Instagram Shopping expanded to more types of businesses & creators

With the new eligibility requirements, Instagram Shopping will be accessible to more brands and creators who want to sell their merchandise on Instagram.

The updated eligibility requirements are effective from 9th July in all countries where Instagram Shopping is supported.

Eligible creator accounts with products that comply with the Instagram Commerce Policies, and business operating from a domain they own, both of which who also pass the integrity checks will be able to sell on Instagram.

Brands and creators can use shopping tags to redirect people to their website to sell products and businesses in the US who are a part of the beta checkout program, can sell from within the app through in-app checkout.

Also Read: How to run Instagram ads without linking a Facebook ad account?

The sign-up flow will be updated to provide transparency for the types of businesses that Instagram Shopping supports. Businesses will be notified when they get approved after signing up for Instagram Shopping. Instagram will provide a reason if a business is not approved.

Newly signed-up businesses will be brought on board through the updated flow, and existing businesses will receive instructions for coming into compliance.

The new eligibility criteria will be extended to all Facebook-owned commerce surfaces in the future. The eligibility requirements can be viewed in the Help Centre.

In an episode of Samosa talks, Gunjan Arya, Chief Executive Officer, Only Much Louder mentioned that recently she has observed several homegrown influencers, creators, and microbusinesses, that create content to promote their own brand, and thus forming a self-sustaining ecosystem, that doesn't need a brand to sponsor their content.

The new feature will further boost this ecosystem, wherein creators would be able to monetize their content, and also sell products, merchandise, and more.

For instance, Bhuvan Bam's BB Membership Programme in association with YouTube. The Programme offered in two variants offered loyalty badges, custom emojis along with BB collectibles like mugs, coasters, frames, stickers, badges, pop sockets and more. Such monetized activities can also boost on Instagram, where a creator is also a brand.