 "Image via Tech in Asia")
Instagram is now testing shopping products through its posts. Just like instant articles, where one can read news articles without leaving Facebook, users can buy products without leaving Instagram.
Each post by a brand has a picture of the product and also displays the price of the item on a single tap. The 'Tap to view' option which upon clicking shows you a bigger image of the product with description about it. Instagram showcases up to five products and can be purchased from the website by tapping the shop now icon.
Instagram said a survey found that vast majority of purchases take a day or longer, with only 21% of purchases made within a day. This means users take their time, compare it with other products and then take a call on the item. Keeping this in mind, Instagram plans to provide an option to save the post and revisit again.
In the initial phase, the new features will be available to a group of people on iOS devices within the US. To test the functionality of the new feature Instagram has partnered with 20 US-based retail brands including Kate Spade, JackThreads and Warby Parker.
Kate Spade from Instagram for Business on Vimeo.
If everything works for Instagram, with more than 500 million monthly active users, it can grab a significant digital ad revenue from big brands. Facebook's ad revenue stood at $5,201 in Q1.
Although the company doesn't break up its revenue details, the photo sharing platform which Facebook bought for $1 billion, amid strong criticism, can significantly bolster the profit with the new feature.
