Online stores open on Facebook and Instagram

Nearly a million businesses around the world can now set up a single online store to sell products, with no fee, on Facebook and Instagram.

The initial stage of the Facebook Shops rollout has been brought forward and extended because of Covid-19. The stores will appear on business pages, Instagram profiles and through targeted ads. The company has already used a no-fees approach in its Facebook Marketplace for personal classifieds.

The shopping feature will also eventually appear on WhatsApp and the company’s other messaging apps and integrate with live streams.

Once a buyer decides they want to spend money, they will usually be directed to the company’s website to complete the transaction. And if problems arise or a buyer wants to ask questions, they can do so through Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, or Instagram Direct messages, some of which are already used by companies for that purpose.