How to Sell Things on Instagram Without a Website

Thinking you need a website to start selling your products is a common hurdle that stops many aspiring entrepreneurs. The good news is you can build a thriving business using only your Instagram account. This guide breaks down exactly how to turn your profile into a sales machine, from optimizing your bio to managing payments and shipping, all without a single line of code.

Step 1: Turn Your Instagram Profile into a Storefront

Before you make your first sale, your profile needs to look the part. Think of your Instagram page as your digital storefront. When a potential customer lands on it, they should immediately understand who you are, what you sell, and how they can buy it. A confusing profile is a missed sale.

Optimize Your Bio for Sales

Your bio is prime real estate. You have 150 characters to convince someone to stick around. Don't waste them.

• State Exactly What You Do: Are you a ceramicist selling handmade mugs? Do you curate vintage clothing? Say it clearly. Example: “Hand-poured soy candles made in Brooklyn, NY.”
• Include a Call to Action (CTA): Tell people what to do next. The most common and effective method for website-free selling is directing them to your DMs. Example: “DM to order your custom piece ✨”
• Use Your Link Wisely: You only get one link. Instead of leaving it empty, use a free service like Linktree or Carrd to create a simple landing page. You can use this to link directly to a payment page (like PayPal.Me) or a simple product catalog you created in a tool like Canva.

Choose a Professional Profile Picture & Handle

Your username (@handle) should be simple, memorable, and related to your brand name. If your desired name is taken, add a simple modifier like “shop,” “co,” or your location (e.g., @brooklynceramics instead of @ceramicsbyjane1992). For your profile picture, a clean logo or a high-quality headshot (if you’re the face of the brand) works best. Avoid low-resolution or cluttered images.

Step 2: Set Up Painless Payment Methods

This is the most critical part of selling without a website. You need a simple, trustworthy way for customers to pay you. Don't overcomplicate it, stick to methods people know and trust.

PayPal

Creating a PayPal.Me link is one of the easiest options. You get a personalized, shareable link (e.g., paypal.me/yourbrandname) that you can send directly to customers in a DM. When they click it, they’re taken to a page where they can enter the amount and pay you. It's secure, professional, and familiar to most online shoppers.

Venmo or Cash App

For some brands, especially those with a younger or more casual audience, Venmo or Cash App can work. It feels personal and immediate. The downside is that they offer less buyer/seller protection than PayPal, so it's best for lower-cost items. Always use the “Goods & Services” option when possible to protect both you and the customer.

Invoicing Services like Stripe or Square

If you want a more official process, you can use a service like Stripe or Square to create and send invoices directly to a customer's email. You would collect their email in the DM, generate an invoice for the item(s), and send it over. The customer can then pay with a credit card via a secure link. This method feels very professional and is a great stepping stone before you eventually build a full website.

Step 3: Create Content That Sells Your Products

Your feed is your product catalog. Every post, Reel, and Story is an opportunity to showcase what you offer and convince someone to buy. You don't need a professional camera, but you do need clear, well-lit photos and engaging videos.

High-Converting Feed Posts

Your feed posts are permanent fixtures on your profile, so make them count. For each product you feature, create a "product drop" post.

• Use High-Quality Photos & Videos: Showcase the product from multiple angles. Include lifestyle shots (how it’s used or worn) and clean, simple product-only shots. Use natural light whenever possible.
• Write Captivating Captions: Your caption seals the deal. Don't just state the product name. Tell a story about it. What inspired it? What problem does it solve? How does it make you feel?
• Always Include Key Information:
  • Price: Don't make people DM for the price. Be transparent. It builds trust and filters out people who aren't serious buyers.
  • Details: Dimensions, materials, sizes available, etc.
  • Clear Call to Action: “DM to claim this piece!” or “Comment ‘SOLD’ and I’ll send you a DM to complete your order.”
  • Shipping Info: A simple line like "Ships worldwide" or "$5 flat rate shipping in the US."

Drive Urgency with Instagram Stories

Stories disappear in 24 hours, making them perfect for creating urgency and offering a behind-the-scenes look at your brand.

