There’s much to gain by using social media for ecommerce. First off, you can build up brand awareness, and interact with new leads. Plus, you can also invest in ads or emails to drive sales.
It’s all about creating brand exposure; lest you remain isolated from the users that wish to know you.
Today, we share how you can leverage social media for your small business online. We’ll list the best tools to share relevant content, set up a viral marketing strategy, and more.
Let’s dive right in.
The State of Social Media for Ecommerce Success
At this point in time, running an eCommerce business without using social media channels is unthinkable.
Social media connects us across great distances. It also keeps us in touch with current events. And after the COVID-19 pandemic, social media is a frequent starting point to buy new products and services.
In 2022, Hootsuite states that almost 58% of users bought a product online each week. And nearly 26% of buyers used social media to find new products. That’s been the case for TikTok in recent years.
Sprout Social states that 91% of users increase brand interaction after becoming followers. Most will actually buy a product, and even recommend the store to new users.
That’s how much social media influences eCommerce sales. But here’s the rub about social media for ecommerce: users now have more product options to choose from.
That means that sellers also have more competition than ever. Almost all retailers have an online store. Brands also rely on social media to delight new customers on a daily basis.
So, how to stand out among such an ocean of brands and offers? Here’s where a solid social media eCommerce strategy comes in.
How to Set up Social Media for Ecommerce
Broadband search states that users spend almost 2.5 hours on social media per day. That’s an average 30 mins spent on Facebook, IG, Twitter, TikTok and snapchat, respectively.
With so many potential leads using social, it’s imperative that you engage with them to drive your eCommerce success. The question is how to do so.
Sellers can use many tools to tap into the power of social media for eCommerce purposes. Here are the 3 big ones:
- Social media marketing. Using social media channels to promote an online store. It focuses on boosting brand awareness and attracting followers.
- Social commerce. Selling to customers directly on social media channels, such as TikTok Shop. The goal is to offer a fast and personable shopping experience.
- Social selling. This strategy focuses on building relationships. You focus on offering guidance to users. And once a customer is ready to buy, they’ll think of your brand.
Let’s break down each model into their key elements. For example: brand awareness, direct sales, advertising, etcetera. This will help you create the best strategy to set up your social media for eCommerce sales.
Related content: Improve your Ecommerce Conversion Rate
Brand Awareness
As we said, social media is the ideal place to promote your brand. Use your channels to share content or product launches. But most of all, share to make customers aware of your offers.
The key is to define a voice for your brand. Make sure that your posts have consistent copy, image quality, and design. Also, cater to target audiences and keep up with market trends. This will help you stay in the consumer’s mind for much longer.
Advertising
Hootsuite states that Facebook ads reach almost 2.17 billion users. Instagram ads reach around 1.44 billion, and TikTok ads are seen by 1.02 billion people.
In time, you’ll benefit more from organic advertising. But you should also boost traffic with paid ads. This requires using PPC campaigns, and a Solid SEO strategy, so users can find you.
But don’t just share ads without a purpose. Use the tools available on each channel to create a seamless ad experience. For example: carousels, video and long-form content.
Also, don’t forget to track your ad’s engagement rate! This will help you optimize your campaigns to improve conversions over time.
Customer Engagement
Social media is about communication. Users will do more than like, share or click on posts. They’ll also try to talk with your brand. So, make sure you’re ready to engage in direct talks with your leads.
Also, take advantage of chatbots. These are great tools for nurturing customer engagement. A chatbot can connect with users almost immediately. It can answer simple questions about your brand or a product.
If the conversation is going well, you can then connect the lead with a staff member. Thus, you can guide customers through the sales process, offer support, and personalize their sales.
Social Commerce
If you go for social commerce, make sure you can support it. The key is to set up a shop that allows users to buy without leaving the social media channel.
Also, create tutorials, DIY videos, and images that showcase the product’s benefits. Make sure customers learn as much as possible about an offer within your channel.
It’s also important to invest in stellar support. You need to interact with customers to offer a personal shopping experience.
Social Proof
Delighted customers may want to talk about their brand experience with other users. You should encourage this, and also share their stories.
When you provide social proof, new users will know that your offers work. Not only that, but they’ll also know that you are a brand they can trust.
This requires a lot of social listening, or browsing for mentions of your band. Such a practice will keep you informed on your performance. You’ll learn who likes your products and why, and you’ll be able to address complaints before the user reaches out.
Authenticity
It’s not only about selling; social media users also want to know more about you. That’s why your strategy should also focus on sharing a clear and honest impression.
Make sure that your bio states where you come from, and what makes your brand different. Then, try to communicate that personality across your channels. This includes posts, images, videos, and more.
Your brand personality can also inform the best channels where you should build a presence. Thus, you won’t waste effort on social media sites where you won’t find many leads.
This kind of transparency will make users trust you. It’ll also help you attract your target audience in a more organic way.
Final Thoughts
It’s time that you leverage social media for eCommerce sales. It’ll drive awareness, and increase your online success.
Social media can also help you build a community, and user loyalty. It’s a great place to share positive product experiences and to promote word-of-mouth publicity.
Each platform comes with its own perks, which you’ll need to learn. That said, the tips above, and working with the right allies, can help you plan a solid social media ecommerce strategy.
Best of luck!
Author
Esteban Muñoz is a content writer at AMZ Advisers, with several years’ experience in digital marketing and e-commerce. Esteban and the AMZ Advisers team have been able to achieve incredible growth on Amazon for their clients by optimizing and managing their accounts, and creating in-depth content marketing strategies.
