Indian travel bloggers are setting new records on Instagram. Travel bloggers like Tanya Khanijow have millions of followers on Instagram. They have built a loyal following and regularly share their travel stories and experiences to engage followers.
India has a 360 million+ Instagram user base (Highest in the world). If you are looking to monetise your travel blogging business, Instagram is one of the best platforms to start on.
However, many travel bloggers still don’t know how to monetize their Instagram profiles. For them, Instagram is ‘just’ a content-sharing platform.
If you have the question, “How can I sell digital products on Instagram as a travel blogger?” We are here to help you find the answer.
Let’s go.
Content Index
- Why should you Consider Selling on Instgram?
- Rules of Selling on Instagram
- How to Sell Digital Products on Instagram?
- What Digital Products to Sell on Instagram as a Travel blogger?
- Conclusion
- FAQs
Why should you Consider Selling on Instgram?
Before explaining ‘Why Instagram?’, let us show you some numbers that will answer your question immediately.
What do these numbers tell you about Instagram’s potential as a selling platform?
In one word, it has to be HUGE!
As travel bloggers, your target audiences are youths who aspire to travel the world. With 18 to 24 year olds being the most engaged users of Instagram, it is the appropriate platform to build their interest and win their trust.
Rules of Selling on Instagram
If you are wondering how to sell digital products on Instagram, you must first know the rules. Here are the eligibility criteria you must tick off before you start selling digital products on Instagram:
- Set up an Instagram business account that’s integrated with your Facebook account. Personal accounts are not eligible for selling on Instagram
- Make sure that your Instagram account complies with all the terms of use
- You have to maintain an authentic, trustworthy presence on Instagram
- Share accurate, clear, and concise information about the digital products so the users don’t have any confusion
How to Sell Digital Products on Instagram?
Selling digital products on Instagram is fairly simple. Unlike physical products, for which you need to set up an Instagram shop, there are no such restrictions on digital products.
You can sell your digital products on Instagram in three simple steps:
- Get your product listed on your website or any digital selling platform
- Add the link to purchase in your Instagram bio
- Sort the payment collection process
Let us explain each step in detail. We will use travel blogger Aakanksha Monga’s example to help you understand the process.
Step 1: Get your product listed on your website or any digital selling platform
Build your online store using Shopify or list your digital product on sites like Topmate, Gumroad, Payhip, etc.
Aakansha uses her website called Travel Amore to sell digital products:
📒Note: Wondering how to start selling your first digital product through a website or platform?
Read this detailed guide.
Step 2: Add the link to purchase in your Instagram bio
Add the purchase link to your digital products within your Instagram bio in the next step. Observe how Aakansha has done it 👇
Follow the below steps:
▶️Go to your Instagram account and click on Edit profile
▶️Scroll down and click on Links
▶️You will have two options. Click on Add external link to direct your followers to a specific site, such as your website or digital product checkout page. You can also click on Know me better to insert links to other social profiles, like LinkedIn or Twitter. Additionally, you will have the option to add your Facebook profile to Instagram.
▶️ Finally, add the URL and a Title, click on ✅and you are done.
Step 3: Sort the payment collection process
The last and final step in selling digital products on Instagram is setting up a seamless payment collection process. To streamline this process, you need to use a payment link generator like Nimbbl.
- Sign up on Nimbbl
- Go to the dashboard of Nimbbl’s payment link and fill out the following required details:
- Now click on Create payment link
- Your customer will now receive an email from Nimbbl requesting to make a direct payment. They can select any payment method, such as UPI, cards, or net banking. Once they complete the payment, the seller will be notified, and you can send the digital product to the customer immediately
Alternatively, Nimbbl also allows you to generate payment links in bulk. Simply share the below-mentioned details with the team, and they will take it forward:
| Inputs needed from the travel blogger/online merchant: payer_first_name payer_last_name payer_email_address payer_mobile_number total_amount invoice_id notification_channel_email notification_channel_sms sms_template_name email_template_name expires_atcurrency |
You can also use Nimbbl plugins to collect payment directly from your online store. Here are the quick access links:
What Digital Products to Sell on Instagram as a Travel blogger?
As a travel blogger, you can sell many innovative digital products to your followers. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Travel content creation courses
You can create and sell digital courses on:
- Travel photography
- Self-video shooting and editing
- Content creation tips and strategies for aspiring travel bloggers
Aakanksha Monga sells a digital course called ‘Viral Video Blueprint,’ in which she teaches video quality tips, social caption writing, engagement tips, and more.
Travel itineraries and finance management tips
As a travel blogger, your biggest asset is your experiences. You have travelled to different countries and cities, and you know what works in which country, how much to spend on a trip, and what cuisine to explore in which country like the back of your hand.
Why don’t you monetise these experiences? Here are some digital product ideas to explore:
- Personalised travel itineraries (Think of a 3-day itinerary to a 15-day itinerary)
- Travel finance tips
- Travel food and hospitality guides
Lightroom presets
Everyone loves beautiful photos, but editing them is not everyone’s cup of tea. You, the travel blogger, hold a huge advantage here. Sell your personalised Lightroom presets to help your followers edit like you do.
Travel blogger Kritika Goel sells Lightroom presets through her website and often promotes them on her Instagram account.
Here are some other digital product ideas to sell on Instagram:
- Wallpapers
- Newsletter subscriptions
- Virtual tours of your destinations
- Instagram/YouTube growth courses
- Flight booking and hotel booking tips and tricks
- Content calendar templates
💡Find out more ways to monetise your blog and website.
Conclusion
If you are a travel blogger with a decent follower base on Instagram, you are already sitting on treasure. It is high time you started selling on Instagram to build a new revenue stream.
We hope you found the answer: ‘How to sell digital products on Instagram?’
If streamlining your payment process is still a challenge, explore Nimbbl.
FAQs
Can I sell products on Instagram?
Yes, you can sell products on Instagram. You can add purchase links to your bio and use payment link generators to collect payments for digital products.
How do I sell my digital product on social media?
List your product on a website or digital selling platform, add the purchase link to your social media profile, and set up a payment collection process using tools like Nimbbl.
Can I sell my digital products on Instagram?
Yes, you can sell digital products on Instagram by linking to your product page in your bio and promoting them through your content.
Is it profitable to sell digital products?
Yes, selling digital products can be a viable revenue stream for travel bloggers with a significant follower base.
Do you need permission to sell on Instagram?
You must set up a business account on Instagram and comply with their terms of use. Personal accounts are not eligible for selling on the platform.
