With over one billion active users, it’s no secret that Instagram has become massively popular with businesses and individuals alike. Since its inception in 2010, the platform has gone through many changes – and the latest upgrade highlights its eCommerce capabilities.
Let’s take a closer look at Instagram’s new homepage layout and what it means for brands.
eCommerce Is Booming – And Instagram Is Taking Note
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, eCommerce shopping increased 36.7 percent from 2019 to 2020. Plus, third-quarter eCommerce sales accounted for 14.3 percent of total retail sales in 2020. Of course, this rise in online shopping is primarily due to people avoiding brick and mortar stores amid the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Assuming that this trend continues in 2021, retailers must do everything they can to attract at-home shoppers – and Instagram Checkout is an excellent solution.
In 2019, Instagram introduced Instagram shopping, which allows brands to list and sell products directly through the app. Initially, there were three ways users could access shoppable items:
- Navigating to a brand’s profile and selecting the shopping tab
- Selecting “Shop” on the explore page
- Clicking on tagged items in shoppable posts
However, Instagram’s new homepage (released in 2020) features a dedicated shopping tab, allowing users to shop their favorite brands and discover new ones more easily.
What the Instagram Update Means for Brands
Source: Instagram
The latest Instagram update represents the platform’s shift from a simple photo-sharing app to a full-blown marketing and eCommerce tool. Even the placement of the tab itself serves as a representation of this change; the shopping button now exists where users used to go to find notifications for likes, comments, tags, and follows. While this may not seem significant, many experts believe that the location was a deliberate decision meant to steer users toward shoppable products. Whether or not this is true, there’s no denying that many users will be clicking on the new tab out of habit.
With all of this in mind, it’s more important than ever that brands take advantage of Instagram’s shopping features. If you don’t, you could be missing out on a significant number of potential customers who would rather shop in-app than navigate to your website.
Set Your Brand Up for Success on Social Media with Help from Zero Gravity Marketing
Social media is rapidly evolving, and it can be challenging to keep up with the constant changes. Luckily, the social media gurus at Zero Gravity Marketing are here to help you navigate updates and changing best practices to ensure your online presence is as effective as possible.
Contact us today to learn more about Instagram shopping and how it can benefit your eCommerce business!
