It’s no secret that e-commerce has grown exponentially in the last decade. If this is a big part of your business model, you’ve probably picked up some tips and tricks along the way.
But are you taking advantage of one of the biggest components of a successful e-commerce strategy: social media?
If not, we’re here to convince you why you should.
Keep reading to find out why social media is so important to e-commerce and how to make it work best for you.
What Is the Role of Social Media in E-Commerce? A Look at the Stats
The numbers don’t lie — people around the globe are using social media to influence their online shopping decisions.
Nearly 77% of worldwide internet users — over two billion people — bought something online in 2020, and close to half of those people used social media to research brand-related information.
Let’s look at that in terms of sales dollars. Worldwide retail e-commerce sales hit $4.2 trillion in 2020 and are expected to reach $4.9 trillion in 2021 and $5.4 trillion in 2022. (It’s estimated that the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated online spending growth by 4 to 6 years over what it would have normally been.)
So if almost half of these purchases were influenced by or purchased through social media, you can see why having a social media marketing plan is so important in e-commerce.
Consider that internet users spent an average of 145 minutes (2 hours and 25 minutes) per day on social media platforms in 2020, an increase of over 60% from just 8 years earlier.
Something to consider as you’re coming up with your e-commerce strategy is how much of this time is spent on mobile devices — it’s estimated that 80% of social media users access the platforms this way. So you’re likely going to want to design a campaign with mobile users in mind.
People use their phones for all kinds of things these days, but a little over half of the time spent on mobile in 2020 was consumed by social media apps. Let’s break those down for you:
- Facebook is the most popular, with the average user spending 2 hours 24 minutes per day perusing it.
- TikTok, a newer but much-beloved platform, is coming in hard at an average use of 52 minutes per day.
- YouTube users spend an average of 40 minutes per day on the site.
- Snapchat fans spend about 30 minutes per day on that app.
- Instagram users tend to spend about 28 minutes per day there.
Considering that there are 3.2 billion people actively using social media networks worldwide, you’d be foolish not to take advantage of these captive audiences to grow your business and sales.
Inspire and Engage
At Pretty-Impressive, each client is unique. Which is why we create strategies tailored to the needs of each company. Reach out and we’ll help you get your brand exactly where it needs to be — ahead of the rest.
5 Ways Social Media Can Boost Your E-Commerce Business
1. Build Brand Awareness
If you have an active social media presence, it can enhance how people view your brand.
You can use social media to:
- Post positive reviews and feedback
- Share customer testimonials; and
- Include product reviews and customer-generated content
When social media users see a supportive response, they will want to find out more about you. This will build both your credibility and healthy relationships with customers.
2. Create Community With Customers
If social media users feel like they’re just someone you’re trying to sell something to, they are less likely to develop brand loyalty and a lasting relationship with your company.
When building your e-commerce social media strategy, think about how you can increase your followers with effective and engaging posts. Relate to your audience with …
- Fun
- Surprising; and
- Useful
… content.
People often use social media as an escape from reality. If you play your cards right, you can help them do that while gaining their trust and building credibility for your brand.
3. Advertise
Social media is a great place to advertise your brand by posting discounts and new content. If you make your posts feel exclusive to the sites, you are more likely to get new followers and keep them.
Consider using things like …
- Flash sales
- Vouchers
- Limited discounts; and
- Customer rewards
… to keep your customers coming back for more.
4. Sell Your Product
Each social media platform offers unique ways to help you sell to your customers, so play around with different strategies to see which ones work best for your business model.
Take advantage of features like:
- Hashtags
- Live video
- Sign-up buttons; and
- Contests
You’ll also want to consider the target age of your customers when trying to decide which social media sites to use for e-commerce. Experiment with them a bit and see where you get the most bites.
5. Provide Customer Service
The immediacy of social media makes it a great place to interact with customers who are using it to purchase your product or learn about your brand.
Whether it’s letting a customer know how valuable their positive feedback is or dealing with a possible issue or unpleasant comments, your quick responses help customers feel seen and valued.
And potential customers who witness these interactions will be more likely to trust you with future purchases.
Inspire and Engage
At Pretty-Impressive, each client is unique. Which is why we create strategies tailored to the needs of each company. Reach out and we’ll help you get your brand exactly where it needs to be — ahead of the rest.
4 Tips for Using Social Media in E-Commerce
1. Create Your Personality
Is your brand funny? Cutting-edge? Socially conscious? Social media is the place to showcase this and help potential customers remember and recognize you.
2. Post Often
Once you’ve built a following, you want to keep them coming back for more!
Creating a regular posting schedule and sticking to it will help you stay visible and relevant, plus it gives your customers something to interact with.
3. Purchase Advertising
Pay-per-click social media advertising can be an incredibly effective tool — but if you don’t know what you’re doing, you may spend a lot of money without getting the results you want.
Pretty-Impressive is here to help with Facebook ads and more. We’ll consult with you and build a plan that will increase your conversion rates while lowering online ad spend.
4. Utilize Short-Form Videos
Heartwarming, funny, shocking — whatever it may be, people love short-form video content. And the most popular ones get shared a lot, which can help grow your audience even more.
Some of the most popular platforms are:
- Instagram Stories, Reels, and Live
- Facebook Stories; and
- TikTok videos
TikTok has experienced explosive growth and is loved by users of many ages, so getting in on that action could be a smart strategy for your business.
Inspire and Engage
At Pretty-Impressive, each client is unique. Which is why we create strategies tailored to the needs of each company. Reach out and we’ll help you get your brand exactly where it needs to be — ahead of the rest.
Pretty-Impressive Can Help You Make the Most of Social Media Marketing
If you feel lost when it comes to the world of social media in e-commerce, don’t worry: Pretty-Impressive is here to help.
As experts in our field, we can consult with you and come up with a plan to help your business take advantage of the wonderland of social media.
We build multi-channel marketing campaigns that help companies attract and retain their ideal customers, customers who:
- Buy more
and
- Buy more often
Trillions of dollars are being spent on e-commerce each year. Let social media and Pretty-Impressive help you claim your part. Contact us today for a free strategy session.
