Social commerce is an emerging trend that has gained traction in recent years. It involves the use of social media platforms to buy and sell products. With the rapid growth of social media, it has become an important channel for businesses to reach their target audience and increase their sales. This article will explore six tools that can help businesses sell more on social commerce.
These tools offer a range of features and benefits that can help businesses streamline their efforts and effectively reach and engage with their target audience on social media. Whether starting with social commerce or looking to take your sales to the next level, these tools can help you succeed.
What Is Social Commerce
Social commerce refers to using social media platforms to facilitate buying and selling products and services. It combines social media elements, such as user-generated content, with traditional e-commerce functionality, such as browsing and purchasing products online.
Social commerce can take a number of forms, including online marketplaces such as Etsy or Shopify. Users can browse and purchase products from various sellers on these platforms. Facebook and Instagram are the most popular social media platforms that allow businesses to set up online stores. There are lots of online communities, such as forums or discussion groups. People can share recommendations and reviews of products and services on social media.
Social Commerce Popularity
Social commerce has become increasingly popular in recent years due to the widespread use of social media. This has increased the convenience it offers to consumers. It allows businesses to reach a large audience and connect with potential customers in a more personalized way. It allows consumers to discover and purchase products from various sellers in a single place.
Social media is basically the channel that people use to communicate, have fun, and share. However, over time, it turned into social commerce channel. Facebook's work in eCommerce began in 2007. Facebook, which created social media, also pioneered social commerce. In 2014, Facebook turned Facebook into a platform where direct sales can be made with the buy button.
Six Tools That Can Help Businesses Boost Their Social Commerce Efforts
1. Social media management platforms:
Social media tools allow you to plan, manage and report your social media channels on a single platform. This is especially important for businesses in terms of enabling them to use time effectively. For example, Hootsuite and Buffer's tools allow businesses to manage and schedule shipments. These tools allow the tracking of interactions and analytical data after shares.
2. Social media advertising:
Platforms like Facebook and Instagram offer advertising options that allow businesses to target specific demographics and interests. In this way, businesses can reach potential customers instead of advertising to an uncertain audience.
3. Social media influencer marketing:
By partnering with popular influencers, businesses can tap into a new audience and boost their visibility and credibility. It is seen that businesses frequently cooperate with influencers in the sales and marketing strategies of their products and services. Influencers can directly advertise branded products or include them in their daily posts. We can derive influencer marketing strategies, for example, content that describes how the branded product is used or its benefits can be produced. Influencer marketing is one of the fastest and most effective options.
4. Social media shopping:
Platforms like Instagram and Pinterest now offer shopping features that allow businesses to tag and sell products. They have a selling option in posts, making them available for purchase directly from the app. People are more sensitive to visual stimuli. Therefore, it is no surprise that Instagram and interesting are emerging as effective social media sales channels.
5. Customer relationship management (CRM) tools:
CRM tools like Salesforce and Hubspot help businesses manage and track customer interactions and information, allowing them to personalize their approach and improve the customer experience. For example, Salesforce Marketing Cloud has about a dozen integrated tools for companies. Adding and managing digital commerce to social media channels is extremely easy with CRM tools. Adding social media and email campaign features, pulling data from your business's social media sites, and more.
6. Live streaming:
Live streaming on platforms like Facebook Live and Instagram Live lets businesses connect with their audience in real-time. With this feature, your business can communicate directly with existing and potential customers. The products and services your business wants to highlight are displayed with live streaming, while questions from the followers are answered and comments are evaluated. Live streaming offers businesses a great interactive experience and commercial opportunities.
How Can Companies Trade Through Social Media Channels?
According to LinkedIn data, businesses that sell through social media channels sell 78% more than businesses that use e-commerce alone. In social media commerce, the data obtained by businesses on issues such as repeat sales and order cancellations is more positive. There are several ways that companies can use social media to facilitate trade. Turning social media channels into sales outlets is the most effective way. At this point, the following information about the social media channels that can be converted into an e-commerce platform and the WooCommerce plugin for your website will be useful.
1. Facebook Shops
Facebook Shops is a new feature that enables businesses to create an online store on Facebook and Instagram. With Facebook Shops, businesses can showcase their products, customize their storefront, and manage orders. Customers can browse products, save them for later, and make purchases without leaving the platform. Facebook Shops also integrates with other tools, such as Facebook Ads and Messenger, allowing businesses to reach a wider audience.
2. Instagram Shopping
Instagram Shopping is another tool that enables businesses to sell products directly on Instagram. With Instagram Shopping, businesses can tag products in their posts and stories, allowing customers to purchase products without leaving the app. Instagram Shopping also includes a checkout feature, making it easier for customers to complete their purchases. Instagram Shopping is available to businesses in select countries.
3. Pinterest Catalogs
Pinterest Catalogs is a new feature that enables businesses to turn their product catalogs into shoppable pins. With Pinterest Catalogs, businesses can upload their product feed, and Pinterest will automatically create shoppable pins. Customers can then discover and purchase products directly from the platform. Pinterest Catalogs also includes a conversion tracking feature, allowing businesses to measure the effectiveness of their campaigns.
4. TikTok Shopping
TikTok Shopping is a new feature that enables businesses to sell products directly on TikTok. With TikTok Shopping, businesses can create in-feed videos that showcase their products and include a link to purchase. Customers can then make purchases without leaving the app. TikTok Shopping is currently available to businesses in select countries.
5. Shopify
Shopify is an e-commerce platform that enables businesses to create an online store. With Shopify, businesses can customize their store, manage orders, and accept payments. Shopify also includes features like abandoned cart recovery, customer analytics, and email marketing. Shopify also integrates with social media platforms, allowing businesses to sell products directly on social media.
6. WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a popular e-commerce plugin for WordPress. With WooCommerce, businesses can create an online store on their WordPress website. WooCommerce includes features such as customizable storefronts, product management, and payment processing. WooCommerce also includes a range of extensions that allow businesses to add additional functionality to their store, such as social media integration.
Conclusion
Social commerce is a rapidly growing trend that offers businesses a new avenue to reach and interact with customers. Businesses can effectively sell their products and services on social media platforms using the right tools. Social commerce causes reaching a wider audience and increases sales.
Some top tools to help businesses sell more on social commerce include Shopify, Canva, Later, Hootsuite, Planoly, and PromoRepublic. Each tool offers unique features and benefits that can help businesses streamline their social commerce efforts and drive more sales.
By utilizing these tools, businesses can effectively leverage the power of social media to drive sales and grow their customer base. Whether through targeted advertising, influencer partnerships, or direct sales through social media shopping, these tools can help businesses maximize their social commerce efforts.
Written by: Aykut Alan - 12.2022
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