Can someone explain what is selling via social media means?

[commadus]

Quick heads up. I am setting up an ecommerce site to sell products that I have developed with a supplier.

Now I have read about how I need to drive traffic to the site and market - but initially it will be more to friends and family and spread it out from there.

I am a bit of a luddite - I don't use social media - no twitter, facebook, Instragram etc but it was mentioned I need to sell via social media.

Can someone explain in simple terms what that means and what that entails? Do you need to create a web shop on those platforms as well or just links back to your domain?

 

[fisicx]

It means you market and promote your products on social media. This will mostly means spending money on adverts.

To be honest, you are going to struggle whatever you do. New products are very hard to market - mainly because nobody knows they exist. If it's a variant of an existing product it becomes doubly difficult as people will tend to buy the things they already know about.

It would help a lot if you gave some indication about what the product is or does.

 

[Darren_Ssc]

Generally speaking, you either advertise directly on social platforms or create a presence and build a group of followers to who you can advertise to directly.

So, for example, on facebook you can create a page to promote your business. Then you need to build a following. In most case this means advertising to other facebook users with the intention they like your page and become your fans (for want of a better expression).

In the old days your fans would likely see your posts in their timeline but nowadays you pretty much have to pay again for your posts to be seen by more than a handful of your followers.

Although this sounds like a bit of money making scheme for facebook (which, of course, it is), it can also be very effective since you are essentially advertising to people who are already interested in your business.

You can also just advertise your products directly to targeted groups but this can be more costly if you don't know what your doing.

There are also tools that enable you to have your own storefront linked to your page but you need to get the basics right first and that means building a presence that people are actually going to want to follow.

The same applies to other social platforms, in principal. The benefit with each is that you can target your ads to certain groups of people rather than a vast number of people who'll largely not be at all interested.

 

[commadus]

It means you market and promote your products on social media. This will mostly means spending money on adverts.

To be honest, you are going to struggle whatever you do. New products are very hard to market - mainly because nobody knows they exist. If it's a variant of an existing product it becomes doubly difficult as people will tend to buy the things they already know about.

It would help a lot if you gave some indication about what the product is or does.

I didn't mention the product as I thought it was against the rules as it would be seen as marketing.

It's mens underwear made from an organic technical fabric (the way it is manufactured and finished).

 

[Forseti]

Selling through social networks does not imply a direct sale. At the moment, people spend a lot of time in social services. networks. By creating your own group you can 1) inform people about your product 2) Arrange promotions. For example, to play a free set of products or a cash prize
among subscribers 3) Having you on a social network increases the confidence of visitors to your site.

If earlier the main source of information was advertising banners on the road and television, now these are social networks and banner advertising

 

[gpietersz]

Are you selling the products only on the web, and only through your own site?

I would have thought the best bet with a product like that is to get it into existing shops, at least initially. Otherwise:

You could try Ebay, Amazon and the like. People go there to look for things.

You could try search ads on Google.

You could place ads on social media.

I do not know which would work best.

I do not think its the sort of product for which your own social media output would count for much. Who would follow an underwear tweeter or FB page? Maybe people in the industry, but not consumers.

 

[Bluejen84]

The beauty of social media is you can combine paid advertising with free advertising. You can generate content so quickly and interact with customers (equally annoying but we need customers). Updating websites seems such a chore versus a quick post on social media. Plus others can share your content and help spread the word for you.

 

[Darren_Ssc]

Who would follow an underwear tweeter or FB page?

Depends who's wearing it?

 

[gpietersz]

Updating websites seems such a chore versus a quick post on social media.

Not if your websites are done right. Quick post also usually means low value. How many quick posts about underwear can you do that are worth reading.

Plus others can share your content and help spread the word for you.

and quick posts are not usually worth sharing either.

 

[Bluejen84]

Not if your websites are done right. Quick post also usually means low value. How many quick posts about underwear can you do that are worth reading.



and quick posts are not usually worth sharing either.

Well i see website content and social media content different. And I would disagree of course you can make useful quick posts. You can be more engaging.

Sure if you're well established with an all singing all dancing site then fine you'll be okay. As a new company starting out why not take advantage of social media and all it has to offer.

You've got to think outside the box. I've posted me sat at a laptop. I've posted me drinking coffee, I've posted deliveries arriving. People love that stuff!

 

[gpietersz]

Sure if you're well established with an all singing all dancing site then fine you'll be okay.

Why do you need an "all singing all dancing" site? A simple site to which you keep adding good content - and the good thing is that you are building up an asset you own, not one a social media company owns.

There has been a lot of previous discussion about how easy it is to get a simple site done.

You've got to think outside the box. I've posted me sat at a laptop. I've posted me drinking coffee, I've posted deliveries arriving. People love that stuff!

Seriously? That is your idea of quick useful posts and engaging content?

If you want to think outside the box, drop the assumption that social media marketing is effective, let along cost effective, for everyone.

 

[fisicx]

People love that stuff!

Some people love that stuff. Not everyone.

@commadus is selling pants for men. Not really sure how you would build a following on FB with these. Adverts might work - but it's still going to be a hard sell. When I look at my FB feed I see what all my friends have been up to. If you plonk an advert for undercrackers in the middle I'm more likely to go WTF.

