In the past, social media used to be about connecting with family and friends. You would simply search for them, connect, and talk about absolutely anything. But today, it grew from a platform that helps brands and communities unite online.
Yes, social media is now a powerful tool for business marketing. Consumers flock on different social channels to look for products or services that can fill their needs. They consider it as something that can guide them to make better buying decisions.
But even with this huge popularity, some ecommerce brands still haven’t taken advantage of social media’s potential to help them succeed. If you’re one of them, you are missing out on a huge opportunity to reach more customers, generate sales, and drive website traffic.
But it’s not too late.
Regardless of whether you’re a social media pro or a beginner, there is still time for you to utilize social media to nurture your ecommerce brand.
What is Social Media Ecommerce?
Social media ecommerce is the practice of using different platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to promote online stores. Businesses can use it to attract more prospects, yield online sales, and build brand awareness. They can also use it to get their brand known globally.
Benefits of Social Media Ecommerce
If you want your ecommerce store to succeed in today’s digitally inclined world, your brand must be present on social media. Here are some of the reasons why you should start hopping into the social media ecommerce bandwagon:
1. Reach target customers better
Let’s face it, consumers don’t browse on social media to look for the trendiest clothes on the market. They go there to be informed with the latest news, be inspired, and connect with friends.
Sure, they are also on social to discover different brands. But it is not the first thing that comes to their mind. Still, online selling has grown bigger that people won’t mind checking out new brands, especially if it’s not interrupting their experience.
If you want to catch their attention right away and encourage them to see your brand’s social media profile, you need to show products or services that interest them. Luckily, social media has various targeting features that you can also use to reach those who are actually looking for an online store. You can reach them better and directly show them all the offerings that you have.
2. Leverage social proof
Most of the time, people look for cues on how to behave in front of others. Well, the same goes to their buying behaviors on social media. This is also known as social proof, and it is even more apparent on social compared to other marketing platforms.
After all, when someone, especially an influencer, recommends a product on Facebook or Instagram, people are more likely to check and purchase it as well.
The good thing about social media ecommerce is that it shows lots of opportunities for businesses to take advantage of social proof. For one thing, its platforms are designed in a way where audiences can see the activities of their friends, which include interactions with businesses.
3. Create frictionless buying experience
If you’re putting your customers and prospects through many hoops, you won’t be able to generate sales effectively. Let’s be honest, most of them are lazy – they want the product in front of them immediately. If you let them wander, there’s a big chance that they won’t go back to your store.
Social media ecommerce offers a frictionless buying experience to users. It will showcase your products or services in ways that make customers’ shopping smooth and convenient. They are more likely to check out your offers and buy it when you integrate your online store on social media.
4. Engage prospects casually
Social media ecommerce offers a more casual way of connecting and communicating with potential customers. With this benefit, you will be able to engage in two-way conversations much easier, especially if you’re talking to those who are interested in learning more about your brand.
Make The Most Out Of Social Media Ecommerce
If you want to get the best results and achieve your social media ecommerce goals, you must make all your efforts count. Here are some tips to make the most out of your marketing strategy:
- Focus on the platforms that matter. Don’t just manage the most popular one. Make sure that the social channels you’re using are the ones used by your target audience, too.
- Respond to inquiries often. Engage in your community. Spend some time answering comments, messages, reviews, and questions from people.
- Post compelling visual content. Whether it’s images, infographics, or videos, make sure that they can catch the attention of your target audience.
- Use the advertising features of social media platforms. Boost posts, run ads, and more.
- Collaborate with micro-influencers. Consumers trust the opinion and recommendations of these popular individuals. Work with them to promote your brand to a large audience.
Final Thoughts
Social media ecommerce is without a doubt an important marketing tool for any business. By learning more about how this tool works, you will be able to increase your engagement in no time.
