The whole concept of social commerce combines online shopping with social media activity. From time immemorial, shopping has been a social experience. We love to talk to friends about what we wish to buy and enjoy sharing our shopping experiences. The many benefits of online shopping are well known. People love the wide and varied range of products and services that they can choose from. What they love even more, is the fact that they can compare brands and products with just a few clicks.
Value for money
Social commerce ensures that consumers are able to buy products that offer value for money. People like to speak to friends or even strangers about products that they consider buying. Whether it is a service they wish to hire or a new brand that has gained popularity, the average consumer prefer to ask his or her friends for recommendations and advice. This usually means that they …

 
One of the questions that often leave marketing teams perplexed is what their target audiences really want. Use social media to interact with them and to gain an up close understanding of your customers. Social commerce offers both businesses and customers many advantages. It allows customers to shop while they catch up with their friends on social media sites. Most people, irrespective of where they live and what they do, are often too busy to drive to the stores or to the mall, to buy products of their interest. This makes social commerce precious.
Convenience for all
One of the biggest reasons why social commerce is such a hit amongst social media users of varied demographic groups is the convenience that it offers. Teenagers love to shop for fashionable products and love to share information about their shopping with their friends. They can even get their bag of sweets on facebook.
Busy …

Social commerce is commerce that uses social media interaction to promote the sale of products and services. In some cases, the social media site may simply elicit enough interest to improve the online sales of a brand or a website. In other instances, customers may actually be able to shop on the social network and not have to leave it to make a transaction. This is possible with f-commerce.
Shopping-the social experience
Social commerce is synonymous with words such as convenience. You can shop from the privacy of your home or even when you are on the move. With hectic work and life routines people have little time to shop. Given a chance they would like to order the products of their choice and have them home delivered. This is not just for grocery shopping for the week, but also for products that are the latest fad. Social commerce takes the marketplace to …

Facebook began as a social network that helped people stay in touch with their friends. It was a fun way to express themselves while they caught up with what was happening with their friends. Today, it has become a rather versatile network; one that imitates life in many ways. People talk about the things they like and dislike, and are able to take action on their opinions. They can catch up with the latest news; check out the line of products offered by so many businesses, and most of all, they like to be heard by the brands they ‘like’.
Social commerce is here to stay
F-commerce has boosted social commerce in a way that not other network has been able to. Shopping on facebook offers customers the fun and excitement that a retail experience shared with friends does. The convenience of facebook commerce lets people buy products without having to get to a …

Facebook information and statistics that affect social commerce
If you don’t have social media presence on facebook or rarely access your account here is some information and statistics that you should consider.

There are over 800 million facebook users. Of this number the social network added 200 million users in 2011.
72% of internet users in the US are facebook users. This essentially means that most of your target audience is on the network.
The fastest growing demographic group on facebook is the 18-24 year old section.
The 35+ age group now accounts for over 30% of facebook users.
70% of facebook users are outside of the US. Thus, when you open a facebook store you are getting ready to sell globally.
48% of facebook users of the 18-34 age group check their facebook account when they get up in the morning. And, 28% log into their account from their iPhones, even before they get out of their beds.
The fastest growing demographic …

Why small businesses cannot succeed without facebook
With rapid technological advancement, a small business needs to ask itself how it can use new technology and gain from it. Facebook started as a social network that helped people connect with their friends. Today, used effectively, it is a powerful marketing and public relations tool, for small businesses.
Small businesses cannot succeed without facebook, simply because they would not have access to such a wide and interested audience with any other medium. Social media can be used for marketing on facebook, social commerce and for market research. It is also a great for building brand identity and cementing it. Customer service can be improved with regular facebook interactions.
Increase your customer base
Whether yours is mainly an offline business or exclusively online, you will benefit by being on facebook. There are over 350 million people who log into their facebook account every day. A large percentage of …

Whether you are a brick and mortar store owner, or have an e-commerce site you need to understand why you need to sell on facebook too. Facebook is the most popular of social media sites. Millions of users log into the social network to connect with their friends. They also like to check on the latest offers and products offered by various brands. Whether it is the latest fashions, cheapest groceries or a sale at their favorite shoe store, facebook users like to be the first to know. They also like to spread the good word.
The need for social commerce
Market researchers say that word-of-mouth recommendations are crucial and people prefer to buy products recommended by their friends, and by complete strangers. A business manager may wonder why people would wish to buy on facebook. The answer lies in the fact that for most us, our working day is full of schedules and …

Facebook for brick and mortar stores
The concept of social media lies in the fact that people want to connect with their friends. As they are often unable to do so in real life, social networks like facebook allow them to meet and interact in virtual space. People also love to check on their favorite brands and want to find out what their friends recommend. Brick and mortar stores can benefit tremendously by having and managing a facebook store. Examples of the same include Walmart and Target.
These are times when marketing and advertising budgets are tight. Marketing on social media is relatively inexpensive and has the potential of creating a dramatic impact. Whether you are a standalone mom and pop store at the corner, a specialty store or a chain of brick and mortar stores, it is important that your customers find you on facebook. After all, this is where your …

How to sell on facebook
Facebook has a membership of 845 million users. It is a great place to interact with friends and to stay connected with them. People log into to their facebook account to share their experiences and emotions and to find out what their friends are doing. They also like to interact with their favorite brands. It is no wonder that when a brand such as Nescafe creates a “Spot the Difference” game, it receives a great response.  Some brands offer freebies and samples to gain the interest and attention of their fans. Still others allow them to have fun creating a new flavour or product.
Facebook can help improve brand visibility. As brand recognition improves customers are likely to buy its products. Customers discuss several brands every day. To ensure that your business is one of them it is crucial that customers are able to interact with it regularly. Businesses can …

Why social commerce can improve sales
In 2011 social commerce was valued at $ 5 billion. It is expected to increase exponentially to $ 30 billion in 2015. Social commerce is here to stay and this why:

71% of consumers say that the opinion and recommendations of friends influences their decisions to choose one brand over another.
Word-of-mouth recommendations are most often positive.
90% of online consumers trust the referrals made by friends and 70% trust opinions of strangers too.
86% of online consumers in the US have a facebook account.

The number of social media users across the world is constantly increasing. For years people have used the internet to find information on topics and products. Now, more than ever they use the internet to research everything from the cereal they eat to the house they wish to buy. Social media offers businesses the unique opportunity to interact with their target audiences. Everyday millions of users log …