Are you thinking about using Instagram to promote your products this holiday season? If so, Instagram Shops can be a great choice. Using product collections can make your Shops look even better and get more people interested in what you’re selling. Instagram has recently given some helpful tips on making the most of Collections, which can really help with your planning. In Instagram’s own words:
“Collections empower your customers to explore your recommended products organized by various categories and themes. Furthermore, you can apply tags to collections throughout your feed, stories, and Reels to enhance their visibility.”
This gives you another way to sort and put your products in the right context. So, in this article, we will find out what product collections are, why they are important for businesses, and how Instagram is offering useful tips to make the most of this feature.
Understanding Instagram Product Collections
What Are Product Collections?
Product collections on Instagram are like virtual displays where businesses can group their products in an attractive and organized way. Each collection can be about a specific type of product, a season, or a theme, making it simpler for users to find what they want. It’s like an online store window for brands to show off their products.
In simple terms, product collections are a method for businesses to display their products in an organized and attractive manner. This makes it easier for people on Instagram to shop. It’s especially useful for online stores that want to increase their presence and sell more on the platform.
Why Are Product Collections Important?
The importance of product collections on Instagram cannot be overstated, especially in the context of the increasing significance of social commerce. Here are some key reasons why product collections matter for businesses:
- Improved User Experience: Organized product collections make it easier for users to find and explore the items they want. This, in turn, leads to higher user engagement and increased likelihood of conversion.
- Enhanced Brand Aesthetics: Product collections allow brands to curate their content, maintaining a consistent and visually appealing brand image. This is crucial for attracting and retaining customers.
- Boosted Discoverability: Well-organized collections make it easier for users to discover and explore new products, which can lead to higher sales and brand exposure.
- Direct Sales Channel: With the integration of shopping tags, users can make purchases directly from product collections, streamlining the path from discovery to purchase.
- Data Insights: Product collections provide valuable insights into user preferences and browsing behavior, enabling businesses to refine their marketing strategies.
Understanding Instagram Collections
Think of Instagram Collections as your own version of Instagram’s Pinterest. It’s like your private place to gather and organize posts you like on your feed.
In 2016, Instagram added a feature called ‘Bookmarks.’ But, Collections is a big step up from just saving content. It lets you neatly organize your saved stuff and make collections with both videos and pictures.
Creating an Instagram Collection – Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Begin by tapping on the three horizontal lines, often referred to as the “burger icon,” located on your profile page.
In Step 2: Choose “Saved” to access your bookmarked posts, provided you have any.
Step 3: In the top-right corner, tap on the plus (+) sign. This action will bring up a page displaying all your saved content. You can add a post to your collection by simply tapping on it, or you can do this after the Instagram Collection setup.
Step 4: Tap ‘Next’ and proceed to select a name and cover for your collection.
Step 5: In the upper right-hand corner, click ‘Done’ or ‘Add,’ and voila, you’ve successfully created your first collection on Instagram.
To keep posts in your collection, just tap the little bookmark icon at the bottom of any post. Then, choose ‘Save to collection’ and pick the collection you want for that post. It’s easy. To see your collections again, just do steps 1 and 2 as mentioned before.
There have been rumors going around that Instagram might let people make their collections public, but that hasn’t happened yet. But, who knows, maybe the creative folks at Instagram will surprise us with something new. So, in the future, you might be able to share your carefully organized collections with more people.
Utilizing Instagram Collections for Your Brand: 5 Innovative Approaches
Although Instagram Collections might look like something for you, it’s time to see how it can help your brand. A lot of people don’t realize how much this tool can improve your content. So, here are five great ways to use Instagram Collections to make your brand’s Instagram presence even better!
- Monitor User-Generated Content (UGC) and Mentions
User-generated content (UGC) is super valuable for your brand. It includes all the stuff your followers, customers, and users create that talks about or shows your brand. Big brands like Coca-Cola and Starbucks have used UGC to make campaigns where users feature their products in posts. To get UGC, ask your followers to mention you in their posts and interact with what they share. Make a special collection for UGC to keep track of your favorite posts where your brand is mentioned.
The UGC you save is like a goldmine for planning your content. Whenever you’re short on content or need the right stuff, look through your UGC library. You can even run a special campaign using UGC posts in your Stories. You can do a lot with UGC, but make sure you ask the person who posted it for permission.
- Keep an Eye on Competitors
Since Instagram Collections are private, they’re perfect for keeping an eye on what your competitors are up to. Getting ideas from brands like yours is a good way to see what works and what doesn’t. Save posts that interest you in a “Competitors” collection so you can refer to them later.
This way of doing things can give you really useful information. It helps you see how other brands connect with their followers and how people react to different kinds of content. This information can inspire you to come up with new ideas for future content and marketing plans. It’s a good way to figure out the best practices for social media and create strong strategies for marketing.
