E-commerce happens to be a prominent sales and customer engagement channel and has revolutionized the industry by positioning itself as an effective medium for communication between brands and customers while driving up sales.

Now, we have live commerce, an amalgam of live streaming and eCommerce. Although a relatively new concept, it contains the potential to entirely change the industry.

China is pretty much the first country to implement live commerce and within 5 years, brands there have witnessed an incredulous increase in their sales as well as their customer engagement rates and now we are seeing the same for brands in the US.

Consumers have collectively welcomed eCommerce into their lives, enabling them to purchase products of various kinds with just a click. Additionally, the incorporation of social media for sales just skyrocketed the entire industry. Since then, eCommerce has been on a juggernaut-like rampage to take over the business world.

The live commerce industry has​​ [increased by 76%](https://woosuite.com/stats/live-commerce/) since 2020, in fact, the global live commerce industry is expected to reach almost $200 billion dollars by 2027

Live Commerce
=============

The concept and the application of live commerce have been around for a while but it got the boost it needed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chinese brands, as mentioned earlier, were the first of many to try out live shopping, and reportedly they saw an increase of 20% in their sales and engagement.

In 2020, out of all the purchases made in China, two-thirds of it was from live commerce and live streams and this is per a survey that was conducted.

If effectively implemented it has the potential to account for around 20% of all sales in the future and even more. Furthermore, according to [eMarketer](https://www.insiderintelligence.com/content/evolution-of-livestreaming-shopping-china-what-means-on-global-scale), live commerce is anticipated to be worth $480 billion in China.

To further add to it, people have reduced reading blogs/reviews. As per [Woosuite](https://woosuite.com/stats/live-streaming/), almost 80% of the global internet population prefers watching videos.

After China’s success with live commerce, brands of almost every nature around the world are trying to implement the concept of live commerce to increase their sales and engagement rates.

First, let us take a look at China and how they found success with live shopping

Live Commerce In China
----------------------

Livestreaming commerce was a concept first introduced in 2016 by the Chinese eCommerce platform Mogujie. It so happened that this move was welcomed by the public as well, as it made online shopping seem like an in-store shopping experience.

After Mgojiu’s success with Livestreaming commerce, yet another Chinese eCommerce platform, Alibaba also implemented live commerce and made it popular during the same year.

In 2019, 4 years after live commerce was first introduced, it became extremely popular and as of 2020, live commerce accounted for more than 8000 businesses/brands and had over 1.23 million live hosts who are also referred to as the KOL, Key Opinion Leaders.

Additionally, as per China’s 47th report on China’s internet development, the number of people using live commerce sky-rocketed to a staggering 388 million (2020). This accounts for nearly 40% of China’s internet users.

But it doesn’t stop there, towards the end of 2020, China’s live commerce industry had exceeded $1 trillion.

Live Commerce In The US
-----------------------

Following the success of China’s live commerce, brands everywhere started to implement the concept of live commerce. Let’s take a look at a few US-based brands that implemented live commerce early with different strategies and see how it worked out for them.

Nordstrom - Content Matters
---------------------------

China is the current leader in live commerce, but the US brand Nordstrom is definitely on its way to raking up a lot of sales and engagement rates. Nordstrom happened to release a dedicated channel meant only for live shopping.

With its introduction came a slew of events with various themes.

*   Beauty trends
    
*   Fashion for a special occasion
    
*   Dressing up for different seasons (fall, spring)
    
*   Simple yet trendy holiday gifts
    

Nordstrom always chooses topics that are typically preferred and loved by the general populous, this helps them garner more viewers which then positively drives up engagement rates and subsequently the sales as well.

This has allowed Nordstrom to effectively engage with their audience. With the help of video commerce, it becomes possible to answer questions/address concerns in real time and this is a major factor for engagement. Customers prefer real-time answers rather than having to wait for an answer on regular social media posts.

When customers are able to purchase products that are being displayed on live streams, it exponentially enhances their shopping experience by making it all the more interactive.

Quivr - Choose The Best Platform For Your Brand
-----------------------------------------------

Yet another US-based brand implementing the concept of live commerce. Quivr didn't just choose any platform for the purpose of live streaming eCommerce, they were quite meticulous in their choice.

They first started implementing video commerce in 2020 and tried out various platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and similar other social media platforms to talk about their products (Tea/Energy drinks).

After this they chose Amazon live as their primary live streaming platform.

But why did Amazon live work better than social media platforms even though there are more people using social media platforms?

Well, it depends on who your target audience is. Even though Instagram and other similar platforms have a lot of people and they're there for the purpose of entertainment. Hence, if you’re selling something that can be deemed as entertaining or offer the element of entertainment, it would make sense to use these platforms.

But if you’re looking for a qualified audience, in other words, an audience who want just more than entertainment and are looking for in-depth knowledge on the product they’d like to buy then Amazon works the best. This is exactly why Quivr worked extremely well on Amazon live and not on social media platforms.

