What are shoppable tags and hotspots and how to use them?

Insights, Tips & Tricks

Written by

Hendrik

Nowhere has interactive content integrated itself more effectively than in the ecommerce space. Among interactive content forms, shoppable tags and hotspots have been the most common form of interactivity seen across visual content mediums.

And it’s no surprise why: the ability to add interactive elements to video and image content means you can streamline the customer journey and reduce friction to purchase.

What once took 5 steps could now take 3. What was once 3 steps might only require 2.

The only problem? Implementing these features takes special software, and implementing them requires a few key tips.

And that’s exactly what we’re going to cover below.

Table of Contents:

What are shoppable tags and hotspots?
Why use shoppable tags and hotspots?
4 Examples of shoppable tags and hotspots
Hot to get started with shoppable content

Feel free to jump to the section you’re most interested in by clicking on the table of contents above.

Or, read on as we dive deep into the what and how of interactive tags and hotspots.

What are shoppable tags and hotspots?

First, let’s get the basics down, as given how new interactive content is there’s a chance you aren’t fully familiar with one or both of the terms.

A tag is an action taken by the content creator to identify an object on an image or video.

A hotspot is a clickable area within a piece of content that a user can click to get more information about a product, add it to cart, or click a link.

Why use shoppable tags and hotspots?

Typically, you’d use tagging for ecommerce products such as clothing, bags, drinks, bath and home supplies, and more.

With Spott’s interactive video software, for example, you can upload your entire product catalog in minutes. So, don’t worry– there’s no need to do it one at a time.

You can do things like this:

In a matter of a few clicks, the user has found something they like and added it to their cart– all without ever leaving the video.

This simultaneously makes shoppable content better for engagement and conversions, making it an invaluable addition to your content marketing repertoire. That is why shoppable content is so powerful, and the unique advantage that shoppable tags and hotspots offer.

But the power of shoppable content is more than just conjecture; there are stats to back it up.

According to a report by Marketing Charts, 43% of consumers surveyed prefer interactive video content over typical static content.

The benefits of interactive tags and hotspots are clear.

So, let’s dive into some examples now to give you a better idea of how to make the most of them.

4 Examples of shoppable tags and hotspots in action

Below are 4 examples of shoppable tags and hotspots in use.

By studying these examples, you’ll gain a better understanding of not only how they look in action but how your brand can utilize them.

Here they are:

1. UBTECH Robotics

Our first example comes from kids robotics and learning brand UBTECH.

UBTECH offers amazing creations that kids can build while making learning about topics like engineering, robotics, and physics fun.

Here’s an example of instagram shoppable tags:

Notice that this isn’t a basic stock image. Shoppable images can serve multiple purposes, serving as eye-catching social fodder while also being sales generators.

Because of this, you want to make sure the content is interesting and attractive.

UBTECH often shows their products on desks mid-build or shows off features in fully-built models, with kids operating the product in video.

Shoppable Tags Instagram

One of the first platforms to implement shoppable features, Instagram allows you to use shoppable tags and hotspots in your images and videos:

To be eligible to use Instagram’s own shoppable tag feature, your business must:

Be located in a supported market
Offer an eligible product
Comply with Instagram’s Merchant Agreement and Commerce Policies
Own a domain in which you intend to sell from

To learn more about how to get started with the Instagram Shopping program, check out their official page here.

2. ZEB with Spott

Nowhere has shoppable content been used more than in fashion, and it’s no surprise why: fashion content naturally lends itself to the hotspot feature.

In this example, fashion store ZEB teamed up with Spott to create a virtual tour of their new line:

Throughout the tour, various designs are tagged while Spott’s custom “spot” hotspots draw the eye at just the right time.

With Spott’s hotspots, the video will even automatically pause while hovering over a spot so the user can take time to view the style and add it to their cart.
An add-to-cart functionality has a great advantage that it really shortens the buying process.

3. Tapestry Girls

Another common space where shoppable content has been a hit, this example is from home furnishing brand Tapestry Girls via Pinterest:

Pinterest was arguably the first major platform to invest in shoppable features, a natural fit with their early focus on fashion and interior design spaces.

This photo is a great example of how you can use hotspots to tag several different products in a single image.

With this structure, users can explore the items they’re most interested in, with multiple options to choose from.

4. Puma

Our final example, this one comes courtesy of athletic brand Puma and their ongoing Forever Faster campaign.

This video was shared on social and lives on the collection’s landing page, allowing it to serve multiple purposes.

One nice feature of this example is the convenient sidebar that pops up when hovering over an item.

Click one of the hotspots at any point and you can view the entire outfit.

Get started with shoppable tags and hotspots

Shoppable content is the future, and shoppable tags and hotspots are the single best way to implement shoppable content available to date.

Fortunately, with Spott’s own shoppable tags and hotspots feature, you can get started in a matter of minutes adding hotspots to any of your existing images or video.

You can take advantage of a wide variety of features, including:

Add tags anywhere in your videos, including an add to cart button
Clickable sections to give your users more information or link to a relevant page
Link your entire product feed in minutes
Publish on multiple platforms
And auto-optimize for multiple languages and currencies

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