Social Commerce: It’s Not Simply Social, It’s Serious Business

[content field=”callout1″ format=”true” class=”calloutwide”]The Internet has become an integral part of many people’s lives. These days, it doesn’t just provide information, it’s become one of the primary means for people to connect and engage in conversation. Transactions online are not new, either. eCommerce has been around as long as the internet. But there is a new layer of opportunity rising and it’s coming in the form of social technologies and social commerce.[content field=”callout1″ format=”true” class=”calloutblue”] Social media has made it easier for us to socialize with each other in the comforts of our own home or on the go. Whether you’re up for some serious political discussions, or you just want to have a laugh over the silliest memes, social media combines information and communication into one nice package. And since it’s become a platform for interaction, it’s no wonder that businesses are seeing the potential it has in generating leads and increasing revenue. As the year flips to 2015, small businesses owners are now serious about integrating social media into their business this year, here are just some of the things you can expect from social commerce.

Mobile Is All The Rage

Studies show that most people who go on social media often do it on their mobile devices. This is why, it’s important that you optimize your site and content for mobile consumption. If you’re going to use social media to generate leads for example, keep your lead forms short and sweet. Don’t overwhelm them by requesting for too much information. Written copy should be easy to scan and much easier to process for people on the go. Remember, you only have a few seconds to make an impression. Make it a good one! Get your message out quick and streamline your website to grab their attention.

Create Maximum Engagement

Since the social commerce sphere is becoming more congested by the minute, you need to find ways to engage your target market, without going overboard. Create content that will engage them into conversation. Don’t flood your feed with product or services post. Instead, ask yourself, if you were a customer, what kind of posts would you be interested in? Before you can become successful in social commerce, you have to know the best practices for social media first. Offer something valuable instead of just merely contributing to the noise.

Go Against the Grain

The truth is, social media was NOT built for businesses. Facebook may have the sponsored posts option, but is that as good as it gets? What other features can you take advantage of to get your message out there? Social commerce isn’t going to be a reality for your brand if you don’t focus on building your brand’s website first. Look for new approaches that you can use instead of just going with the flow. It’s easy to follow others’ social models, but if you’re not going to offer something different and of value, you won’t make a mark.

The trick to becoming a social commerce maven is to allow your consumers to take the lead. You need to understand how you’ll be able to make the whole experience more rewarding for them. Social commerce is not about your brand, it’s about the people that you want to reach out to. Once you master the art of engaging them into conversation, it will be easier for you to sell to them. Use social media as a method to build trust and not just get your messages across.

Consumers are becoming more vocal with the things they want and the standards they set. You need to step up your game and make sure that you meet their expectations if you want your business to survive the noisy world of social media.