Kiehl’s - Promotional Strategy Matters A Lot
--------------------------------------------

An American cosmetics brand that hopped on the Livestreaming commerce brandwagon found success with the help of great promotional strategies.

The key was to let people know about the live event and they did exactly the same, they invested quite a bit into their promotional strategy. For instance, they invested in promoting the live event with a lot of posts, and stories, to make people aware of the soon-to-happen live event.

Their promotional strategy doesn’t stop there, they also offer gifts of various nature to people who sign-up for their live event. On top of that, they increased their engagement rates with the help of interactive games on their website.

This strategy worked out beautifully for them, by the end of July 2021 they had several new customers who signed up and they also got amazing ROI on ads.

Petco - Entertainment Is Key
----------------------------

An American pet retailer figured out that people would prefer to watch live streams if they were fun and entertaining.

This is why they started live canine fashion shows and the response they received was quite unprecedented in their history. Millions of people signed up to watch the live canine fashion shows and it ended up generating a substantial amount of sales.

Here’s the amazing part, almost every dog, at the end of the live shows, ends up getting adopted.

Live Commerce - Statistics You Should Be Aware Of
=================================================

Livestreaming commerce is on its way to being the best and most prominent sales channel, here are a few stats and explanations for the same to solidify the above statement:

*   The Live commerce industry in China grew over 280% within a span of mere 3 years (2017 - 2020) and is now expected to grow over $400 billion by 2022 end. (McKinsey)
    
*   The engagement for live streaming videos on a global scale was expected to grow by 14% in 2021 and a prediction of 158 million users (US) by 2022.
    

In the very stat report, it was stated that internet users spent about 480 billion hours (2020) on live videos and this is a whopping 35% more than in 2019. (Statista.com)

*   The exponential growth of livestreaming commerce cannot be denied. The industry which was valued at $30.29 billion (2016), was valued at $70.05 billion (2021). Moreover, there was a recorded growth of 18.3% in the same year (2021). (prnewswire)
    
*   Although live commerce is used to sell products of every nature, the most products displayed/sold are fashion apparel and accessories (36%) followed by food and beverages (7%), consumer electronics(5%), and subsequently home decor(4%). (McKinsey)
    

Additionally stats you should be aware of:

*   Over 75% of brands use live commerce to strengthen their customer relationships.
    
*   Over 60% of people who livestream shopped loved the new experience and 66% of consumers would prefer retailers who are innovative with online shopping.
    
*   Over 25% of online shoppers stated that live commerce definitely prompts and helps them make purchases.
    
*   YouTube, hands down, is the most used live commerce platform in America.
    

How Does Live Commerce Benefit Consumers?
-----------------------------------------

Well, for starters, it eliminates most of the problems associated with in-store shopping, like travel time and queues while retaining the element of personal touch. It makes it easier for them to go through products to find the one they want!

Real-time interactions replicate the experience of in-store shopping and they have their questions answered on the spot and can reserve/buy the product during the live stream. This makes online shopping almost similar to physical shopping and this is why consumers are leaning more towards digital shopping a.k.a. live shopping.

Final Thoughts
==============

It is quite undeniable that live shopping is here to take over and there is no turning back. There are several plus sides to it, it can eliminate travel time, queues, and trying out different stores to get the product you want.

Live shopping eliminates all of the above-mentioned problems and further enhances customers’ shopping experience. Live commerce is now an essential part of eCommerce and the future looks bright with it.

Why Is Live Commerce Important For Brands?

Humans, in general, have always been visually fascinated by a multitude of things and it could either be creative or aesthetic!

To speak of being visually appeased, ever since the dawn of television, computers, and subsequently smartphones, we haven’t been able to get our eyes off the screens.

This has, since then, become a game-changer in the business sphere and we’re referring to eCommerce. The growth of the eCommerce industry is quite unprecedented. It’s now come to be known as the best way for every industry/business to engage and connect with its target demographic to further boost sales.

Now, we have Live Commerce taking over, but what is it?

It’s an expression/term that you use to describe eCommerce paired with live streaming. Live Commerce is now placing itself as the best sales channel.

In fact, Live Commerce managed to turn into one of the most prominent sales channels in all of China and it took less than 5 years. Businesses that hopped on to this bandwagon early on have witnessed quite the success.

When done the right way, live commerce offers viewers the option of buying products without directing them to another site.

Instagram live shopping and Facebook live shopping are great examples too but nothing like running live commerce on your own channels.

Live streaming is expected to account for nearly 20% - 30% of all eCommerce sales in the near future. Even with this prediction on the line, it is quite hard to discern how live streaming will grow.

