Instagram has quickly become a preferred channel for customers to browse and buy, particularly in the B2C arena, where they are eager to make a visit to a retail location or directly purchase the products shown in their feeds. These customers often utilize Instagram messaging, and in June, the Messenger API for Instagram was opened up to developers for use by businesses with between 10,000-100,000 Instagram followers.
After this successful launch, the API has now been opened up to Instagram business accounts with follower counts between 1K-10K – creating new and exciting opportunities for small- to medium-sized and local businesses with devoted followings. The API is designed to integrate with your existing tools and data, allowing you to use the same social media management tools you use every day but with more power and flexibility to manage high volumes of Instagram conversations and drive a better customer experience (resulting in more overall sales). It also includes automation support – useful for those common inquires like store hours and sizing charts – and commerce features that directly drive sales. With automation and streamlined workflows, companies like Kiehl’s Malaysia have seen results like a 30% increase in qualified sales leads and 3X more incremental sales in just two months on this channel.
Check out the Messenger API for Instagram page to see if your social media management platform is supported, and contact us for assistance in building a robust, interactive and seamless Instagram customer experience.