Are you looking to tap into the massive audiences on Facebook and Instagram with a streamlined selling process? Many entrepreneurs have found combining Meta’s platforms (Facebook and Instagram) with Shopify can significantly boost sales and brand awareness. Below, you’ll find a comprehensive guide on why this combination is so effective and how to get set up—step by step.
Why Facebook and Instagram Present Huge Opportunities
Facebook and Instagram aren’t just social media platforms but also powerhouse marketing tools. With billions of active users worldwide, these channels let you build communities and engage with potential customers where they are already spending time. An active Facebook Shops or Instagram Shopping can put your products directly into the hands (and news feeds) of people who love discovering and shopping for new products online.
Beyond simply showcasing products, social commerce on these platforms allows you to:
Encourage easy, one-click interactions (likes, comments, shares).
Run highly targeted ad campaigns that reach the exact audiences most likely to buy.
Build community-driven marketing strategies with live video demos, influencer collaborations, and user-generated content.
Why Shopify is an Ideal Partner for Social Selling
Streamlined Inventory and Order Management: Updating products and keeping tabs on orders in multiple places can be tedious. Shopify helps by syncing your inventory across all sales channels (including Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, Walmart, eBay, Etsy, and more). When you add or modify a product, those changes instantly appear in your connected channels.
Automatic Compliance with Evolving Policies: As Facebook and Instagram continuously update their commerce policies, Shopify’s developers ensure its integrations remain compliant. This saves you from constantly reviewing and adjusting your product listings. You get peace of mind knowing your shop meets each platform’s requirements.
Built-In Marketing Tools: Shopify’s marketing features—like customizable discounts, promo codes, and email marketing automation—pair neatly with Facebook and Instagram’s ad targeting and post tagging tools. The result? A powerful combination for driving traffic, boosting conversions, and building loyal followings.
Effortless Scalability: Shopify accommodates unlimited products and storage on every plan, which means you can list as many items as you want without worrying about hitting caps. As your social media traffic grows, Shopify scales alongside you, handling everything from surge ordering to complex analytics.
Sell on Facebook and Instagram for $1 for One Month
If you’re keen to test the power of social selling, try a free Shopify trial with no credit card required—and then enjoy your first month for just $1. Boost your business on social and let customers shop where they love to browse.
How to Launch Your Facebook and Instagram Shop with Shopify
Two main ways to get set up are integrating directly with Shopify’s native Facebook and Instagram channels or configuring a shop in Facebook’s Commerce Manager first. Below, we’ll walk through both.
Option A: Shopify’s Native Integration
Add the Facebook (and Instagram) Channels to Your Shopify Admin
In your Shopify dashboard, go to Sales Channels.
Install Facebook or Facebook & Instagram sales channels.
Connect Your Business Accounts
Sign in to your Facebook and Instagram Business Accounts when prompted.
Choose which Facebook Page and/or Instagram Business Account to link with Shopify.
Sync Your Products
Decide which products to feature in your Facebook and Instagram Shops.
Keep them updated automatically as you add or change product info in Shopify.
Publish Your Shops
After Shopify verifies your commerce eligibility, you can publish your products live on both platforms.
This process might take some time while Meta reviews your store.
This direct integration streamlines the entire process. Each product detail—title, price, description, inventory—stays current across platforms. You can focus on marketing your products instead of wrestling with manual data entry.
Option B: Setting Up a Shop Using Commerce Manager Directly
Some business owners begin in Commerce Manager to test social selling on Facebook or Instagram without committing immediately to a separate platform. They can gauge audience interest, keep things simple if they only have a few products, and learn Meta’s commerce tools firsthand. Once they validate the market and see growth potential, they link to Shopify to streamline inventory, orders, and more advanced features. If you go this route, the steps are:
Visit the Facebook Business Shops Page
Go to Facebook Shops
Click Get started, then Create a shop, and Get started again.
Choose Your E-commerce Platform
If you’re using Shopify or another partner, select it so your shop is created directly through that integration.
Otherwise, choose I don’t use these platforms and click Next to proceed in Commerce Manager.
Select Your Checkout Method
Decide whether customers check out on Facebook/Instagram or your website (which could be Shopify).
Click Next.
Pick Your Sales Channel
Choose an existing Facebook business page or create a new one.
Select the appropriate Instagram business account if you want to sell on Instagram.
Click Next.
Select or Create a Business Portfolio
This refers to your Meta Business Suite account, which manages assets like ad accounts and catalogs.
Click Next after making your choice.
Link a Product Catalog
Pick an existing catalog or have Commerce Manager create one for you.
Note that the catalog must be eligible for Shops. You cannot switch it once selected.
Click Next.
Review Details and Finish
Check your shop details, read and agree to the Seller Agreement.
Click Finish setup to finalize your new Facebook or Instagram Shop.
Even if you set up manually in Commerce Manager, you can still connect to Shopify’s platform for ongoing product management, inventory sync, and order fulfillment. This is generally the easiest way to stay organized and avoid platform-specific headaches.
Extra Selling and Marketing Tips
Open Up New Income Streams
Once your Facebook and Instagram Shops are live, consider expanding further to platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Walmart (which Shopify easily connects to).
Attract Customers with Ads
Meta’s ad targeting combined with Shopify’s performance tracking can help you optimize return on ad spend, test new audiences, and convert casual browsers into loyal fans.
Manage Everything in One Dashboard
From editing product descriptions to analyzing sales data, Shopify centralizes daily operations—so you don’t have to juggle multiple tools.
Unlimited Storage and Products
Every Shopify plan includes unlimited product listings, meaning you can scale your offerings without hitting usage limits.
Leverage 24/7 Support and Expert Resources
Whether you’re troubleshooting cart integrations or brainstorming holiday promo ideas, Shopify’s support team, online courses, and robust partner network can guide your next steps.
FAQs
Q: Do I need Shopify to sell on Facebook and Instagram?
A: You can set up your Shop directly through Commerce Manager or another partner platform. However, Shopify automates inventory management and keeps up with policy changes, saving time.
Q: Does it cost money to sell on Facebook and Instagram?
A: There’s no fee to list products on Facebook and Instagram, though transaction fees apply if you enable in-app checkout. Shopify plans have their own monthly fees and transaction rates.
Q: How do I accept payments on Facebook and Instagram?
A: You can accept payments directly within Facebook/Instagram if you enable their native checkout or redirect people to your website checkout. Shopify integrates with multiple payment gateways for frictionless transactions.
Q: Can I still use Shopify if I already started my Shop in Commerce Manager?
A: Absolutely. You can link your Commerce Manager shop to Shopify anytime to simplify logistics and benefit from automatic updates.
Q: How do I get started with Shopify’s free trial?
A: Head to Shopify’s website, enter your email, and sign up for a free trial (no credit card required). Once you’ve tested it, you can continue for $1 for your first month.
Launch Your Shop Without Limits
If you want to dip your toe into social commerce, combine Facebook and Instagram with Shopify for a cost-effective, streamlined way to reach billions of potential customers. You’ll have the tools, integrations, and support you need to grow quickly—and the freedom to focus on what matters: building your brand and connecting with your audience.
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Originally Published on Martech Zone: Why You Should Launch Your Facebook and Instagram Shop with Shopify (and How)