- Create a Digital Mood Board
Creating the right Instagram feed is all about making sure it looks the same and fits your brand style. Whether you plan your posts carefully or have a more relaxed, fashionable style, it’s important to have interesting content that keeps your audience interested. Use your Collections to save images that match your brand’s overall look. Think about things like color, mood, and style, and gather content that matches your brand’s message. Having this content ready makes it easier to organize and schedule your posts.
You can also check the stuff you’ve saved and look at the profiles of the people who shared it to get ideas for your own page. Use a preview tool to see how your saved pictures will appear in your feed.
According to Facebook, 90% of users follow a brand on Instagram, 83% have discovered a product/service from Instagram.
- Gain Insights into Saved Content
Even though you can’t see what other people are saving in their collections, you can find out if people are saving your stuff. Instagram’s Insights tool shows you how many users have saved your posts. But, keep in mind that only business accounts with the Insights tool can access this data. To see the number of saves, businesses can click the burger icon, go to Insights, and then check the content tab.
Here, you can change settings to see saved posts from a specific period. You can use this tool to figure out how engaged people are with your posts and improve that engagement.
- Get Inspired and Collaborate
While the first two tips were about getting ideas from other people’s content – UGC and competitors – you can also use Instagram Collections to work together. Save posts from Instagram influencers or users you might want to team up with. Keeping a collection of these posts lets you:
- Conduct extensive research on influencers
- Analyze their engagement across different posts
- Determine which of their content aligns best with your brand
- Brief your marketing team about potential collaborations
With all this helpful info, you can plan and suggest your campaign, which can result in successful partnerships. Instagram Collections become your place for creative ideas and opportunities to work together.
The Future of Instagram Product Collections
As Instagram keeps changing and adjusting to the shifts in social media and online shopping, product collections will probably become even more important. Here are some things to look out for in the future of product collections on Instagram:
- Augmented Reality (AR) Integration
Because more and more people are using augmented reality in online shopping, Instagram might include AR in product collections. Think about users trying on clothes, jewelry, or makeup virtually in the app. This would make shopping more exciting and lower the number of returns.
- Enhanced Personalization
Instagram might create computer programs that look at what users do and like to suggest product collections made just for them. This personal touch can make people more interested and more likely to buy.
- Integration with Emerging Technologies
As technologies like virtual reality (VR) and blockchain become more popular, Instagram might think about how to use them in product collections. For instance, blockchain could make sure that luxury items are genuine, and VR could create really immersive shopping experiences.
- Expanded Analytics
Instagram will probably keep improving its analytics tools, giving businesses even more information they can use. This will help brands understand how people behave and make their product collections better.
- More Creative Collaboration Opportunities
Brands working with creators will probably get more varied and imaginative. Brands might team up with content makers, artists, or influencers to create special product collections that connect with their shared audience.
- Social Commerce Integration
Because social commerce is getting more important, Instagram might make it even easier to buy things on the app. This could include better payment choices and simpler ways to check out, which would lead to more sales.
- AI-Powered Recommendations
Artificial intelligence can study the information from users and suggest products in the collections. This helps people find things they might not have thought about before, which leads to more sales and interest. In the world of online shopping and social media, being able to change is really important. As Instagram keeps coming up with new ideas, businesses that know what’s going on and are ready to try new stuff will do well.
Conclusion
Instagram’s product collections are a strong tool that helps businesses boost their online presence, connect with their audience, and sell more. Since Instagram is dedicated to offering learning materials and help, this is a great time for brands and creators to use this feature.
By following the best methods, being creative, and keeping up with the latest trends, businesses can make the most of their product collections on Instagram. As Instagram keeps changing, businesses will have more chances to use this feature, which is great for anyone who wants to do well in online shopping.
In the competitive world of online shopping, Instagram’s product collections can be what makes your brand stand out and get the attention of your target customers. So, whether you’re a big brand or just starting, don’t miss the chance to use Instagram product collections to improve your online presence and take your business to new levels.
FAQs
Q: What exactly are Instagram Shops and how do they differ from Product Collections?
A: Instagram Shops are digital storefronts within the Instagram platform where businesses can display and sell their products. Product Collections, on the other hand, are curated collections or catalogs of products that you can create within your Instagram Shop. While Instagram Shops are your online store, Product Collections are like organized sections within your shop, helping you group and display your products in a structured way.
Q: Can I create Product Collections on Instagram without having an Instagram Shop set up?
A: No, you need to have an Instagram Shop set up to create and use Product Collections. Instagram Shops are the foundation for showcasing your products, and Product Collections are a feature within your shop that enables you to organize and display products in a visually appealing way. So, you first need to set up an Instagram Shop and add your products there to create collections.
Q: Are there any specific guidelines for tagging Collections in my Instagram content?
A: Yes, you can tag your Product Collections across your feed, stories, and Reels to increase their visibility. However, it’s important to ensure that the tagged collection is relevant to the content you’re sharing. The goal is to provide a seamless and engaging shopping experience for your audience, so ensure the tagged collection aligns with the theme or subject of your post or story.
