Business & Finance
Wed, July 30, 2025
[ Today @ 01:42 AM ]: Reading Eagle, Pa.
[ Today @ 01:41 AM ]: Channel NewsAsia Singapore
[ Today @ 01:21 AM ]: Seeking Alpha
Tue, July 29, 2025
[ Yesterday Evening ]: Ghanaweb.com
[ Yesterday Evening ]: KRQE Albuquerque
[ Yesterday Evening ]: Business Today
[ Yesterday Evening ]: KXAN
[ Yesterday Evening ]: WBOY Clarksburg
[ Yesterday Evening ]: sportskeeda.com
[ Yesterday Evening ]: U.S. News & World Report
[ Yesterday Evening ]: WPXI
[ Yesterday Evening ]: KIRO-TV
[ Yesterday Evening ]: The Motley Fool
[ Yesterday Afternoon ]: WHIO
[ Yesterday Afternoon ]: Flightglobal
[ Yesterday Afternoon ]: Phys.org
[ Yesterday Afternoon ]: Seeking Alpha
[ Yesterday Afternoon ]: Ghanaweb.com
[ Yesterday Afternoon ]: Fox 11 News
[ Yesterday Afternoon ]: Forbes
[ Yesterday Afternoon ]: The Messenger
[ Yesterday Afternoon ]: Forbes
[ Yesterday Afternoon ]: WJZY
[ Yesterday Morning ]: Irish Examiner
[ Yesterday Morning ]: Cleveland.com
[ Yesterday Morning ]: Impacts
[ Yesterday Morning ]: bjpenn
[ Yesterday Morning ]: AZ Central
[ Yesterday Morning ]: Jerusalem Post
[ Yesterday Morning ]: Finbold | Finance in Bold
[ Yesterday Morning ]: CNN
[ Yesterday Morning ]: CoinTelegraph
[ Yesterday Morning ]: The Citizen
[ Yesterday Morning ]: Seeking Alpha
[ Yesterday Morning ]: Fortune
[ Yesterday Morning ]: reuters.com
[ Yesterday Morning ]: Seeking Alpha
[ Yesterday Morning ]: CNN
[ Yesterday Morning ]: syracuse.com
[ Yesterday Morning ]: Reading Eagle, Pa.
[ Yesterday Morning ]: Forbes
[ Yesterday Morning ]: CNN
[ Yesterday Morning ]: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
[ Yesterday Morning ]: South Bend Tribune
[ Yesterday Morning ]: BBC
[ Yesterday Morning ]: The Scotsman
[ Yesterday Morning ]: reuters.com
[ Yesterday Morning ]: USA TODAY
[ Yesterday Morning ]: moneycontrol.com
[ Yesterday Morning ]: moneycontrol.com
[ Yesterday Morning ]: BBC
[ Yesterday Morning ]: Business Today
[ Yesterday Morning ]: Impacts
[ Yesterday Morning ]: BBC
[ Yesterday Morning ]: moneycontrol.com
[ Yesterday Morning ]: rnz
[ Yesterday Morning ]: Daily Record
Mon, July 28, 2025
[ Last Monday ]: The Globe and Mail
[ Last Monday ]: AFP
[ Last Monday ]: Reuters
[ Last Monday ]: yahoo.com
[ Last Monday ]: Toronto Star
[ Last Monday ]: WKBN Youngstown
[ Last Monday ]: The Herald Bulletin, Anderson, Ind.
[ Last Monday ]: SB Nation
[ Last Monday ]: Seeking Alpha
[ Last Monday ]: Bill Williamson
[ Last Monday ]: Business Insider
[ Last Monday ]: WSFA
[ Last Monday ]: HousingWire
[ Last Monday ]: The Independent US
[ Last Monday ]: NBC Chicago
[ Last Monday ]: The Independent
[ Last Monday ]: PC Magazine
[ Last Monday ]: The Advocate
[ Last Monday ]: BBC
[ Last Monday ]: The Irish News
[ Last Monday ]: WKBN Youngstown
[ Last Monday ]: The Financial Express
[ Last Monday ]: Bill Williamson
[ Last Monday ]: Fortune
[ Last Monday ]: reuters.com
[ Last Monday ]: Ghanaweb.com
[ Last Monday ]: reuters.com
[ Last Monday ]: Forbes
[ Last Monday ]: Ghanaweb.com
[ Last Monday ]: Seeking Alpha
[ Last Monday ]: Daily Inter Lake, Kalispell, Mont.
