What is social commerce or s-commerce? Simply put, it’s an act of selling and promoting products and services via social media platforms. It’s about leveraging user interactions, community engagement and content sharing, including first-hand experiences. Some key features of s-commerce include shoppable posts, influencer marketing, user-generated content, and in-app purchases. It is about making the shopping experience more interactive and personalised. Social commerce transforms the way consumers discover and purchase products by integrating social interaction and e-commerce seamlessly.In Malaysia it is reported that the s-commerce sector is expected to record a CAGR of 26.1% to hit RM8.1 billion in 2024. Therefore, it is good for micro, small and medium enterprises to expand their presence into the s-commerce market.But how can a business owner kickstart this journey?
Who is your target audience? Find out and select the social media platforms most frequented by your target audience. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok are popular choices for social commerce. Next step is to go ahead and create your brand’s profile on the selected platforms and ensureensuring that your brand’s identity is consistent across all profiles with cohesive branding elements such as logos, color schemes, and messaging.
Develop a content strategy that aligns with your brand and appeals to your target audience. This includes a mix of product showcases, user-generated content, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and engaging stories. Always invest in high-quality photos and videos of your products. Visual appeal is crucial in capturing attention and driving engagement on social media. Do not forget to utilise the shopping features available on the platforms. For example, on Instagram and Facebook, set up shopping tags and product catalogs so users can directly purchase items from your posts. Ensure every product is properly tagged and linked to facilitate a seamless shopping experience.
Your platform is buzzing, great, but do not forget to respond to comments, messages, and reviews promptly. This interaction builds trust and fosters a community around your brand. Encourage customers to share their experiences and tag your business in their posts. When you are ready to scale, consider partnership opportunities with influencers who resonate with your brand and have a following that matches your target audience. Influencers can help amplify your reach and lend credibility to your products.It is crucial too that you use the analytics tools provided by social media platforms to track the performance of your posts, ads, and overall engagement. Pay attention to metrics such as reach, impressions, click-through rates, and conversions. Use these insights to refine your strategy, focusing on what works best for your audience and driving continuous improvement.
With all said and done, it is common for a business owner to jump straight into the deep end of s-commerce without considering the bandwidth support it will need. Always go with the right business partner that can help your business stay connected and ready to transact such as with CelcomDigi Business 5G WiFi.