Instacart Announces New Shoppable Display + Shoppable Video Ads
Instacart is the leading online grocery platform in North America, and for good reason. Who doesn’t want access to thousands of products delivered right to your door? The platform has grown and evolved over the past few years and brands are eager to get their products in front of customers in new and exciting ways. Luckily, Instacart recently announced two new shoppable media solutions designed to do just that. Enter: Shoppable Display and Shoppable Video.
“We designed our new shoppable ad products to create more brand storytelling opportunities for CPGs, help them inspire and reach new and existing consumers, and ultimately drive sales in a singular unit. We see that these kinds of shoppable rich media experiences resonate with consumers as well, as we’re bringing more discovery and inspiration to the online shopping experience. We’re grateful to work with brand partners who have been excited to innovate with us and incubate these formats along the way to drive maximum impact.”
– Ali Miller, Vice President of Ads Product at Instacart
What is Shoppable Display & Shoppable Video?
The new Shoppable Display and Shoppable Video solutions were designed to bring together both imaginative story-telling and action. Let’s break down each of these new products and what they offer brands who advertise on Instacart and consumers who shop on Instacart.
Shoppable Display
According to Instacart, the new Shoppable Display feature blends personalized messaging, powerful imagery, and “add-to-cart” functionality to drive consideration and bigger baskets. With Shoppable Display, available via Self Service in Ads Manager, brands can easily deliver a more engaging shopping experience.
This new ad format, built off of Instacart’s display ads product, couples brand imagery with add-to-cart functionality to ultimately shorten the consumer buying journey. Advertisers also have the opportunity to pin together a bundle of items to inspire complementary or routine purchases. These ads are served in-line on the search results page for a native user experience, and brands can also provide users with direct links to product detail pages if they need additional details before purchasing.
Once these Shoppable Display ads are launched and live, advertisers can measure the following metrics to track success:
- Impressions
- Clicks
- CTR
- Direct sales
- Halo sales
- ROAS
- Halo ROAS
Shoppable Video
Instacart’s new Shoppable Video product, available via Self Service in Ads Manager, encapsulates all the features of Shoppable Display with an added video component. Shoppable Video gives brands the opportunity to capture a user’s attention with auto-play videos that engage shoppers on a new level. These in-line ads, targetable by behavior or keywords, allow brands to tell their story, share their products, and captivate consumers through the added use of motion and sound.
Shoppable Video also includes add-to-cart functionality in an aim to shorten the path from discovery to purchase. These attention-grabbing videos auto-play with the sound off and give users the ability to pause if needed. Videos are required to be a minimum of 3 seconds with a 30-second max – short and sweet is the name of the game here.
Once these Shoppable Video ads are launched and live, advertisers can measure the following metrics to track success:
- Impressions
- 2-second view
- Clicks
- Attributed sales
- View-through rate (VTR)
- ROAS
- CTR
- Halo sales
- Halo ROAS
Top Reasons Should Brands Use Shoppable Display & Shoppable Video
These new ad products from Instacart are innovative and exciting, but why should brands take advantage of them? Let’s break down a few top reasons brands should consider using Shoppable Display and Shoppable Video.
Maximize Your Reach – With Shoppable Display and Shoppable Video targeting solutions, your brand has the ability to reach customers via keyword and behavioral targeting.
“Shoppable display and video provide a great opportunity for brands to take up additional real estate in Instacart result pages to drive consideration. In comparison to standard display units, these placements make it easier for shoppers to add an item to their cart. Since shoppable placements are below the fold (meaning you have to scroll to see them), they’re best used in combination with standard display and sponsored products when possible, to ensure your brand is visible no matter how shoppers are using the app.”
– Emily Choate, Senior Specialist, Marketplaces at Tinuiti
Hot tip: Make sure to take advantage of keyword recommendations in Ads Manager as they are based on contextual relevance so you can reach even more new-to-brand customers.
Tell Your Brand Story – By incorporating Shoppable Display and Shoppable Video into your Instacart strategy, you can tell your brand story through compelling imagery, engaging video, and custom messaging. With these new ad formats, you can also direct consumers to a customizable landing page where you can incorporate a curated product selection and further drive home your brand story.
Hot tip: Try customizing your videos to your target audience in order to inspire purchase, educate your customers, or to further build your brand identity.
Hot tip: Instacart recommends having your landing page pre-approved so that you can link directly to that destination in the shoppable video ad setup.
Speed Up the Path to Purchase – By utilizing Shoppable Display and Shoppable Video, you have the opportunity to guide a consumer from the digital shelf to purchase in one seamless experience. These new shoppable tools make it quick and easy for consumers to discover and ultimately purchase your products.
Hot tip: When pinning products in your shoppable carousel, consider pinning your highest performing, most widely available item first to maximize the chance of conversion.
What are the Ad Specs for Shoppable Display & Shoppable Video?
If you’re looking to incorporate these new ad features into your Instacart strategy, you’ll want to take note of the following ad specs for both Shoppable Display and Shoppable Video.
Shoppable Display Specs
When creating a Shoppable Display Ad, keep the following specifications in mind…
Logo
- File size: 1 MB max
- File type: JPG or PNG
- Aspect ratio: 1:1 (square)
- Resolution: Between [72 x 72 px] and [120 x 120 px]
Tagline
- Character limit: 22 characters max (web and mobile)
Lifestyle Image
- File size: 1 MB max
- File type: JPG or PNG
- Aspect ratio: 16:9
- Resolution: Between [1067 x 600 px] and [1600 x 900 px]
Pinned Products
- Total UPCs: 3-20 UPCs total
- Pinned UPCs: 3 UPCs on mobile and 5 UPCs on desktop
Shoppable Video Specs
When creating a Shoppable Video Ad, keep the following specifications in mind…
Logo
- File Type: JPG or PNG
- Dimensions: 120×120
- Logo needs to be in a “circle” shape
Tagline
- Character limit: 22 characters max (web and mobile)
Thumbnail image
- File Type: JPG or PNG
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Min width: 1067
- Max width: 1600
- Max file size: 10MB
Video asset
- File Type: .mp4, .mov
- File Size: Less than 500MB
- Creative length: :3s-:30s max
Alt text
- Alt text displays for customers who use screen readers or if an image doesn’t load. Add a brief and clear description of the video including at a minimum the brand and product name.
Pinned products
- Total UPCs in Ads Manager: 3-20 UPCs total
- Pinned UPCs: Up to 3 UPCs on mobile and 5 UPCs on desktop
Interested in Adding Instacart’s Shoppable Display & Shoppable Video to Your Strategy?
Our team of Instacart experts are here to help you grow your visibility and sales on the leading grocery platform. Contact us today to learn more about Instacart’s new Shoppable Display and Shoppable Video offerings.
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