[ Last Monday ]: Forbes
[ Last Monday ]: The Financial Express
[ Last Monday ]: The Motley Fool
[ Last Monday ]: Simply Recipes
[ Last Monday ]: The Scotsman
[ Last Monday ]: The West Australian
[ Last Monday ]: London Evening Standard
[ Last Monday ]: KFDX Wichita Falls
[ Last Monday ]: The Independent
Sun, July 27, 2025
[ Last Sunday ]: Seeking Alpha
[ Last Sunday ]: FOX 10 Phoenix
[ Last Sunday ]: Utah News Dispatch
[ Last Sunday ]: Ghanaweb.com
[ Last Sunday ]: Seeking Alpha
[ Last Sunday ]: CNN
[ Last Sunday ]: ThePrint
[ Last Sunday ]: MLB
[ Last Sunday ]: Toronto Star
[ Last Sunday ]: The Cult of Calcio
[ Last Sunday ]: Business Today
[ Last Sunday ]: Impacts
[ Last Sunday ]: CNN
[ Last Sunday ]: BBC
[ Last Sunday ]: Cleveland.com
[ Last Sunday ]: Reuters
[ Last Sunday ]: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
[ Last Sunday ]: BBC
[ Last Sunday ]: ESPN
[ Last Sunday ]: Ghanaweb.com
Sat, July 26, 2025
[ Last Saturday ]: PC Magazine
[ Last Saturday ]: Cumberland Times News, Md.
[ Last Saturday ]: Zee Business
[ Last Saturday ]: Ghanaweb.com
[ Last Saturday ]: Fortune
[ Last Saturday ]: This is Money
[ Last Saturday ]: The Financial Express
[ Last Saturday ]: The Jamestown Sun, N.D.
[ Last Saturday ]: Forbes
[ Last Saturday ]: The Honolulu Star-Advertiser
[ Last Saturday ]: Reuters
[ Last Saturday ]: The Globe and Mail
[ Last Saturday ]: inforum
[ Last Saturday ]: Ghanaweb.com
[ Last Saturday ]: NBC 7 San Diego
[ Last Saturday ]: The Straits Times
[ Last Saturday ]: BBC
[ Last Saturday ]: BBC
[ Last Saturday ]: Sky News Australia
[ Last Saturday ]: Channel NewsAsia Singapore
Fri, July 25, 2025
[ Last Friday ]: firstalert4.com
[ Last Friday ]: Detroit Free Press
[ Last Friday ]: CBSSports.com
[ Last Friday ]: WMUR
[ Last Friday ]: Sports Illustrated
[ Last Friday ]: Business Insider
[ Last Friday ]: The Daily Caller
[ Last Friday ]: Patch
[ Last Friday ]: CoinTelegraph
[ Last Friday ]: 13abc
[ Last Friday ]: Reuters
[ Last Friday ]: Forbes
[ Last Friday ]: fox6now
[ Last Friday ]: TechRadar
[ Last Friday ]: Daily Record
[ Last Friday ]: CNN
[ Last Friday ]: Sports Illustrated
[ Last Friday ]: Maryland Matters
[ Last Friday ]: London Evening Standard
[ Last Friday ]: Forbes
[ Last Friday ]: reuters.com
[ Last Friday ]: The 74
[ Last Friday ]: Toronto Star
[ Last Friday ]: Toronto Star
[ Last Friday ]: Washington State Standard
[ Last Friday ]: Finbold | Finance in Bold
[ Last Friday ]: WISH-TV
[ Last Friday ]: Seeking Alpha
[ Last Friday ]: KSTP-TV
[ Last Friday ]: Impacts
[ Last Friday ]: Canary Media
[ Last Friday ]: The Irish News
[ Last Friday ]: Chicago Sun-Times
[ Last Friday ]: NBC Los Angeles
[ Last Friday ]: Seeking Alpha
[ Last Friday ]: The Independent
[ Last Friday ]: BBC
[ Last Friday ]: Associated Press
[ Last Friday ]: KTAL Shreveport
Thu, July 24, 2025
[ Last Thursday ]: CBSSports.com
[ Last Thursday ]: Ghanaweb.com
[ Last Thursday ]: moneycontrol.com
[ Last Thursday ]: KOTA TV
[ Last Thursday ]: The Financial Express
[ Last Thursday ]: Louisiana Illuminator
[ Last Thursday ]: Fox News
20 Steps To Becoming A More 'Social-Commerce Friendly' Business
//business-finance.news-articles.net/content/202 .. ng-a-more-social-commerce-friendly-business.html
Published in Business and Finance on Tuesday, July 29th 2025 at 14:02 GMT by Forbes🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
Actively interacting with customers on your social media profiles is a great way to increase sales and boost engagement.
