Sell Your Big Cartel Products on Instagram and Facebook
Before you start
- You'll need a paid Big Cartel plan (not available on Gold plans)
- You’ll need a Facebook account, Facebook Business Page, Instagram Business account, and Meta Commerce account
- Even for Instagram Shopping, Meta still requires a connected Facebook Page
How to install / set up
Step 1: Start in Big Cartel
- Go to Facebook Shops in the App Center
- Click Add to your shop → Get Started
- Click Go to Meta Commerce Manager
Step 2: Create and connect your accounts
In Meta:
- Add your Facebook Page
- Connect your Instagram Business account
- Link everything to your Meta Business account
If you don’t have accounts yet, create them here.
Step 3: Create your product catalog
- In Meta Commerce Manager, select Add profiles
- Choose Create Catalog
- Name your catalog
- When prompted, choose Connect a partner platform (if needed)
Step 4: Upload your products
Select Connect Data Feed and use your Big Cartel product feed:
https://YOURSUBDOMAIN.bigcartel.com/facebook.xml
Then click Upload
Step 5: Set your checkout URL
In Meta Commerce Manager:
- Go to Settings → General
- Find Checkout URL
- Enter:
https://YOURSUBDOMAIN.bigcartel.com/checkout
- Preview checkout and confirm it works
- Submit
Step 6: Complete your To-Do list
In Meta Commerce Manager:
- Fill out shipping settings
- Add return policy
- Verify business info
- Submit for review
Once complete, Meta will review your shop.
How to use (after setup)
Tag products on Instagram
- Create a post or story
- Tap Tag Products
- Select items from your catalog
- Publish
Customers can tap the product → go directly to your Big Cartel checkout
Tag products on Facebook
- Create a post
- Select Tag Products
- Choose items from your catalog
- Publish
Track performance (optional)
You can add a Meta Pixel to track:
- Traffic
- Conversions
- Ad performance
Meta Commerce Manager settings
Most of the important setup details for Facebook and Instagram Shopping live inside Meta Commerce Manager → Settings → General. This is where you’ll connect your Facebook Page and Instagram Business account through the Sales Channels section and verify everything is properly linked together.
You’ll also use this area to locate and confirm your checkout URL is correct. Your checkout link should look like:
https://YOURSUBDOMAIN.bigcartel.com/checkout
Making sure the correct checkout URL is added is important because this is where customers are sent after tapping products on Facebook or Instagram.
Common use cases
Promote new drops: Post a new product and tag it so customers can shop instantly.
Turn content into sales: Tag products in lifestyle photos, reels, or stories.
Run ads with products: Use your synced catalog for Meta ads.
Share your shop without tagging: If you don’t need tagging, just post your shop URL instead.
Troubleshooting Facebook, Instagram, and Meta Commerce
Products aren’t connecting or showing in Meta
If your products aren’t appearing in Facebook, Instagram, or Meta Commerce Manager, first check that Meta is using the correct Big Cartel product data feed.
How to fix it
- Use your Big Cartel product feed URL in Meta Commerce Manager:
https://yourshop.bigcartel.com/facebook.xml - Replace yourshop with your actual Big Cartel shop URL.
- Add that URL in Meta Commerce Manager as a data feed.
- Refresh the feed in Meta Commerce Manager.
- Check Meta for any product errors or rejected items.
Why this happens
Meta needs your Big Cartel product data feed to pull in your products. If the feed URL is missing, incorrect, or not refreshed, products may not appear.
Digital products aren’t showing or can’t be tagged
Digital products are not included in the Big Cartel product data feed for Meta. Because of that, they cannot be synced to Facebook or Instagram shops and cannot be tagged in posts.
What to know
- Digital products are excluded from the product data feed.
- Only eligible physical products can sync to Meta Commerce.
- Digital products cannot be tagged through Instagram or Facebook Shopping.
Why this happens
Meta product tagging relies on the product data feed. Since digital products are not included in that feed, Meta cannot display or tag them.
Sales channels are not connected
If your products still aren’t showing, make sure your sales channels are connected in your Big Cartel settings.
How to fix it
- In your Commerce Manager, Open the General panel.
- Check your connected Sales Channels.
- Make sure Facebook, Instagram, or Meta-related channels are connected as needed.
- If anything is disconnected, reconnect it and then refresh your feed in Meta Commerce Manager.
Why this happens
Meta needs permission to access your shop’s product information. If the sales channel is not connected, products may not sync correctly.
Meta is asking for a variant URL
You do not need a separate variant URL for Big Cartel products. Your product feed includes the product information Meta needs.
How to fix it
- Use your regular Big Cartel product feed URL:
https://yourshop.bigcartel.com/facebook.xml - Add that URL as a data feed in Meta Commerce Manager.
- Do not create or upload a separate variant file unless Meta specifically requires one for a custom setup.
- Refresh the feed in Meta after saving it.
Why this happens
Meta may use wording like “variant URL” during catalog setup. For Big Cartel shops, variants are handled through the standard product feed.
Still Need Help?
If you still need help:
- Contact Big Cartel Support for questions about your Big Cartel shop, product feed, or integration setup.
- Visit Meta Commerce Manager Help Center for help with Facebook Shop approvals, Meta account setup, or Commerce Manager issues.