Contests are a great way to augment traffic and improve revenue from the facebook store. Customers like participating in contests because of the excitement it generates. Most people enjoy the excitement that a competition brings and also the rewards or prizes that go with it. It is important for a business to create a contest after giving due thought to what would appeal to their customers. While some audiences may appreciate a gift hamper or gift vouchers others may prefer something unique and spectacular.

Top contests on facebook

Some of best contests on facebook include The ‘Best Job in the World’, a campaign that was run by the Tourism Office of Queensland. The contest focused on the Hamilton Island and the search for an employee who would live and partly take care of the island.  The contest did a great job of creating awareness and interest in this area, and promoted tourism.

The Contiki Holidays ‘Get on the Bus’ contest was fun and interesting. It required fans to choose a crew who would go on vacation with them and plan the tour. Then, on the basis of the number of people who voted for them, they would win a holiday worth $25000. This contest had facebook fans engrossed and enthralled for weeks. The fact that the contest was started in winter, made it more fun as people who fanaticized and planned of a dream holiday. It also got them talking, and they encouraged friends to visit the page and vote for them.

Tips on creating a great facebook contest

• Ensure that the contest is fun and is bound to get people talking.
• Increase engagement. Instead of merely getting people to write a slogan or running a quiz, opt for a contest that requires more involvement. Do ensure that the contest runs for at least a few weeks. This gives enough time for people to get talking about it and excite them.
• Keep it simple, silly. Try to avoid too many complicated rules. Have a clear and easy-to-understand policy for the contest.
• Offer a reward that makes the contest worth a facebook user’s time. Do take into consideration the interests of your target audience before deciding on your rewards. You can choose to have one or two big rewards. On the other hand, having numerous awards such as gift certificates makes the fans realize that they have a fair chance of winning.

Storefront Social can help you create a facebook store that does justice to your brand. Offer content in multiple languages and accept transactions in several currencies. Create a facebook store that will showcase your products and tempt facebook users to shop and share.

For most people, their lives revolve around their work and home routines. They spend a lot of time travelling to and from work, and there is nothing they would like to avoid more than travelling and waiting in queues at departmental stores and malls. Facebook shopping simplifies and enriches user lives in myriad ways.

Let’s talk convenience

Online shopping is convenient and this is one of the reasons why it has grown in popularity in the last decade. Social commerce is the next big thing in the world of commerce. The fact that people can get their shopping done while they are on the social media network makes it fun and enjoyable.

Millions of people log into their facebook accounts to express themselves and to connect with others. There are many who are critical of this attitude, but the fact remains that if social media users didn’t use this unique platform they would rarely be able to stay connected with their friends and family. Facebook stores have grown in number and variety in the last year. There is little that one cannot find at these stores. While some facebook storefronts allow users to shop without leaving the social network, others direct customers to their online stores.

From birthday gifts, flowers and stationery to candy, lingerie and music, facebook shopping offers it all. Not only can customers buy their daily necessities but also things that are trendy. For instance, the Molly Sims facebook store offers beautiful jewelry designed by the super model. Facebook makes it easy for people to keep a track of trends and follow them. They can also find the required products on the social network.

Facebook stores are offered by big brand names such as Cover Girl, P & G and Nine West. At the same time customers can find local and small businesses on the network and shop. Apps such as Storefront Social make facebook stores easy to navigate through and find the products that customers look for. This app allows the store to display content in several languages. Also, it accepts transaction in multiple currencies. This helps make a facebook store truly global.

Get a great deal

Most facebook shops offer users special discount and deals. This is one of the primary reasons why customers choose to come back time and again to such stores. People love to talk about a great buy. They love sharing the good word with their friends. And this is what businesses on facebook count on. Some businesses allow customers to share their shopping list with their friends, while others let them shop together.

Facebook simplifies a user’s life by ensuring that they don’t miss out on important occasions such as birthdays. They are kept abreast of the ups and downs in their friends’ lives and can be there to share them. Retail therapy is often a necessity and sometimes a stress buster, and with facebook shopping it is always a pleasure. You don’t have to bother going down to the stores, standing in queues and have a far wider choice on facebook than you would have at a local mall.

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 shop for products that are worth buying.

Consumers prefer to read the testimonials and reviews offered by customers over lengthy descriptions that businesses may offer. On social media sites such as facebook and twitter, people can freely ask questions about brands and products and are sure to receive the guidance they seek. iPhone apps make it possible for facebook users to seek out their friends even when they are on the move and away from their computers.

