(First published in the Philippine Online Chronicles)
by Ma. Rachel R. Yapchiongco
Instagram, a photo-sharing, video-sharing and social networking service which Facebook purchased in April 2012 has become a popular ecommerce tool. A lot of merchants have capitalized on Instagram to promote and sell their products online. Its huge population of users makes Instagram an ideal platform to introduce new products, promote goods and connect with potential buyers.
In the Philippines, Instagram is becoming a great medium for merchandising and marketing. Many enterprising Filipinos have taken advantage of the popularity of Instagram to sell their innovative products.
Last September 2013, ABS-CBN morning talk show Kris TVorganized an Instagram bazaar showcasing different entrepreneurs. A sequel of the Instagram bazaar was aired on October 2013. Kris Aquino, host of the said show and guest star, Kim Chiu featured innovative products such as ready to wear clothes, shoes, bags, accessories, toys, and personalized novelty merchandise. Some of the Instagram sellers shared their success stories to inspire wannabe online entrepreneurs.
Thinking of setting up your own Instagram store? Here are some tips to help you get started.
1. Set up an Instagram account – The first logical step is to create your own Instagram (IG) account. You can use an existing personal IG account or create a new one purely for business. It might be a good idea to make separate accounts for personal and business purposes.
When creating your IG account, it is advisable to think of a name that reflects the nature of your business. You can use words like shop, store, or closet to set it apart from personal IG accounts.
2. Study how to use the application – If you’re new on Instagram, get familiar with the application. Learn how to post, edit, and enhance photos as well as videos.
3. Establish method of payment – Determine what type of payment you will use for your online business. Paypal is a popular and secure form of payment mode because of its anti-fraud technology. Another option is to set up a bank account or use an existing one to accept payments from clients.
4. Determine shipping method – Choose from different courier services and determine the ideal one for your business. In the Philippines, popular courier services include Air 21, LBC, 2GO, FedEx, and Metrowide Courier Express. Make sure that you inform your customers about applicable shipping fees. You can also set time and location for meet ups. Ideal places for meet ups are malls and coffee shops.
5. Start posting photos – Once you become comfortable using the application, you can start posting photos on your IG account. Make your photo stream interesting for your followers. Appealing and relevant photos can also be your ticket in gaining new followers.
Instagram is equipped with photo filters. Refrain from using said filters on product images because it has the tendency to alter its real features particularly colors. A customer might build the wrong expectation which can result to customer dissatisfaction when the actual product turns out different from what has been perceived. The least thing that can happen is getting a request from the buyer to return the item and get a refund. However, take note that one unhappy customer can spread the unsatisfactory experience to his or her social network. You can avoid this kind of negative publicity by posting unfiltered photos of your product. If you decide to use a filter, make sure that you clearly state the kind of filter you used in the caption to avoid misleading posts.