It's a niche lifestyle product. Maybe advertising on lifestyle websites and blogs might be more suitable. I suspect lots of trial and error needed to find the right platform.

 

[gpietersz]

It's a niche lifestyle product. Maybe advertising on lifestyle websites and blogs might be more suitable. I suspect lots of trial and error needed to find the right platform.

I agree. I would be very surprised if anyone can give the right answer on what will work straight away.

If the product itself has a USP then selling through existing shops is probably a lower risk approach.

 

[ethical PR]

@commadus who is the target market for your clothing (demographic profiles for the types of typical customers who will buy from you), you should build your marketing around your brand and identifying channels, content and activities to help you drive awareness and sales of your products.

 

[Aleksander_Gramm]

I see the common approach "I made a product, now I want market it". It's like to put the cart before the horse.
Is social media good to sell products? Yes, it is. Now, I may not be some expert in social media marketing, but I built several successful campaings (MySpace, Facebook, Twitter) and I created Facebook Ad campaigns.

As @Darren_Ssc wrote 'that means building a presence that people are actually going to want to follow'. So, you need to learn tools to create a presence.

 

[paulears]

I must admit to responding to the targeted ads on Facebook. Every day something I’m interested in pops up and I click. Often it reveals sharp marketing but equally I find new and interesting products and buy. I’m sure that some I then instantly forget and if they don’t turn up I’d probably not notice! I’m a sucker for gadgets! The three quid cable to link two pcs for data sharing cane with software and is brilliant!

 

[Forseti]

About the topic of social networks. Is Pinterest considered a social network or message board?

 

[Aleksander_Gramm]

About the topic of social networks. Is Pinterest considered a social network or message board?

It is an image board. But it's a good traffic source for food/travel bloggers, clothing e-shops, interior designers, etc.
Since May 4 Google update the search results is so messed up and it seems Google prefer pinterest for top-10 pages in the SERP. But Google team has fixed this issue.

 

[Forseti]

How can a picture attract traffic? Instragram allows you to do the same. But in pinteters there is no such field with text (as I understand it).

 

[ethical PR]

I see the common approach "I made a product, now I want market it". It's like to put the cart before the horse.
Is social media good to sell products? Yes, it is. Now, I may not be some expert in social media marketing, but I built several successful campaings (MySpace, Facebook, Twitter) and I created Facebook Ad campaigns.

As @Darren_Ssc wrote 'that means building a presence that people are actually going to want to follow'. So, you need to learn tools to create a presence.<deleted>

If you're not an expert in social media, then why did you write an article on social media marketing for your website and why are you linking to this article here?

 

[Glen Wheeler]

Hello!

From our perspective, building an online presence through social media can be a great way to market. When it comes to 'selling', you may find social media won't create huge sales for you especially with a new product. Use the social media to push traffic to your site, creating awareness. 'Shops' are now coming to Facebook/Instagram where you can actually sell through social media as well as using it for marketing purposes. However, just signing up to these platforms won't get you far; it's how you utilise them.
Things you should consider:

- How are you making content/what is your content
-How are you pushing people to your site
-How often do you want to post
-How are you tracking data and success of your social media
-Are you creating clear brand identity on your posts

Some tips you could try at first:
- Post consistently
-Use links where you can
-Create backlinks to benefit your new website
-

 

[Glen Wheeler]

Another few points is how your merge multiple platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to reach your target audiences. How are you going to build up and use social media to see benefits; so that you are not wasting time. Hope this helps, all the best

 

[John Charles]

You can use social media to drive traffic to your store, but some platforms like Facebook allow you to sell directly on the platform.

 

[Aleksander_Gramm]

If you're not an expert in social media, then why did you write an article on social media marketing for your website and why are you linking to this article here?

I didn't write this article.
An expert is a person with a high level of knowledge or skill relating to a particular subject or activity (Cambridge Dictionary).
In my opinion high level is a key word. But what is high level? How to determine the level?
We conduct SMM projects and employ highly qualified marketers, so, I can compare the level.
That is why, I can't define myself as an expert, but as a marketer I have an experience. That is why I shared the article and my opinion.

 

[jo.ann]

If you don't know much about this topic, think about entrusting this task to a specialist. Social media offers great opportunities for advertising and sales. However, it is not worth using them all immediately. Look at your audience and see how they respond to your presence in these media. As mentioned at the beginning it is definitely a trial and error method. But now you have to exist on the internet. Good luck!

 

[nabila2030]

via facenook

 

[Armorica]

For example, you can drive traffic from social media to your website.
Or you can create a company page in Facebook and add your goods there

 

[Sanjay Patoliya]

Social selling is the process of developing relationships as part of the sales process. Today this often takes place via social networks such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest, but can take place either online or offline.

 

[Emre Eldar]

Selling through social media not really get you sales. But, it is good to build presence and following. There will be more and more people aware about your product when you keep posting on social media. By establishing your following, it is easier for you to market your product and get feedback about it.

 

[Lina HH]

SMM is more about creating ads on Facebook/Instagram platforms etc. You can just link to your website when you are creating a promotion.

 

[MichelleB-UK]

If you want to make it easy, set up your store with shopify and you can publish your shop on facebook and instagram at the touch of a button.