20 Steps to Becoming a More Social Commerce-Friendly Business
In today's digital landscape, social commerce has emerged as a powerful fusion of social media and e-commerce, allowing businesses to sell products directly through platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and others. This approach not only streamlines the purchasing process but also leverages the social nature of these networks to build trust, engagement, and loyalty among consumers. By transforming casual scrolling into seamless shopping experiences, companies can tap into impulse buys, user-generated content, and viral trends to drive revenue. However, becoming truly social commerce-friendly requires a strategic overhaul that integrates technology, content, customer interaction, and analytics. Below, we outline 20 essential steps to guide businesses toward this transformation, drawing from expert insights on optimizing operations for this evolving retail paradigm.
1. Assess Your Current Social Media Presence. Begin by conducting a thorough audit of your existing social media channels. Evaluate metrics such as follower count, engagement rates, and audience demographics to identify strengths and gaps. This step is crucial because social commerce thrives on relevance; if your profiles aren't aligned with where your target customers spend time, you'll miss opportunities. For instance, a fashion brand might discover that their audience is more active on TikTok than LinkedIn, prompting a shift in focus. Use tools like social media analytics dashboards to gather data, and involve your team in brainstorming how to make profiles more shoppable from the outset.
2. Define Clear Social Commerce Goals. Set specific, measurable objectives tailored to social selling, such as increasing conversion rates by 20% or generating a certain percentage of revenue from social channels. These goals should align with broader business aims, like expanding market reach or boosting customer retention. Without defined targets, efforts can become scattered. Consider how social commerce fits into your overall sales funnel—perhaps aiming to convert social interactions into email sign-ups or direct purchases—and track progress with key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure accountability.
3. Choose the Right Platforms. Not all social networks are created equal for commerce. Select platforms that match your product type and audience behavior; for example, visual-heavy items like apparel excel on Instagram and Pinterest, while short-form videos suit TikTok for quick demos. Research platform-specific features, such as Instagram Shops or Facebook Marketplace, to ensure they support seamless transactions. This targeted approach prevents resource dilution and maximizes ROI by focusing energy where conversions are most likely.
4. Optimize Profiles for Commerce. Transform your social profiles into virtual storefronts by enabling shopping features, adding product catalogs, and using high-quality images with clear calls-to-action (CTAs). Include detailed bios that highlight your brand's unique value proposition and link to e-commerce sites. Consistency in branding—colors, logos, and tone—builds familiarity, making users more comfortable purchasing directly. Regularly update profiles to reflect seasonal promotions or new arrivals, turning passive viewers into active buyers.
5. Create Engaging, Shoppable Content. Produce content that entertains while subtly promoting products, such as tutorials, behind-the-scenes videos, or user stories featuring your items. Incorporate shoppable tags that allow instant purchases without leaving the app. The key is authenticity; overly salesy posts can deter users, so focus on value-driven narratives that solve problems or inspire. Experiment with formats like Reels or Stories to boost visibility through algorithms, and encourage shares to amplify reach organically.
6. Leverage Influencer Partnerships. Collaborate with influencers whose followers align with your target market to authentically showcase products. This builds credibility and extends your reach, as recommendations from trusted voices often lead to higher conversion rates. Start with micro-influencers for niche appeal and cost-effectiveness, ensuring partnerships include clear guidelines for shoppable links. Track performance through affiliate codes to measure impact and refine future collaborations.