The Evolution of The Retail Industry
====================================

The transformation of the retail industry over the years is worth taking a look at. Gone are the days when a person could just walk into a store and purchase products. Most people, now, prefer shopping online and every business has been adapting to ever-evolving consumer needs.

The Covid-19 pandemic fast-tracked this entire process and now eCommerce by itself is not enough. To garner more attention, brands have started to merge live streaming and live events with eCommerce. If you’re a brand, then seeking and trying out new avenues for customer engagement is something you put on top of your priority list.

An argument can be made stating, eCommerce does not offer customers a personalised in-store shopping experience that a traditional store may offer. Furthermore, in a physical store, people have the option of physically checking the product before making a purchase.

Combining live streaming and eCommerce is one way of offering a personalised experience, although it may not equate to the actual experience of buying products from a store, it definitely is a step up from eCommerce by itself.

**How Can Live Shopping Benefit Your Business?**
------------------------------------------------

Similar to how eCommerce took over the business sphere and offered a ton of benefits to businesses and brands of all kinds, live commerce is expected to outdo that!

But how?

There are quite a few benefits of live commerce, namely

*   Increasing Brand Appeal
    
*   Boost Conversion Rates
    
*   Increase the FOMO Effect
    
*   Increase Engagement
    

Let’s take a look at them,

### **Increasing Brand Awareness**

Live Commerce can help your brand stand out from the rest, especially when executed the right way, it can help you gain a lot of traffic and further help your brand identity increase within your existing demographic.

Live shopping is a one-of-a-kind trendy experience and youngsters are always looking for the same, this can help you gain a lot of new viewers/customers as well.

People are already used to QVC shopping and adding QVC style live shopping to your own channels is an incredibly amazing move.

### **Increasing Conversion Rates**

In order to increase conversion, a business must first boost its engagement with its audience, and live commerce does exactly that.

Its vibrant and immersive nature retains the attention of its viewers for a prolonged period of time. Furthermore, the use of limited coupons only for live events aids in creating a fun yet intense sense of urgency.

To top it off, the brands that implemented live commerce are currently reporting a boost whopping 30% increase in their sales.

### **Increase FOMO Effect**

FOMO, the abbreviation for “Fear Of Missing Out”, a fear of missing out on exciting events, can be used to a brand's advantage.

Each and every live event has a time limit and brands/influencers who host it may only be selling a handful of products for a discounted price.

Additionally, anyone who is skeptical of online shopping will witness other people buy products online and in real time, this could further prompt skeptics to start live online shopping.

### **Increase Audience Engagement**

In simple words, the effective use and implementation of live commerce can skyrocket your engagement rates. ALDO, a Canadian retail brand, hosted a live event in 2021 and had a [308% increase](https://www.smartzer.com/single-post/livestream-shopping-the-biggest-trend-of-2021) in audience engagement. Similarly, almost every brand that tried live commerce experienced a boost in their engagement.

Live Commerce In China - A Small Summary
----------------------------------------

As mentioned earlier, live commerce in China is well on its way to cementing its place as the best and most rapidly growing channel. China currently predicts that the live commerce market in their country will grow into a $770.70 billion market by next year (2023).

Online shopping in China, just like the rest of the world, had a prominent place in their market even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit but the introduction of live commerce just stepped up their entire game within a short span of 5 years. Even though live commerce is a market filled with the younger generation, it has been attracting viewers across all ages. As of March 2022, China has over 264 million people using live commerce.

Let’s take Taobao as an example, an online shopping platform, that experienced huge success and now has a market share of 35%, putting them on top! Following their success, brands and businesses around the world started experimenting with live commerce with the help of content creators/influencers.

For instance, Tommy Hilfiger tried live commerce in Northern America and Europe and they were left flabbergasted by the results, in one particular live event they sold 1300 hoodies and garnered over 10 million viewers in less than 3 minutes.

Consumers are now shifting to live commerce as well, a live event has the element of personal touch and it offers real-time brand-consumer engagement which they enjoy from the comfort of their homes.

Live streaming is now well on its way to earning its place as the best channel and with the demand for live commerce rising, we can expect a lot from this!

Live Shopping Commerce
----------------------

Live commerce is still a relatively young channel with quite a few hidden avenues yet to be explored. But to start out, implementing eCommerce practices is one of the best ways to get a good grip on it, and while starting out, it is advisable that you try a few options that are subjected to minimal risk and cost.

For example, rather than live streaming an event on your brand’s website you should stream it on social media platforms. For starters, people would rather watch an online event on social media unless it has the element of “exclusive” to it, only then will they consider tuning into the brand’s website. Social media platforms also offer quite a few features for you to enhance the live streaming experience and features to make sales as well (Instagram Live Shopping), this will help you understand the world of live commerce better as well.

