Social Media Marketing Tips for Ecommerce

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With the digital wave sweeping the world of business, retailers took to ecommerce. As ecommerce became the customer's favorite, competition grew.
Sellers were pushed to adopt strategies to impress and engage the customers. One platform that emerged distinguished in catching the customer's attention was social media.
Ever since social media and ecommerce emerged as the new best friends. Marketers have been leveraging social media platforms for a variety of purposes.
Right from engaging customers with eye-catching content to directly selling products, there's more. Statistics suggest that as many as 44.8 percent of Internet users worldwide search for any brand-related information on social media.

What is Social Media Marketing?

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Brands need to understand their customers in today's world. This includes diving into the way customers interact and the channels they use for the purpose. Using this information, you can engage with the customers in the right tone with a suitable medium. Since a majority of customers love using social media, you have quite many opportunities.
So, when you use social media for marketing your ecommerce business, you're leveraging social media marketing. While the precise strategy depends on your brand, it might revolve around-

• Collecting information and insights about your customers
• Using social media to sell your products. For example, you can sell your products using Facebook marketplace or Instagram tags
• Enabling communication channels on social media. For example, you can use Messenger to connect with customers both pre and post-purchase
• Driving traffic to your ecommerce website by paid or organic content

Importance of Social Media Marketing for Ecommerce Websites

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With a billion people active on various platforms, social media becomes a crucial opportunity for search engine optimization. Take a look below to know more about its importance for SEO-

1. Build Brand Awareness

Marketing your brand on social media can help you build awareness about your brand. The idea behind using social media for your brand is simple.
You create an additional platform for your audience to engage with you. This directly allows you to build your audience and generate anticipation about your brand.
When people find you on social media, they recognize your brand more easily. Familiarity developed with the customer helps get more clicks from them. It means that when the customer sees you next time, they will be eager to take a look at what you have to offer.
Brand awareness is also good news for your organic search. The more people come to know about your brand, the more likely it is for the organic search traffic to increase.

2. Get Quality Backlinks

Another reason social media is suitable for your brand's SEO is that it helps acquire more links. Every marketer knows that quality backlinks are the foundation of ranking on any search engine. They are also responsible for higher domain authority.
Your social media pages are a perfect platform to garner more links. If you're still wondering how it follows a simple logic.
When you create a page for your brand on social media, you use it to share content. Now, if your content is engaging, more and more people will interact with it.
They will share your content with other people on different platforms. This creates more opportunities to find and create links to your content. Needless to say, it sends out a positive message to the search engine.

3. Increased Visibility of Content

The main goal of search engine optimization is to increase the visibility of your content.
You might have a fantastic website where you sell your products perfectly. But, with social media, you have another platform to interact with your customers. And since it is free, there is no reason you should not take advantage of this opportunity.
Your social media pages can be much more than just a direct promotion platform. You can use it to sell your products, interact with customers, initiate conversations, and more. The idea is that if your customers like the content, they are more likely to share it.
This increases the visibility of your content. Even if you're not promoting your content, the user engagement tells the social media platform that your content is being liked by users.
Social media sharing also improves the credibility of your brand. It means that the platform highlights your content as popular. The same reach also reflects on search engines.

4. Social Media Posts Rank High on Search Engines

If you believe that your content on social media is only limited to the platform, think again. Leveraging social media platforms for empowering your overall content can be an excellent tactic.
If you search for any brand on Google, chances are their social media profiles will appear on the first page.
Are you wondering why?
That's because Google doesn't differentiate between ordinary web pages and social media platforms.
This doesn't mean that the rules of ranking apply the same way to social media. The reason behind this is, to an extent, the abuse of social media.
Anyone can create a social media page that leads to nowhere, destroying the customer experience. However, the purpose of leveraging social media is to use it to initiate content engagement.
When you link your content on social media, it drives traffic to your website, powering your SEO rankings.

5. Quicker Indexing of Content

Social media can also be leveraged to get your content indexed faster on the search engine. When you create content on your website, you add new pages to it. But, it doesn't mean that these pages are reflected instantly on the search engine. It takes time for indexing.
In other words, when your pages are freshly created, they won't immediately pop up on a user's search keywords.
A good way to index your pages faster is to share them on social media. As you share your content on platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc., you start getting more clicks. This is what passes the hint to the search engine that your page needs to be found!

6. Great Place for Keyword Research

Do you think that SEO tools are the only place you can research your keywords? Not anymore! It's time to browse social media for researching your brand keywords. Remember that the way you look for your keywords can help you outrank your competitors. For this reason, you should leverage social listening.
With social listening, you discover new content opportunities for your brand. This means you get the keywords that your audience wants to read and follow. And once you start creating content for these keywords, it is only natural that the engagement will follow.
Another exciting way to find long-tail keywords is to create an "Ask the expert' post on social media. When your audience posts their questions about your brand or products, it gives you content ideas.

