The internet has seen many changes in the past decade, with a few changes happening in recent years. One such change is that social platforms have taken over from traditional ecommerce sites, and if you want to increase your sales on these new platforms, this article will show you how to do it effectively. Social Commerce is a term that has been used to describe the use of social media platforms to promote and advertise products. The key difference between Social Commerce and eCommerce is that users are encouraged to share their purchases with friends and family through social media channels in the former. In contrast, eCommerce is when consumers buy products from a seller on an online platform like Amazon or eBay. Over the past several years, the ecommerce market has grown quite competitive. More than half of all Internet users in the world completed an online purchase in the previous year. Younger generations are leading this trend with more buying power. Sixty-seven percent of Millennials would prefer to purchase online rather than in a store. This is fantastic news for your online store. Yes, when it comes to selling items online, you have a lot of competitors. However, you can do a lot to obtain an advantage over your competition if you have the correct tools and marketing approach.
You should be able to create a conversion-oriented webpage. It’s also crucial to understand which features boost your website’s reputation. All of this is vital, yet it is insufficient. To sell your items efficiently, you need to use as many channels as possible in addition to your website. This is because you can’t always count on customers to find your website. You must ensure that your items are easily accessible for purchase in areas where your clients spend a significant amount of time. Enter the world of social media. Social media, like ecommerce, continues to be a developing trend. Around the world, there are almost 2.5 billion people who utilize social media.
Experts expect that by 2021, this number will have risen to 3 billion. So your ecommerce business may already have a social media presence. It’s an important marketing tactic, but you can take it further. To market your stuff, use social media. If you’ve never done something like this before, you may be unsure where to begin. Fortunately, you’ve arrived at the correct location.
How may social commerce help your ecommerce store generate more income?
What is the definition of social commerce?
Let’s begin with the fundamentals. The notion of social commerce is relatively new. In 2005, the word was coined. However, its meaning and use have changed throughout time. You may sell your items via a third-party site using social commerce. The platform you’re selling via is a social media network in particular. For example, if a Facebook user finds something they want to purchase, they may do it immediately via Facebook’s interface rather than go to the seller’s website. This is fantastic news for your online shop. However, your conversion rates will suffer if you depend on customers visiting your website after viewing an ad that promotes your items. Why? There are much too many steps. Yes, there will be some conversions. However, streamlining the purchase process will increase conversion rates. Take a look at how social media influences purchasing decisions:
Most customers claim they use social media to help them make purchases. For example, when customers see a product on social media, they are more likely to purchase it. A further 31% of respondents say they use social media to look for things they’re interested in purchasing. So implementing a social commerce strategy is a no-brainer for ecommerce firms.
Create a Facebook page for your items.
If you’re new to social commerce, the best place to start is Facebook. Of course, you’ll eventually add this functionality to your other social media accounts as well, but for now, this is the ideal place to start. As I previously said, social commerce is still a very new concept. It hasn’t yet caught on with every customer. However, Facebook is where the bulk of users who have made purchases using social media sites have done so:
As you can see, almost 35% of social media users claim they’ve never purchased anything on the platform. However, nearly half of social media users claim they’ve made a transaction on Facebook. This is reasonable. In the realm of social media, Facebook has always been a trailblazer. Their platform is incredibly user-friendly for both individuals and businesses. Facebook business pages may use the network in various ways to increase sales. They may, for starters, list items immediately on their web. This function has the look of a regular ecommerce store, which we’ve all come to expect. Second, Facebook included a “Shop Now” button that takes visitors straight to the retailer’s website. Take a look at this sample from the DressLily Facebook page to understand what I’m talking about:
The “Shop” option is located in the left menu on their Facebook page. This directs their clients to the screen you’re now seeing. On the other hand, customers will be sent to the brand’s website by clicking the “Shop Now” button at the top of the page. It would be best if you used both of these buttons. Not all customers have adapted to the social commerce trends, as we’ve seen. You don’t want to miss out on their business. Some consumers may be hesitant to purchase straight via Facebook, so providing them with the option to visit your website is essential. To make transactions directly via Facebook, you’ll need to link your page to a Stripe or PayPal account. Each adds an extra $0.30 per transaction to 2.9 percent of the purchase price. I understand that these costs may be greater than those shown on your website for credit cards, but it’s something you’ll have to accept. Even though third-party firms handle payments, you will not be required to utilize such platforms for collections. You can take all of your orders right from your Facebook store. You’ll get real-time access to information about your current, pending, and completed Facebook orders.
Instagram is a great place to sell.
