The tale is as old as commerce itself: people want to do business with other people, not companies. This is why social commerce is a hot topic, and why it’s becoming one of the biggest opportunities for people who want an alternative to traditional business. The question now, though, is whether s-commerce is actually going to come to fruition or if it’s just another buzzword that we’ll forget about in a few months.
According to studies, 84% of people trust the recommendations that they get from their family and friends more than any form of actual marketing. Plus, sales reps that utilize social media are closing more sales than their non-social counterparts. It all lines up to point to s-commerce as a potential trend that you might want to learn about.
What is S-Commerce?
Put simply, social commerce, or “social selling” as some call it, is a process of selling goods or services through social media networks directly. If a consumer can find a brand and buy a product within 1-3 clicks from a social network, it’s considered an s-commerce transaction. If, however, the process takes multiple clicks and redirects, it’s just another link to a website where you can buy things.
It’s not about actually selling your products and/or services. It’s about engaging people on social media to reinforce your brand authority and value, allowing them to keep you in mind when they are shopping for the things that they need. Forget about calling it selling at all, because it’s actually about sharing content that builds a community of followers, which results in sales that can occur directly from social media.
Who Really Uses Social Selling?
Right now, this is still a relatively new trend, as you will see by those who are attempting to set up their own campaigns. Too many people focus on the selling part of s-commerce, but it’s really not about sales at all. It’s about utilizing social media marketing to create a platform where buyers can engage with one another and their favorite brands to gain insight and information on topics that are relevant.
A lot of big name companies and small businesses alike are getting into the social commerce game as they find out just how many different ways they can benefit from this type of service. There is no limit to what you can do with social media content these days, including creating the best platform for increasing sales and building your audience. The key is to be indirect, focusing on the information and authority that you have to offer rather than just the products and services you sell.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
With more than 75% of customers reporting that they use social media to assist them in purchase decisions, it’s obvious as to why you need to integrate social media marketing into your own campaigns. Of course, any SEO agency will tell you that marketing and s-commerce are not the same thing. As it stands, s-commerce is still a growing trend but it is one that you need to implement sooner than later if you want to take the edge over your competitions.
Clear back in 2012, there was a study that showed 78% of those using social media to sell products or services actually outsold those who did not use social media. It’s obvious why this method works: it gives people the feeling that they’re connecting with a person, not a product, and that they are getting the “inside” scoop or preferred treatment when they shop via social media.
All this points to the fact that s-commerce, while perhaps a buzzword at the moment, is defintely here to stay. That’s why you need a professional SEO agency on your side to succeed with social media marketing and more.
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