How to Nail Social Media for ECommerce
Your guide to eCommerce social media marketing
Social media presence is crucial for building brand awareness, driving traffic, and increasing sales.
Your accounts don’t have to be used only for sharing content or engaging with users in order to achieve those goals. Social media, from Facebook to Instagram, can be an effective way to market your products to your followers.
Canadians are avid social media users. According to a 2019 study, 75% of Canadian women use social media daily, while 62% of men do the same. According to PayPal’s Social Commerce Trend Study, 47% of Canadian users shop on social networks and spend an average of $77 per month.
These statistics aside, small business owners don’t realize the importance of these platforms for selling. This guide was created to help small business owners understand the importance of eCommerce social media marketing and to provide actionable tips for driving traffic, leads, and sales.
Organic Social Selling
It’s crucial to know the difference between using paid ads, social selling, and actually using a platform for selling.
Social selling is about organically connecting with prospects and nurturing relationships that can hopefully turn them into customers. By getting to know your potential customers, it’s all about building trust and credibility.
This can be done by asking them questions and responding quickly to their complaints or comments. Your chances of turning a follower into paying customers will increase if you have more trust and loyalty.
Rose Marie Swanson is one example of a client who asks engaging questions in order to connect with her audience.
Selling on a Social Media Marketplace
Selling on a marketplace or platform is something that’s a bit different. This means that you can use the platform’s selling capabilities in order to actively market your product. These are just two examples.
Facebook Shops
Facebook Shops is available to Facebook businesses that have a Page. You can now add products to your Facebook business Page, arrange them in different categories, communicate and view data such as views and clicks.
Customers can access your store via IG, as Facebook is the owner of Instagram. Your Facebook Shops can be found on your business’s Facebook Page, Instagram profile, or via Stories or Facebook ads.
READ: How to sell on social media without driving people away
Social media is one the most powerful marketing tools available: You can reach large audiences with ads and content, and people who follow and like you are your followers, so they are already your target audience.
People can be resistant to the idea of selling on these platforms. This is a tricky topic to tackle. You could end up alienating your audience and cause them to unfollow you or like you. They expect a two-way conversation with you and engaging content not being marketed to.
Learn more at our website.
Shoppable Instagram posts
This nifty feature was added to Canada’s Instagram in 2018. It allows businesses to tag brands or products in their posts. Tap it to view more information and click to purchase the product.
You will need an Instagram Business account to take advantage of this feature. Your business profile must be linked to a Facebook catalog.
Paid Ads
You can use ads to drive traffic and sales to your website or account page, in addition to selling on a market and social selling.
You may be able to place paid ads depending on what type of small business you have.
* Google Ads/display Ads on the Google Display Network
* YouTube (and In-Video Ad Placements)a
When using paid advertising options, you don’t need to use static images. Social media marketing for eCommerce allows you to integrate videos into your ads, making them more engaging.
There may be many ad options available on each platform. On Facebook, you have the opportunity to choose from slideshow ads or collection ads. Messenger ads can also be selected.
SPUD.ca, a Canadian Grocer, combines social selling (offering valuable information) with product marketing through its Facebook ads.
It can be challenging to understand and set up accounts and budgets. It is often a good idea to hire a professional marketer for small businesses.
It doesn’t matter what reason you are using social media for eCommerce. However, it is essential to make sure your communications are engaging and empathetic. Find out more about empathy marketing on our website.
I hope you found my eCommerce social media marketing guide helpful and inspiring in selling your products or services.