![live shopping](https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/instasell-7f53f.appspot.com/o/_blogposts%2F10d32062-d8b1-4ea9-bf1c-fa37c9cb615a.jpg?alt=media&token=f1e9c35c-0f3d-4beb-bcad-57fbde77e67f)

Different Types Of Live Commerce
--------------------------------

There are a number of live commerce formats that you can choose from:

### Influencer Streaming

This seems to be one of the most popular formats for live commerce. Influencers, typically, have a great following and they use their influence to promote and sell products. The products could either be their own or they could be hired by a brand to help them promote a product. But bear in mind, influencer streaming works well with the younger crowd and not so much with the older ones.

### Online Marketplace

Online marketplaces have come to become a mainstay in the business sphere. It is can help companies sell their products without having physical display stores and consumers can view/review/buy products from the comfort of their houses. With the addition of real-time interaction, it helps in the recreation of an experience close to in-store shopping.

### Tutorials

A great live commerce format that best suits the fashion and cosmetic industry. Fashion brands host live events showcasing their clothing line and they further offer their viewers advice on different ways to style and experiment with clothes. Similarly, cosmetic brands have live events that showcase their products and they further talk about which product can benefit whom the best.

### Exclusive Live Events

We know, all of the above are also live events but here we are talking about exclusive events. For instance, product launches, brand anniversaries, Black Friday, and many more. If you’re streaming a product launch, then you can have people from all over the world viewing it and not just store visitors.

To further add to it, the element of exclusive live events build a great sense of anticipation and can help you garner more audience.

Live Shopping - What Does The Future Behold?
--------------------------------------------

As of now, there is no way to discern the future of live commerce in an absolute manner. But the observations made since its inception will give us a good idea of what to expect in the future.

One thing you can expect is the rise of nano-influencers and micro-influencers!

But what do we mean by this?

Big corporations and brands seldom understand the art of hosting live events and although they may have a dedicated audience following their brand, they are not be able to engage or generate interest in the most optimal manner.

But on the other hand, using influencers can change the game. Influencers, without a doubt, make excellent hosts and have the ability to attract the attention of a lot more viewers. The engagement rates between influencers and brands are quite huge with influencers having 10 times more engagement.

Innovative live commerce formats are on the way to revolutionize pretty much everything. AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality) are immersive technologies that are capable of bringing an in-store shopping experience to your fingertips. They help in making a virtual experience as real as possible!

Live commerce, although is being implemented in the B2C industry but is also something B2B industries will implement in the near future. As technology makes its way through every nook and cranny of the world, there is no doubt that live commerce will stamp itself as one of the most prominent channels in the world. Imagine a world where you can visit and explore a store without leaving your house, this is the future of business.

Why Do Consumers Love Live Shopping?

What Is Phygital Marketing for Brands?

A 6-Step Guide To Instagram Ads \[For Beginners\]
=================================================

Instagram seems to be the pinnacle of advertisement in today’s world and every brand & individuals seem to be advertising themselves on Instagram. 

But why Instagram?

Well, because of its absolutely massive user base, Instagram over the years has garnered over 1 billion users. This means if you effectively market your brand/product or service on Instagram then you can reach hundreds and thousands of people. 

Just like Facebook ads, Instagram ads pop up everywhere in the apps, from stories to reels, they may seem like any other regular post, but every Instagram Ad shows the word “sponsored”. 

Additionally, Instagram ad posts come with a slew of extra features, like CTAs, catalogs, and much more. But as you know, these ads are paid for, so how much will it cost you?

That depends on a number of factors. Without further ado, let’s get right into it. 

Instagram Ads - How Much Will It Cost You?
==========================================

As mentioned in the above section, the cost of Instagram ads depends on a lot of varying factors. For example, here are a few important factors that affect the pricing of Instagram ads:

*   Number of audiences you want to reach out to
*   Target demographic 
*   What time of the year do you advertise (typically, costs go up during holidays)
*   Placement of ads

These are just some of the many factors that come into play. Furthermore, if you want to determine if your expenditure will be adequate to attract the targeted audiences within the specified period of time, then you need to create create a draft campaign in Ads Manager and check for the "Audience Definition" and "Estimated Daily Results modules", it will give you a fair idea of how much it will cost you.

There is no ideal budget or anything similar to that, it all depends on what you want and what you can afford. 

What Are The Different Types Of Instagram ADs?
==============================================

Before you start reading the step-by-step guide to Instagram ads, you should know the different types of ads that Instagram has. 

Here’s a list of different types of Instagram ads you can choose:

*   Image ads
*   Video ads
*   Collection ads
*   Carousel ads
*   IGTV ads (Instagram TV)
*   Shopping advertisements 
*   Stories ad
*   Reels ads

Basically, these are different types of posts you can upload on Instagram. You should always choose the type of post that works best for you. 

A Step-By-Step Guide To Instagram Ads
=====================================

Now that you know what Instagram ads are, we’re sure that you’re eager to try them out. But before you start, remember you need to have a Facebook page for your business and that should be linked to your Instagram account, this makes it easier to put up ads and comes with a lot more features and tools. 

