Instagram is Offering More Shopping Features

Shopping has become a great part of social media and as platforms compete with one another, Instagram is adding more shopping features to its platform. The Facebook-owned site will start testing shopping through its short-form video feature Reels later this year.

On Monday Instagram also added shopping to its IGTV, where users can watch longer videos. This move is in an effort to appeal to creators and brands who routinely look to monetize their efforts on the app.

Creators and brands will be able to add shopping tags to their posts, so users can tap on the item and shop either through the Instagram app or a retailer’s site.

Reels is a competitor of TikTok and adding a shopping feature like this may give the company a leg up over the latter who has been getting its feet wet in the e-commerce arena.

TikTok began testing new social commerce features last year by allowing some users to add links to their profiles and videos. Levi’s was among the first retail brands to use TikTok’s new “Shop Now” feature to direct users to merchandise.

Instagram’s Reels was announced back in August and as the company describes, is a new way to create and discover short, entertaining videos on Instagram.

Instagram has said, “Reels invites you to create fun videos to share with your friends or anyone on Instagram. Record and edit 15-second multi-clip videos with audio, effects, and new creative tools. You can share reels with your followers on Feed, and, if you have a public account, make them available to the wider Instagram community through a new space in Explore. Reels in Explore offers anyone the chance to become a creator on Instagram and reach new audiences on a global stage.”

“Digital creators and brands help bring emerging culture to Instagram, and people come to Instagram to get inspired by them. By bringing shopping to IGTV and Reels, we’re making it easy to shop directly from videos. And in turn, helping sellers share their story, reach customers, and make a living,” said Instagram COO Justin Osofsky, in a statement.

Disclaimer: We have no position in any of the companies mentioned and have not been compensated for this article.