Social media platforms used to be about finding and connecting with friends and has quickly grown to uniting communities and brands online. People are more and more present on these platforms which means marketing your e-commerce store using social media can take you a long way, all you need is a little time and dedication.
Let’s have a look at a few tips on how to use social media for e-commerce.
Choosing a social media platform
There are many platforms out there, and choosing one to be frequently present on is entirely up to you, all depending on who you are targeting, what you are selling, and which approach you are thinking of taking.
Direct connection with your audience
This is probably the biggest advantage because it helps you to understand and get to know your audience. People like sharing their experiences, positive or negative, and with the help of social media, you can learn the ‘’dos and don’ts’’ first hand. By listening to your targeted audience you get to truly know their interestsand evolve your business in the direction that will benefit both parties. And what happens when people are satisfied with something? They share it with their friends, doing a little marketing on your behalf.
Be careful with self-promoting
Being too straightforward with self-promoting can come across as aggressive and people usually do not respond well to that. Try with an approach that speaks to your audience; an interesting written content on one of your products or a short video. When people like something, they will do the promotion for you by sharing it forward.
Reply to comments
When people ask a questions they do expect an answer. Be consistent with replying to your clients, answer their questions openly, and put their minds at ease. This will show them you are serious and invested, and they will come back for more. If a customer is dissatisfied, they might leave a negative comment on your page but this is a great opportunity to show that you truly care; you can reply with a sincere apology, which can go a long way, and offer them a small discount on the next purchase. People will see you are not just another online store but someone who cares about customer satisfaction.
Bonds and connections
Creating bonds and making connections has never been easier as it is now. Having loyal, and happy followers also mean you can ask them to help you. Not directly, of course, but in a subtle way you can ask them to share your content with their friends and you can even use these connections to grow your email list.
Integrated approach
When you are sharing your products on social media, take an integrated approach; add buying options to your pages. This way your customers can buy the product on the spot, instead of surfing through your website, searching for it. And it is not only handy for the clients; it is a way for you to monitor customer behavior.