Let’s get right into it, the very first thing you must do is log into your Facebook account and start a new campaign, you will find this option in the Ads Manager section.

Step #1 - Select The Goal of The Ad Campaign 
---------------------------------------------

Instagram gives you 3 options for the same 

*   Awareness
    *   Reach 
    *   Increase brand awareness
*   Consideration 
    *   Increase engagement 
    *   Traffic
    *   Views
    *   Lead generation
    *   Messages
*   Conversion 
    *   Store traffic
    *   Conversion

Choose one of the three goals/objectives and each subcategory under them represents the action or end goal. 

Step #2 - Naming Your Advertisement Campaign
--------------------------------------------

After you choose your campaign objective, you should name your ad campaign. You will get the option for the same after you choose your objective. 

But why name it?

It will make tracking and monitoring your campaign easy. 

You can determine whether or not to optimize your expenditure throughout ad sets, start a split-test campaign, and test out various versions. This test basically tests out the various ad campaigns and allocates the highest budget to the campaign that shows the most potential.

Even though this is pretty much automated, you can also do this manually, if you wish to do so. 

Step #3 - Placement Of Your Advertisements
------------------------------------------

Choosing your target demographic (audience) is pretty much done in the first step. But we would suggest you skip that section in the first step and select Instagram-only placements. 

Choosing this option will enable you to choose different types of ad placements. Just ensure, you uncheck Audience Network and Facebook from there, this way you can make sure that the ds run only on Instagram. 

Step #4 - Targeting Your Audience 
----------------------------------

This step is actually where you find your target audience. 

You cannot go around advertising your products to just about anybody, you need to find people who are interested in your brand, product, or service. For example, if your brand is into making trendy skateboards, you cannot advertise that to a crowd of old people, you need to find young people, as they are more likely to be interested in skateboards. 

Ads manager gives multiple criteria that you set and adjusts to find your target audience. 

Here are the categories included in the ads manager:

*   Age - select the appropriate age category 
*   Location - choose the location you want to advertise your brand at
*   Gender - choose which gender you want to advertise to 
*   Languages - you can even choose to target people speaking a specific language.
*   Connections - helps you choose viewers who are already using your app
*   Detailed Targeting:
    *   Interests - you choose a group of audience who share the same interest
    *   Demographics - refers to the audience you choose
    *   Behaviors - this refers to targeted ads. They target customers based on their purchasing patterns. 

These are the options provided, you can use this and create custom audiences to further stand out and get more traction. Custom audiences are basically people who have visited your site before or it can also be individuals who have similar interests and behavior patterns. 

Step #5 - Budget and Schedule 
------------------------------

You have 100% control over the money your spend and the schedule of your ads. 

You can choose to have a lifetime budget or a daily budget. 

Here’s the difference between the two:

*   Lifetime Budget - you pay and your ad will run for a set specific duration of time. 
*   Daily Budget - here you allocate a dedicated amount of money to spend on ads on daily basis. This too has a start and end date.

When you select a lifetime budget, you also get the option to customize it. You can advertise only on weekdays or weekends. 

Step #6 - Selecting The Advertising Format
------------------------------------------

In the final step, you will basically choose the type of ad format to post. This refers to choosing a type of Instagram ad. 

Based on your final objective and target audience you should choose the best-suited format for your ads.

Here are the different types of ad formats:

*   Stories Ads - Showcase ads on Instagram stories
*   Carousel Ads - lets you upload up to 10 pictures in the same ad post
*   Photo Ads - lets you post one picture
*   Video Ads - Video clips (anywhere between 3 and 60 seconds)
*   Collection Ads - lets viewers buy products directly from Instagram posts

Alternate Method
================

This method is good too but not as good and specific as the one mentioned above.

This method is basically Instagram’s version of Facebook’s Boost Post. this works on already existing posts. This is a quick way to promote posts on Instagram only. To do this, you will need a professional Instagram account (just go to settings and you’ll find this option) and your account should be linked to your brand's Facebook page as well. 

That’s All Folks!
=================

These are a few simple steps you must follow if you want to advertise your brand, product, or service on Instagram. If you do things in a careful manner, then you can be sure to significantly boost your brand's identity, after all, Instagram does have a billion people using it. 

So don’t wait for too long, start advertising your brand on Instagram now!

A 6-Step Guide To Instagram Ads [For Beginners]

The Rise of DTC in India

Direct-to-customer (DTC) brands are brands that sell directly to consumers without middlemen like distributors or retailers. If you are starting something similar and can't figure out how to get your first DTC order, this article will help you find the answers to some of your questions.

What is DTC?

