How to Sell on Instagram Without a Website In 2024

Do You Need A Website To Sell On Instagram?

Many businesses wonder if they can sell on Instagram without a website, especially if they've got their ideas in place, created their first products, and are excited to share their brand with the world but haven't set up their main communication channel yet. If this sounds like you, you're in the right place! In this article, we'll explore whether it's possible to sell on Instagram without a website, the steps you can take to get started, and why relying solely on social media instead of having a website might not be the best idea.

Can You Sell on Instagram Without a Website?

You don't need a website to sell on Instagram! If your website is still in the planning or development stage, you can still build your e-commerce brand, gauge interest in your products, and grow your customer base on this incredibly popular platform.

Limited Options for Non-Site Owners

Instagram puts some limits on businesses that don't have a website. If you're curious about how to set up an Instagram shop without one, you'll find it's typically only possible with a business domain. While you can still create a business account to sell your products (as explained below), having an Instagram shop can elevate your brand to a more professional level by offering:

• Product collections: Grouping and displaying your products by themes helps shoppers find what they're looking for faster and easier.
• Shoppable posts: By adding product tags to your photos and videos, shoppers can click on them and quickly explore and buy your products.
• Checkout: Setting up a checkout page directly within the app makes it simpler for both you and your customers to place orders.

The Instagram Shop feature could lead to about a 42% increase in sales. If you plan to keep selling on Instagram without a website, missing out on creating one means losing a significant portion of your potential profits.

How to Sell on Instagram Without a Website in 2024: Step-by-Step Guide

As mentioned earlier, the question of how to set up an Instagram shop without a website is clarified: this sales tool does require a website for retailers. But don't worry—you can still kickstart your business or take it online even while your main online sales platform is being built.

1. Create a Business Account

If you're looking to sell on Instagram without a website, the first step is to set up a business account. This will unlock a bunch of useful features, such as:

• Adding clickable links to your profile, making it easy for followers to contact you via email or phone.
• Promoting your posts and running paid ads to reach both your followers and other Instagram users.
• Gaining valuable insights into your audience, how they engage with your content, and how well your posts are performing.

Setting up a business account on Instagram is quick and easy.

Just follow these steps:

1. Go to "Settings and Privacy."
2. Select "Account Type and Tools."
3. Click on "Add New Business Account."
4. Choose your business category.
5. Fill in the required details.
6. Confirm and save your changes.

2. Select a Way to Accept Orders

When it comes to selling on Instagram without a website, you have two main options: take orders through DM or use an order form.

Take Orders through DM

In this approach, you invite customers to send you direct messages to place orders, ask questions, and make payments. However, as your business grows, managing these requests can become overwhelming. You might experience long response times, which could frustrate customers and lead to lost sales. This is one of the many reasons why having a website is beneficial. With a dedicated checkout page, customers can easily complete their purchases without delays, enhancing their shopping experience and saving you time.

However, if you're just starting out, taking orders through DM can be a good way to test the waters and see if there's demand for your products. To make the process smoother, you can use CheckoutLink, a tool which allows you to create a link that customers can click to view your products and place orders. This way, you can manage orders more efficiently and provide a better shopping experience for your customers.

Provide an Order Form

Another option is to create an order form using online order management software. This allows Instagram users to place orders, select delivery options, and make payments independently, which can save you time. However, you can only include a link to this order form in your Instagram bio (as explained below). This means shoppers need to pause their browsing, remember what they want to buy, go to your bio, and click the link to the order form. It's a bit of a hassle and can be inconvenient.

Having a website streamlines this process. Customers can easily view your products, add items to their cart, and proceed to checkout when they're ready.

If you don't have a website yet, don't worry! You can use CheckoutLink to create a storefront link that customers can click to view your products, select variants, add to cart, and place orders. This way, you don't need a website to sell on Instagram, and you can provide a seamless shopping experience for your customers.

3. Optimize Your Instagram Bio

Your Instagram bio is the first thing visitors see when they land on your business account, so it's your chance to grab their attention right away and show them they're in the right place. With only 150 characters to work with, you can focus on:

• Describing your company and its unique benefits.
• Highlighting current promotions or offers.
• Showcasing your unique selling proposition.

It's also smart to include keywords related to your products or services. This way, people searching for similar items or businesses are more likely to find your account.

Another important element of your bio is the link to an external resource. You're allowed to have only one clickable link, and it can only go in your bio. So, if you're using CheckoutLink (as discussed in the previous step), you'll use up this link. But if not, consider linking to something like an email capture form or another way for customers to connect with you.

4. Get Your Instagram Account Ready for Buyers

When selling on Instagram, your profile becomes your primary storefront. To boost sales, make sure your account is well-organized, user-friendly, and filled with the right details to help potential customers feel confident in making a purchase.

5. Post Regularly & Engage Your Audience

A key strategy for selling on Instagram without a website is to keep your feed updated frequently. Regular posts help you stay top of mind with your audience, build brand awareness, and keep people engaged with your business.

How Often Should You Post On Instagram?

Most business accounts post 1-2 times a day on average, but consistency matters more than how often you post. It's better to share content every 3-4 days than to post five times in one day and then go quiet for a week. To stay consistent, create a content plan that covers at least a month and stick to it, either by posting manually or using scheduling tools to automate the process.

6. Promote Your Business Account

By following the advice from the previous steps, you're already doing a great job of promoting your business. But if you have a budget set aside for marketing, here are two additional methods that can further boost your reach.

Influencer Marketing

Instagram is one of the top platforms for businesses using influencer marketing. The numbers back this up: around 500,000 influencers are active on Instagram, 55.4% of users follow at least one, and 69% report that influencers bring them a highly engaged, ready-to-buy audience.

So, one key strategy for selling on Instagram without a website is to partner with an influencer. They can introduce your brand and products to their followers, which can help bring potential customers directly to your business account.

Instagram Ads

Whether you're selling on Instagram without a website or with one, running ads on Instagram can help you reach a larger target audience and, ultimately, boost your sales.

Final Take: Simplify Selling on Instagram

Selling on Instagram without a website is absolutely possible and a great way to kickstart your business. From setting up a business account to engaging with your audience and leveraging influencer marketing, there are plenty of ways to grow your brand on the platform. However, as your business grows, managing orders and providing a seamless shopping experience can become challenging.

Using tools like CheckoutLink can help you turn your Instagram posts into a fully functional storefront, allowing customers to browse your products and complete purchases—without the need for a full website. It's a simple, efficient solution for businesses looking to streamline their Instagram sales process while developing their main online presence.

Don't let the absence of a website hold you back. Start selling on Instagram today!