Social commerce: the different types of platforms that can be used

 

As advanced in a previous article, social commerce is quickly becoming popular among customers. Different types of platforms have varying degrees of ‘readiness’ when it comes to allowing clients to purchase online. Let’s have a look at the several options available.

The giant Instagram has been beta-testing a ‘Checkout’ feature. This lets users search for products and shop directly from within the app. When the social media firm rolls this out for the mass population, consumers will be able to purchase items from a brand and an influencer’s post more conveniently.

Along the same lines, ‘Shops’ created by Facebook, allows brands to establish digital storefronts. These give consumers the opportunity to purchase products either on the retailer’s website or directly within the social media site itself.

Even video-sharing platforms YouTube and TikTok are experimenting with social commerce. The former has created ‘YouTube Shopping’. This allows consumers to make purchases directly on-site by browsing through catalogues designed by sellers. As for TikTok, it has partnered with Shopify so that merchants can create shoppable content on the platform.

At the moment, Facebook and Instagram are far ahead other platforms in terms of offering a better shopping experience. In fact, 45% of consumers prefer to purchase from the latter and the former captures 41% of audience.


 Instagram lets you purchase products easily © Royalty-free image


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