Direct to Customer or DTC service is a type of business model in which a seller can sell directly to the customer without the involvement of any middle steps. This gives the seller more control over the entire sales process and reduces the overall business expenses. Besides, any customer would prefer buying directly from the manufacturer rather than a third-party or middlemen.

Why DTC?
--------

No matter the product or service, there are some obvious reasons why both the manufacturers and the buyers prefer this model of business. Here are some of them:

### 1\. For Sellers/Businesses.

Besides the advantage of eliminating middlemen, there are several other reasons why DTC is a better business model and is here to stay.

1.  Greater Control over the customer journey:

The number of steps in the supply chain automatically reduces when you eliminate retailers and middlemen. You gain more control over the supply chain processes and get to come in contact with the customers directly. This way you get to know their demands and shopping experiences up-close, helping you improve your services to your customers' satisfaction.

Reduced time-to-market:

Reducing the number of steps involved also leads to reduced time-to-market. Launch your products in the market sooner and get direct feedback from customers on the product. This way you also stay updated with the market trends and customize your products as per consumer needs.

1.  Better Retention:

The marketing strategy for DTC models involves promoting and selling directly to the customers. Coming in direct contact with your customers will allow you to build long-term relations with them, increasing customer loyalty and retention rates in exchange.

1.  More control over the brand image:

How your brand looks and feels on the outside is influenced by the processes and people involved in marketing. Usually, the retailers and third parties involved in traditional retail models set conditions on functioning mutually, which means giving them space in your promotions and marketing strategies. However, DTC brands experience a sense of individualism because it gives them the freedom to create their brand image. You are in full control. From promotions to sales, you define and manage the whole customer journey.

1.  Increased use of digital marketing:

As a DTC brand, you would have to rely on the internet to spread the word about your business. Not having allies also has some shortcomings, you are your sole advertiser. However, digital marketing has its perks. The new generation is digitally native. Therefore, the reach you will get a reach through social media and the internet, which is not possible manually. Digital marketing is a highly targeted tool that helps you reach your target audience at affordable prices.

1.  Increases revenue with Subscription-based pricing models:

Subscription-based pricing models started back in the 17th century and it's been on the continuous rise ever since then. This model has gained popularity among DTC brands because it assures a continuous flow of revenue. Even if you don't get any new customers for a while, your existing subscription customers will help you maintain your revenue to keep the business running.

### 2\. For Customers.

1.  Reduced Costs:

The more steps involved in a business model, the more taxes and costs applicable to a product. Most DTC trends and policies are focused on customer acquisition and retention. Most DTC brands offer free shipping and many reduced costs on the products, which helps the customers save money.

1.  Assured Quality:

When manufacturers sell products through the retail model, the steps involved may cause damage to the goods, or worse, they might get lost in the process, never reaching the customer. The DTC model helps eliminate this. These brands focus on increasing customers' purchase experience by making the products available to them directly. This way the product will also reach the customer faster.

1.  Subscriptions and Offers:

Staying loyal to a brand offers benefits to the customers as well. They can enjoy retention programs and special offers for subscription-based customers. Early access to sales, both online and in physical stores, and many such offers are available for loyal customers.

​

How to get the first DTC order?
-------------------------------

![](https://d3qv1kdjsarkxh.cloudfront.net/site_cuid_cl0jqd2c3258091jrrksrw6w6t/images/priscilla-du-preez-bjhuu6bpuza-unsplash-cropped-1647783596338-compressed.jpeg)

It's easier to think of a business idea and get started. The real challenge comes when you have to land your first customer and make the first sale. Where do you even begin searching? Who are the people you should be selling to? Why would these people want to buy from you when there are already well-established companies in the market?

Well, let us tell you a little secret. The answers to all these questions are what will help you find your first client. Here's a list of steps that can help you get your first client and make the first sale.

### Sell Local First:

What else could be a better place to find customers than local people. Start talking about your product to people you know and collect their feedback first. Based on this feedback, you can improvise your product and sell the first few products at reduced prices. This initial feedback will help you understand your customer's thought process and choices, making your further sales easier.

### Create a unique brand identity:

Just like you, there are millions of others who are trying to start similar businesses. Your brand identity is how people perceive your brand. Even small details like the font color and font size can highly affect this perception. Make sure you have uniquely selected color themes, font styles, colors, and designs that help people recognize your brand even from a distance. Maintain the same tone and image across all social media and offline platforms.

Make Data-Based Decisions:

Keep in mind that the market operates on consumer data. Monitor market trends actively and access the tools and technology to collect data about your consumers and gain insights into useful consumer information. Divide your audience into categories and sub-categories and monitor their behavior and work on creating tailored products for each category. Learn about the latest trends and create offers and discount vouchers to attract customers.

### Leverage Social Media:

Almost all consumer-based brands would agree that social media is a lifesaver when it comes to promoting products. Once you have figured out your target audience, all you need to do is invest a little in your social media marketing strategy. Learn about what is trending on every platform and include that in your marketing strategy.

