Instagram and Google Launch Interactive Online Shopping Portals Browse Instagram Shop and Shoploop and say goodbye to your savings.

By Stephanie Mlot • Jul 17, 2020

This story originally appeared on PCMag

Shop 'til you drop without having to wear a mask. Instagram and Google this week each launched new e-commerce destinations, encouraging folks to continue spending money online instead of venturing out to brick-and-mortar stores.

Image credit: Instagram

Instagram (which recently turned photos and Stories into shoppable posts) on Thursday introduced Instagram Shop to the Explore tab, making it easier to browse and buy from brands and creators directly in the app. Just look for IG's colorful checkout arrows (>>) to find available products. "Discover the latest trends, get personalized recommendations, and preview exclusive launches, all in one place, so you can browse and buy the products that you love," according to a company blog announcement. The feature is rolling out now in the US before expanding globally "in the coming weeks."

Customers will soon be able to check out seamlessly with Facebook Pay, from Instagram's parent company. The system promises an extra layer of security via the option to add a unique PIN or device biometrics (Touch or Face ID). Later this year, keep an eye out for the appearance of a standalone Shop tab in the Instagram navigation bar.

Google is taking a page out of Instagram's influencer book with the new Shoploop app, developed in its experimental workshop Area 120. The experience, according to General Manager Lax Poojary, "is more interactive than just scrolling through images, titles, and descriptions on a traditional e-commerce site."

All Shoploop videos are capped at 90 seconds, "and help you discover new products in an entertaining way," Poojary explained. "We want to help people experience the look and feel of products they're shopping for in real life without going to a physical store ... Shoploop helps you get product reviews from real people who are knowledgeable about the products in a particular area." The application is currently focused on content creators, publishers, and store owners in the beauty industry—mainly makeup, skincare, hair, and nails.

Stephanie Mlot

Reporter at PCMag

Stephanie began as a PCMag reporter in May 2012. She moved to New York City from Frederick, Md., where she worked for four years as a multimedia reporter at the second-largest daily newspaper in Maryland. She interned at Baltimore magazine and graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (in the town of Indiana, in the state of Pennsylvania) with a degree in journalism and mass communications.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Most Popular

See all

Franchise

Franchising Is Not For Everyone. Explore These Lucrative Alternatives to Expand Your Business.

Not every business can be franchised, nor should it. While franchising can be the right growth vehicle for someone with an established brand and proven concept that's ripe for growth, there are other options available for business owners.

By Emiliano Jöcker

Side Hustle

Her 'Crude Prototype' and $50 Craigslist Purchase Launched a Side Hustle That Hit $1 Million in Sales — Now the Business Generates Up to $20 Million a Year

Elle Rowley experienced a "surge of creative inspiration" after she had her first baby in 2009 — and it wasn't long before she landed on a great idea.

By Amanda Breen

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

By The Staff of Entrepreneur Media, Inc.

Business News

The TikTok Ban Bill Has Been Signed — Here's How Long ByteDance Has to Sell, and Why TikTok Is Preparing for a Legal Battle

TikTok has nine months to cut ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance.

By Sherin Shibu

Business News

Passengers Are Now Entitled to a Full Cash Refund for Canceled Flights, 'Significant' Delays

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced new rules for commercial passengers on Wednesday.

By Emily Rella

Leadership

There Are 4 Types of Managers. Take This Quiz to Find Out Which You Are, and If You're In the Right Line of Work.

Knowing your leadership style, and whether it suits the work you're doing and the team you have, is the first step in living up to your leadership potential.

By Scott Greenberg