Instagrams New “Buy” Button, Will it Materialize?

Instagram has made it easy and fun for a lot of celebrities, business owners, artists, and others to run branding campaigns with high levels of audience engagement with lots of Instagram followers. It’s been an important tool for anyone trying to raise awareness of their products, services, or cause- but the when it comes to collecting payments- folks have been left to refer customers to other detached processors like PayPal or traditional payment processing avenues.

All that could change in 2019 in some regions. The social media platform is planning to roll out a ‘buy’ button. Creators will be able to utilize this to enable their fans to buy merchandise directly from them in the Instagram app.

An Instagram developer said, “By the middle of next year, the platform will have a ‘buy’ button. Once payments and other aspects are figured out, Instagram will start selling directly.

This is good news for Instagram influencers who don’t want their Instagram followers to have to leave the page in order to access their products. It’s also good news for Instagram who also would prefer that users hang around on their site. It could pose a threat to the many shops and sites that are now hosting the products associated with Instagram accounts.

The unknowns include how it will affect Instagram’s digital partners and what kind of backlash will come from organizations that stand to lose out on traffic. For those reasons, and to avoid preventing influencers from gaining more real Instagram followers, Instagram is limiting the initial rollout to India. India is a good testing ground since it is big enough, digital enough, and has enough English speaking computer users to serve as a good analog for bigger markets.

Analysts believe that as much as 80% of India’s internet fashion market is dominated by Amazon India and Flipkart. Arpan Sheth, a consulting partner for Bain & Company said “Instagram Shopping may boost sales for brands and smaller fashion portals by redirecting customers to the merchant websites. Instagram would have to figure out other aspects of customer experience, such as logistics, payments, and returns to be able to take users away from fashion eCommerce platforms in the long run.”

The question is, will Instagram have what it takes to cope with all the bumps and unforeseeable problems that come with processing payments online? Fraud, chargebacks, shipping mistakes, and other sticking points are the reason online payment processors tend to be standalone services- letting merchants and buyers work out their disagreements directly.

The feature will be in a limited beta state for the whole of 2019.

Instagramers anxious to start selling directly to real Instagram followers will have to wait until early next decade.

Hot this week

Did David Wineland and Serge Haroche Steal Idea For The Nobel Physics Prize?

Dr. Omerbashich says the Royal Swedish Academy is a Crime Scene and he has the proof that Nobel laureates stole his discovery.

New Approaches to Disaster Relief Challenges

Disaster relief has always been a challenge. NASA, Google,...

3 Legitimate Money Making Methods to Supplement Your Income

In a perfect world, when your landlord raises your...

2016 Predictions by World Renowned Medium and Psychic Lindy Baker

World renowned medium and psychic Lindy Baker is interviewed by The Hollywood Sentinel, discussing psychic power, the spirit world, life after death, areas of concern in 2016, and much more.

Digital Coupon Customers Spending More Than Double At Stores

A new study shows that customers who use digital coupons go shopping more for groceries and other household goods more often and spend more on their shopping trips.

LAJFF Reminds Us Of The Beatles And More

The Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival (LAJFF) is celebrating...

Listo Expands with Major NHL Partnerships at Bridgestone Arena and Xcel Energy Center

Listo, a next-generation premium experience and hospitality platform, is...

Don’t Demand Respect While Rejecting the Host Culture

Why demanding respect from the West without self-reflection falls flat. A powerful defense of Western values and cultural boundaries.

FUD Is the Only Thing That’s Real in Crypto Right Now

In the topsy-turvy world of crypto, where projects appear...

How to Get Your Team OSHA-Compliant Without Disrupting Productivity

You’ve got deadlines to hit, orders to fill, and...

Setting the Scene in the Green Leadership Contest

An informative analysis of the UK Green Party leadership contest and its pro Palestinian stance on antisemitism, trans rights, and other human rights issues

Related Articles

Popular Categories