Social media also helps you collect data about your customers through their reviews on social platforms. Today, you can also sell directly from these platforms. Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, all these platforms allow businesses to sell directly to customers. First, try to gain followers organically before turning to paid promotions and advertisements. Not to mention, your social media contributes majorly to your brand identity, so make sure you work on syncing your social media accounts with the rest of your brand identity.

### Focus on Personalized Products and Marketing:

According to a [report from smarthq](https://smarterhq.com/blog/personalization-statistics-roundup), 80% of consumers are more likely to purchase a product or service from brands that provide personalized services. People would prefer products that are more inclined towards their needs. Moreover, personalization is the key to customer retention.

Leverage social media polls, add quizzes to your website, provide online testing of products through advanced AR techniques to gain insights into the likes and dislikes of your customers. Create offers and discounts on relevant products based on their previous purchases. Ensure that you are also providing omnichannel services such as Instagram and Facebook selling to make the products even more accessible.

### Build Meaningful Partnerships:

Join hands with brands that provide similar or complementary services to provide multiple services to your clients and gain access to a wider audience. When you partner with a brand, you can promote and market twice. On your platform as well as theirs. Partner with influencers or celebrities to increase your reach and once you start selling, partner with your customers and ask them to share their views on your products. This helps increase your brand image among online customers.

### Leverage Email Marketing:

Despite the hype about social media, email marketing is a powerful tool even today. According to [campaign monitor](https://www.campaignmonitor.com/resources/guides/email-marketing-new-rules/) email marketing generates $38 in ROI for every $1 spent on it. From welcome emails to delivery notice, review request emails, and win-back emails, email marketing has still got so much more potential than you can imagine.

According to a study from HubSpot, there are 4 billion daily email users worldwide. Send relevant product suggestions, offers, and discount notices via emails and see more and more customers rolling in each day. Set up personalized automated emails using email marketing tools like [Klaviyo](https://www.klaviyo.com/) and [Mailchimp](https://mailchimp.com/grow-with-mailchimp/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAybaRBhDtARIsAIEG3kmkBmUSYqPJcI5r1ue-t9DcYokL5SLCCC31Hx0Q8nZG47F7ZtpAvPoaAmYZEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds).

### Don't forget to promote to offline customers:

It's easy to get lost in the world of digital marketing and forget that you may be losing your potential offline customers because you are not paying attention to them. Work on offline marketing campaigns and try to attract local customers to improve word-of-mouth marketing.

### Create a Subscription Service:

As we explained above, subscription-based pricing models can be a game-changer for your business. These pricing models ensure a consistent flow of income for your business even when the number of customers is low. Offers like combo deals, occasional offers, extra discounts, early access to sales, and much more attract more customers than individual products because they offer more value at lesser prices.

### Establish a reliable communication channel:

The biggest concern of the customers buying products online is how can they reach out to the seller in case there's an issue with the product. To overcome this problem, set up reliable communication channels on your store and social media platforms where your customers can easily reach out when they face any issues.

Conclusion
----------

Getting the first customer is always tough in every business. However, if you take the right steps and formulate a strategy beforehand, you would surely make your first sale sooner than you expect. We hope this article could answer some of your questions.

If you would like to read similar blogs around the DTC business model [check out other articles on our blog](https://write.superblog.ai/sites/supername/instasell/posts/how-to-get-your-first-dtc-order-cl0zb5lfx188481jn28kion4wq/instasell.in/blog)​

How to get your first DTC order [2022]

If you're a business looking to sell your products, build a brand image, and grow, then setting up an Instagram shop is the way to go. Instagram released the shop feature not too long ago and statistically India has the most number of Instagram users, which means, this is a great platform to sell your products and up-scale your business.

To begin with, because of Instagram's exceptional [marketing features](https://instasell.io/blog/instagram-ads-guide), brands have always been able to sell products.

But the introduction of the Instagram shopping feature takes it to a whole new level. From incorporating your product catalog with your brand's profile to letting you tag your products in your posts, this is turning out to be quite the marketplace.

You should keep in mind that Instagram Shop can only be used for the sale of physical goods and products, you cannot sell services through this feature.

How To Enable Instagram Shop Feature?
-------------------------------------

Before you enable this feature, you must ensure you have a few things ready, such as

1.  Ensure you have the latest version of the app
    
2.  To enable and use the Shopping feature, your account must be approved by Instagram. Here are the things you should do to get your account approved -
    
3.  Ensure you comply with the policies set by Instagram
    
4.  Make sure you stay in a region where this feature is supported, if you aren't then you must be a "managed client" (This feature is currently available only for managed clients in India)
    
5.  Represent your business
    
6.  Only provide information that is accurate
    
7.  Be ready with products, catalogs, and creative posts.
    
8.  Your Instagram must be linked with Facebook page
    

Once you have everything ready, you can go ahead and enable the shop feature:-

1.  Go to your profile page and click on the menu tab
    
2.  Now open "settings"
    
3.  Select the "Business" option
    
4.  Now tap on the option that reads "Shopping" and continue
    
5.  Now select the products/catalogues and link them to your business account
    
6.  Select "Done"
    

Now, you have successfully opened an Instagram shop with several features. You can now post your catalogs as posts, pictures, reels, and much more.

