Do you want to turn your clutter into cash? If so, selling items on Instagram might be for you! Traditionally Instragram has been a social media site used for posting vacation pictures and funny pet pics, but the truth is that businesses and individuals have figured out how to use Instagram to get their product out there and monetize in the process! You don’t have to be a big business to sell your own items on Instagram, you just need to know these few successful selling tips. Take a look below at how to successfully sell items on Instagram and turn your clutter into cash!
How to Sell Items on Instagram
1. Create your account.
If you already have an Instagram account, you need to decide if you wish to use it to sell your items, or, create an account exclusively for selling. The answer to this question may depend on how much you plan to sell. The occasional item or two can go on your personal page, but if you wish to list several items daily you may want to open a separate account. To create an account, all you need to do is enter a few basic pieces of information about yourself at www.instagram.com and you are ready to go.
2. Consider your inventory.
It seems as though the sale of handmade, vintage, and collectible items are the most sought after on Instagram, however name brand items and children clothing also seem to be picking up speed. Start going through the items you wish to sell and take note of their size, condition, how easy they’d be to ship, and other selling factors.
3. Take amazing photos.
As we all know, Instagram is purely eye candy. People use Instagram for the visual aspect, so your pictures need to be amazing. You can use your smart phone for pictures, just be sure it is stabilized or you use a very steady hand. Always take the time to focus your shot to avoid blurriness, and always use natural light as opposed to a fluorescent light or flash. Use a clean backdrop, such as piece of craft pr scrapbook paper in a light color, or you can even fold a piece of white poster board to create a quick photo station. If you enjoy staging photos, feel free to do so! For example if selling an antique teacup, place it on some pretty fabric with a spoon or a few sugar cubes next to it. It’s Instagram, and people love that stuff!
4. Join selling groups.
Selling groups are fairly new and always forming. To find one, look on Facebook. You can search for “Instagram Shops” or “Instagram Sales” or keywords of that sort. When you join one of these groups you can network with other sellers who will share your items on their Instagram pages in exchange for you returning the favor. Most importantly, you will be able to join GROUP SALES. This is when a group of sellers gets together and sells items using a designated hash tag. The sale is then advertised a week or so prior and buyers can easily find all the shops participating using the hash tag.
Since sales are advertised a week prior, I have also found this to be an effective way to get more Instagram followers. Buyers and other sellers will take a look at the shops participating and follow you in anticipation, which is nice. If you see other shops you like, be sure to follow them. You can always see what is selling this way and find some inspiration. Plus, they might give you a follow back!
5. Write brief but description listings.
You don’t want a long and drawn out listing. Use specifics such as a title, a sentence to describe the item, and a sentence to describe the condition. Include the price of the item, shipping cost, and any other necessary information. Don’t forget to let lookers know you have more up for sale so to peek at your other items as well. Invite any interested buyers to leave their email in the comments to claim. Check listings often to see if anyone has claimed an item or if there are any questions.
6. Hash tags are important.
Hash tags are a great for people to find your items. If in a group sale you will want to use the group hash tag. Also include keywords such as: sale, for sale, vintage, handmade, collectible, clothing, baby, children, special, limited, or other hash tags that lend themselves to what you are selling.
7. Stay safe.
Unlike eBay or Etsy, there are no selling protections in place on Instagram. You sell and buy at your own risk. Avoid selling or buying high dollar items unless you know the other party well. Always insure items you sell and send with delivery confirmation. Never send an item before it has been paid for via Paypal. You can easily send a Paypal invoice to your buyer using their email, whether they have a Paypal account or not. Take caution when selling so you don’t find yourself burned.
When you keep these tips in mind, you can find how easy and fun it can be to sell items on Instagram. New shops are forming all of the time, and buyers are quickly learning that it is an excellent place to find a deal as well. So get your camera out, sign into Instagram, and start selling!
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Ksenia says
Great article, Alea! Special thanks for the safety tips – that’s something many insta sellers forget about. However, if the payment is done through PayPal, their protection works perfectly well and Resolution Center can help sort out the claims. I would only add that using specialized Instagram selling tools, like Inselly, can also be very helpful to make the process less fuzzy. When sales are automated, there’s more time to do some proper marketing and promotion and get more customers on board!