eCommerce + social media = a match made in heaven. But, chances are that your marketing department is a one-man show. If you’re reading this blog, it’s likely because the term “eCommerce social media marketing” makes you scratch your head in a state of overwhelmed confusion.
Well, who can blame you?! There are tons of articles on the web declaring contradictory tips and tricks. At the end of reading even just one, you’re left unable to tell your Instagram Reels from your BeReals. The world of eCommerce social media marketing is ever-changing. It’s impossible to navigate without the right help.
Well, we at Payflex are pretty knowledgeable about eCommerce social media marketing. And we’re happy to share our insights and expertise with you. Shh – you don’t have to be scared of the words “short-form video content” anymore. We’re here to help you decode an ever-evolving lexicon of social media marketing terms. We’ll also help you implement some tips and tricks to get your products moving off their digital shelves.
Hold up – what do you mean by eCommerce social media marketing?
Let’s start with the basics. Social media marketing is the use of social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to achieve certain marketing objectives. Most platforms offer free, built-in tools to help entrepreneurial spirits like you market their eCommerce businesses.
Of course, marketing objectives will change according to the needs and goals of each business. But, some common ones include:
- Drive traffic to your eCommerce site
- Build brand awareness
- Advertise your products/services
- Communicate with your customers
- Generate and nurture leads and sales
- Conduct community management and customer service
Now, let’s use an analogy to clarify exactly what social media marketing is. In traditional marketing, a marketing team might rent a billboard to advertise a fast food chain. A smart marketing team would pick a billboard that is 1) visible from a highway which experiences heavy rush hour traffic, and 2) is located en route to that very fast food chain restaurant.
That way, hungry and tired folks are more likely to consider picking dinner up from that restaurant instead of battling more traffic to buy groceries. This is an effective marketing strategy because it targets the right audience at the right time in the right location. It literally drives traffic to the product.
Social media marketing can be used for the same effect. By using digital data like potential customers’ location, age, and relationship status, social media marketing tools can ensure that advertisements for your products are being shown to the right people at the right time.
Does social media marketing work?
The answer, happily, is a resounding yes! According to this 2021 report by Hootsuite and We Are Social, 190 million people in the US can be reached by Facebook ads. Furthermore, 140 million folks can be reached by Instagram ads.
Of course, not everyone one of these millions of people is going to fall into your target market. But, choosing the right social media marketing tactics will define and attract the people who are most likely to be interested in your products to your store.
How to use eCommerce social media marketing to grow your business
Whether you’re seeking to establish an online presence from scratch or if you’re simply looking to refresh your marketing strategy, you’ve come to the right place.
We know that your marketing objectives are probably going to differ wildly. So, instead of giving you a super niche blog which guides you through how to achieve different objectives, we’ve drawn up some general tips. These eCommerce social media marketing tips are designed to help you out no matter where you are in your journey!
Tip One: Consistency is key!
A regular posting schedule will help your eCommerce business stay visible and relevant. While social media marketing can skyrocket your sales, it’s important to remember that you’re still competing in a saturated market.
If you want your brand to be memorable, you have to ensure that it’s appearing regularly in your followers’ feeds.
But that doesn’t mean that you need to manually post every day. You can easily automate this process with social media management tools. Check out the Meta Business Suite for Instagram and Facebook.
Tip Two: Give the short-form video a go
It’s tough to give general eCommerce social media marketing tips when market patterns are eternally shifting. However, if the explosive success of TikTok is anything to go by, it’s safe to say that short-form video content is a universal hit.
The best part? You don’t need a fancy camera and an expensive degree in filmmaking to do it. All you need is some decent lighting and a smartphone. Using video tools like Instagram Stories and Reels and TikToks is a surefire way to engage new and existing customers online.
Tip Three: Teamwork makes the dream work
You can work together with another brand (not a competitor, obvs) to increase your reach and brand awareness organically. This can look like a few different scenarios. Perhaps you’ll approach a popular influencer to review your products on Instagram Live. Alternatively, you can collaborate with a few different brands to create a giveaway or competition.
Tip Four: Share user-generated content
When you’re searching online for a lasagne recipe, do you pick the one that has an average rating of 5 stars with one review or the one with an average rating of 4.8 stars and 200 reviews? It would be the latter, right?
Independent reviews are extremely effective at building trustworthiness, even if they appear to affect your overall rating negatively. So, invite your followers to share pics and vids of themselves using your products online and reshare them to your platform.
Not only does this make your customers feel warm and fuzzy inside, but it also makes you appear more credible to potential new customers. Plus, it empowers you to reach new customers (via your followers’ following) through genuine recommendations.
Conclusion
Hungry for more? You can read another article we’ve written about eCommerce social media marketing tips. If you’re finding these resources helpful, we’ve got a lot more for you in store! Payflex offers merchants indispensable resources like free marketing, sound business advice, and business funding opportunities.
To make the most of what we have to offer, sign up with Payflex today and empower your business with exponential growth!