Instagram allows you to tag up to 5 products in one post and it allows you to tag one product in every Instagram story.

​**What To Do If Instagram Shop Feature Isn't Available In Your Region?**
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

As mentioned earlier, if you don't live in a region where these features are unavailable then you must be a managed client to make use of these shopping features.

Currently, In India, the shop feature isn't available but you can still see several brands using this feature because they are managed clients.

### What Are Managed Clients?

Managed Clients are brands who have been given access to certain features or their accounts are being managed by Facebook.

You do not have the option of contacting Instagram to become a managed client. It depends on certain factors, such as the popularity of your brand, transparency, and other similar components.

Once your account is eligible, representatives from Facebook will connect with you and give you access to the features that you require.

But you can be sure that this feature will be released in India soon. When that happens, you will be able to use these features without being a managed client.

What Features Do You Get With Instagram Shop?
---------------------------------------------

This addition into Instagram is truly amazing, for brands and businesses who are looking to increase their sales number as well as their customer base.

Here are the features you can expect from Instagram Shop

1.  Product Images
2.  Shoppable Tags
3.  Product descriptions
4.  Interlinking option to your online store
5.  Cost of the product
6.  Other related products

Making The Best Use Of Instagram Shop
-------------------------------------

It comes as no surprise that Instagram has been continually changing the way people shop in the past few years and if you want your business to stay ahead of the curve, then you must know how to use Instagram Shop.

Instagram Shop can help you take your sales to the next level. With this feature, you can make a product catalog and make that catalog accessible with a "View Shop" button on your Instagram account's profile page.

Here are some of Instagram's other e-commerce features that you can use -

1.  Instagram Post Shopping - You can tag upto 5 products in each post.
2.  Instagram Stories Shopping - You have the option of tagging one product in each story.
3.  Instagram Reels and IGTV Shopping - You can tag products in your Reels and IGTV videos to increase sales.
4.  Instagram Live Shopping - This feature is amongst the most innovative, you can go live on your Instagram, showcase your products and tag them for people to buy. Instagram allows you to tag upto 30 products before you go live, provided you have access to Instagram checkout.
5.  Instagram also offers "Instagram Guides" to help you improve your sales game. It will share a number of tips and tactics to help you increase your sales.

### Tagging Products In Your Instagram Posts, Stories, Reels, and More

[Tagging products](https://instasell.io/blog/search?search_query=hashtags) in your Instagram post is extremely easy.

To tag products in your feed posts, reels, and more, you must first upload a post. Once done, you'll now get the option to add filters, and captions. You will also find an option "Tag Products".

When you select "Tag Products'', you will be able to tag 5 products in a post and not more. If you post a carousel post (multiple pictures), you can tag upto 20 products.

Furthermore, you can tag products the same way when you're uploading reels and IGTV videos.

If you want to tag a product in your Instagram story then, open the stickers menu after selecting the picture you want to upload and select the "Product" sticker. You will now be given the option to choose products and tag them. Although you can tag only one product in each story, you can post multiple stories.

The best part about Instagram story shopping is you don't need to be verified to use it or have a huge number of followers.

### How Upload Posts That Can Convert Viewers Into Customers

Several brands have different ways to convert viewers into customers, it all depends in your line of business. But with that being said, if you are mindful of a few things you will easily be able to convert and increase sales.

Here are a few things to keep in mind :

1.  Post visually-appealing photos, it helps capture the attention of people
2.  Use Call-to-action (CTA) buttons to prompt users
3.  Make sure you use hashtags that are relevant to your business and products
4.  Try to use user-generated content to display your products.
5.  Make aesthetically pleasing videos. They not only capture the attention of people, but it also helps in retaining their interest.

There you go, this is all the information you need when you're setting up an Instagram Shop.

Remember, Instagram is a great place to share photos and videos, which is why you should leverage that to your advantage. If done right, you can skyrocket your sales and make your customers' shopping experience truly unique.

Instagram is the future of online shopping, if you want to be a successful part of it, you should jump on the bandwagon right now.

Make E-commerce Human Like with &

Live Shopping

Why Is Live Commerce Important For Brands?

Why Do Consumers Love Live Shopping?

What Is Phygital Marketing for Brands?

A 6-Step Guide To Instagram Ads [For Beginners]

How to get your first DTC order [2022]

Setting Up an Instagram Shop in India - A Detailed Guide