Related : Complete Guide to Dominate Your Ecommerce Keyword Research

7. Generate New Content Ideas

Social media is an excellent platform to generate new content ideas. As a brand, you need to keep on creating new content. And this shouldn't be just any content. You need to figure out what your customers are willing to read. That's what helps you earn engagement and a better reach.
Pay attention to the comments that customers leave on your social media pages. You never know these might be the ground for many breeding ideas.
For example, your customers might write to you to know more about your product. This way, you can create how-to videos about your popular products.
Let your SEO and content team look for ideas in your customer responses. This will help you produce content that your audience likes. Additionally, it boosts your search engine visibility.

Tips to Do Social Media Marketing for Ecommerce Websites

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At this point, you must have a fair idea about social media marketing for your ecommerce store. Now let's get you through some of the inside tips and tricks that will help you ace it for your brand.

1. Be Upfront with Your Personality

How do you want your customers to remember you? What is the prominent message that you want to send out?
When you're out there on social media, you need to showcase a strong personality.
Remember that brand awareness is all about making your customers identify you. So, the next time a customer sees your products, they must instantly realize that it's from your brand.
But, the real question is, how do you do that in the minimum amount of time? Just like we remember people for their different personalities, the same goes for brands.
Offer your customers something they hinge on to remember you. Your brand's personality can revolve around humor. Or maybe it could highlight serious issues in society. Make sure that it helps your customer distinguish your brand.

2. Look Beyond Selling: Build Relationships

Social media marketing doesn't only mean selling. If you're going on platforms with this motto, you might not make the most of them.
The idea of having a social presence is to reach out to your customers. You need to nurture a relationship with them.
When you understand your customers, you offer them what they like. This makes them feel valued. This way, you lay the foundation of your relationship between your brand and your audience on social media.
Remember that the key to customer loyalty lies in relationship building. And when you use social media for it, there is nothing that works better.
You can instantly reply to comments, participate in discussions, and use tags to make them feel remembered.

3. Build Trust and Authority

Your blog is your digital asset. Even as an ecommerce store, you must create content that helps you engage customers and rank better.
Blogs also help in establishing thought leadership in your industry. But, only creating blogs on your website is limiting your opportunities. Start sharing them on social media.
Chances are many customers might not even know about your brand. But, when they find engaging content, they will start taking an interest. They will click on the links and land on your website.
While this is helping you bring traffic to your store, it is also making customers find you. Today, several popular brands are leveraging blogs for making sales. Especially if you're a small business, blogs can be your key to standing out and catching the customer's eye.

4. Partner with Influencers

Social media influencers are people with a huge fan following. They are considered leaders or experts in their industry. And people follow them for expert advice, new content, knowing about relevant products and more.
As an ecommerce business owner, you can use social media influencers to your advantage. Partner with them for collaboration with your brand. Don't just initiate a discussion for the reach.
Collaborating with an influencer indeed gives you access to their audience. But, if you do it just to extend your reach, you're losing a vital opportunity.
Try to connect with the audience through mutual benefit. This means placing your product in a way that meets their needs perfectly. You can start by inviting the influencer to test your product and share the video or review with their customers. Similarly, you can also host a giveaway.
Read: Influencer Marketing for Ecommerce: A Virtual Pocket Guide

5. Leverage Video Content

Video is the king of content. This is especially true for social media.
People love to watch videos. And the reason behind it is also intuitive. While pictures help send a message, videos evoke emotions in people. This makes it an excellent medium to connect with an audience directly.
You can leverage videos in more than one way for your brand. For example, you can create social media stories, which are short video content. They are quick to watch and catch the customer's eye almost instantly.
Similarly, you can host live Q and A sessions or create a how-to video of your product. Ever wonder why Instagram Reels and TikTok are so popular? Their videos reach across demographics and strike a chord with the viewer.

6. Establish Social Proof through User Generated Content

Nothing makes a customer trust a brand like user-generated content. You might have tons of good things to say about your brand.
You may even show them a few statistics. But, when a customer hears the experience from another customer, they believe it to be true. So, if you have good reviews about your brand, make sure you use them to your advantage.
Post Success Stories: You might have seen a lot of brands post customer success stories. The idea is that when a customer buys your product and likes it, they share their experience on social media. Buyers are very excited to share how they felt about a product with their friends.
As a brand, you can repost these stories on your social media page. This sends out a positive message to your buyers. While most feel excited to make a purchase from you, others don't want to have a fear of missing out.

