How to use social media for Ecommerce?
If you are running a business in 2022, inevitably, you will likely operate as an Ecommerce store even if you have a physical store base. If you don't, you are missing out on a considerable number of potential customers and exposure, which could change your business for the better.
LEARN MORE SEE HOW IT WORKS If you are running a business in 2022, inevitably, you will likely operate as an Ecommerce store even if you have a physical store base. If you don't, you are missing out on a considerable number of potential customers and exposure, which could change your business for the better. However, once you start using Ecommerce, it isn't guaranteed that numbers will pick up. Like all business strategies, this will take time. But, thanks to the millions of Ecommerce businesses that have come before you, there are clear strategies and ways that using social media can positively impact your Ecommerce. One of the most significant ways this is done is by using social media as a marketing tool. The thought of becoming a regular Instagram poster may strike fear into your heart, but believe us when we say this has worked for many people! In this guide, we will run through how you can use social media to gain traction on your Ecommerce store. From tips and examples, we will provide you with all the expertise essential to success in the social media business world.
Table of Contents
How to use social media for Ecommerce purposes?
The first step to using social media as an Ecommerce tool is creating accounts on all of the biggest platforms. Ensure that these accounts have the same name, contact details, and branding throughout to guarantee that consumers can recognize your business quickly. Once you have the basics put into place, you should consider the following;
Showcase your branding and personality
Getting to the point of having an Ecommerce store will likely mean you have branding tools in place, such as a logo and color scheme. It is best to stick with this theme on your socials to ensure you have a cohesive appearance to consumers. You may find that hard to begin with, but it can help to think of branding keywords. For example, say you run an earring business that uses natural resources such as birthstones and crystals. In this case, branding words could be; gentle, natural, and empowering. From here, keep these words in mind when making content, ensuring that you deliver on what you set out.
Set up weekly post schedules
To generate sufficient engagement, posting weekly is vital. Amongst your everyday life and juggling a business, it can be a challenge to find time to post regularly, but you can now schedule social media posts to go live at certain times of the day. An automated posting schedule is helpful if you are away on holiday and can't get on your social accounts. Posting 2 or 3 times a week is the best way to keep your followers engaged while not bombarding them with too much content, and it is best if you assess which content is best to release on certain days in accordance with product launches and collaborations.
Collaboration
Thinking of social media as a ladder you need to climb up by using different steps is a good way to think. Sometimes, a helping hand is the best way to propel yourself to success. Of course, when reaching out to other companies or influencers, you would like to collaborate with, research them and ensure that their values and audience align with yours. Once you have found businesses and influencers that are on-brand, reach out! There are various ways in which you could collaborate, from affiliated ads to specific content creations made in accordance with your market an
Video content
In the current social media climate, pictures are becoming less popular than video content. This rise in video popularity isn't all that surprising, with the likes of Tiktok and Instagram reels becoming increasingly popular with Gen Z and millennial audiences. But why is this? Video content can capture the attention of larger audiences while giving you more time to express yourself and your personality. This is particularly important as consumers often buy into a product simply because they like the creator/brand. The great thing about video content is that it can be done without any vast expenditure. Of course, having good lighting and clear sound is desirable, but other than this, you don't need to splurge on any creating tools if you don’t want to. You can create video series' that drive consumers towards your page for a specific type of content. For example, if you're a beauty brand, you should include tutorial content (which you could also collaborate with others to create). This will make consumers more excited and likely to use the product in question!
Giveaways
Giving away products for free may seem counterproductive, but when your goal is to grow a dedicated online following, this is actually one of the best ways. If you look at the majority of big fast-fashion clothing Instagram and Twitter pages, you will see that they do giveaways, discounts, or coupons on a regular basis. While ethical questions may be involved in some giveaways, for small businesses, there is no harm in doing seasonal giveaways to generate exposure and excitement. This is down to the fact that giveaways introduce your brand to new consumers who may have never heard of you before. This is how you can devise a promotional giveaway. Like any competition, your giveaway should have rules to enter. Standard rules in many giveaways are guidelines such as 'To enter, tag three friends in the comment section and share this post to your story. Using rules similar to this will generate engagement and draw people to your page.
Behind-the-scenes content
There is no denying that as humans, curiosity is a huge part of our day-to-day thinking. And, when sporting and using products from our favorite brands, our brains tend to wonder how the manufacturing process occurred or what their daily life is for such a successful company. Including behind-the-scenes content invites your consumers to get to know the facts and figures that make the brand what it is while also providing them with transparency on your manufacturing process. Transparency goes an incredibly long way, as many consumers are becoming more selective with which brands they choose to support.
Customer spotlight
If your company makes products with claims, such as 'makes skin appear brighter in 3 weeks', putting some solid proof out there will help your case regarding selling. A good and genuine way to do this is by doing customer spotlights on your page. As your following grows, consumers will likely be messaging you with feedback. When you receive positive feedback, you can ask for a review that you can use as a post, or you could ask for a video review if the consumer feels comfortable with this.
Focus on your captions
When you spend so much time on your post content, it would be a shame to let your post down by not putting any effort into the caption. Your captions can be used to add incentive and background to your post, and many consumers will want to read them. To create more engagement on posts, focus on asking your audience questions or prompting them to share something in the comments. As more people comment, you will be able to create a community that enjoys coming to your page for your content. Another tip is not to be afraid to reply to people in the comment section! This shows that your brand is consumer-oriented, and there is nothing worse than checking a brand page with hundreds of unresolved consumer queries in the comment section; don't let that be you!
Link products within your posts
It's all good creating unique content where you mention specific products and show your consumer how to use them. But why make their job so much harder when actually finding your products? Having a link in your bio for your Ecommerce page is great, but when you mention specific products in specific posts, you should really link that product within the post. This makes your product more accessible and easy for consumers to find, giving less time to consider if they want to purchase the product in question.
Study insights
Once you have posted on your social accounts for a few weeks, patterns will form according to your reach, engagement, and audience. Take your time to look into these insights, as they can be incredibly valuable when deciding which area to promote a post in or what time to post due to information on your audience's activity times and their most active days.
Final thoughts...
In this guide, we have detailed how you can drive traffic to your Ecommerce site by using social media. Right now, you may feel overwhelmed or excited to get started, but you should at least feel assured that you have a rundown of all the tips for tailoring content to generate the sales you need. Remember, the most important part of your social media pages is to showcase your brand's personality's fun and exciting side. So don't be afraid to inject yourself and some life into your feed, as consumers will love to get to know you!
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