There was a time when we used social media to raise brand awareness and engage current and potential customers.
From awareness to conversion, however, social media evolved and played an essential role throughout the online shopping experience.
The relationship between social media and shopping has shifted dramatically in recent years, and brands and retailers are looking for ways to capitalize on this.
However, people are confused about social shopping and social commerce.
Let’s clear that out through this blog and learn much more about social shopping and social commerce.
Definition: Social Shopping
Social shopping combines “Social Media” and “Ecommerce.”
Instead of marketing products on social media to increase traffic, the entire selling process occurs on social media platforms.
Social shopping occurs when brands tag products to their social content and allow users to shop directly from the content.
Social media shopping includes leveraging shoppable content on your eCommerce site/online brand store to drive sales, engagement, and brand trust.
Instagram Shoppable Feed, Shoppable UGC Galleries, and Shoppable Visual Galleries are all examples of social shopping via websites.
Shopping always sounds appealing! Especially when you can do it while scrolling through social media or brand websites from your home.
You can have the exact experience you imagined by selling on social media. It is the ideal way to fulfill your desires while having an easy and pleasant shopping experience.
Definition: Social Commerce
The use of social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram to market and sell products and services is known as social commerce. This selling model lets customers complete purchases without leaving social media apps.
Social commerce retail earnings in the United States are expected to reach nearly $80 billion by 2025. Given that 4.59 billion people, or 57% of the global population, use social media, social commerce is a no-brainer for getting your brand in front of more people.
Traditional social media marketing strategies involve shoppers viewing a brand’s content and visiting its website to begin shopping. Instead, social media platforms such as Facebook Shops and Instagram Shops serve as virtual storefronts.
Because social media usage is increasing, so is social commerce. According to research, the average social media user now spends about 15% of their waking life on social platforms, with 10% of US adults addicted to at least one app.
In the United States, Generation Z and millennials are the most likely social network users to have made at least one purchase through a social channel.
Social commerce is a straightforward method of promoting and selling products. For example, while scrolling through Instagram, you might come across a collection of skin care products; tap Shop Now, add it to your shopping cart, and check out within the app.
Why Are Social Commerce & Social Shopping Getting So Popular?
Converts Shopping Into A Social Experience
While many of us still enjoy shopping with friends in person, the social aspect of shopping has naturally decreased as shoppers of all ages make more of their purchases online.
Social commerce is a giant puzzle aiming to make shopping an experience rather than a transaction.
We experience a modern-day version of a Friday night at the mall in the 1990s, whether you’re sharing links with your friends on Instagram to get their opinion on a dress before you buy it or joining a live shopping event and sharing your reaction in the chat.
Engages Audience In Their Comfort Zone
Social commerce is about meeting your customers where they are and guiding them through discovery, consideration, and conversion.
When done correctly, it is a win-win situation for brands, users, and platforms.
Brands benefit from making shopping more convenient for customers. Likewise, social media users benefit from the ability to buy what piqued their interest and return to the scrolling they did before that interest was piqued.
And social platforms benefit from keeping users within their environment, which allows them to build on their user insights while also increasing time-in-app. After all, they don’t want customers to forget to return after they’ve made a purchase.
Focuses On The Appropriate Audience
Social media advertising and, by extension, social commerce allow brands to be more specific in their targeting.
While some brands prefer to cast a wide net for brand awareness campaigns, you can reach the proper demos for your brand by targeting by interests, location, and more for lower-funnel tactics.
Provides An Instant Focus Group
Not only does social commerce make the transaction process faster, it also offers an excellent means of gathering feedback.
The product catalog is available for consumers to review and discuss together. Brands don’t need a crystal ball to figure out what their customers like and dislike.
While they’re there, brands can let them vote and weigh in on product development and inventory decisions.
On social media, you can see who your customers are and chat with them afterward via comments or direct messages to provide personalized customer service.
Offers A Frictional Experience
Customers enjoy seeing a product, clicking on it, and purchasing it. Social media shops reduce friction in the consumer journey, making the transition from discovery to purchase simple. They’re there. The item is now available. There is only one choice: checkout.
Finally, each mouse click represents a chance for a prospective customer to change their mind.
If they have to click from your ad to your website, add the product to a shopping cart, and enter their credit card information, they will lose interest.
Get rid of the extra steps and bring shopping directly to social.
Wrapping Up!
A social shopping platform enables new ways to increase revenue without making significant investments, and according to research, social commerce is expected to be a $79.64 billion industry in the United States by 2025.
Social shopping and social commerce are different but are very closely related.
In this blog, we guided you through the difference between social shopping and social commerce, and we hope you will build a sound social commerce strategy around the content.