How to Personalize Instagram Shopping Recommendations for Your Followers: A Complete Guide to Using Suggested Followers on Instagram for Growing Your Brand

By: Ellen Bartolino

In today’s competitive eCommerce landscape, brands must leverage every available tool to grow their brand on Instagram and maximize sales. With Instagram’s shopping feature, businesses can create a seamless shopping experience directly within the Instagram app, making it easier than ever for followers to discover and purchase products. By personalizing Instagram Shop recommendations, brands can attract followers, boost brand awareness, and increase conversions.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about shopping on Instagram, including how to set up an Instagram Shop, optimize product recommendations, and use Instagram’s suggested users feature to connect with potential customers. Whether you’re new to Instagram Business or looking to refine your marketing strategy, this article will help you create a shopping experience that keeps customers engaged and drives sales.

how to personalize instagram shopping recommendations for your followers

Understanding Instagram’s Shopping Feature

Instagram has transformed into a powerful eCommerce platform, allowing businesses to showcase their products and reach millions of shoppers worldwide. With the shopping feature, brands can create a seamless shopping experience directly within the Instagram app, making it easier for users to browse and purchase products without leaving the platform.

How Instagram’s Algorithm Suggests Products

Instagram’s algorithm plays a key role in personalizing the shopping experience for each user. The platform analyzes factors such as:

  • User engagement (likes, saves, and shares on product posts)
  • Browsing history within Instagram Shop
  • Interactions with similar brands and products
  • Hashtags and keywords related to shopping interests

By understanding these elements, businesses can tailor their content to attract new followers and increase traffic to their Instagram Shop. Using Instagram Insights, brands can track customer behavior and optimize their marketing strategy for better results.

The Role of a Business Account in Shopping on Instagram

To take full advantage of the shopping feature, businesses must have an Instagram Business account linked to a Facebook Business account. This allows access to essential tools like:

  • Commerce Manager for managing your product catalog
  • Shopping tags to tag products in posts and stories
  • Instagram ads to promote products and boost visibility

A business must also comply with Instagram’s commerce policies to ensure their shop has been approved and meets the platform’s guidelines. Once set up, businesses can start tagging products, using paid Instagram ads, and driving more traffic to their shop.

When I first launched my Instagram Shop, I struggled to attract customers beyond my existing follower base. After optimizing my profile and consistently engaging with my audience, I noticed that my brand started appearing in the suggested account on Instagram section. By analyzing Instagram Insights, I discovered that many of my new followers had found my shop through this feature. Within three months, my followers to buy ratio increased by 40%, and I saw a direct boost in sales. This experience proved how crucial it is to use the right hashtags, engage with suggested users, and consistently post high-quality content.

How to Set Up Instagram Shopping for Your Brand

Setting up Instagram Shopping is an essential step for businesses that want to sell on Instagram and provide a seamless shopping experience directly within the Instagram app. By following the correct setup process, brands can ensure that their shop has been approved and is ready to attract new followers and customers.

Steps to Set Up an Instagram Shop

To set up your Instagram Shop, follow these steps:

  1. Convert Your Personal Instagram to a Business Account

    • Go to Instagram settings and switch to a business account to access shopping tools.
  2. Connect to a Facebook Business Account

    • A Facebook Business account is required to manage your Instagram Shop through Commerce Manager.
  3. Create and Upload a Product Catalog

    • Use Commerce Manager or a third-party eCommerce platform (like Shopify or BigCommerce) to upload your product catalog.
  4. Submit Your Shop for Review

    • Instagram will review your shop to ensure it complies with commerce policies. This process usually takes a few days.
  5. Turn on Shopping Features

    • Once your shop has been approved, enable the shopping feature in Instagram settings to start tagging products.

According to a 2023 report from Hootsuite, 130 million Instagram users tap on shopping posts every month to explore and purchase products. This highlights the increasing role of Instagram as a key eCommerce platform.

Connecting Instagram Shop with Facebook Business

A Facebook Business account is necessary to manage your Instagram Shop effectively. By linking both platforms, you can:

  • Use Business Manager to oversee your product catalog
  • Run shopping ads to drive traffic to your Instagram
  • Gain insights into customer behavior using Instagram Insights

Ensuring your shop is correctly set up will make it easier to promote your products on Instagram and boost your sales.

promote your products on Instagram and boost your sales

Strategies to Personalize Shopping Recommendations

To stand out in a competitive marketplace, businesses need to tailor their Instagram Shopping experience to match their audience’s interests. By using Instagram’s suggested users feature and leveraging customer data, brands can create more relevant product recommendations, driving higher engagement and conversions.

Tag Products to Attract the Right Audience

Product tagging is one of Instagram’s most effective tools for shopping on Instagram. Here’s how it helps personalize recommendations:

  • Shopping tags allow customers to discover products on Instagram directly from posts and stories.
  • Hashtags and location tags help attract new followers and increase product visibility.
  • Tagging products in photos and videos encourages users to explore similar items within the Instagram Shop.

By using Instagram Insights, brands can analyze which products generate the most engagement and adjust their tagging strategy accordingly.

Using Social Media Trends in 2025 to Grow Your Brand on Instagram

Staying ahead of social media trends in 2025 can give businesses a competitive edge. Some key trends to watch include:

  • Live shopping events to showcase and sell products in real-time.
  • AI-driven recommendations that improve personalization within the Instagram app.
  • Augmented reality (AR) shopping experiences, allowing users to try products virtually.

By integrating these trends into their marketing strategy, businesses can create a more interactive and engaging shopping experience for their audience.

Leveraging Suggested Followers to Connect with Potential Customers

Instagram’s suggested followers feature is a powerful tool for businesses looking to grow their brand on Instagram. By targeting users who are likely to engage with their content, brands can increase visibility, attract new followers, and drive more traffic to their Instagram Shop.

