Have you heard about attaching a shopping cart to your video reels? This amazing new feature allows you to tag products in your reels so viewers can instantly purchase them without leaving the video!
As an e-commerce seller, video reels are an awesome way to showcase your products. But they become even MORE powerful when you connect them directly to sales.
In this post, I'll explain step-by-step how to attach a shopping cart to your video reels. I'll also share tips to create effective product reels that drive sales for your e-commerce business.
Let's get started!
What is a shopping cart attachment for reels?
A shopping cart attachment allows viewers to add products featured in a reel directly to their cart without stopping the video or leaving the app.
When you tag products in a reel post, small cart icons appear on top of them. If viewers tap the cart icon, that item gets added to their cart.
After watching your reel, viewers can easily check out all the items they added. It's seamless and frictionless shopping!
Why add a shopping cart to your reels?
Attaching a shopping cart overlay on your product reels provides a few big benefits:
1. It connects viewers instantly to a purchase opportunity
Without a shopping cart, viewers would have to stop watching, find the product in your store, and add it to their cart there.
The shopping cart attachment removes all these steps. Adding items is as easy as tapping a button!
This means more viewers will actually follow through and buy your products.
2. It keeps viewers engaged with your content
Having a shopping cart attachment allows viewers to shop AND keep watching your reel at the same time.
This increases the time viewers spend engaging with your brand. The longer they watch, the more likely they are to purchase.
3. It works seamlessly across platforms
Shopping cart attachments work consistently across different apps and social platforms.
For example, someone watching your reel on Instagram can easily add products to a cart to check out on your Shopify store.
This omnichannel experience makes buying from your business FAST for customers.
How to attach a shopping cart to your reels
Create a reel featuring one or more products
Just like any reel, you'll want creative visuals and engaging content. Showcase your products in a fun, interesting way.
You can feature one hero product or do a quick product tour with multiple items. Get creative with revealing and transitioning between products!
Tag each product
In your reel editing tools, select a frame where a product is clearly visible. Tag that product with the "link" feature.
Make sure you use the proper product URL from your e-commerce store. Double check that each tag goes to the right product page.
Enable shopping cart checkout
Finally, you need to connect your reel to a shopping cart. In the reel settings, choose which cart you want to attach - your e-commerce store checkout or the platform's native checkout.
For example, on TikTok you can link to your TikTok Shop. On Instagram, you can connect your Shopify cart.
Post and track performance!
Publish your reel and see how well it converts. Pay attention to which products get added to carts most frequently.
Use these insights to refine which products you feature and how you showcase them.
Tips for creating effective product reels
Getting viewers to actually buy from your reels takes some strategy. Follow these tips to maximize conversions:
Hook viewers in the first 3 seconds
Your opening visuals and caption need to grab attention FAST. Try teasing the product reveal or sharing an exciting offer.
Keep it short
You only have 30 seconds or less for a reel. Every second needs to be engaging. Cut any unnecessary content.
Show product details
Zoom in on key features, textures, or uses of the product. But don’t get boring – keep it dynamic!
Use captions to sell
Include your product’s value proposition, benefits, or promotions in the opening and closing text.
Direct viewers to shop
End by explicitly inviting them to “Tap to shop this look!” or check out other products in your store.
Retarget engaged viewers
Use insights to identify viewers who engaged and target them with additional ads and offers.
Real examples of effective product reels
Still not sure what an engaging product reel looks like? Here are a few examples from top brands:
1. ColourPop's new product reveal
ColourPop teases their new limited-edition eyeshadow palette without revealing the full product right away. This buildup hooks viewers in so they watch til the end.
2. Everlane's styling reel
Everlane shows lots of styling options with a corduroy jacket. The upbeat music and pacing keeps the reel dynamic.
3. SKIMS’ product tutorial
SKIMS shares a quick tutorial on how to wear their new Soft Lounge collection. Instructive content positions them as an expert.
4. Haus Laboratories' multi-product reel
Lady Gaga's brand Haus Labs features 5 different products in one reel. Showcasing product variety can increase cart size.
5. Glossier's glowy skincare reel
Glossier shares mesmerizing visuals of their serum creating smooth, glowing skin. Focusing on aspirational results sells the product's benefits.
Are you ready to boost sales with product reels?
Adding a shopping cart to your reels is a game-changer for driving conversions from video content. As you create product reels, remember these best practices:
- Hook viewers fast with compelling visuals and opening captions
- Keep it short, dynamic, and focus on product details
- Use captions to sell and end with a strong call-to-action
- Analyze performance data to improve
- Retarget engaged viewers
If you need help getting set up with shopping-enabled reels, reach out! Our e-commerce experts at Ecomax can assist with content creation, product tagging, and connecting your reels to a checkout.
Let’s work together to turn your product videos into sales goldmines. Just DM us to get started!