How to Take Orders on Instagram

Turning Instagram followers into paying customers is a game-changer for so many brands, and it's probably easier than you think. You don't need a huge budget or a complicated website to get started. This guide will walk you through four key methods for taking orders directly on Instagram, from the simple and manual to the more automated and professional approaches.

First Things First: Optimize Your Profile for Sales

Before you can start taking orders, you need to make sure your Instagram profile is set up to sell. Think of your profile as your storefront. A messy, confusing storefront turns customers away, while a clean, welcoming one invites them in. Here’s how to get yours ready for business.

Switch to a Business or Creator Account

If you haven’t already, this is non-negotiable. Switching to a free Business or Creator account unlocks access to analytics, a "Contact" button, and most importantly, the features needed for Instagram Shopping. To do this, go to Settings and Privacy >, Account Type and Tools >, Switch to Professional Account and follow the prompts.

Write a Bio That Sells

You have just a few seconds to communicate what you sell and why someone should buy from you. Your bio should clearly state:

• What you do (e.g., "Handmade Ceramic Mugs & Home Goods")
• What makes you special (e.g., "Sustainably crafted in a small studio")
• A clear call-to-action (CTA) (e.g., "Click to shop below 👇" or "DM for custom orders")

An optimized bio can be the difference between a casual visitor and an eager customer.

Use Story Highlights as a Navigation Menu

Highlights are prime real estate on your profile. Use them strategically to answer common questions and guide potential buyers. Create Highlight covers for:

• How to Order: A step-by-step guide explaining your order process.
• FAQs: Answer questions about shipping, returns, and materials.
• Reviews: Share screenshots of happy customer testimonials to build trust.
• Shop [Category]: Group products into logical collections, like "Mugs," "Prints," or "Earrings."

Method 1: Manual Selling with "DM to Order"

This is the simplest way to start taking orders on Instagram, perfect for new businesses, artists selling commissions, or brands offering custom products. It’s a direct conversation between you and your customer, building a strong personal connection from the very first sale.

How it Works

You showcase your products in your Feed posts, Stories, and Reels, and in your caption, you include a simple call-to-action: "DM to order." When a customer sends you a direct message, you handle the entire transaction right there in your DMs.

Step-by-Step Guide for "DM to Order":

1. Create Your Product Posts: Share high-quality photos or videos of your products. In the caption, provide all the key details: price, dimensions, materials, and available variations (like color or size). End with a clear CTA like, "Ready to buy? Send us a DM!" or "DM to claim yours."
2. Manage Incoming DMs: As DMs roll in, it’s good to have a system. You can use Instagram's Quick Replies feature (under Settings) to create templates for common questions. For an order, you'll need to confirm the product details and collect their full name, shipping address, and email address.
3. Process Payment: Since DMs don't have a built-in payment function, you'll need an outside method. The most common options are sending your PayPal link (PayPal.Me is great for this), Venmo handle, or a direct payment link from a service like Stripe or Square. Never ask for credit card information directly in DMs.
4. Confirm the Order: Once payment is received, send an official confirmation message. This builds trust and lets the customer know their order is logged. A simple "Got it! Your order #101 is confirmed. We’ll follow up with tracking info within 24 hours" works perfectly.

Pros: It's free to set up, beautifully simple, and allows for direct, personal interaction with your customers. You can answer questions and build real relationships.

Cons: This method is not scalable. As orders increase, it becomes incredibly time-consuming to track conversations, inventory, and payments manually. It's also prone to human error - a missed DM could mean a lost sale.

Method 2: Set Up Instagram Shopping

If you're ready for a more professional and automated system, Instagram Shopping is the way to go. This feature allows you to create a shoppable catalog and tag products directly in your posts and Stories. When a user taps a tagged product, they're taken to a product details page where they can learn more and click to purchase on your website.

