Instagram Product Tagging: A Step-By-Step Tutorial

Here’s a quick summary of the steps involved.

1. Setup a Facebook Business Page & Shop

2. Create & Connect A Product Catalog

3. Connect An Instagram Profile To Your Store

4. Enable product tagging on your IG.

And here’s a fairly detailed, step-by-step, click-by-click breakdown of each process.

1. Setup A Facebook BUSINESS PAGE & Shop (Correctly!)

You need to have an 'approved', 'published' Facebook Store (on a Facebook Business Page) which is usually approved in 48 hours after setup) before you can be approved for the Instagram Channel.

  • You create or manage your business pages at business.facebook.com
  • Your FB account needs to have an Admin Role user setup on the page.
  • The Facebook page needs to use the ‘Shopping’ Template.
  • Ensure it uses Facebook-supported currency. (USD suggested.)
  • Store settings must select to sell primarily ‘physical goods.’
  • Page settings must ‘sell goods and services online’
  • Make sure your product titles are less than 100 chars.
  • Page settings must be ‘Shopping & Retail’ category.
  • Facebook Stores with country or age restrictions will need to adjust these options prior to shopping-on-Instagram.
  • Your business must comply with Facebook commerce policies and merchant agreement.

2. Create & Connect A PRODUCT CATALOG

Having an FB store is good. But it's empty until you create a catalog for it, and then fill that catalog with products.

  • You create or manage your catalog at business.facebook.com
  • Go to ‘Catalogs.’
  • Select ‘Create Catalog.’
  • Select the catalog type that best describes your business. (E-commerce, Travel, Real Estate or Auto) & give it a name.
  • Next your catalog needs inventory items. (Add items manually, Add from an outside feed — such as Shopify / TeeSpring, or add from a ‘Facebook Pixel.’)
  • To add items yourself, select Upload Product Info. (If using an outside feed, you’ll have to look it up for your specific platform.)
  • Do a double-check that all is connected: Go to your Category Manager, click your catalog name, which brings up your Category Dashboard.
  • Go to the Settings for your catalog (usually bottom-left of dashboard).
  • Double-check that the correct FB SHOP is connected to your catalog.
  • Double-check that the correct INSTAGRAM account is connected.
  • All good? Great! Now you’ve got a proper Facebook Store configured & stocked with products – and ready to engage with Instagram App ‘Shopping’ Approval.

3. Connect An Instagram BUSINESS PROFILE To Your Store

The correct FB Store must connect to the correct IG account.

  • Make sure you have the latest version of the Instagram app.
  • Your IG account must be switched to an Instagram Business Profile.
  • Linking your FB Store to Instagram is best done through the IG Mobile App.
  • Tap the 3 horizontal lines in the upper-right corner, followed by ‘Settings’ at the bottom of your display.
  • Next, scroll through the options & tap ‘Linked Accounts’ under the Privacy & Security sub-heading. Tap ‘Facebook’ (top of that list.)
  • Then sign-in using the correct FB login credentials, and bam, you’re connected!
  • After completing the above steps, Instagram auto-reviews your connected accounts for approval.
  • Don’t get too excited though because the review process could take “a few days,” or “longer” if the review needs completing with higher detail.
  • If your account has been approved, you’ll receive a notification from Instagram saying you’re approved for product-tagging.

4. Enable PRODUCT TAGGING On Your Instagram Profile

Finally, enable product tagging on your Instagram account.

  • Tap your ‘IG profile’ button (small icon of a ‘person’ in the bottom right corner of your IG app.)
  • Next, tap the triple-horizontal line in the top corner.
  • Next tap the Settings ‘gear’ icon in the bottom of the menu.
  • Next, scroll and tap ‘Business.’
  • Next, tap ‘Shopping.’
  • Your FB-Store Product Catalog should pop up as an option. Tap it.
  • That’s it, you’re done! Now you just need to create a standard Instagram photo-post, and when tap to ‘tag’ it normally, now TWO options will appear, tag people? Or tag products? Make your choice and have fun!

That's it, you're done!

Well, if everything went smoothly, you’re done.

Now you just need to create a standard Instagram photo-post.

When it comes time to ‘tag’ it normally, now TWO options will appear.

Tag people or tag products?

Make your choice and have fun!