How To Tag Products On Instagram Woocommerce

How to Tag Products on Instagram with WooCommerce: A Beginner’s Guide

So, you’ve got a fantastic WooCommerce store and a growing Instagram presence. Great! You’re on the right track to boosting sales. But here’s the thing: simply posting beautiful product photos isn’t enough anymore. You need to make it ridiculously easy for your followers to buy what they see. That’s where product tagging on Instagram comes in. This article will walk you through exactly how to tag products on Instagram from your WooCommerce store, even if you’re a complete newbie.

Think of it this way: Imagine seeing a gorgeous Explore this article on How To Change Catalog Layout Woocommerce dress on Instagram. You want it *right now*. If you can click directly on the dress in the photo and go straight to the product page on a website to buy it, you’re far more likely to make the purchase. Product tagging makes this immediate gratification possible!

Why Should You Tag Products on Instagram?

Let’s get this out of the way: Is it worth the effort? Absolutely! Here’s why:

Seamless Shopping Experience: As mentioned above, customers can buy directly from Instagram without leaving the app. This reduces friction in the buying process, leading to higher conversion rates.
Increased Website Traffic: Each tagged product acts as a direct link back to your WooCommerce store, driving valuable traffic.
Enhanced Product Discovery: Instagram’s shopping features help users discover your products organically. They can find you through the Explore page and shopping-related hashtags.
Boosted Brand Awareness: Tagging products reinforces your brand identity and makes your products more memorable.
Real-Life Example: Think about a small bakery. They post a picture of a beautiful cake. Without tagging, followers have to ask in the comments, “How much is this cake?” or “Where can I order it?” With tagging, they click, see the price, and order directly. Huge difference!

What You Need to Get Started

Before we dive into the how-to, let’s ensure you have everything you need:

A WooCommerce Store: This is your online store where your products are listed and ready for purchase.
An Instagram Business or Creator Account: A personal Instagram account won’t work. You need to switch to a Business or Creator account. This is free and easy to do in your Instagram settings.
A Facebook Page Connected to Your Instagram Account: Instagram Shopping relies on Facebook’s Commerce Manager. Connect your Instagram account to your Facebook page.
Facebook Catalog Synced with WooCommerce: This is the crucial link between your WooCommerce products and Instagram. You need to get your product catalog from WooCommerce into Facebook’s Commerce Manager. There are a few ways to do this, we’ll look at one below.
Instagram Shopping Approval: Learn more about How To Import Products From Woocommerce To Magento Once your catalog is set up, you’ll need to apply for Instagram Shopping. Instagram will review your account to ensure you meet their requirements.

Connecting WooCommerce to Facebook Commerce Manager

This is often the trickiest part, but don’t worry, we’ll break it down. The easiest way is to use a plugin. Here’s how to do it with the Facebook for WooCommerce plugin (it’s free and widely used):

1. Install and Check out this post: How To Make Woocommerce Product Pages Full Width Activate the Facebook for WooCommerce Plugin:

In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New.
Search for “Facebook for WooCommerce”.
Install and activate the plugin.

2. Connect to Facebook:

After activating, you’ll see a notice to configure the plugin. Click “Configure.”
You’ll be redirected to Facebook to authorize the connection. Follow the on-screen instructions to link your Facebook account, select your Facebook Page, and create/select your Facebook Business Manager account.
Important: Ensure you give the plugin all the necessary permissions.

3. Configure the Plugin Settings:

Within the Facebook for WooCommerce plugin settings in WordPress, you’ll find options for:
Product Sync: Choose whether to automatically sync your WooCommerce products to your Facebook catalog. This is essential.
Pixel Tracking: Consider setting up the Facebook Pixel for advanced tracking and retargeting.
Other Settings: Review the other settings to customize the integration to your needs.

4. Verify Your Catalog in Facebook Commerce Manager:

Go to Facebook Commerce Manager ([https://www.facebook.com/commerce_manager](https://www.facebook.com/commerce_manager)).
Select your catalog (it should be named after your Facebook Page).
Check that your products are correctly imported from WooCommerce. If they are, congratulations! You’re almost there. If not, check the plugin settings and try syncing again. Look for any error messages.

 // Example: This is not actual code you need to run. This is just to illustrate what the settings do.

// In the Facebook for WooCommerce plugin settings:

$auto_sync_products = true; // This would automatically sync products

$pixel_enabled = true; // This would enable the Facebook Pixel

Applying for Instagram Shopping

Now that your WooCommerce products are synced with Facebook, you need to request access to Instagram Shopping:

1. Go to your Instagram Business Profile: Open the Instagram app on your phone.

2. Go to Settings: Tap the three horizontal lines (menu) in the top right corner, then tap “Settings.”

3. Tap Business: Look for the “Business” option.

4. Tap Shopping: If you meet the eligibility requirements (mainly having a business profile, selling physical goods, and complying with Instagram’s commerce policies), you’ll see a “Shopping” option. If you don’t see it, it’s likely you haven’t met all the requirements, especially the Facebook catalog part.

5. Follow the Instructions: Instagram will guide you through the application process. This usually involves selecting your product catalog from Facebook Commerce Manager.

Instagram Shopping Approval Can Take Time: Be patient! The review process can take a few days, or even a week or more. Instagram will notify you of their decision.

Tagging Products on Instagram: Finally!

Okay, you’ve jumped through all the hoops. Time to actually tag those products!

1. Create a New Post or Story: Upload a photo or video to Instagram as you normally would.

2. Tap “Tag Products”: After you’ve added your caption and any filters, you’ll see an option to “Tag Products.”

3. Start Typing the Product Name: Tap on the area of the photo where you want the tag to appear. A search box will pop up. Start typing the name of the product you want to tag.

4. Select the Product: Choose the correct product from the search results.

5. Share Your Post or Story: That’s it! Your product is now tagged.

Important Considerations:

Relevant Photos: Choose photos that clearly showcase your products.
High-Quality Images: Use high-resolution images to make your products look their best.
Compelling Captions: Write engaging captions that highlight the benefits of your products.
Use Multiple Tags: If a photo features multiple products, tag them all!
Story Stickers: In Instagram Stories, use the Product sticker to highlight products. This is a great way to drive traffic to specific items.
Instagram Reels: You can also tag products in Reels, which are becoming increasingly popular!

Troubleshooting Common Issues

“I don’t see the ‘Shopping’ option in my Instagram settings.”
Make sure you have a Business or Creator account.
Make sure your Instagram account is connected to a Facebook Page.
Double-check that your product catalog is correctly synced with Facebook Commerce Manager.
Ensure you meet Instagram’s commerce policies.

“My products are not showing up when I try to tag them.”
Double-check that your products are approved in Facebook Commerce Manager.
Give Instagram some time to sync your catalog. It can take a few hours after you sync.
Ensure you’re typing the product name correctly.

“My Instagram Shopping application was rejected.”
Carefully review Instagram’s commerce policies and identify any areas where you might be non-compliant. Common reasons for rejection include selling prohibited items, inaccurate product information, or violating Instagram’s community guidelines. Fix the issues and reapply.

Conclusion

Tagging products on Instagram with WooCommerce is a game-changer for your online business. While setting it up might seem a bit technical at first, the benefits of a seamless shopping experience, increased website traffic, and enhanced product discovery are well worth the effort. Follow these steps, stay patient, and start turning your Instagram followers into paying customers! Good luck!