How to Sell on Instagram without A Website?

If you are a business owner who wants to sell on Instagram without a website, then this guide is for you.

In today's digital age, social media platforms have revolutionized how businesses operate and reach their target audience. Among these platforms, Instagram has emerged as a powerful tool for selling products(clothing, arts, home decoration, electronic gadgets, and fashion accessories) and services, even without having a dedicated website.

Why is Instagram Best to Start Selling?

With its visually appealing interface and massive user base, you could reach 1.628 billion users on Instagram in April 2023 (according to Kepios). It allows businesses to showcase their products, engage with their audience, and drive sales directly through the platform.

It is ranked in 4th position in the number of most active users on social media.

The United States of America has at least 168.6 million active Instagram users.

In this article, we will explore various strategies and techniques that can help you effectively sell on Instagram without the need for a website.

Without discussing more on stats let’s dive right in techniques you can use to sell on Instagram with website.

Read, learn and follow each step for successful selling.

Also read: Amazing AI Tool to Find Winning Dropshipping Products

Creating a Business Account on Instagram

Your journey starts with setting up a business profile on Instagram. You can create an account using the mail or mobile number. Follow the steps to create one.

Download the Instagram app - Go to your device's app store (App Store for iOS or Google Play Store for Android) and install it.

Sign up or convert your existing account - If you already have an Instagram account, then convert it to a business account by going to "Settings" > "Account" > "Switch to Professional Account".

Select a category - Choose from the options that best describe your business.

Add business information - Fill in your business contact details, such as email address, phone number, and physical address. You can display or hide this information on your profile based on your preference.

Profile optimization - Customize your profile by adding a profile picture representing your business, such as a logo or product image.

Now the second major step is.

Write A Bio that Attracts Customers

The Instagram bio generally has 150 character introduction about your business that everyone sees first when they land on your business page. It should be optimized and appealing to potential customers.

How to Write Best Instagram Bios?

To write the best Instagram bios for a business page, consider the following tips:

1. Clearly define your business:
   Begin by clearly stating what your company does and what it offers. Use concise language to communicate your unique value proposition and what differentiates you from your competitors.
   
   
2. Showcase your brand personality:
   Infuse your bio with your brand's personality and tone. Consider the emotions and feelings you want to evoke in your audience and reflect that in your bio. Depending on your brand image and target audience, it could be professional, friendly, playful, or sophisticated.
   
   
3. Highlight key offerings or products:
   - Feature your most important products, services, or offerings in your bio.
   - Use engaging language to describe them and convey their benefits.
   - Let your audience know why they should choose your business.
   
   
4. Include social proof: Incorporate any positive reviews, testimonials, or awards your business has received. This helps build trust and credibility with potential customers.
   
   
5. Utilize hashtags and keywords: Incorporate relevant hashtags and keywords related to your industry or niche. This can increase the discoverability of your profile in searches and attract a targeted audiences.
   
   
6. Provide a call-to-action: Guide your audience on the action you want them to take. It could be visiting your website, purchasing, signing up for a newsletter, or contacting you for inquiries. Use actionable language and provide clear instructions.
   
   
7. Include contact information: Make it easy for potential customers to reach you by including your contact information, such as email, phone number, or a link to your website. This enables direct communication and conversion opportunities.
   
   
8. Update regularly: Keep your bio updated with any changes or updates in your business. If you have new products, promotions, or events, reflect them in your bio to keep them fresh and relevant.
   
   
9. Add a touch of creativity: Use emojis, formatting, or unique formatting to make your bio visually appealing and stand out. However, use them sparingly and ensure they align with your brand's image and tone.
   
   
10. Analyze and optimize: Monitor the performance of your Instagram bio using insights and analytics. Evaluate engagement, conversions, and follower growth to refine and optimize your bio.

Pro tip: Keep your bio attractive and tell users what to do. Remember that social media platforms are to connect, message, and share.

Things to Post on Your Instagram Feed

For the business account, it's essential to consider your target audience, brand identity, and marketing goals.

Here are some ideas for content that you can post on your Instagram feed to promote your business:

1. Product Showcase:
   Highlight your products or services through high-quality images or videos. Show them in action, demonstrate their features, or share testimonials from satisfied customers.
   
   
2. Behind-the-Scenes:
   Give your audience a glimpse into your business by sharing behind-the-scenes photos or videos. This helps humanize your brand and build a connection with your followers.
   
