. Talk about a huge mistake.

That means that if users want to buy the items in your posts, they have to visit your site and find each product on their own.

Most sites feature a long list of products, and most users don’t have the time or patience to sift through them all to find what they saw on your page.

This is what makes it so tricky to sell on Instagram.

In fact, Instagram only gives you one clickable link that you can place on the entire platform: the link in your bio. We’ll talk more about that later.

Despite Instagram being a difficult place to make sales, it’s always been a great place to promote products.

An engaged follower on Instagram is actually worth more than an engaged Facebook follower by about $10.

Luckily, there are ways around the link problem that let you unlock the value of engaged Instagram followers, like shoppable posts.

Sell directly through posts with a shoppable Instagram

According to Yotpo Instagram data, 72% of customers believe that seeing Instagram images of a product increases their chances of buying it.

The same research revealed that as many as 38% of customers said that they frequently buy products that they see on Instagram.

That means that it’s up to you to let customers shop your Instagram page with ease.

One way to accomplish this is with shoppable posts.

These posts allow users to click on products that you “tagged” in an image to be taken to the product page where they can make a purchase.

That way, followers won’t have to go out of their way to find the products you’re sharing. It’s as easy as discover, shop, and buy.

All of this can be done by users without them ever having to leave the Instagram app, too. Talk about convenient.

How can you enable the ability to tag your products on Instagram?

If you’re in the U.S., you’re in luck. The feature is currently rolling out to businesses that are eligible and approved in the U.S., so you’ll have to wait if you’re based out of another country.

Once you’ve connected your Instagram business profile with a shop on Facebook or a catalog in Business Manager, you’ll be able to turn on Instagram product tagging.

Before you start the process, make sure that you’ve got the latest update on the Instagram app. You also need to be the admin of a Page or a Business Manager account.

Then, go to your profile and tap the “Get Started” alert.

If you don’t have an alert, tap the gear icon.

Next, tap “Products” and “Continue.” Then, select a product catalog that you want to connect to your business profile.

Finally, tap “Done.”

Now, your Business Profile will allow you to tag products in Instagram posts.

If you don’t see these options, your account may still be under review or may not have been approved.

Another free way to make sales on Instagram is to harness the power of an old-fashioned call-to-action (CTA).

Add a CTA in your Instagram bio that links to an Instagram landing page

One of the easiest ways to drive sales on Instagram is to make your links stand out.

Nearly everyone who finds your business on Instagram will head to your bio, which is the perfect place (and the only place) to link them over to your store.

To make this link stand out, add a simple, short, and sweet CTA, like Forever21.

Write something as simple as “Click the link to view our latest products” or “Shop our products here.”

This kind of CTA encourages profile viewers to take a look at your products, which will boost sales and traffic.

Mobile is beating out desktop and tablet traffic at a pretty steady rate. And that trend probably isn’t going to change anytime soon.

In fact, mobile will probably dominate desktop usage by a landslide in coming years.

This means that mobile-first sites like Instagram are the best place to post your products. Most users access the platform through the mobile app.

You can see huge results if you combine your ads with Instagram landing pages. What is an Instagram landing page, you might ask?

An Instagram landing page is a landing page that uses elements like video, testimonial, or other persuasive content to convince visitors to convert.

It’s important to make sure that this is a mobile-friendly page.

You can even add CTA buttons to specific sponsored posts that include phrases like “Sign Up,” “Learn More,” “Download,” and more.

For example, after clicking on the “Sign Up” button on this post, Acquisio users are taken to an Instagram landing page designed to greet everyone who clicked the button.

Here’s what the landing page for this post looks like:

The landing page matches the tone and goal of the ad, explains why the webinar is important and includes a simple form that reduces friction.

Create your own Instagram landing pages that can accompany certain specific posts. It doesn’t have to be for a sponsored post with a fancy CTA button, either.

Simply add a CTA to your bio or a specific photo that links to an Instagram landing page.

Another free way to sell on Instagram without spending a cent is to post behind-the-scenes content.