In 2012, Facebook bought Instagram. So it’s no wonder that Instagram has become so popular in recent years. On an average day, Instagram users post 95 million photos and videos. The addition of their “Shop Now” function has transformed them into a social commerce behemoth. Here’s an example of how West Elm used sponsored Instagram ads to deploy this feature:
Consider a user who is scrolling down their timeline. They’ll see not just posts from the people they follow, but also advertisements. Like ordinary Instagram posts, these advertising may include several photographs and videos. A carousel ad is what it’s called. If the initial picture catches the user’s eye, they may want to browse through the rest of the images to discover what else this brand has to offer. In any case, the “Shop Now” button stays a part of the article throughout. It’s a proven method for increasing conversions. As previously said, the more stages in the purchase procedure you have, the poorer your outcomes will be. If your current Instagram approach is to attract purchases with a post on your profile with a message that reads “link in bio,” it’s probably not working. There’s a lot of squabbling going on. The “Shop Now” button, on the other hand, streamlines the procedure and allows consumers to purchase things with only a few clicks. You may also promote with a single picture, a single video, or slideshows in addition to carousel advertising. The slideshow automatically loops up to ten photographs to make a movie. You may also alter your ad’s CTA button to “Learn More.” Rumble Boxing provides an example:
Users will be sent to a landing page to learn more about courses and timetables. They may also make purchases from this location. Selling Instagram advertisements is advantageous since you have complete control over who sees your posts.
You may personalize your ad depending on your objectives, such as:
- brand recognition
- reach
- a sense of place
- traffic
- engagement
- generating leads
- conversions
- sales of product catalogs
- Visits to stores
When you grow your company on Instagram, you have access to all of these choices.
Pins that may be purchased
You must also have an active presence on Pinterest as an ecommerce store. I’ll give you a quick rundown of how Pinterest works if you’re unfamiliar with it. Many users like browsing the site for ideas, inspiration, and things they are interested in. Someone may, for example, use Pinterest to get decorating ideas for a room in their house. They may save a post or “pin” it to one of their boards if they like it. In addition, Pinterest is beneficial to companies since it includes a function that allows them to create buyable pins for ecommerce stores. Here’s an example of how it may appear:
When consumers come across this table while exploring the site, they may buy it with only a few clicks. Customers may use their credit cards or Apple Pay to pay. This is fantastic news for customers using their mobile devices to shop. Buyers may finish the purchase process with only one click using this tool, drastically increasing your conversion rates. According to recent polls, 73 percent of Millennials want to make all of their payments using their mobile devices. Cocoweb saw a 20 percent boost in conversions on their mobile platform thanks to Apple Pay. Following the implementation of Apple Pay, Zin Home noticed a 20% boost in sales. You must have a social commerce strategy for mobile apps that handle transactions. In addition to Facebook and Instagram, Pinterest should be a top focus for you.
Make use of social media influencers.
Without the support of social influencers, no social commerce effort would be complete. Micro-influencers raise the credibility of your product and increase sales income. You’ll have these influencers submit material on their pages after you’ve established ties with them. It’s a marketing technique that works. That’s why, in the next year, the majority of firms will increase their influencer marketing budgets:
This method is continuing to grow in popularity. The number of searches for “influencer marketing” on Google has increased by 325 percent in the past year. If you haven’t done your homework on the subject, it seems that your rivals have. Influencer marketing is also lucrative, which is another reason why it succeeds. According to research, influencer marketing delivers an 11-fold better return on investment than other content marketing strategies. Your social commerce strategy will go hand in hand with working with social influencers to promote your items.
Conclusion
In such a competitive market, it’s difficult for ecommerce stores to remain relevant. However, rather than seeing these patterns as challenges, you should see them as opportunities. Make your items accessible for purchase on as many platforms as possible to obtain an advantage over your competition and enhance sales income. In addition to your regular ecommerce website, make use of social commerce stores. Let’s begin with Facebook. The majority of those who have purchased things using social commerce platforms have done so through Facebook. However, you should also use other social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest. To get the most exposure for your business, combine social influencers with your social commerce plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is ecommerce related to social commerce?
A: Ecommerce is a form of social commerce where the buyer and seller do not know each other.
How do ecommerce companies generate more revenue?
A: Ecommerce companies generate more revenue by offering consumers a better experience and lower prices.
Is social commerce help a business?
A: Yes, social commerce is a business, but it’s not all the same. Social Commerce can improve customer engagement and loyalty to increase revenue. This can lead to higher profit margins which are very important for big businesses that need every penny they get.
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