How to tag

Product tagging is going to work much the same as people tagging. Once a product shot is taken and uploaded to Instagram, the option to add tags to it will come immediately after the famed apply filter step.

At launch, businesses will be able to decide whether they want to tag people in a photo, or product—but they won’t be able to do both in the same image.

To apply tags to an image after it’s initial upload, simply go to the gallery, select the image and select ‘edit’ from the dropdown options menu. From there, the process to apply tags will be the same as above.

NB: To apply relevant Shopping Tag, products will already have to be set up on Instagram and associated with your business account. SMK will explore the details of that process closer to the function’s launch in Australasia.

Easy mobile management

Instagram has made sure to include the ability to apply shopping tags directly from the mobile app. You can see it’s easy action on Instagram’s official promo video.

At launch, it’s only going to be for iOS, but Android will surely be close behind.

Marketers metrics

Instagram also promises business insights that will report back on how tags and links perform.

They’ve explicitly mentioned analysis of how many Instagrammers tap to see more product details and how many click on a ‘shop now’ button.

This, of course, will serve as a basis for businesses to refine their approach and tailor increasingly effective communications that appeal to their specific market.

User experience

Discovery of Instagram’s Shopping Tags will be assisted by way of icons that will indicate which posts have been tagged.

Any tagged product that gets attention can be tapped to see more details. From there, eager consumers will be able to click through to the retailer’s website to buy, via a 'Shop Now' button.

And that, of course, is the target at which this whole thing aimed.

Copy Transmission is a Melbourne-based agency :: Better Brands. Loud & Clear.