How to make a free online shop for your Instagram business in Pakistan

Why your Instagram page needs a shop link

Instagram is great for being discovered. Reels and posts bring people to your page. But once a customer wants to buy, the journey usually breaks: there is no price on the post, so they DM you, wait for a reply, and many never come back.

A shop link in your bio fixes that. Every follower can see your products, prices and delivery charges, and place an order at 2am without waiting for you to wake up.

Your options in Pakistan

• A full website platform like Shopify. Powerful, but built around card payments, themes and apps, and usually billed in US dollars. Often more than a home business needs.
• Link-in-bio tools. Easy, but most only list links. They don't take orders, calculate delivery or support cash on delivery.
• A WhatsApp-first shop builder like DukanChat. Made for Instagram and WhatsApp sellers: a product page, cart and checkout with cash on delivery, JazzCash and Easypaisa, and every order sent to your WhatsApp. There is a free plan.

Step by step: set up your shop in about 10 minutes

Step 1: Create your account

Go to app.dukanchat.com/signup and choose your shop name. It becomes your link, for example ayeshabakes.dukanchat.com. Pick something short and close to your Instagram handle.

Step 2: Add your shop details

Upload your logo and add your WhatsApp number and city. The WhatsApp number is where your orders will arrive.

Step 3: Add your products

For each product add a clear photo, the price, and sizes or colors if you have them. Start with your best sellers. You can add the rest later.

Step 4: Set delivery and payment

Cash on delivery is on by default. You can set delivery charges per city and free delivery above an amount you choose. On a paid plan you can also accept JazzCash or Easypaisa advance payments, where the customer uploads a payment screenshot.

Step 5: Put the link in your bio

Edit your Instagram profile and add the shop link. Then post a story telling followers they can now order directly from the link.

Get your followers to use the link

• Add a "Shop" story highlight with a link sticker.
• End every Reel caption with "Order from the link in bio".
• Reply to "price?" comments and DMs with the link instead of typing prices.
• Pin a post explaining how to order: pick product, add address, place order.
• Share the same link on your WhatsApp status and Facebook page.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Too many products on day one. Ten good listings beat fifty half-filled ones.
• Hidden delivery charges. Customers cancel when the total changes on the phone. Set charges by city in the shop.
• Old prices. Update your shop whenever prices change, so the order total is always right.
• Different names everywhere. Keep your shop name, Instagram handle and logo the same so customers trust the link.