Instagram, initially a social network that built itself around photo-sharing, has grown to be a staple for brands looking to sell online. With a fast growing audience and the ability to get creative with your product marketing, if you are an eCommerce business, you can't afford to miss being on Instagram. Even if your company isn’t obviously “visual” in nature (such as service based companies), Instagram can still be an effective marketing tool.

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2.  A way to attract customers by being where
they already are online, including Instagram.
 Allows sellers to increase sales and reach new
customers by extending their online
footprint.

3.  Instagram, which initially built itself around
photo-sharing, has grown to be a staple in
successful e-commerce.
◦ Growing audience. Instagram currently the fastest-
growing social network.
◦ Creative product marketing. Instagram gives you more
flexibility to reach customers with funny and unique
marketing strategies.
◦ Instant updates on promotions and offers. Simply snap a
photo and describe your new promotion or offer.

4.  If you don’t currently have an Instagram
account for your business download the
app for your phone.
 Choose a username that is
recognizable.
◦ Ideally, your username is the same as your
business name making it easier for customers
to find and follow your business.
 When filling out your profile, make sure
to keep the biography brief and don’t
forget to link to your business website.

5.  Cross promote to any other social networks where
your business has a presence.
 Include an announcement at the bottom of your
newsletter.
 Find and build relationships with social
influencers in your industry.
◦ Provide incentives for social influencers to post images
of them using your product (find out how Soldsie can
connect you with social influencers).

6.  Use geotagging to put down roots in
your community as well as find
customers who have visited your
business.
◦ Take a photo and tap “Name This Location”.
◦ Once your photo is live, tap the location
name to see photos tagged with the same
place.
◦ Follow notable fans, comment on pictures,
and engage your online community.

7.  Leverage hashtags to expand your reach.
◦ Use Websta or Populargram to find popular hashtags
related to your niche.
 Hashtag ideas to build your following:
◦ Use hashtags to find like-minded
people to follow.
◦ Try hashtags about huge events
(#WorldCup or #Superbowl2014).
◦ Organize Instagram contests.
 Example: Ben and Jerry’s
#CaptureEuphoria

8.  Users respond to beautiful images so make use of
photo apps/filters to jazz up your pictures and
create a consistent aesthetic.
◦ VSCO allows you to create photos that mimic film.
◦ Pic Stitch allows you to create a collage with over 230
different layouts.
◦ Whitagram fills photo background with white space
allowing you to upload photos in their original aspect
ratio (Instagram default is a square aspect ratio).
◦ Over allows you to overlay images with text (think
motivational or thought-provoking quotes) and artwork.

9.  “Instagram is the preferred channel for some of our
fans. We saw a different type of response here
when we put up some of our most popular
products-it was a much more leisurely shopping
experience, and fans loved it” - Corey O’Loughlin
and Nina Vitalino, Co-Founders of Prep Obsessed.

10. Once you’ve built a loyal following on Instagram, it’s time to plan your first
campaign! (Using Soldsie you can directly sell on Instagram).
• Post compelling products for sale - ideally cost is less than $50 per item.
• Post one item at a time and no more than three a day – it’s important to strike a balance
between selling and posting engaging content.
• Announce your sale – get the word out about your
Instagram sale by utilizing all your marketing channels.
• Build a buzz – post sneak peaks, create short videos, or
run promotional contests to build buzz around Instagram
sale.

11. Ensure a smooth sales experience with the
following steps:
1. Guide your customers - monitor your sale in
case of questions or concerns from your fans.
2. Use analytics - Iconosquare or other apps can
give you insights about your followers, best
times to post, and your best performing
hashtags on Instagram.
3. Debrief – Using analytics, assess how your sale
went and adjust accordingly to ensure
continued success.

12.  Luxury jewelry designers Lulu Frost
created an exclusive Instagram sale to
celebrate the launch of their Flora Fauna
collection at NYFW.
◦ Using Soldsie, Lulu Frost offered a bracelet,
necklace and earring style from $188 to $350.
◦ The sale invited fans to join Lulu Frost at NYFW
through social media.
◦ Using Soldsie’s app on Instagram, Lulu Frost
was able to complete several thousand dollars
in sales as well as register loyal fans as
customers.

13.  Social Media Today: Independent blog managed by industry
professionals that contains insightful posts.
 Boom Social: Kim Garst’s blog offers practical and quick tips on
managing your social media outlets.
 Jon Loomer: Resource for those looking to improve on their Facebook
marketing skills.
 Splash Media: Get advice on online brand marketing from industry
experts.
 Hootsuite Blog: Aside from being a great tool to manage all your social
media accounts, Hootsuite also offers insightful knowledge on their blog
to help you stay on the cutting edge of social media.
 Soldsie: Aside from giving you the ability to sell on Instagram and on
Facebook, we also offer insights to best practices for social commerce,
small business tips, and other useful information for online sellers.

14.  Lighting: Even, natural lighting is ideal to avoid harsh
shadows.
 Angles: The mobility of a camera phone allows you to
grab moments of spontanaeity. Shoot at unusual
angles to create interesting, engaging shots.
 Caption over photos: Add motivational or thought-
provoking quotes to your images to increase
engagement
 Demonstrate fit: When selling clothes, use live
models or mannequins so potential customers can
see how the clothing fits.

16.  Sell Out Completely, Without Overselling
 Manage your inventory and product list
 Accept pre-authorized payments so that late-payers and
cancelled orders won’t hold up your inventory.
 Leave the Posting, Invoicing and Payment Reminders
to Us
 Real-time, automatically-issued invoices make sure every
comment gets an invoice as they’re made.
 Schedule reminder emails to get more payments.
 Schedule your auctions ahead of time – anytime – from
anywhere.
 Shopper-Friendly Features Help to Grow Your
Business and Establish Your Brand
 Create and manage coupon codes.
 Accept credit card payments.
 Customers don’t have to leave their email addresses in the
comments – it protects their privacy.
 Customers can select add-ons at checkout.