How to Sell Digital Products on Instagram [Most Profits]

What do I need?

Selling digital products on Instagram is easier than you think. You will need to set up two things:

  1. An Instagram account
  2. A Shopify $5/month plan - the system to take payments and deliver digital products
    • You will need to install the below free apps to your Shopify:
      • Fileflare Shopify app (Free plan) for digital product delivery with file protection
      • Linkpop for adding your product checkout links to your Instagram profile (only if you are on the $5/m Shopify plan. If you have your own Shopify storefront on a higher plan, you can just add your store website link in the Instagram bio.

Method 1 - using your own store website domain

If you have your own Shopify store on the higher plans (starting at $29/m), you can just add this to your Instagram profile link.

You will still need to install the Fileflare Shopify app to your store.

Method 2 - using Linkpop

Using the Shopify $5/m plan, you must use Linkpop to have a landing page to show your products and let customers buy them.

You will still need to install the Fileflare Shopify app to your store.

Important notes

Facebook & Instagram (Meta) do not allow direct product sync with digital products using the Instagram Shopping integration. You can still sell digital products on Instagram though.

Wondering if Instagram Shopping is available in your country? Learn more about eligible countries for Instagram Shopping.

Methods to sell digital products on Instagram

You can set up a Shopify store and then direct customers from your Instagram website link to visit your store to buy your digital products. You can do this by:

  • Add a link to your website in your Instagram bio
  • Tell your followers to go to your website (store) in the descriptions of your posts or using your Instagram stories
  • Use the QR code generator to sell digital products in your visual content

It just means you won't be able to use the Instagram/Shopify Shopping integration with digital products. Using the integration, you will need to set up Meta Commerce, and this is where they say you cannot sell digital products on Meta Commerce.

The workflow

1. Set up an Instagram account

I'm guessing you already have an Instagram account, so I won't go into much detail here. But if you haven't, simply go to instagram.com and sign up.

2. Adding products to your Instagram profile

Method 2 - Using a store website domain

If you have your own website domain for your Shopify store, you can just add this to your Instagram profile link so users can go to your store.

Method 1 - Using Linkpop

Linkpop is amazing because it provides you with a free landing page where you can automatically add your digital products. This helps if you keep costs low on the $5/m Shopify plan, and need a page for your products to be seen.

Think of it as a link in bio landing page, where you have clickable product links where customers can buy the digital products instantly. Linkpop is owned by Shopify and allows you to easily sell your products from within Shopify.

You can also use a QR code generator with Shopify to sell using a QR code in your content.

Do I need to be a Shopify merchant to use Linkpop?

You don’t need a Shopify store to use Linkpop. Linkpop is just a link-in-bio landing page that's free to anyone who signs up. It allows you to place links and Shopify products to your Instagram profile.

If you want to use shoppable links with Linkpop, this requires a Shopify subscription, which is $5 USD per month for our use-case.

3. The system to sell digital products is Shopify - why?

The best-proven method in recent years is using a platform called Shopify. Shopify allows you to set up an account where you can add payment gateways to take payments, track orders and chat with your customers, as well as much more!

Unlike other platforms, it is the leading platform because it connects directly with social media.

Pricing & zero commission

Shopify has a lot of great deals for new store creators. Get yourself a free trial for $1/month for 3 months.

The great thing about Shopify is that they don't take commission fees, unlike marketplaces such as Etsy and others that take large cuts. All you need to do is pay for a monthly subscription which varies from $5 USD per month upwards, depending on what you want.

You can pay for a $5 USD per month plan, but you will only be able to add the product Buy Buttons to your current socials or site. That means you cannot have a storefront on the $5 plan, but you can for higher plans. You can only integrate Shopify into your own website or social platforms using the $5 plan. This is perfect for our use case here.

Why Shopify is better than other platforms

Integrates directly with Instagram (only physical products)

It's now possible to integrate your Instagram with Shopify and create a shop! This is BIG news. No other platform can do this as well as Shopify.

That means that your customers will be able to checkout directly on Instagram without needing to go to another site to place the order.

More profits

Shopify doesn't take excessive commissions, unlike marketplaces such as Etsy etc. All you need to do is pay a monthly subscription with Shopify. Then every transaction will have a small transaction fee charged by the payment gateway. This happens on every payment transaction in the world, no matter the platform.

You own the domain

Marketplaces and social media are essentially "rented space". You sign up for a profile on their system and need to follow their rules. With Shopify, you own the domain name, and you own the store. You can design any way you like, charge how much you want and be in control.

Safety and speed

Safety is super important when it comes to customer information. Shopify has a brilliant safety system which stands by all of the worldwide rules, including GDPR.