How Suggested Followers on Instagram Work

Instagram suggests accounts based on various factors, including:

  • User interactions (likes, comments, and follows)
  • Similar interests and shopping behavior
  • Engagement with related brands
  • Hashtags and keywords used in posts

By optimizing your Instagram profile and using relevant hashtags, you can increase the chances of appearing in suggested accounts and reaching potential customers.

Initially, I was only selling on Instagram, but I soon realized that integrating my shop with Facebook Business would open new doors. After setting up a Shop on Facebook and linking it to my Instagram Shop, I was able to manage my product catalog more efficiently through Commerce Manager. More importantly, Facebook’s ad tools helped me reach new audiences who were interested in my products but hadn’t yet discovered my Instagram page. By using cross-platform marketing, I increased my shop’s visibility and nearly doubled my monthly sales within six months.

How to Use Suggested Followers to Promote Your Products on Instagram

Here are some strategies to use Instagram’s suggested users feature for business growth:

  • Engage with your audience by responding to comments and DMs to build relationships.
  • Run Instagram ads targeting users similar to your current followers.
  • Collaborate with influencers to tap into their audience and gain more visibility.
  • Use social proof (customer reviews and testimonials) to build trust and credibility.

By leveraging the suggested following feature, brands can connect with active Instagram users who are more likely to engage with their content and make a purchase.

A 2023 study by Sprout Social found that businesses leveraging Instagram’s suggested users feature experienced a 32% increase in engagement rates compared to those relying solely on organic growth. This suggests that Instagram’s recommendation system plays a crucial role in helping brands expand their reach.

Engage with your audience by responding to comments and DMs to build relationships

Conclusion

Personalizing Instagram Shopping recommendations and leveraging suggested followers on Instagram are powerful strategies for brands looking to grow their brand on Instagram. By optimizing your Instagram Shop, using shopping tags, and engaging with your audience, you can create a seamless shopping experience that attracts new followers and boosts sales.

From setting up a business account to using social media trends in 2025, businesses have many opportunities to enhance their Instagram Shopping experience. By staying up to date with new features, engaging with suggested accounts, and using Instagram ads, you can effectively promote your products on Instagram and drive more traffic to your shop.

Start implementing these strategies today to boost your sales, build your brand, and maximize the potential of shopping on Instagram!

Frequently Asked Questions

How does an optimized Instagram account help attract followers to buy?

An optimized Instagram account is essential for converting followers to buy because it enhances brand visibility and builds trust. To optimize your account, make sure you’re using a clear profile picture, a compelling bio, and a well-structured Instagram feed that highlights your brand identity. A well-curated Instagram feed creates a visually appealing shopping experience, making it easier for potential customers to browse and engage with your products. Additionally, use the Instagram Insights tool to track performance and adjust content strategies based on engagement data. A strong Instagram account not only attracts suggested followers but also increases the chances of turning visitors into paying customers.

How can I grow my brand with suggested followers and targeted content?

To grow your brand with suggested followers, you need to actively engage with users on Instagram and create content that resonates with your target audience. The suggested account on Instagram feature recommends your profile to users who might be interested in your products based on their interactions. By posting high-quality Instagram posts consistently, using the right hashtags, and leveraging success stories from happy customers, you increase the likelihood of appearing in suggested followers lists. Additionally, collaborating with influencers and running targeted ads through Business Manager Account can help expand your reach. By optimizing your content strategy, you can turn suggested followers into loyal customers who regularly engage with your brand.

What is the best way to set up your shop for maximum visibility?

To set up your shop for maximum visibility, make sure you’re following Instagram’s best practices for shopping on Instagram. Start by ensuring your store or website associated with your Instagram Shop meets Instagram’s commerce policies and is properly linked. Use Business Manager Account to manage your product catalog and verify that all products are accurately categorized and tagged. When you set up your shop, focus on product descriptions, high-quality images, and Instagram posts that showcase the benefits of your products. Running shopping ads and using influencer collaborations can further boost your shop’s exposure. A well-optimized shop with engaging content increases your chances of getting featured in Instagram’s discovery section, leading to higher traffic and conversions.

Should I set up a Facebook account to support my Instagram Shop?

Yes, you should absolutely set up a Facebook account to support your Instagram Shop, as it provides essential tools for managing and promoting your business. A Facebook Business account is required to use Commerce Manager, where you can upload and manage your product catalog for both Facebook and Instagram. Additionally, setting up a Shop on Facebook allows you to sync your inventory across platforms, ensuring a seamless shopping experience for customers. Using a Facebook Business account helps you reach more potential buyers by enabling cross-platform advertising, better analytics, and access to advanced shopping features. If you want to maximize your sales potential, integrating your Instagram Shop with Facebook is a must.

How can I use Instagram’s data and insights to improve sales?

You can use this data from Instagram Insights to refine your marketing strategy and improve sales by understanding what content drives the most engagement. Instagram provides analytics on your Instagram posts, stories, and audience behavior, helping you identify what products and promotions work best. By analyzing which posts attract new followers and lead to purchases, you can adjust your content strategy to focus on high-performing items. Additionally, Instagram Insights helps track conversion rates, click-through rates, and overall Instagram experience for users engaging with your brand. By leveraging Instagram’s data, you can continuously improve your approach, ensuring that your shop attracts the right audience and generates more revenue.

Author Bio

Ellen Bartolino

Ellen is a seasoned author and communication expert, with a particular focus on Instagram. Her extensive knowledge of the platform has allowed her to create engaging and effective content for businesses and individuals alike. Ellen has a proven track record of crafting compelling Instagram captions and influencer marketing.