Most brands offer special discounts for social media users. This allows customers to buy products at cheaper prices than they may have at a local store. Some facebook fan pages also help customers organize their shopping systematically and avoid unnecessary expenditure. For instance, if a customer plans on joining a Zumba class, not only can they find it on facebook, but can also buy the required gear. The Walmart Meal Solutions help customers shop for the ingredients they need for the meals planned for the week to come.

Time and convenience

Shopping can be a time consuming and tiring activity. So whether a customer is single or a parent of two, social commerce offers convenience. They can save the time and effort of having to visit local stores or a mall. One can also save on the cost of gas and additional expenditures such as a cup of coffee that a customer may stop for after a bout of tiring shopping experience.

Most malls do not offer the wide range of brands and products that a customer has access to with social commerce. For instance, if you are looking for organic and environment friendly clothing and laundry, consider shopping at the ettitude facebook shop. Livescribe offer smartpens for the smart professional. It is also possible to compare and contrast brands before one can make a decision.

The variety of businesses and brands that offer their wares on facebook storefronts makes social commerce fun and interesting. You can order flowers, food, wine, buy personal care products and much more on facebook shops, while customers save money on most of their purchases. Also, fans are kept abreast on discounts and deals that a business may offer. Storefront Social helps a business create a facebook store than showcases its products.

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 professionals enjoy the convenience of shopping for groceries and cleaning products online. Some brands also help them plan their meals and shop accordingly. They also enjoy finding the perfect gift for friends and loved ones. A quick look at a friend’s wall and list of ‘Likes’, gives a person a good idea of what their friend enjoys. This makes shopping a breeze, and the receiver is sure to love their gifts.

Social media and commerce allows customers to shop at any time of the day or night. When facebook reminds you of a loved one’s birthday, you can choose to have flowers or a gift delivered. Some enterprising brands such as 1-800-Flowers even have a reminder service to ensure that you never forget an important event or occasion ever again.

Better customer service

With social commerce, customers gain better customer service. They are able to interact with businesses, and so, get better customer service. Customers like to be heard and value businesses that take their feedback seriously. In fact, negative feedback can be also be used to reassure the customer that his or her shopping is appreciated and that the business will do its best to live up to the customer’s expectations.

Brand identity

Whether it is famous brands or little known businesses that choose to use facebook and other social media sites, they can ensure that their brand is easily recognized. Social media is a platform that millions use to interact with their friends. They use it to voice their emotions and opinions. They also love to talk about their favorite brands and businesses.

Over 29 millions Starbucks fans enjoy checking out the brand’s facebook fan page. Every time the brand or a fan posts a comment or a picture, it gets a tremendous response. People like to be heard, and social commerce gives them this opportunity. Word-of-mouth recommendations’ are valued highly as are the testimonials of complete strangers who have shopped at a facebook store. Storefront Social is a unique app that allows businesses to create a facebook store that showcases their products, and makes shopping on facebook fun and interesting.

Social commerce essentially refers to the online commerce that is attributed to social media sites such as facebook. Facebook commerce is for all types of businesses, big and small. It is a great way to sell products to customers who are interested in your brand and are likely to refer it to others.

While there are some who may be skeptical of facebook commerce, the fact that is that if it is done right, it can boost sales and revenue. Here are some facebook success stories that are encouraging and your business may wish to emulate.

Pens and more

The Livescribe facebook storefront is one of the most popular stores on the social media network. The brand offers unique and intelligent products and has found a wonderful way to present it for its facebook fans. With its brand new smart pen that also records audio, the brand wanted to spread awareness about the product and also sell it through facebook.

Customers find it simple and easy to shop at the facebook storefront that is powered by Storefront Social. The products are showcased well and are divided into categories so that customers can find what they are looking for. Some of the categories include smart pens, dot paper and accessories. To complete a transaction the facebook store directs customers to the business’ website.

Designs

Nava Zahavi showcases her versatile range of jewellery on her facebook store.  She keeps her fans and customers abreast of the latest designs and offers at her store. The store is easy to shop at and one can search for jewelry by piece or by one’s budget.

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F-commerce is for any business big or small. There are many small businesses such as 123Cheese who have understood why social commerce is so popular and how to benefit from it. The brand earned as much as $50,000 in 24 hours by selling their photo books. The facebook shop also features comments by satisfied customers and this serves as an excellent encouragement for fans or visitors who are perusing the store.

