Do you enjoy online shopping? If so, do you like to view pictures of products before purchasing them? Do you ever see a picture of something on social media and wish you could purchase it then and there? If you answered "yes" to these questions, you probably understand why Instagram has the potential to be the next big eCommerce site. More and more, Instagram users are seeing products they like and asking where they can buy them. That's making many think the addition of commerce options would benefit the Instagram community. Here are some of the top reasons why Instagram is slated to become the next big thing in online shopping.

Thanks to Instagram's new video feature, users can upload 15-second video clips to the site. This is great news for those interested in selling on Instagram. Videos can play a big role in whether or not customers decide to buy a product. Just look at all of the video reviews on YouTube — some of them have millions of views!

The great thing about video is that it gives customers a much better idea of how a product looks in real life. A single photo may not give you a good indication of a product's scale and only gives you one angle at a time. A video can give you a 360-degree view of a product.

Real Photos and Feedback

It's no secret that some of the photos released by vendors are optimized in some way, whether it be through lighting, a flattering camera angle or Photoshop. Since Instagram is first and foremost a social media platform, it's likely that most of the photos you'll see are uploaded by consumers, not sellers. This will give you a better indication of how something really looks. While it's true that sites like Amazon allow customers to upload images, the majority of the photos you see will still be from the seller.

Popularity

Another reason commerce makes sense for Instagram is that image-based social media is incredibly popular. Instagram is one of the fastest growing social media sites of all time, making it a huge source of potential revenue. Instagram also gives you access to a number of key demographics. Unlike Pinterest, it's more evenly divided between men and women. It's also very popular with the younger generations, whereas Pinterest's demographic tends to be older.

The Fashion World

The fashion industry is one of the first to recognize Instagram's commerce possibilities. Instagram is already a great tool for fashion news and marketing. At fashion shows, people are constantly uploading footage to Instagram. This allows users to see new designs in real time, much faster than a press release or magazine spread would take to publish. Aspiring designers can also get a lot of exposure on Instagram as anyone with a Smartphone can generate buzz on the site.

When users visit fashion pages on Instagram, they may come across a design they've never seen before. Naturally they're going to want to know what sizes and colors it comes in and where they can buy it. Instagram can streamline the process with purchase options right on their site.

Food, Cooking and Beyond

While the fashion industry is one of the first to consider Instagram for commerce, there are many others that could benefit from selling on the platform. Basically, any kind of business with photogenic products can use Instagram to boost sales. Pictures of food are some of the most common images uploaded to Instagram, and those in the culinary industry could definitely capitalize on that popularity. Bakeries or other food businesses that can easily ship their products could do very well on Instagram. A cookware company might share photos of the delicacies buyers could create with their pots, pans and appliances.

Furniture, interior design and other consumer goods businesses are also likely candidates for Instagram commerce. Say you’re looking for some new Amish furniture for your dining room. With Instagram, you could see what a variety of pieces look like in real homes, and then buy them with the click of a button. This would make it easier than ever to make your home look like it came out of a magazine spread.
What kinds of products would you want to see for sale on Instagram?

Author Bio
Adrienne Erin is a freelance writer and designer. You can see more of her work by following @adrienneerin on Twitter.