   
3. User-Generated Content:
   Encourage your customers to create content featuring your products or services and share it with a branded hashtag. Repost some of the best user-generated content to showcase happy customers and encourage others to engage with your brand.
   
   
4. How-To Guides and Tutorials:
   Share informative content that educates your audience about how to use your products or guides them on relevant topics related to your industry. This positions your brand as an authority and provides value to your followers.
   
   
5. Inspirational Quotes:
   Post motivational or inspirational quotes that resonate with your target audience. Ensure the quotes align with your brand's message and values.
   
   
6. Seasonal or Holiday Content:
   Create posts that tie into current seasons, holidays, or special events. This helps keep your content relevant and shows that your brand is up-to-date.
   
   
7. Contests and Giveaways:
   Run contests or giveaways to encourage engagement and increase your reach. Ask users to like, comment, or tag friends for a chance to win a prize related to your business.
   
   
8. Company News and Updates:
   Share announcements, new product launches, or company updates to keep your audience informed and involved in your business journey.
   
   
9. Industry Tips and Insights:
   Share valuable tips, industry news, or interesting facts relevant to your niche. This positions your brand as an industry expert and helps build trust with your followers.
   
   
10. Collaborations and Partnerships:
    Highlight collaborations with influencers, other businesses, or community organizations. This expands your reach and introduces your brand to new audiences.
    

Remember to engage with your followers by responding to comments and messages, and use relevant hashtags to increase your discoverability.

Analyze your Instagram insights to understand what types of content perform best and adjust your strategy accordingly.

The next thing to do to sell online is to make your Instagram feed shoppable.

How to Make Instagram Feed Shoppable?

You can use Instagram's built-in shopping features to make your Instagram feed shoppable.

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to set up a shoppable
Instagram feed for your business:

1. Connect to a Facebook Page:
   Link your Instagram business profile to a Facebook Page associated with your business. This step is necessary because Instagram uses Facebook's catalog feature to enable shopping on the platform.
   
   
2. Set Up a Facebook Catalog:
   Create a catalog on your Facebook Business Manager account or through a compatible e-commerce platform like Shopify. This catalog will contain the products you want to sell on Instagram.
   
   
3. Meet Instagram's Requirements:
   Ensure that your business meets Instagram's eligibility criteria for shopping. This typically involves adhering to their commerce policies and guidelines.
   
   
4. Enable Shopping on Instagram:
   Go to your Instagram settings, select "Business," and then "Shopping."
   
   
5. Tag Products in Your Posts:
   Create a new post as usual and choose a photo or video to upload. You'll see an option to tag products once you reach the caption and tagging stage. Select the relevant products from your Facebook catalog and position the tags appropriately in your post.
   
   
6. Add Product Stickers to Stories:
   In addition to tagging products in your feed posts, you can also add product stickers to your Instagram Stories. These stickers allow users to tap on the products and view details or make a purchase.
   

Remember to comply with Instagram's guidelines for shoppable posts and maintain an engaging and visually appealing feed that encourages users to explore and make purchases.

Use Creative Captions to To Promote Products

Be creative with your captions when you post the product on your account.

Let's check out the tips to write creative captions for promoting products on Instagram.

Tip to Write The Creative Captions for Product Post on Instagram

To write a creative caption for a product post on Instagram business, consider the following tips:

1. Be descriptive:
   Use adjectives and vivid language to describe the product and its features. Highlight what makes it unique and appealing.
   
   Example: "Unleash your creativity with our versatile and vibrant watercolor set. Dive into a world of endless possibilities!"

2. Create intrigue:
   Spark curiosity and captivate your audience's attention by hinting at the benefits or experiences they can expect from the product.
   
   Example: "Discover the secret to flawless skin. Get ready for a complexion that glows like never before."

3. Incorporate storytelling:
   Tell a compelling story or narrative that emotionally connects your audience to the product.
   
   Example: "Once upon a time, a single scent captured hearts worldwide. Experience the enchantment of our signature fragrance."

4. Use humor or wordplay:
   Inject some humor or clever wordplay into your caption to make it memorable and entertaining.
   
   Example: "Warning: Our new product is so addictive, you might find it hard to put down. Side effects may include constant compliments and jealousy from friends!"

5. Invoke emotions:
   Appeal to your audience's emotions by highlighting how the product can enhance their lives or evoke certain feelings.
   