For baby and mum

The P&G Pampers store sold over 1000 packets of diapers in an hour. This is a testament to the power of social media and commerce. Facebook commerce promises to not only help customers find the best deals but offers convenience too. It also gives customers a platform to share their thoughts and opinions with likeminded parents. The facebook shop is designed for easy shopping and parents can quickly find the products they wish to buy and also peruse the rest of the collection.

Whether it is a mum-to-be looking for products for her little one or a friend looking for a baby gift, this is an ideal store to shop at. Not only can you choose from popular product categories but can benefit from the store’s special offers for facebook fans. The brand also uses its fan page to keep customers informed about forthcoming events.

The foundation of facebook was laid on the idea that teenagers and young adults needed to have a fun and simple way of interacting when they were unable to meet face to face. Most of a teenager’s online time is spent socializing with friends on facebook and following trends. Teenagers prefer to use facebook over any other social media site such as twitter, because of the security settings that it offers. They also don’t like to blog, perhaps because it is not as interactive as posts on facebook

Teenage shopping on facebook

For teenagers, shopping is a social experience, one they usually want to share with others. Likewise their choice in products is also affected by the opinions of their friends. They are at a stage in their lives where the approval of their peer group is crucial. And hence, when they make a post they are thrilled to see their friends comment on it.

Young adults also like to share their shopping experience and enjoy it without having to leave the house. Furthermore, many facebook stores offer products that may not be offered at local shops. Following the latest trends and staying fashionable is vital to this age group of facebook users.

Teen girls account for millions of dollars worth of shopping every year. Hence, this is a demographic group that cannot be ignored. While they love to gain from a good deal and discount, they also want to buy products that will win them approval from their friends. This is the primary reason why social commerce on facebook is expected to rise exponentially. Every time a teenager decides to shop at a facebook storefront, her friends are informed and are likely to follow.

What are they buying

The average American teenager has a ‘spendable’ income of over $100 weekly. Since they don’t have to worry about paying bills they can use the money to pay for their shopping. Most of the shopping on facebook is driven by products that offer entertainment, experience and support hobbies.

A large percentage of shopping on facebook stores is impulsive and affected by what friends, and friends of friends say about a certain brand or product. Also, unlike at the malls, one can shop on facebook anytime of the day or night. Some malls don’t allow teens if they are not escorted by an adult.

Some of the top buys on facebook include music CDs and fan products such as those offered at the Lady Gaga store. Teens also like to buy products that reflect their interests in sports and entertainment. Fashion is a top seller on facebook. While some fan pages offer information about brands and stores, others sell on facebook. From hair ties, to clothes and charms, teens can buy virtually anything that interests them, on facebook.

The Storefront Social is an app that can help your business gain from f-commerce. The app helps you create a facebook storefront and manage it. You can offer content in several languages and accept transactions in multiple currencies. This makes it ideal for businesses across the globe.

Increasing sales

Buying groceries is somewhere on top of one’s list of not-fun activities. However, grocers hope that they can make the experience more fun and interesting by getting their customers involved.  Planning meals in advance makes it easier and quicker to shop for groceries. It also helps customers take stock on health and fitness issues and reduces the chances of ordering in food. The discount coupons and offers at the local grocer can help customers plan their meals and save money at the same time. Walmart has a special section, Meal Solutions that can help people plan their meals and find the ingredients that they will need. 

One of the interesting trends that are seen on grocer fan pages is the fact that companies use their notes section rather well. It is often used to promote a recipe and customers may also be able to find discount coupons for the ingredients. On the facebook fan page businesses can also keep their fans informed about events and deals. This is a great way to increase footfall at the stores.

Customer relations

The facebook fan page wall of brands such as Safeway and Kroger show excellent interaction between the businesses and their fans. It brings the target audiences closer to their favorite brands and allows them to express their opinions about the businesses. Appreciation and compliments by fans is the best recommendation to their friends and other visitors to the sites.

Negative experiences and feedback can also be used to improve customer service and to assure customers that their business is important to the brand. Grocer fan pages on facebook also allow customers the opportunity to interact with the brand of their liking. It gives them a space to voice their opinions and be heard.

Shopping on facebook

Most people have a hectic work and life schedule and they enjoy the convenience of shopping for the things they want or need without having to step out of their home or office. Imagine being able to order your groceries and cleaning products without having to drive or walk to the store.  This would simplify the life of many a customer. Soap offers its customers great deals on household products and on groceries. It publicizes its offers on facebook and customers can shop online for them.

