Section Feed Review: How to Add an Instagram Feed to Shopify

As Shopify developers and store owners, we are constantly looking for ways to maximize the value of every site visitor. While securing a purchase is the primary goal, building a long-term audience through social media is a crucial secondary objective.

Today, I am reviewing Section Feed, a Shopify app that seamlessly integrates an Instagram feed into your store's homepage. I have been using this app on my live site, A Posteriori Coffee, since its launch, and it has proven to be a reliable, zero-maintenance solution.

In this post, we will cover the benefits of using Section Feed, a step-by-step setup guide, and a technical look at its performance impact.

Why Add an Instagram Feed?

Before diving into the technical implementation, it is important to understand the strategy behind this feature. When a potential customer lands on your site, you want to extract the maximum value from that visit. The hierarchy of conversion usually looks like this:

1. Purchase: The best-case scenario.
2. Email Subscription: Capturing data for remarketing.
3. Social Follow: Building organic reach and community.

Section Feed targets that third tier. By displaying your latest posts directly on your homepage, you provide social proof and an easy pathway for users to follow your brand on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. Increasing your follower count on these platforms ultimately boosts your organic reach.

Live Demo: What It Looks Like

On my live coffee store, I utilize Section Feed at the bottom of the homepage. The section is titled "Follow us on Instagram" and displays a curated collage of our philosophy-themed coffee posts.

When a user hovers over an image, they see the post date and an overlay. Clicking an image takes them directly to that specific post on Instagram, where they can easily hit the "Follow" button. It is a clean, native-looking integration that fits the brand aesthetic perfectly.

Step-by-Step Setup Guide

Setting up Section Feed is straightforward and requires no custom coding. Here is how to configure it in the Shopify backend:

1. Connect Your Account

Once you install the app, navigate to the Section Feed dashboard within Shopify apps.

• Connect Instagram: Click to authorize your Instagram account.
• Select Theme: Choose your currently active theme from the dropdown menu to ensure the code is injected into the right environment.

2. Add to Theme Editor

Navigate to Online Store > Themes > Customize to open the Shopify Editor.

1. Scroll to the bottom of the sidebar.
2. Click Add section.
3. Select Instagram Feed (under the Section Feed category).

3. Customization Options

The app offers robust customization settings directly within the editor sidebar:

• Headings: You can customize the main heading (e.g., "Follow us on Instagram") and subheading. You can also link the subheading directly to your profile.
• Call to Action: There is an optional button feature. Personally, I disable this to keep the UI clean, but you can link it to your profile or a specific landing page.
• Layout Styles:
  • Grid: Uniform image sizes organized in strict rows.
  • Collage: A dynamic layout with varying image sizes (my personal preference).
  • Sliding Carousel: Images slide across the screen. Note: Be careful with carousels as they can sometimes cause sensory overload for users.
• Dimensions: You can toggle between "Boxed" and "Full Width," and adjust the spacing (gutters) between images.
• Overlays: Customize the hover effect opacity, colors, and text visibility (such as showing the post date).

Technical Performance Analysis

As a technical marketer, my biggest concern with third-party apps is page speed. Installing too many apps can bloat your JavaScript and slow down your site, negatively impacting bounce rates and SEO.

I conducted page speed tests immediately after installing Section Feed to measure the performance hit.

The Result: The app had zero impact on my store's performance metrics.

While it is entirely possible to code a custom Instagram fetcher using the Instagram API, using a pre-optimized app like Section Feed saves development time without sacrificing site speed. It is a classic "buy vs. build" scenario where the existing solution is efficient enough to render custom development unnecessary.

Final Verdict

Even though Section Feed might not have the highest number of reviews compared to some giants in the app store, it creates a robust, performant, and aesthetically pleasing result. I have set it up once and haven't had to touch it since—it simply works.

If you are looking for a way to increase social engagement without slowing down your Shopify store, I highly recommend giving this app a try.