7 Avenues to Build Your Social Commerce
If you have moved your business online you would have heard of the term ‘ecommerce’ which refers to the ability to sell products and services through an online shop front. Social Commerce is the combination of social media platforms with the tool of selling. Social Media is an inextricable link to the growth of businesses online and if you have not yet pursued the avenues thoroughly you may like to pay close attention to the following seven avenues to build your social commerce.
Seven Types of Social Commerce
1. Peer-to-peer sales platforms
Websites that offer community-focused marketplaces or shopping showcases where users can easily and efficiently interact and communicate with sellers directly offer a more personal and friendly selling environment.
Example websites include:
- eBay
- Etsy
- Amazon Marketplace
- Asos Marketplace
- Rubylane
2. Social network selling
Some social media accounts have a way of driving sales to particular websites as well as sell on them. Customisable tabs on social media interfaces as well as clickable links encourage selling on particular platforms.
Social media selling platforms include:
3. Group buying
Shoppers are savvier today than they have been previously and the internet only heightens this as people look for the best deal they can find on what they want. Group buying enables the best deal for products and services when engaged or bought by a ‘group’ of people.
Group buying sites include:
- Groupon
- Living Social
- Scoopon
- Team Spreets
4. Peer referrals
It has been shown that products with the ability to social media like/share/tweet/post next to them are more likely to result in a sale. People trust reviews and reliable brands, but they trust their friends/family/colleagues more.
Some of the best peer recommendation sites:
- Yelp
- Amazon
- JustBoughtIt
5. User-curated shopping
If you are time-poor or uncertain of your buying practices these sites offer reassurance for your purchases. Users can create lists of products they rate highly for other users to shop from.
Best user-curated shopping sites:
- The Fancy
- Lyst
- Svpply
6. Collaborative commerce
For strong thinkers and designer at heart there are sites which encourage users to vote, fund and collaborate on the design of products. Their influence is taken into account to shape the end product.
Participatory commerce sites:
- Threadless
- Kickstarter
- CutOnYourBias
7. Social shopping
These sites are bridging the gap between real-life and online shopping where users can engage with chat features where opinion and advice sharing are welcomed.
Sites to get social shopping:
- Motilo
- Fashism
- GoTryItOn
Development in digital strategy for your business should include an ecommerce aspect to ensure that your business offers its products and services to the widest audience possible. Social Commerce is the next step in this widening market share that iFactory can advise you on to provide a comprehensive website design and digital marketing solution for your business.