7. Create a Posting Schedule

Not posting regularly is one of the biggest mistakes that brands make while using social media.
When you're out there posting for your customers, you need to be regular. Remember that your audience is following you because they want to see content from you. And if you're not there, they will simply move on to other brands.
So, once you gain traction, start posting frequently. This will keep your brand visible and on top of the minds of your customers. Figure out the posting schedule of your competitors. You need to match up to their pace. But, this doesn't mean compromising on the quality.
Social media marketing is all about catering to your customers with valuable content. Make sure you don't miss out on the fundamentals.

8. Create a Customer Service Opportunity

There are many brands today that provide customer service through social media. They offer their customers a hassle-free platform to connect with them anytime they like. One of the biggest examples of this is Facebook Messenger.
Many famous brands are using Messenger to let customers ask their queries or register any complaints regarding the product. This includes both pre and post-purchase issues. The idea is to let your customers know that you are accessible.
Make sure to respond to your customers timely on these platforms. When your potential buyers know that you're just a text away, they will be more determined about their purchase. And you will come across as a credible brand.

9. Invest in Paid Promotion

Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, etc., provide great features to maximize your reach. Leveraging their paid promotions can be an excellent idea for your business. The only key is to do it wisely.
If you know your customers and the kind of content they prefer, there is no harm in expanding your business reach.
Platforms like Facebook help ecommerce brands find more buyers who are like their existing customers on the platform.
There are also different advertisement types that you can utilize depending on your needs.
For example, if you are running a sale, a paid ad can help you find more customers interested in buying from you. Paid promotions also enhance your brand visibility.

Best Ecommerce Social Media Marketing Campaigns

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A good practice is to learn from examples. Take a look below at the examples of brands that ace social media marketing.

1. Zara

One of the most famous names in the apparel industry, Zara, is the king of Instagram. The brand leverages IGTV to launch its new collections. This way, the customers who don't regularly use the app get a sneak peek into the latest fashion trends and are compelled to check out the product.

2. Birchbox

If you're into beauty and makeup products, you wouldn't have gone without hearing about Birchbox. Known for its monthly subscription service, the brand creates wonderful how-to videos around its products. Not only does it help the customers, but it also makes them feel valued!

3. Death Wish Coffee

The coffee brand is one of the strongest when it comes to its flavor and its humor! It perfectly aces Facebook marketing, shining with humor as its personality. The brand shares user-generated content whenever there's coffee in the conversation.

4. Dollar Shave Club

The personal grooming products company impresses its customers by helping solve simple problems. They use pictures at their best with content that catches the eye. Ultimately, they help ease a customers' shaving experience.

Social Media Marketing & Ecommerce FAQs

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1. Which Are Some of the Best Social Media Platforms for ecommerce?

While every platform has something unique to offer, marketers prefer some over others. Some of the best social media platforms for ecommerce are Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat.
Choosing a platform depends on where your customers are. If your customers are using Facebook more, you need to leverage it. If they are at multiple places, you can create profiles on those platforms.

2. How Can I Use Social Media to Grow My ecommerce Business?

You can use social media to grow your ecommerce business. The first step is to have a clear set of goals. Establish your key performance indicators and then form strategies.
For example, if driving conversions is one of your goals, you can run more offers and promotional content on social media. Similarly, you can also partner with influencers and offer an influencer discount to your buyers.

3. As an ecommerce Startup, Should I Invest in Social Media Marketing?

If you're new to the world of ecommerce, social media marketing is something worth trying. Since a large number of customers today use social media, it offers a great opportunity for brands.
You can use social media marketing to connect with your customers and identify more potential buyers. Additionally, you can also drive traffic to your website and gain brand visibility.

4. Are there any differences between E-Commerce and E-Marketing?

ecommerce refers to the process of selling online. If you have a product or service that your customers can buy on an online platform, you're an ecommerce business. Amazon.com is the biggest example of an ecommerce business.
E-marketing, on the other hand, refers to using the Internet to market your brand. Most sellers leverage social media or run PPC ads to grow their business online.

5. What Is a Social Media Marketing Strategy?

A social media marketing strategy is a step-by-step plan for your brand. When you're growing your business, social media can help you take off. All you have to do is leverage it to build new connections with your customers and not just sell.
Social media marketing strategy is a must for any brand if they want to succeed on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.

6. What Is the Biggest Role of Social Media in ecommerce?

The biggest role of social media in ecommerce is to help a brand gain visibility. If you're posting the right kind of content, you will start gaining followers. This way, more people will come to know about your business.

Conclusion

Social media marketing can be a tricky affair. It seems like all you have to do is post content online. However, the amount of research about your customers, the value you add to your content, etc., helps determine the success of your strategy.
Start with a plan, and don't forget to post frequently. When in doubt, dive into your social media statistics and keep an eye on your competitors.
Get your hands on the best tips and tricks to get started with social media marketing for ecommerce.