7. Integrate E-Commerce Tools. Seamlessly connect your social channels with e-commerce platforms using integrations like Shopify's social selling features or WooCommerce plugins. This enables real-time inventory syncing, secure payments, and abandoned cart recovery directly on social media. Automation reduces friction in the buying process, allowing customers to complete transactions in fewer steps, which is vital for capturing impulse purchases.
8. Prioritize Mobile Optimization. Since most social commerce happens on mobile devices, ensure your website and linked shops are responsive and fast-loading. Test for user experience issues like easy navigation and one-click checkouts. Mobile-friendly designs prevent cart abandonment, especially during peak scrolling times, and can include features like AR try-ons for products like cosmetics or furniture to enhance decision-making.
9. Build a Community Around Your Brand. Foster a sense of belonging by encouraging discussions, polls, and user-generated content in your social spaces. Respond promptly to comments and messages to humanize your brand and build trust. A strong community not only drives repeat business but also generates organic endorsements, turning customers into advocates who share shoppable content on your behalf.
10. Use Data Analytics for Insights. Harness analytics from social platforms and third-party tools to understand what content drives sales, peak engagement times, and customer preferences. Analyze metrics like click-through rates and conversion funnels to identify trends. This data-driven approach allows for personalized marketing, such as retargeting ads to users who viewed but didn't buy, optimizing your strategy for better results over time.
11. Run Targeted Promotions and Ads. Launch social-specific campaigns with promotions like flash sales or exclusive discounts to create urgency. Use advanced targeting options based on interests, behaviors, and past interactions to reach high-intent audiences. A/B test ad creatives and track ROI to refine what resonates, ensuring promotions feel tailored rather than generic.
12. Ensure Excellent Customer Service on Social. Treat social media as a customer service hub by monitoring mentions, responding quickly to inquiries, and resolving issues publicly when appropriate. This transparency enhances reputation and can turn potential complaints into positive testimonials. Integrate chatbots for instant replies outside business hours, making the shopping experience supportive and reliable.
13. Encourage User-Generated Content. Motivate customers to share their experiences with your products through contests or hashtags, then feature this content on your profiles with shoppable links. UGC adds authenticity and social proof, influencing others to buy. Reward participants with discounts to sustain momentum, creating a cycle of engagement and sales.
14. Personalize Shopping Experiences. Use AI and data to deliver customized recommendations based on browsing history or past purchases. Personalized feeds on social platforms make users feel understood, increasing the likelihood of conversions. For example, suggest complementary products in real-time during a live shopping session.
15. Stay Compliant with Regulations. Adhere to data privacy laws like GDPR and platform-specific commerce rules to avoid penalties. Transparent policies on returns, shipping, and data usage build consumer trust, which is essential for long-term social commerce success.
16. Train Your Team on Social Selling. Equip staff with skills in content creation, customer engagement, and tool usage through workshops or online courses. A knowledgeable team can respond effectively to trends and queries, ensuring consistent brand representation across channels.
17. Monitor and Adapt to Trends. Keep abreast of emerging social commerce features, like live shopping or metaverse integrations, and experiment with them. Agility allows your business to capitalize on viral moments, staying ahead of competitors.
18. Incorporate Augmented Reality (AR). Implement AR tools for virtual try-ons or product visualizations, enhancing the interactive element of social shopping. This technology bridges the gap between online and in-store experiences, reducing return rates by helping customers make informed choices.
19. Measure Success and Iterate. Regularly review performance against goals, using tools to assess what's working. Adjust strategies based on findings, such as shifting focus to high-performing content types, to continually improve.
20. Scale Sustainably. Once initial steps yield results, expand by investing in automation, hiring specialists, or entering new markets. Sustainable growth ensures social commerce becomes a core revenue stream without overwhelming resources.
By methodically implementing these steps, businesses can evolve into social commerce powerhouses, blending community building with seamless transactions to meet modern consumer expectations. This holistic approach not only boosts sales but also fosters lasting relationships in an increasingly digital marketplace. (Word count: 1,248)
Read the Full Forbes Article at:
[ https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinesscouncil/2025/07/29/20-steps-to-becoming-a-more-social-commerce-friendly-business/ ]