   Example: "Ignite your inner adventurer and embrace the thrill of the unknown with our durable and versatile hiking gear."

6. Call-to-action:
   Encourage your audience to take action, whether it's to visit your website, make a purchase, or engage with the post.
   
   Example: "Ready to experience the next level of gaming? Click the link in our bio to join the revolution!"

Increase Your Instagram Business Page Reach with Hashtags

To increase your post reach and engagement, use hashtags strategically. Here's how you can make the most of hashtags:

1. Research popular and relevant hashtags:
   Look for commonly used and appropriate hashtags for your product and target audience. Explore what hashtags your competitors or industry leaders are using as well.
   
   
2. Mix popular and niche hashtags:
   Combine popular hashtags with more specific, niche hashtags to reach a wider audience while also targeting people specifically interested in your product.
   
   
3. Be specific and descriptive:
   Use hashtags that accurately describe your product, its features, and its benefits. This helps attract users actively searching for or interested in products like yours.
   
   
4. Use location-based hashtags:
   If your product is location-specific or you have a physical store, include hashtags related to your location to target potential customers.
   
   
5. Create branded hashtags:
   Develop a unique hashtag for your brand or product and encourage your audience to use it when posting about your product. This can generate user-generated content and increase brand visibility.
   
   
6. Include trending hashtags:
   Stay updated with trends, events, or holidays, and incorporate relevant hashtags into your product posts. This can increase the chances of your posts being discovered by users browsing popular hashtags.
   
   
7. Vary your hashtags:
   Use different hashtags for every post. Mix them up to reach different audiences and avoid appearing repetitive or spammy.
   
   
8. Limit the number of hashtags:
   While Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post, using a moderate number, such as 5-10 hashtags, is generally recommended. Too many hashtags can make your caption look cluttered or desperate for attention.
   
   
9. Hide your hashtags:
   To keep your captions clean and visually appealing, consider placing your hashtags in a separate comment or using line breaks to push them down below the "Read More" cutoff.
   
   
10. Engage with hashtag communities:
    Explore and engage with posts using your hashtags. Like, comment, and follow accounts that align with your brand to build connections and increase your visibility within those communities.
    

Pro Tips for Quickly Generate Sell on Instagram

Pro tip 1 - Use trending music in product reels

Use trending music in your product reels if you want to go viral soon. This will increase the probability of getting viral and reach to more targeted audience organically.

Keep an eye on trending music, use it in your promotions, align with your target audience, follow the reel format, edit and sync properly and analyze the performance. 

Pro tip 2: Connect and contact influencers

Connect and contact the influencers that are relevant to your niche. Collaborate with them to promote your products.

Here are the steps to follow to connect the influencers:

1. Identify Relevant Influencers:
   Research and identify influencers in your niche or industry who have a solid following and engage with their audience effectively.
   
   
2. Build Relationships:
   Start by following and engaging with the influencers on their social media platforms. Like and comment on their posts genuinely to establish a connection.
   
   
3. Direct Message (DM):
   Once you've built a rapport, consider sending a polite and personalized direct message to the influencers expressing your interest in collaborating for sales promotion.
   
   
4. Offer Value:
   Highlight the benefits of collaborating with you, such as exclusive discounts for their followers, affiliate programs, or promotional campaigns that align with their audience's interests.
   
   
5. Provide Clear Instructions:
   Make it easy for influencers to understand how to promote your products or services effectively. Communicate the desired messaging, key selling points, and any specific guidelines.
   
   
6. Negotiate Collaboration Terms:
   Discuss the terms of collaboration, such as compensation, commission structure, or any other mutually beneficial arrangements. Be open to negotiation and find a win-win situation.
   
   
7. Track Performance:
   Once the collaboration is underway, monitor the influencer's performance by tracking metrics like sales generated, engagement levels, or website traffic. This will help you evaluate the effectiveness of the partnership.
   
   
8. Maintain Relationships:
   Cultivate long-term relationships with influencers by expressing appreciation for their efforts, promoting their content, or involving them in future campaigns. Building a strong network of influencers can lead to sustained sales growth.

Conclusion

If you follow each step above, you will get sales on Instagram without a website. But having a website is essential to make your business a brand. Choose Shopify, the best platform to get an ecommerce store. If you need an ecommerce website, you can choose our Shopify website design service to get your Shopify store.