What You'll Need to Get Started

• An Instagram Business/Creator account located in a supported market.
• An e-commerce website on a platform like Shopify, BigCommerce, or Squarespace where you sell physical goods.
• Your Instagram account must be connected to a Facebook page.

How to Set Up Instagram Shopping:

1. Connect to Facebook Commerce Manager: Commerce Manager is Meta's hub for catalogs and sales. You can create a new catalog or set one up there, connect your Business account, and choose your checkout method (most brands direct customers to their website).
2. Upload a Product Catalog: This is a list of all your products, complete with names, descriptions, pricing, and images. If you use an e-commerce platform like Shopify, you can automatically sync your products, which saves a massive amount of time. Otherwise, you can set it up manually.
3. Submit Your Account for Review: Once your catalog is connected, you’ll need to submit your account for review. Instagram will check to make sure your business and products comply with their commerce policies. This can take a few days.
4. Turn On Shopping Features: After you get approved, head to your professional dashboard in Instagram Settings and select "Set Up Instagram Shopping." From there, you can connect the product catalog you created.

Once you’re set up, you can start tagging products in your photos, videos, Reels, and Stories. This creates a seamless shopping experience for your followers, taking them from inspiration to purchase with just a few taps.

Method 3: Drive Sales with Story Stickers

Instagram Stories are a powerful tool for driving immediate action, and stickers are your secret weapon. For brands with Instagram Shopping enabled, the "Product" sticker is a direct line to making sales. Even if you don't have it, the "Link" sticker is a fantastic alternative.

Using the Product Sticker

If you have Instagram Shopping set up, you can add a "Product" sticker to your Stories. Simply tap the sticker icon when creating a Story, select "Product," and choose an item from your catalog. This overlays a tappable shopping tag on your Story. Viewers can tap it, see the product details, and click through to your website.

Example: A clothing brand posts a video of a model wearing a new dress. They add a product sticker tagging the exact dress, so viewers can swipe up and buy it immediately, capitalizing on the "I need that right now" moment.

Using the Link Sticker

The Link Sticker is a gift to all businesses on Instagram because anyone can use it, regardless of follower count. You can use it to link to anything - a specific product page, a category on your site, an order form, or even an Etsy listing.

Example: A baker who specializes in custom cakes might use the Link Sticker on a Story of their latest creation, linking directly to a Google Form where customers can submit an inquiry for their own custom order.

Method 4: Leverage Your "Link in Bio"

Your Instagram bio only lets you add one primary link, so you have to make a meaningful one. Instead of constantly swapping it out, savvy brands use a "link in bio" service that creates a simple, mobile-friendly landing page to house all of their important links.

How It Works

Tools like Linktree, Koji, or Later's Linkin.bio allow you to create a custom URL that you place in your Instagram bio. When someone clicks it, they’re taken to a curated list of destinations. This turns your single link into a powerful hub for your entire business.

How to Use It for Sales:

• Link to your entire store: Provide a main link to your online shop.
• Feature new arrivals: Add a temporary link at the top for your latest collection.
• Category pages: Create links for "T-Shirts," "Jewelry," and "Home Goods" to help customers navigate.
• Best-sellers: Guide new visitors to your most popular products.

In your posts and Stories, you'll simply direct your audience to the "link in bio" for all your recent launches or deals. It’s an effective and organized way to manage and direct traffic without needing advanced Instagram features.

Final Thoughts

Getting your first orders on Instagram comes down to making it easy for customers to buy. Whether you start with a simple DM-to-order system or go all-in with a fully integrated Instagram Shop, the right process is the one that works for you and your audience. Start small, listen to feedback, and find your own flow for turning followers into customers.

Of course, as those orders start ramping up, managing the related DMs and comments can quickly become a full-time job. With Postbase, we designed a unified inbox to solve exactly this. It brings all your Instagram DMs and comments into one organized stream, so replying to order questions or confirming a sale is a quick and seamless operation, helping you stay responsive without bouncing between dozens of conversations.