Social Commerce: Basics and Common Features

The rise of social media as part of the online experience has given way to numerous changes in this sector, and some of these directly impact the world of ecommerce. One great example here, and which is becoming much more common in recent years, is a concept known as social commerce.

At Be Locally, we're happy to assist with a huge range of digital marketing services, from SEO and social media to specific solutions targeted at ecommerce companies - and much more. This two-part blog series will tell you everything you need to know about social commerce - today's part one will dig into what it is and the common features involved, while part two will look at specific approaches to consider within this concept.

Defining Social Commerce

While social media is nothing new in the digital marketing world, social commerce represents a shift in its use: One that involves the direct showcase and sale of products or services through a social media platform. Rather than clients needing to navigate to a specific website or app, they can now make purchases directly via the same platform which is being used for promotion and marketing.

Social commerce also involves making use of social media channels for more than just sales or advertising - it allows companies to interact with their customers on a much deeper level, by allowing them to comment and rate products, ask questions, and more. This provides a much richer customer experience, and helps to build loyalty with customers over the long term.

Common Features of Social Commerce

When it comes to making use of social commerce, there are several features which are commonly seen in many different platforms:

• Shoppable images and video content: Customers are able to shop for products directly from the images or video content that's posted by companies. After clicking on the product, they can add it to their cart or purchase immediately.
• Customer engagement: Through things like product reviews, customers can interact with companies and show their appreciation for products.
• Embedded chat: Another way for customers to engage is through embedded chat features in products, which allows companies to provide more tailored support and build relationships with their customers.
• Social media ad campaigns: Companies can also make use of highly targeted social media ad campaigns that are tailored specifically towards the type of customer they're aiming to reach.
• Analytics and tracking: Finally, companies can use analytics and tracking tools to gain insights into their customers' behaviour, allowing them to better tailor their services.

These are just a few of the common features that come with social commerce - stay tuned for part two where we'll explore specific approaches you can take when it comes to implementing this concept.

In the meantime, we at Be Locally are here to help you make the most of your digital marketing efforts. Get in touch today to find out more about how we can help you reach your goals.