• Use Interactive Stickers: Run a poll asking, "Which color should we drop next?" or use a quiz sticker. The more people engage, the more the algorithm shows your Stories.
• Product Drops with Countdown Timers: Announce that a new item will be available for purchase at a specific time. Add the countdown sticker so people can get a reminder. This builds hype and often leads to quick sales.
• "DM to Order" Swipe and a Link Sticker: Make it incredibly easy for people. Post a beautiful photo of your product and add a sticker that explicitly says "DM me to buy!" If you have access to the Link Sticker, you can link directly to a PayPal.Me link for a specific item.

Showcase Products in Action with Reels

Reels are your best tool for reaching new customers who don't follow you yet. They favor entertaining, educational, or inspiring content.

• Process Videos: Show how your product is made. People love seeing the craft and care that goes into an item.
• How-To or Styling Videos: Show three ways to style your brand's t-shirt or a time-lapse of you using your product.
• Pack an Order with Me: These videos are surprisingly popular. They show off your branding and packaging, and they act as social proof that people are buying from you.
• Use Trending Audio: Incorporate audio that's currently popular on Reels to give your video an algorithmic boost. Make sure the video and audio make sense together.

Step 4: Master the "DM to Buy" Sales Process

Guiding a customer from an interested DM to a completed purchase requires a smooth, professional process. This is where your customer service skills shine.

Your DM Sales Script

When someone DMs you to buy, be ready. Having template responses saved (you can do this with Instagram's "Saved Replies" feature) can save you a ton of time.

1. Acknowledge & Confirm: Start with a warm greeting and confirm the item they're interested in. "Hey! Thanks for your interest in the Small Speckled Mug. Yes, it's still available!"
2. Provide Total Cost & Payment Info: State the total cost, including shipping. Then, provide your payment details. "The total is $35 + $5 shipping, so $40. You can send payment to my PayPal at paypal.me/mybrand. Please include your shipping address in the notes!"
3. Confirm Payment & Shipping: Once they've paid, confirm that you received it. "Got it! Thank you. I'll get this packed up and shipped out tomorrow. I'll send you the tracking number once it's on its way."

Organize Your Orders with a Simple System

You don't need fancy software. A simple spreadsheet in Google Sheets or Notion can work perfectly for tracking orders.

Create columns for:

• Order Date
• Customer Name (or Instagram Handle)
• Item(s) Purchased
• Total Price
• Payment Status (Paid/Unpaid)
• Shipping Address
• Tracking Number
• Order Status (Shipped/Delivered)

Updating this religiously will prevent you from forgetting orders, mixing up addresses, or reselling an item you already sold.

Step 5: Build Trust and Turn Customers into a Community

Without the formal trust signals of a website (like an "About Us" page or formal reviews), building connection is everything. Your reputation is your most valuable asset.

• Share User-Generated Content (UGC): When customers post photos with your product, ask for permission to reshare them to your feed or Stories. This is the most powerful form of social proof available. Create a dedicated Story Highlight for customer photos.
• Be Hyper-Responsive: Answer DMs and comments quickly and professionally. Even if someone isn't buying today, a positive interaction can lead to a future sale or a recommendation to a friend.
• Show Your Face: People buy from people. Use Stories or Reels to show the person (or people) behind the brand. You don't have to be a full-blown influencer, but a little personality goes a long way in building trust.

Final Thoughts

Running a business on Instagram without a website is not just a workaround, it's a completely valid and profitable business model. By optimizing your profile, creating compelling content, streamlining your DM sales process, and building a trusted brand, you can turn your followers into a loyal customer base.

As your brand grows, staying on top of content creation and engagement becomes a bigger challenge. This is where we designed Postbase to help. We built it specifically for the modern social media landscape, where creators are juggling Reels, Stories, and feed posts. With a visual calendar, you can plan your product drops weeks in advance, and our unified inbox brings all your sales DMs and comments into one place, so you never miss an opportunity to connect with a customer and close a sale.