Easiest to use

Shopify has proven to be the easiest-to-use platform for selling products. Their goal was to make it easy for anyone in the world to start a store without needing any computer knowledge.

Taxes and integrations

No matter where you live, Shopify will allow you to track taxes for digital goods. You can basically sell anywhere in the world without needing to set anything up yourself.

It also allows you to track multi-currency orders and let your customers pay in any currency they want.

Shopify also has one of the best app stores for eCommerce, allowing you to integrate with thousands of applications, including Instagram.

Loved by all creators

Many influencers are using Shopify. Just look at the latest, such as Mr Beast, Nelk, and many more.

How to set up everything

Step 1 - Sign up to Shopify

What you need to do is sign up for Shopify. Once you sign up, follow the steps, and then you will need to select the plan you choose to create your store. It will ask you to enter your card details. Once you have done this, we are ready to proceed.

Step 2 - Install the free digital product delivery app to your Shopify

Next, you will need to install the below app. This will provide your Shopify store with the ability to deliver a digital file instantly to your customers after they have purchased it. This also includes file protection to prevent file sharing.

You can do this by clicking the "Add app" button and following the steps to install. When you get to the pricing page, choose a plan 7-day free trial, or click the continue button to use the free plan.

Get it here.

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Step 3 - Create your products in Shopify

  1. Go back to your Shopify dashboard and go to "Products".
  1. Here, you will click the "Add your products" button. If you have already created a product, it will show a green "Add product" button.
  1. Now, enter your product details including the name etc.
  2. Scroll down until you see the "Shipping" section. Uncheck the option "This product requires shipping".

Because it's digital, it's good to uncheck the "Track quantity" box too. Click "Save" once you are complete.

Step 4 - Upload your digital products & attach them

Now, to add digital products to those Shopify products that you created, all you need to do is:

  1. In your Shopify dashboard, click the "Apps" button that is on the left
  2. Click "Fileflare". A new tab will open.
  1. Now, go to the "Assets" page
  2. Click the "Upload new asset" button and upload your digital products

Next, attach the file to the Shopify products

  1. Click on the digital file that you just uploaded (blue text)
  2. Enter the name of your Shopify product in the search box, select the relevant one and press the "Attach" button.

3. This will mean the digital file is now attached and armed. If someone purchases this product, a download email will be delivered.

 

Full video tutorial on setting up digital products

This is if you want to see the full walkthrough.

Step 5 - Set up your payment gateway in Shopify

I recommend using Shopify Payments & PayPal as your gateways. It gives users two options, and sometimes, they feel more comfortable using PayPal.

You will also get the best rates this way. Shopify Payments have the best transaction costs compared to other gateways.

  1. Go to Shopify
  2. Click "Settings" > "Payments"
  3. Here you can set up Shopify Payments, PayPal or any other gateway you choose.

Step 6 - Add the digital products to Instagram

Method 1 - if you have your own store domain

This is if you are using the $29/m Shopify plan and have your own website Shopify store.

Simply add your store domain URL to the Instagram profile website slot. This is where your customers can buy your digital products and get an instant download link.

If you haven't created your product page yet, now you can. The goal is to build an epic landing page that customers convert with. We have built a great guide on this. Take a look at how to build a high-converting landing page on Shopify.

Learn how to add a link to your Instagram profile.

Method 2 - if you are using Linkpop

This is if you are using the $5/m Shopify plan.

  1. Simply sign up to Linkpop if you haven't
  2. Install the Linkpop app to your Shopify store to sync everything
  3. Add your digital products to your Linkpop page
  4. Add your Linkpop URL to the Instagram profile website slot

Learn how to add a link to your Instagram profile.

Step 7 - Pro tips

Sell using QR codes in content

Use a QR code generator if you want to sell products visually in your content! This allows people to scan your QR code with their phone camera and go directly to the buyable link.

Digital product tax

Digital products require different taxes depending on what countries you're selling in. Please check with your local laws regarding digital goods tax. Europe is required to pay VAT in the country your customer's billing address is in. Learn more about digital goods tax.

Step 8 (Optional) - Customize the Fileflare app

I recommend you go back to the Fileflare app and add some customisations to your digital product experience. You can do a lot of things! You can even prevent customers from sharing products with others.

Features & tutorials:

The digital download email template with brand styling

The customer will receive a digital download email instantly after purchase. This is completely customisable within the Downloadable Digital Assets app. This allows you to add your company logo or any languages you like.

You can also show the download links on the checkout Thank You page if you have the Basic plan or higher. You are also able to customize the email templates to suit your brand; this is available on the Growth plan or higher.

Example of Thank You page

Here is an example of what the download links will look like after the customer has reached the Thank You page.

If you get stuck with anything, please feel free to contact us and ask anything you want! We can even provide custom plans if you are on a tight budget.

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