With Storefront Social a business can create a facebook shop in a matter of minutes. Content can be displayed in several languages and customers can complete their transactions with multiple currencies. This essentially means that irrespective of where you business is located, this app can help you set up a facebook store. Also you can expand your customer base greatly and improve revenue.

Also, they love to share their opinions and views on products and brands. This makes social commerce a viable option for products that are new and interesting. People like to talk about the latest trends and fads. This is why fashion sells well on facebook.

Fashion changes frequently and it is also a matter of personal taste. It interests people of all age groups and demographic profiles. Shopping that is influenced most by word-of-mouth recommendations are related to interests such as fashion, sport, beauty and hobbies. Experiential categories such as events, restaurants, entertainment and media also benefit from recommendations by friends. Consumers are known to put their faith in reviews and testimonials offered by other facebook users.

Tips on selling fashion on facebook

In order to sell products on facebook they need to be interesting and encourage an instant reaction. Experts find that impulse buys top the list of shopping on facebook. People appreciate facebook shops that are designed well and offer excellent navigation. It is important that products are categorized in a manner that makes it easy for the shopper to find them. Peek Kids offers parents a range of fashionable clothing for babies and kids. A shopper can refine the categories they wish to look at and quickly complete their shopping.

Storefront Social is an application that helps a brand create a facebook store that befits its products. The app allows the business to offer content in several languages. Furthermore, transactions can be completed with multiple currencies. This essentially means that your business can sell its products globally.

So many reasons to be on facebook

Shopping sites that have a by-invite only policy also prefer to have facebook stores that can publicize their products. This includes the likes of Rue La La and ideeli. There are many businesses such as Levis, Gap and Lord & Taylor that use facebook to keep their clients abreast of the latest fashions offered by their business and also exclusive discounts and offers for facebook fans.

Polyvore is an interesting fashion business that offers many brands and labels and allows customers to put together an ensemble that they can share with their friends. Brands that sell jewelry and accessories also find that facebook can help generate inetrst in their products.  Pandora offers its fans the chance to design their own jewelry and share it with their friends and the world. The brand uses facebook well to publicize its charm of the month. The fan page features videos that would be of interest to their customers as well as tips on wearing jewelry in versatile and fun ways.  

One of the most loved fashion fan pages on facebook is that of Victoria’s Secret. Every time the brand posts on its wall, it receives a fabulous feedback from its fans. The fan page features several sections such as ‘Secret Rewards’, and focuses on the brands latest fashions.

Lady Gaga

The music and entertainment industry were amongst the first brands to realise the potential of f-commerce. The Lady Gaga store offers everything related to the brand including her music, t-shirts, sunglasses, jewellery and accessories. The facebook store is amongst the most liked storefronts on facebook.

P&G

Procter & Gamble uses facebook to reach out to its customers and to promote its many brands on the social media site. Some of the company’s brands that have facebook stores include Tide, Pampers and Gillette. The brand is well known for presenting its products well on the network, and it is easy for a customer to find the product of their choice and then some more. At the Pampers store, parents can choose from product lines that meet their specifications such as the new born and toddler range.     

1-800-Flowers

1-800-Flowers take the blooms from the neighbourhood flower shop to the world’s favourite social media site. It offer customers the chance to buy and send flowers conveniently. The brand displays its understanding of how important the social media site is to the social interaction of facebook users. People can choose to send their loved ones flowers for a special occasion such as birthdays and weddings, or for no reason other than to brighten a friend’s day. The brand also offers fans exclusive discounts and offers.

Hallmark

It is difficult not to get sentimental and emotional over a ‘Hallmark’ moment. The brand realizes that people interact more with their friends on facebook than they have an opportunity to face-to-face. Hallmark products express emotions like no other product can. And so, it isn’t surprising that its facebook store is popular with users of all age groups.  

Cocoa Cola

It is one of the most popular beverages and brands across the world. It is thus, not surprising that the brand is also immensely liked on facebook. The Coca Cola facebook store offers fans and customers products such as t-shirts, bottle openers, holiday decorations and collectibles.

Businesses, big and small need to invest in facebook shops that showcase their products. A brand can generate a lot of interest in its products and give customers the opportunity to buy them without leaving facebook. Most people like to ask their friends before they buy a product. Word-of-mouth recommendations have always been considered to be important. Combine such recommendations with the convenience of shopping from a wide range of brands whilst interacting with friends on facebook, and you have a winning combination.

Storefront Social is an application that can help you create a customized facebook storefront that does justice to your products. The app allows you to present content in several languages and accept transactions in multiple transactions.